Inside The Panthers

WVU HC Neal Brown Wants to Play Backyard Brawl Every Year

Neal Brown wants West Virginia to play the Pitt Panthers every season.

Stephen Thompson

WVU HC Neal Brown Wants to Play Backyard Brawl Every Year
WVU HC Neal Brown Wants to Play Backyard Brawl Every Year /
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PITTSBURGH -- The current extension of the Backyard Brawl between the Pitt Panthers and West Virginia Mountaineers is set to expire in 2025. Only after a three-year hiatus will the two storied rivals resume their more than century-old series and just four more games are currently scheduled to be played between them.

But if West Virginia head coach Neal Brown had it his way, the Panthers and Mountaineers would play one another every year. 

Brown added that it's disappointing the series is not an annual occurrence like it had been in the past. Conference realignment derailed the series in the 21st century and another round of shake-ups in the Power 5 is threatening the viability of regional rivalries played during the non-conference schedule. 

Pitt defeated West Virginia in an all-time classic at Acrisure Stadium. The first Backyard Brawl played in more than a decade was decided by a fourth quarter pick-six from Panthers cornerback M.J. Devonshire. The Panthers will make the trip out to Morgantown this season for the return game during Week 3. 

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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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