2007 Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia football game
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia football game (also known simply by its final score 13-9) was a college football
game held in Morgantown, West Virginia
that marked the 100th edition of the Backyard Brawl
rivalry. Unranked and 4-7 Pitt
, a 28½ point underdog, pulled the upset over arch rival WVU
who, coming into the game, was ranked second in the BCS
and AP Poll
and first in the Coaches' Poll. By upsetting West Virginia in the Mountaineers' regular season and home finale, the Panthers knocked WVU out of what had been assured to be their first appearance in a BCS National Championship Game
and a shot at their first ever National Championship
. The game was one of the most important Backyard Brawls in the series history, one of the biggest upsets in both Pittsburgh and West Virginia history, one of the biggest upsets of the season, and was voted as the "Game of the Year" by ESPNU
.
The Mountaineers, however, could never get their high-powered offense going against the Panthers and were hurt by fumbles, missed field goals, and an injury to star quarterback Pat White, who missed most of the game with a sore thumb. Trailing by one possession late in the fourth quarter, West Virginia twice had the ball in Pitt territory. Pat White had just returned but both times failed to convert on fourth down plays. The final Pitt possession saw the underdogs run the ball out of the back of the end zone for an intentional safety as the clock expired. West Virginia's kicker Pat Mcafee missed two field goals in the game and Pitt's kicker Conor Lee missed one.
, mocking the WVU couch burning tradition.
Several football recruits that were visiting West Virginia for the game ended up on the cheering with the Panthers on their side line by the end of the game. Several of them later decided to play for Pitt over West Virginia. The game was seen as a turning point in Coach Dave Wannstedt's early tenure at Pitt, during which he had struggled and seemingly stagnated. The trickle-down affect of West Virginia being knocked out of the BCS Championship has been speculated to have had a major impact on the bowl placement of many teams and the filling of various head-coaching positions. Most prominently affected was LSU
, who slid into WVU's slot and ended up winning the BCS Championship.
The game turned out to have a profound impact on the future of Michigan
, which was in the midst of a search to replace retiring coach Lloyd Carr
. Two weeks after the loss, Michigan hired Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez
as Carr's successor. Had West Virginia beaten Pitt, Rodriguez likely would not have left West Virginia and passed up the chance to play for a BCS National Championship, and Michigan would have been forced to look elsewhere for its coach. Michigan fired Rodriguez after the 2010 season.
The game was named as the "Game of the Year" by ESPNU
and other publications. It was also the first time the Pittsburgh Panthers defeated a no. 2 ranked opponent since their 24-20 win over Georgia in the 1982 Sugar Bowl.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
game held in Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
that marked the 100th edition of the Backyard Brawl
Backyard Brawl
The Backyard Brawl is an annual football game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The term "Backyard Brawl" has also been used to refer to college basketball games played annually or semi-iannually and may also be used to refer to other...
rivalry. Unranked and 4-7 Pitt
2007 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
The 2007 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2007 college football season.-Schedule:-Team Players drafted into in the NFL:...
, a 28½ point underdog, pulled the upset over arch rival WVU
2007 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2007 West Virginia Mountaineers football team began play on September 1, 2007. The team was coached by Rich Rodriguez until he announced on December 16, 2007 that he was leaving West Virginia to coach the Michigan Wolverines. The head coaching position remained vacant after his announcement,...
who, coming into the game, was ranked second in the BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
and AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
and first in the Coaches' Poll. By upsetting West Virginia in the Mountaineers' regular season and home finale, the Panthers knocked WVU out of what had been assured to be their first appearance in a BCS National Championship Game
2008 BCS National Championship Game
The 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 7, 2008, and featured the #1 and #2 college football teams in the United States as determined by the BCS Poll to decide the BCS National Championship for the 2007...
and a shot at their first ever National Championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
. The game was one of the most important Backyard Brawls in the series history, one of the biggest upsets in both Pittsburgh and West Virginia history, one of the biggest upsets of the season, and was voted as the "Game of the Year" by ESPNU
ESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
.
Game summary
The weather was cold with a slight West wind. The game began at 7:45pm Eastern Standard Time.The Mountaineers, however, could never get their high-powered offense going against the Panthers and were hurt by fumbles, missed field goals, and an injury to star quarterback Pat White, who missed most of the game with a sore thumb. Trailing by one possession late in the fourth quarter, West Virginia twice had the ball in Pitt territory. Pat White had just returned but both times failed to convert on fourth down plays. The final Pitt possession saw the underdogs run the ball out of the back of the end zone for an intentional safety as the clock expired. West Virginia's kicker Pat Mcafee missed two field goals in the game and Pitt's kicker Conor Lee missed one.
Second quarter
- WVU - Jarrett Brown 6 Yd Run (Pat Mcafee Kick) WVU 7-0
- PITT - Conor Lee 48 Yd field goal WVU 7-3
Fourth quarter
- PITT - Conor Lee 18 Yd field goal PITT 13-7
- WVU - Ball Through End Zone PITT 13-9
Aftermath
The outcome of the game was met with stunned silence from Mountaineer fans while a small number of Pittsburgh fans were cheering in similar shock. At Pitt's campus in Pittsburgh, large numbers of students began forming in different locations of the Oakland neighborhood. In addition to the crowds a sofa chair was burned in front of the university's Cathedral of LearningCathedral of Learning
The Cathedral of Learning, a Pittsburgh landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is the centerpiece of the University of Pittsburgh's main campus in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
, mocking the WVU couch burning tradition.
Several football recruits that were visiting West Virginia for the game ended up on the cheering with the Panthers on their side line by the end of the game. Several of them later decided to play for Pitt over West Virginia. The game was seen as a turning point in Coach Dave Wannstedt's early tenure at Pitt, during which he had struggled and seemingly stagnated. The trickle-down affect of West Virginia being knocked out of the BCS Championship has been speculated to have had a major impact on the bowl placement of many teams and the filling of various head-coaching positions. Most prominently affected was LSU
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
, who slid into WVU's slot and ended up winning the BCS Championship.
The game turned out to have a profound impact on the future of Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
, which was in the midst of a search to replace retiring coach Lloyd Carr
Lloyd Carr
Lloyd H. Carr is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 1995 through the 2007 season. Under Carr, the Wolverines compiled a record of 122–40 and won or shared five Big Ten Conference titles...
. Two weeks after the loss, Michigan hired Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez
Rich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
as Carr's successor. Had West Virginia beaten Pitt, Rodriguez likely would not have left West Virginia and passed up the chance to play for a BCS National Championship, and Michigan would have been forced to look elsewhere for its coach. Michigan fired Rodriguez after the 2010 season.
The game was named as the "Game of the Year" by ESPNU
ESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
and other publications. It was also the first time the Pittsburgh Panthers defeated a no. 2 ranked opponent since their 24-20 win over Georgia in the 1982 Sugar Bowl.
See also
- 2007 Appalachian State vs. Michigan football game2007 Appalachian State vs. Michigan football gameThe 2007 Appalachian State-Michigan game was a college football game held on September 1 at Michigan Stadium on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It pitted the #5 ranked Michigan Wolverines against the two-time defending champions of the Division I FCS, the...
- List of historically significant college football games
External links
- http://pittsburghpanthers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120607aab.html. December 6, 2007 University of Pittsburgh Official Athletic Site
- http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07336/838564-233.stm. December 2, 2007 Pittsburgh Post Gazette official site
- http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273350277. December 1, 2007 ESPN