Inside The Panthers

Marquis Williams Wants Pitt to Play Rivals in Spring Game

One of the Pitt Panthers' starting corners wants his team to face historic rivals during the spring.

Stephen Thompson

Marquis Williams Wants Pitt to Play Rivals in Spring Game
Marquis Williams Wants Pitt to Play Rivals in Spring Game /
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PITTSBURGH -- Marquis Williams, starting corner for the Pitt Panthers, came across a suggestion on Twitter that peaked his interest. Someone floated the idea of playing crosstown rival Duquesne or Robert Morris in the annual spring game, with the goal of adding a bit more excitement and intrigue to an event severely lacking those things. 

Williams was interested in the idea of lining up against another team for the annual spring exhibition instead of his own teammates, but said he'd rather play one of Pitt's historic rivals like West Virginia or Penn State. 

Williams isn't the first to call out one of the Panthers' most storied rivals and suggest they should be put on the schedule. Defensive end Dayon Hayes, a local product from Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh, suggested that Penn State was "scared" to play the Panthers in a spring game and said he wants them back on the annual schedule. 

Neither Williams nor Hayes has played against Penn State during their careers but did experience the revival of the Backyard Brawl last season at Acrisure Stadium. Hayes recorded three tackles in that game, while Williams made two, including a tackle for loss, and forced a remarkable fumble with one arm while engaged with a blocker. 

Safe to say, whether it's in the spring or fall, Pitt fans would certainly like to see their two biggest rivals back on the schedule as well. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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