The Backyard Brawl will live on. Thank goodness.
If Pitt and West Virginia can extend their series amid all of this sport's uncertainty, what's every other rivalry's excuse?
As far as press release quotes go, this one was a doozy.
Pat Narduzzi, never one to shy away from making noise, clearly did not employ ChatGPT for this statement Friday:
“I couldn’t be more thrilled for what this means for both Pitt and West Virginia. But this goes far beyond four more games and the 75 miles separating us. This paves the way for future Panthers to carry on the history of this rivalry, while current ones get to forge new legacies for years to come.”
The best part came last:
“This extension isn’t just for Pitt and West Virginia, but for college football fans everywhere.”
Amen, Coach.
Why don’t more follow?
Pitt and West Virginia face off Saturday in what will be the last iteration of the Backyard Brawl for three years. Once the series resumes in 2029, though, it will go on for eight straight years, per Friday’s announcement that the two have extended their series from 2033-36, on top of the looming four-game agreement.