Pittsburgh Football Coach Trolls West Virginia Over Legendary 13-9 Backyard Brawl In 2007

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The University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University football do not like one another. When the two teams get together on the gridiron, there is serious beef between the players, coaches and fans alike.

The rivalry, called The Backyard Brawl, is the 14th oldest in the United States and has been played 104 times, dating back to 1895. Pittsburgh currently leads the series 61-40-3, but West Virginia has won seven of the last 10 and the game has not been played since 2011.

Of the most notable games in the series’ history, 2007 stands out.

On Saturday, December 1, 2007, the 100th edition of the game was played at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. It is now known as “13-9.”

Entering the game, the Mountaineers were ranked No. 2 in the country at 10-1. They were slated to reach the BCS National Championship Game with a win.

The Panthers, who entered unranked at 4-7, had other plans. They shut down the nation’s most explosive offense (WVU had averaged 41.64 points per game during the first 11 games) and pulled off the upset.

Pittsburgh won the game 13-9 in what was voted as the “Game of the Year” by ESPNU. As a result, West Virginia did not make the national championship.

Now, 15 years later, Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi appears to be trolling the Mountaineers over the famous Backyard Brawl in 2007. In a tweet celebrating 100 days until the first home game of 2022, the two helmets in the forefront are numbers 13 and 9.

The No. 13 is retired at Pittsburgh because of Dan Marino. And yet, it’s on the helmet. Coincidence? I think not!