Brown Calls for an 'Electric' Atmosphere for the Backyard Brawl
This Saturday's game between West Virginia and Pitt is one Mountaineer fans have been looking forward to for over a decade. Last year, the two met on the gridiron for the first time since 2011, but the environment for this one in Morgantown will likely be the rowdiest, loudest, craziest atmosphere Mountaineer Field has ever witnessed.
"I hope it's electric," said WVU head coach Neal Brown. "This is one that's been circled for a long time. It's been sold out for a long time. A lot of people coming into town for this. It's a great opportunity.
"This is the biggest rivalry that we have in our program here. We understand that both from in our building here and from a fanbase standpoint. Really a unique atmosphere. You could feel it. I think rivalries make college football. A lot of the rivalries have gone to the wayside which is disappointing. I've said this, I'm in favor of playing this game. This makes a lot of sense to be our non-conference Power Five opponent each and every year. I think it's a game our fans and their fans like to see. This is heated. We understand that and our guys are excited to get back into that."
When the two met on an annual basis in the Big East days, West Virginia fans would take over Acrisure Stadium, then known as Heinz Field. It was essentially a home game away from Morgantown for WVU. But last year, the Pitt faithful showed up in numbers, giving a pretty solid split crowd making for an environment both sides of the rivalry have missed.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi is looking forward to the challenge of playing in front of a hostile crowd, but did state he feels like his players will get a better understanding of how heated this rivalry really is this year.
"I like coaching, period. I like playing wherever we get to play. I like going to different places. I think that's all part of the pageantry of college football. I think everybody embraces that," Narduzzi said. "We'll learn more going down there. I think the kids will really learn the rivalries on the road and how hostile it is. Rivalries are rivalries. It's nothing more than any other game for me. We know we're just down the road. But it's a football game that means a lot to a lot of people. Our Pitt fans are passionate. West Virginia fans are passionate. People want to see you play well in those games."
West Virginia and Pitt will kick off at 7:30 p.m. EST on ABC.
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