Inside The Panthers

WVU OL Takes Shot at Pitt

The Backyard Brawl is a year-round event for West Virginia and the Pitt Panthers.

Stephen Thompson

Nov 12, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers offensive lineman Ja'Quay
Nov 12, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers offensive lineman Ja'Quay / Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- The rivalry between West Virginia and the Pitt Panthers isn't contained to just a handful of gamedays - it's a year-round event and Mountaineer offensive lineman Ja'Quay Hubbard made sure to remember that as he spoke with the media this week and took a not-so-subtle shot at his rivals from up north.

“I could’ve went to Pitt out of high school. I could’ve went to Pitt in the portal," Hubbard said. "I just never wanted to go to Pitt.”

Hubbard, who was rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals and a thee-star by On3 and ESPN, held offers from Mississippi State, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Louisville, Toledo, Western Michigan, Temple, Liberty, Ohio, Buffalo, Akron and others coming out of Sharpsville Area High School in Virginia. Penn State and West Virginia showed interest but didn't offer and Hubbard ended up choosing Virginia before eventually transfering and becoming a Mountaineer.

Hubbard has appeared in two games against the Panthers during his career at Virginia and West Virginia and owns a 1-1 record against them - a 2019 win with the Cavaliers at then-Heinz Field and last year's victory in Morgantown, West Virginia. He'll get a chance to pull back above .500 this season when the Mountaineers return to Acrisure Stadium in 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: