Pitt Memories
November 12, 2003 03:26 PM | General
Willie Drewery returns this Pitt punt for a touchdown in 1984 (WVU Sports Communcations photo)
Thursday, November 13, 2003
My first introduction to the “Backyard Brawl” came in 1984 -- the year that West Virginia played up in Pittsburgh. In fact, WVU coach Rich Rodriguez was a member of that Mountaineer team.
My most vivid memory of that game was Willie Drewery returning a punt for a touchdown and Jack Fleming having a wonderful description of that run. “He went this way; he went that way; he went the other way.”
Afterward I just instantly knew West Virginia-Pitt was a big deal.
Another West Virginia-Pitt game that I remember very clearly was the 1988 game that was also played up there. As all West Virginia fans can attest, Pitt Stadium was never a pleasure to visit.
Reggie Rembert had a touchdown catch early in that game in the nearside corner of the end zone. The Pitt people were furious and said Rembert had pushed off to get open for the touchdown. It was a see-saw game and I remember standing on top of the roof of the press box next to a big Pitt supporter who was chomping on a cigar.
Standing on the other side of me was former WAJR sportscaster Keith Appell. When we ran that draw play to A.B. Brown that opened up like the Red Sea and he scored on a long touchdown that basically sealed the deal, I looked over to Appell and said loud enough to make sure the Pitt guy could hear me, “I think that just may have been the greatest play in the history of college football.”
The cigar-chomping Panther, who I later learned was their biggest financial supporter, gave me an ice-cold glare and stomped away with his tail between his legs.
Every time it’s Pitt week I always think of two people: Don Nehlen and Jack Fleming.
Even though he wasn’t a West Virginia native, Don Nehlen had a great appreciation for the Pitt game because he was involved in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry and he got a first-hand glimpse of how Bo Schembechler would get his team ready for Ohio State.
So when Don came here he realized that Pitt was his Ohio State and he was told by the people that hired him that the Pitt game was No. 1 on their priority list. He had great success against the Panthers, particularly in his last nine seasons winning seven of nine games.
The Pitt week was something he really enjoyed and I think he was really at his best in getting a team ready to play when there’s a lot on the line.
For Nehlen, I think getting the upper hand on Pitt is something he will look back fondly on.
And then there’s Jack. It was no secret that Jack did not share a liking for the Pittsburgh Panthers and he absolutely hated Pitt week.
He lived in Pittsburgh and he would have to hear all of the things from the people living in Pittsburgh all season long and so when Pitt week came, he was always a bundle of nerves as kickoff approached.
Jack always used to tell the story about being on his mother’s knee as a youngster and she would point out the Pitt players and tell him, “We hate Pitt.”
It was a love-hate relationship for Fleming: he loved to beat them but he hated the whole buildup to it because he knew if West Virginia didn’t win that he would have to deal with it for an entire year.
Those two really gave me an insight into just what this rivalry is all about.
Let’s have some fun this weekend and remember to be considerate of those around you. Be sure to bring your radios and listen to MSN’s “impartial” broadcast inside the stadium.
I have a feeling it will be one of those magical nights inside Mountaineer Field that we’ll be talking about for years to come.
