88
BACKYARD BRAWL IN MORGANTOWN
Where?
Milan Puskar Stadium
Law Drive
Morgantown, WV 26506
When?
In Morgantown this one happens every other year in late November or early December. Some games have occurred on Thanksgiving Day.
Significance:
When the University of Pittsburgh Panthers meet the West Virginia University Mountaineers, a literal “Backyard Brawl” ensues. One of the oldest and most intense college football rivalries in the United States began in 1895. As with many other gridiron grudges, the main cause of the tension is proximity. Seventy miles separate schools that often vie for the same recruits. These recruits are worth fighting over. They are true blue-chippers as approximately 400 have gone on to the National Football League with nearly thirty of them being first-round draft picks.
Pitt can claim more victories, but the Mountaineers have had their share of wins. During the 2007 “Brawl,” the Panthers upset the Mountaineers by knocking them out of the BCS National Championship Game. It was the biggest upset for the Panthers and the “Game of the Year” after the votes were tallied by ESPNU. And it did nothing to quell the tension between these two neighboring schools.
Who attends?
Thousands of screaming Mountaineer and Panther fans hoping their team wins the backyard brawl.
Tickets:
For secondary ticket access, consider:
GoTickets, Inc.
2345 Waukegan Road, Suite 140
Bannockburn, IL 60015-1552
Toll-Free: 1-800-775-1617
Fax: (919) 481-9101
E-mail: sales@gotickets.com
www.gotickets.com
Accommodations:
Euro Suites
501 Chestnut Ridge Road
Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: (304) 598-1000
Fax: (304) 599-2736
Toll-Free: 1-800-6-SUITES
www.euro-suites.comNote: Walking distance to the stadium with comfortable rooms, and, of course, Southern hospitality.
Hampton Inn Morgantown
1053 Van Voorhis Road
Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: (304) 599-1200
Fax: (304) 598-7331
Toll-Free: 1-800-HAMPTON
www.hamptoninn.comNote: A great view of the mountains of West Virginia. Minutes from outdoor activities such as fishing and rafting. Also close to unique shops, restaurants, and a theater.
Historic Clarion Hotel Morgantown
Note: Located near WVU and the Morgantown Municipal Airport. Close to the shops at Mountaineer Mall and Morgantown Mall.
Quality Inn Morgantown
1400 Saratoga Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: (304) 599-1680
Fax: (304) 598-0989
Toll-Free: 1-800-424-6423
www.qualityinn.comNote: Walking distance from WVU and a short drive to Coopers Rock State Forest, Cheat Lake, and Forks of Cheat Winery.On-Site Hospitality:
Who has time for onsite hospitality when you should be enjoying the type of “brawl” that only happens once a year? Plenty of tailgating goes on around the stadium prior to this one. It’s extra special the closer it falls near Thanksgiving.
Travel Packages:
If you are going to travel to this event, I would recommend using a reliable company to work with you on making the necessary arrangements. The suppliers listed in this book have solid references and are by far the most trusted in the business. Below are some of the organizations to try for this Top 100 Must See Sporting Event.
Premiere Corporate Events
14 Penn Plaza, Suite 925
New York, NY 10122
Phone: (212) 695-9480
Fax: (212) 564-8098
Toll-Free: 1-877-621-5243
E-mail: requests@tseworld.com
www.tseworld.comwww.pcevents.comPremiere Sports Travel
201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Suite 205
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: (919) 481-9511
Fax: (919) 481-1337
Toll-Free: 1-800-924-9993
E-mail: sales@sportstravel.com
www.sportstravel.comPremiere College Sports (Powered by Dodd’s Athletic Tours)
Dining:
Chic ’n Bones Rhythm Café
444 Chestnut Street
Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: (304) 291-5060
Note: You will find other Mountaineer fans for a drink before and after the game at this Morgantown hangout.
West Virginia Brewing Company
1291 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: (304) 296-BREW
Note: This local pub brews its own and is only 1.5 miles from the stadium.
Boston Beanery Restaurant
Note: Grilled sandwiches, hand-battered seafood, steaks, and chicken are on the menu. Relaxing environment for the entire family.
Blue Moose Café
Note: Serving rich gourmet coffee and tea to go with a bagel, pastry, or a vegetarian meal at lunch.
Maxwell’s
Note: A Morgantown institution for over twenty years. Try their famous and plentiful Sunday brunch after the game.
Madeleine’s
Note: Made-from-scratch dishes and great salads in a kid-friendly environment with eclectic artwork adorning the walls.
Airport:
Morgantown Municipal Airport-Walter L. Bill Hart Field
Sports Travel Insider’s Edge:
Best way to watch the action:
Any one of the ten field suites or 648 club seats will set you back a few dollars, but the view is hard to resist. The north end zone or first level of the press box provides great locations to watch the game. Simply put, there is not a bad seat in this stadium.
Best place to get up close:
First, if you can get up close, do not wear a Pitt shirt. The fans are friendly, but they do have their limits. Thanksgiving-time themed tailgating is a main attraction and longtime tradition in Morgantown. Most of the tailgating takes place in the parking lots around the stadium.
Best travel tip:
As the “Best Small City in the Nation,” according to
bizjournals.com, Morgantown is a “must see.” Main Street has over seventy retail stores and thirty plus restaurants, bars, and cafés. You will not find many chain restaurants, but more unique places featuring an eclectic mix along the street. In addition, the Monongahela “Mon” River is the perfect setting for walking, jogging, or biking.
Notable Quotes:
“Some rivalries might be more publicized than this one, but none has more tradition than the Backyard Brawl.”—RYAN MUNDY, former West Virginia safety
“When you talk about the rivalry between Pitt and West Virginia, it is a historic game. It is almost like the Hatfields and McCoys. I don’t hate Pitt, but I don’t like them, either.”—DARYL TALLEY, WVU consensus All-American linebacker and fourteen-year NFL veteran
“Their [West Virginia’s] fans just hated us with a passion. The night before that [1979] game, out in the parking lot at the hotel, people were making noise till four in the morning. They were partying, yelling . . . anything they could do to try to disturb us.”—ESPN’s MARK MAY, former member of the Pitt Panthers and Washington Redskins
Relevant Websites: