‘It means everything’: Backyard Brawl brings best out of Pitt, West Virginia
More than 66,000 fans jammed into Acrisure Stadium on Saturday to watch the 107th edition of the Backyard Brawl. And while Pitt defeated West Virginia, 38-34, the spectacle of the event itself at times overshadowed the outcome. Fans wearing blue and yellow stood shoulder to shoulder in the stadium and...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi claims victory over WVU, officials, prompting response from Neal BrownVideo
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, in his post-win on-field ESPN interview at Acrisure Stadium, wasted little time in declaring victory over the West Virginia Mountaineers as well as over a secondary party. “Some of the calls we got — late hit out of bounds, they catch a (touchdown) with hands in...
Pitt rallies again, survives Backyard Brawl vs. West Virginia
Pitt’s second improbable rally in eight days leading to its 38-34 victory in the 107th Backyard Brawl morphed into reality Saturday night for many reasons. • Of course, there was the freshman quarterback, Eli Holstein, looking like a senior, shedding his thoughts of what had been a decidedly unremarkable day...
As Pat McAfee knows, some Backyard Brawl memories are impossible to flush
Pat McAfee and Pat Bostick had moved on from their college days long ago and were well into their life’s work when they walked into the men’s restroom in the Heinz Field press box and stepped up to side-by-side urinals. The occasion was a prime-time Thursday night game between Pitt...
Football Footnotes: AFC North looks to rebound; WVU’s Marc Bulger recalls Backyard Brawls; ACC transfer QBs making impact
This week’s Friday “Football Footnotes” post examines how AFC North teams besides the Pittsburgh Steelers will try to respond to a winless opening weekend. Kirk Cousins may have tipped-off lingering issues from his recovery during Atlanta’s loss to the Steelers last week. Central Catholic graduate Marc Bulger recalls his Backyard...
West Virginia’s secondary vs. Pitt’s passing attack to be key matchup in Backyard Brawl
West Virginia’s offense has reason to feel confident heading into Saturday’s Backyard Brawl vs. Pitt at Acrisure Stadium. While a valid argument could be made that the Mountaineers simply beat up on an FCS opponent last weekend, West Virginia fired on all cylinders through the air and on the ground...
WVU preparing for confident Panthers squad, new-look Pitt offense in Backyard Brawl
By most metrics, West Virginia took care of business last weekend in Morgantown, pounding FCS opponent Albany, 49-14, to pick up win No. 1 of the season. The Mountaineers ran the ball with impunity, getting back to their ground-game roots following a disappointing effort in Week 1 vs. No. 8...
At the dawn of WVU week, undefeated Pitt still has significant clean-up dutyVideo
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi’s main thrust Sunday at the start of West Virginia week is to wash off the euphoria of a big victory and get ready for another difficult test next Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. There was so much good about the 28-27 comeback victory against Cincinnati that some...
Garrett Greene throws for 3 TDs, runs for another as West Virginia beats AlbanyVideo
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Garrett Greene threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score, two West Virginia running backs rushed for more than 100 yards and the Mountaineers beat Albany, 49-14, on Saturday night. CJ Donaldson ran for 125 yards, and Jahiem White had 100 for the Mountaineers (1-1). Both...
WVU looks to bounce back from lopsided loss to Penn State by hosting FCS AlbanyVideo
Albany (1-0) at West Virginia (0-1) When: 6 p.m. Saturday TV: ESPN+ Series record: First meeting. What’s at stake? West Virginia came out flat in the season opener, so it’s important to get things fixed heading into the rest of a schedule that doesn’t get any easier after this week....
Season still young for West Virginia despite stinging loss to No. 8 Penn State on big stageVideo
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia coach Neal Brown expressed confidence earlier this week that his Mountaineers were capable of producing a different outcome Saturday vs. Penn State than last year against the Nittany Lions. To begin the 2023 campaign, West Virginia fell by 23 points in Happy Valley, a game...
No. 8 Penn State navigates lengthy weather delay, wins convincingly at West Virginia
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Penn State coach James Franklin anticipated a challenge Saturday afternoon at Milan Puskar Stadium in opening up the season against a West Virginia squad that looks to build off a nine-win campaign from last year. But Franklin and the eighth-ranked Nittany Lions handled their Week 1 test...
