Countdown to Kickoff
November 14, 2003 06:07 PM | General
November 14, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia (5-4/3-1) plays host to Pitt (7-2/4-0) in the 96th edition of the “Backyard Brawl” at 7 pm on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Mountaineer Field (63,500) in Morgantown. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2 (Dave Barnett, Bill Curry and Heather Cox).
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| Betty Lou Kennedy, Bridget Escue and Shirley Spears (sitting from left to right) and Don Kennedy and Bob Spears (standing from left to right) get ready for Saturday's big game. The Kennedys are from Edison, N.J., and Spears and Escue are from Point Pleasant, W.Va.(All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
No tickets remain for the Pitt game, which is the finale of Mountaineer week on the WVU campus. The Mountaineer Fan Festival begins at 4 pm in the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility. Fans will have a chance to walk through the giant inflatable WV helmet and play on various inflatable games. Admission is free before every home game.
The Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity is sponsoring the 34th annual “Run From Pitt;” since 1970, APO members from WVU and Pitt have run the game ball along Rt. 19 in a 73-mile relay from the visiting to home team’s stadium to raise money and heighten awareness for autism research. This year, Papa John’s is a sponsor of the “Run From Pitt,” and will donate 20 percent of all Nov. 17 sales at their Morgantown location to the cause.
Prior to Saturday night’s game, Mountaineer fans can also catch their first glimpse of the WVU basketball team in an exhibition game against Northwest Sports at 3 pm at the WVU Coliseum. Admission is free.
Here is Saturday’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – TEN different West Virginia players have carried the football this season. West Virginia, with an average of 210.7 yards per game, is ranked 16th in the nation this week in rushing offense.
9 – West Virginia has won NINE of its last 11 games against Big East teams under Coach Rich Rodriguez. WVU’s only two conference losses during this streak have come against Miami.
8 – Running back Quincy Wilson extended West Virginia’s streak of having a 1,000-yard rusher to EIGHT straight seasons. Wilson shows 1,018 yards in nine games entering Saturday’s Backyard Brawl.
7 – The last two West Virginia-Pitt games have been decided by SEVEN points or less. Two years ago in 2001, the Panthers defeated West Virginia 23-17 in Morgantown and last year West Virginia pulled out a 24-17 victory in Pittsburgh.
6 – Quincy Wilson moved up to SIXTH place on the WVU career rushing charts against Boston College and now shows 2,246 yards. He needs just 211 yards to pass Robert Alexander for fifth place with 2,456.
5 – Pitt quarterback Rod Rutherford has thrown for more than 300 yards FIVE times this season. Rutherford threw for a season-high 381 yards in a win at Rutgers, and also had 300-yard performances against Toledo (315), Syracuse (310), Boston College (329) and Virginia Tech (303).
4 – Pitt comes into Saturday’s game having won FOUR straight Big East Conference games against Rutgers, Syracuse, Boston College and Virginia Tech. The Panthers currently sit atop the Big East standings
3 – West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez has won THREE times against nationally ranked teams including a 28-7 victory over No. 3-rated Virginia Tech earlier this season. Rodriguez’ other wins against ranked teams came last year against Virginia Tech and Pitt.
2 – West Virginia has won BOTH of its night games at Mountaineer Field under Coach Rich Rodriguez -- night games are considered those games that start at 5 pm or later. Earlier this year West Virginia defeated Virginia Tech, 28-7 under the lights.
1 – Linebacker Grant Wiley ranks FIRST in the nation in forced fumbles with seven and he also ranks third in total tackles (12.8 tpg) and 13th in solo stops (7.9 tpg).
Enjoy Saturday’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete post-game coverage.
