By: Clark Johnson | WV Sports Chat
Morgantown, WV – There are few things in the world that fires up Mountaineer fans more than the Backyard Brawl. When West Virginia and Pitt meet on the gridiron, a heart-pounding, intense battle is almost guaranteed to occur. WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez knows the more than anybody.
The 63-year old head coach, who is now in his second stint with the WVU Football program, has taken part in eight Brawls. He has experienced the highs and suffered through the lows, all the while understanding what makes the rivalry so special.
In a recent interview with On3, Rodriguez let it be known that he believes the rivalry should never take a hiatus.
The Backyard Brawl previously went over a decade without being played, from 2012-2021. Now, the rivalry is currently slated to take a three-season break before being renewed in 2029. Rodriguez wants to put an end to the scheduling conflicts between the two programs.
Here is what Rodriguez had to say regarding the Backyard Brawl:
“We should all come together in one league and have regions as they do in the NFL. We have Pitt and Penn State, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Virginia, Cincinnati — all those schools right around us in our area. Our fans would eat that up. That would be great, wouldn’t it? I don’t know if that’s ever going to happen because there are TV agreements for the next six or seven years, but I’d love to play Pitt every year.”
Not only does Rodriguez want the Brawl played annually, but he pleads for regionality in college football once again. In his perfect world, the sport adopts the NFL model, placing teams in regions based on region. This would entail West Virginia playing most of their biggest rivals – Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Maryland, and Penn State. The one school, however, that Rodriguez made it clear he wants on the schedule every season is Pitt.
Will this wish ever come to fruition? It remains to be seen. However, if both programs want to make the rivalry annual again in the future, there is little doubt that it will not happen.
WVU defeated Pitt last season in overtime, 31-24.
(Photo by WVU Athletics)
