RSS | 
Twitter
| 
Be a fan!
Wannstedt memories clear, vivid
Chicago and Green Bay.
The Cowboys and Redskins.
Miami and New England.
Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest
Current rating:
The University of Miami and Florida State.
Pitt and Penn State.
The passion surrounding those games is intense, just like the annual contest between Pitt and West Virginia, which Wannstedt ranks among the best.
"I can vividly go play-by-play on the last three West Virginia games," Wannstedt said.
That pinpoint memory includes embarrassing losses in 2005 and 2006 - West Virginia scored 45 points in each games - and last year's improbable 13-9 victory that derailed the Mountaineers' national championship aspirations.
The biggest upset victory for Pitt in the first 100 years of the Backyard Brawl, a rivalry that dates back to 1895, created an immediate and lasting impact.
Rich Rodriguez bolted West Virginia for Michigan shortly after that devastating loss.
Things aren't going so well for Rodriguez, probably the most hated man from Morgantown to Beckley and all points in between. No doubt, WVU fans are smiling now as Rodriguez led Michigan to a season in which they lost to Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan State in the same year for only the second time.
Bill Stewart stepped in and coached the Mountaineers to a Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma.
In a knee-jerk reaction, West Virginia hired Stewart following the bowl game. The curious move looked like a bad one when West Virginia was outcoached in back-to-back losses at East Carolina and Colorado. Now, the Mountaineers have won six of seven and the Stewart bandwagon is getting crowded. A win against West Virginia's most despised opponent would be enough to fill it.
For Pitt, the victory created recruiting momentum - Wannstedt landed a landslide of big-time recruits - and unrealistic expectations for a team with a first-year starting quarterback, restructured offensive line and shaky secondary.
"The only negative thing was it went on way too long," Wannstedt said. "We were asked questions about that game well into training camp and it propelled us into the national rankings at the beginning of the season, which we didn't deserve."
Pitt (7-3, 3-2 Big East) dropped out of those rankings following a season-opening loss to Bowling Green. After a five-game win streak, the Panthers dropped out again after losing to Rutgers. They climbed back into the Top 25 a third time, only to plummet after a loss at Cincinnati.
West Virginia (7-3, 4-1) opened the year in the Top 10. The early losses saw the Mountaineers drop out until early November. Then, a loss to Cincinnati dropped them as soon as they got back.
It's an incredibly important game for both. Not only will the winner make another Top 25 appearance, it aligns itself for a nice bowl game, possibly the Gator Bowl, but most likely the Sun Bowl. It's also the first time since 2004 that the game meant something more than a rivalry to both teams.
And it will likely be another game for Wannstedt to remember, win or lose.
"You put so much into it. I can remember every West Virginia game I played as a player and the last three," Wannstedt said. "It's up there. It's up there with the playoff games, the Super Bowl games. It never really left me. That's the crazy thing.
"Before I came back, when I'd come home and we'd get together, all we ever talked about were the games against West Virginia, Penn State and Notre Dame. Those are the ones we always remember."
Mike Kovak can be reached at mkovak@observer-reporter.com.
