WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
at
PITTSBUGH PANTHERS

LISTEN LIVE

Heinz Field (65,050/Natural Grass)
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Television
ABC — Beth Mowins, Ray Bentley and Quint Kessenich

West Virginia Radio   
Mountaineer Sports Network   
Sirius 121; XM 141   

Pittsburgh Radio
KDKA-FM 93.7 (flagship)
Sirius 126

THE GAME• THE BACKYARD BRAWL
The Backyard Brawl is the oldest and most-played active BIG EAST rivalry … Pittsburgh and West Virginia first met in 1895 and have played 102 times prior to Friday’s game … The schools have met every year since 1943 … Pittsburgh holds a 61-38-3 series lead … West Virginia took last year’s Brawl 19-16 at Milan Puskar Stadium … The most memorable recent matchup was in 2007, when Pittsburgh scored a 13-9 win in Morgantown to keep West Virginia from a likely spot in the BCS National Championship Game.

WEST VIRGINIA (7-3, 3-2 BIG EAST)
Head Coach
Bill Stewart (Fairmont State ’75)
25-11, third season at West Virginia
33-36, sixth year as collegiate head coach

NOTES
West Virginia enters the Backyard Brawl as the winner of two straight and comes in one game behind Pittsburgh in the BIG EAST standings … The Mountaineers would clinch at least a share of the BIG EAST title with wins in their last two games … A loss to Pittsburgh would eliminate the Mountaineers from the BIG EAST race … West Virginia remains the only team in the nation that has not allowed more than 21 points in a game this season … The Mountaineers rank fourth nationally in scoring defense (12.9 ppg) and total defense (245.1 ypg) while leading the BIG EAST in both categories … West Virginia ranks fifth nationally in sacks (3.2 per game) … RB Noel Devine has rushed for 828 yards and six touchdowns … QB Geno Smith has thrown for 2,003 yards and 19 touchdowns with six interceptions  … WR Jock Sanders is second in the BIG EAST in receptions (5.4 per game), while WR Tavon Austin is fourth (4.5 per game) … CB Keith Tandy leads the BIG EAST with six interceptions while DE Bruce Irvin has a conference-leading 10 sacks.

PITTSBURGH (6-4, 4-1 BIG EAST)
Head Coach
Dave Wannstedt (Pittsburgh ’74)
41-30, sixth season

NOTES
Pittsburgh enters its last two regular-season games in the proverbial driver’s seat with regard to the BIG EAST championship … The Panthers would win the outright BIG EAST title for the first time if they win their remaining two games … Pittsburgh would claim at least a share of the BIG EAST championship with a win against West Virginia … Pittsburgh’s only BIG EAST title to date was in 2004, when the Panthers were part of a four-way tie for first … The Panthers are 4-1 at home this season … QB Tino Sunseri has completed 66.7 percent of his passes (172 of 258) and has thrown for 2,034 yards and 14 touchdowns with just six interceptions … RB Ray Graham (89.3 yards per game, eight touchdowns) and RB Dion Lewis (73.4 ypg, eight touchdowns) make for one of the top backfield tandems in the nation … WR Jon Baldwin has 42 receptions for 677 yards and five touchdowns … In addition to the running back tandem, the Panthers boast a top-flight defensive end duo … DE Brandon Lindsey is tied for the conference lead in sacks (10) and is the outright leader in tackles for loss (14) … DE Jabaal Sheard is third in the BIG EAST with nine sacks.