Season opener between West Virginia, No. 8 Penn State suspended by severe weather
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — With less than five minutes left in halftime before West Virginia and No. 8 Penn State were set to resume their 2024 season-opener, severe weather around Milan Puskar Stadium prompted an evacuation of fans and a suspension of the contest. The game cannot resume until 30 minutes...
A leaner Drew Allar looks to get No. 8 Penn State off to a good start at West VirginiaVideo
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Quarterback Drew Allar was great in his Penn State starting debut a year ago against West Virginia. The rest of the season was a bit disappointing. The junior with the big arm expects the Nittany Lions to become more consistent behind a new offensive coordinator. “I think...
West Virginia RB Jahiem White has Penn State alum to thank for finding his wayVideo
Jahiem White’s ascension as one of the nation’s top freshman running backs at West Virginia had its origins in the kindness of a new school teacher and her family. White grew up in Miami, raised by a single mom simply trying to make ends meet. He wasn’t happy when La’Doria...
West Virginia brings confidence into opener, rematch with No. 8 Penn State
If West Virginia coach Neal Brown could make a wish looking back on last season, it would be to have closed the campaign against Penn State as opposed to facing the Nittany Lions in Week 1. The Mountaineers began 2023 in one of the most hostile environments in sports, falling...
Analysis: Big 12 must ask not only why UConn, but why now as commissioner remains open for business
As Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark steps up discussions in the conference about adding UConn, the question isn’t so much why invite the Huskies as why do it now. “There has never been a better time than right now to be part of the Big 12,” Yormark said in July...
Jahiem White, CJ Donaldson, Garrett Greene lead West Virginia’s potent rushing attack in new-look Big 12
West Virginia has its potent ground game back, and if reinforcements on a leaky defense help avoid some of the embarrassments from a year ago, the Mountaineers could make some noise in the Big 12 Conference this season. West Virginia finished third in the Bowl Subdivision at 229 yards on...
You may not fully believe what Carmelo Anthony said about his U.S. gold medals. But wouldn’t you like to?Video
The necessary disclosure for this column is that, as a Syracuse University graduate, I’m predisposed to stick up for Carmelo Anthony on just about all fronts. He arrived on campus a few years after I graduated and finally won an NCAA basketball championship for our school during his freshman season....
Fox Chapel’s Blake Krushinski commits to play baseball at West Virginia
Blake Krushinski has a clear path forward for his baseball career. By committing to West Virginia to play baseball before his junior season at Fox Chapel, Krushinski can focus on self-improvement. One of his first goals is to add 15 to 20 pounds before he graduates. Krushinksi, a right-handed pitcher,...
West Virginia University to pay tribute to basketball legend Jerry West
West Virginia athletics plans to honor the late Jerry West throughout the 2024-25 school year. The greatest Mountaineer in history was the inspiration for the NBA logo and left behind a legacy few could match. He played at WVU from 1957-60 before playing 14 seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers...
Big 12 bigger even after losing 2 national champs, newcomer Utah is league’s highest-ranked team
The Big 12 has gotten bigger even after the departures of two national champions, with a westward expansion and a “Prime” addition among the league’s four newcomers. Mike Gundy is going into his 20th season as 17th-ranked Oklahoma State coach and has been part of all the Big 12’s configurations....
Seton Hill, WVU pitchers chosen on 3rd day of MLB Draft
Two pitchers from district universities were drafted Tuesday on the third day of the MLB Draft. Seton Hill right-handed pitcher Aidan Layton, a graduate of Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, was chosen by the Oakland Athletics at No. 496 overall, the first pick in the 17th round. At 6-2,...
Big 12 notebook: Kansas QB Jalon Daniels ready to play: WVU again underestimated?
LAS VEGAS — Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels said he would be ready to play a game now. Coach Lance Leipold and the Jayhawks just need him to be ready for the season. Daniels missed most of last season because of a back injury, playing in only three games before the...
Big 12 newcomer Utah tabbed as favorite to win the expanded 16-team football conference this fall
IRVING, Texas — Big 12 newcomer Utah has been picked to finish first in the expanded 16-team football conference this fall in a preseason poll of media who cover the league. The Utes got 20 of 61 first-place votes in the poll released Tuesday, a week before the start of...
