Neal Brown gives take on renewal of Backyard Brawl rivalry vs Pitt

The Backyard Brawl, a rivalry game between West Virginia and Pitt, hasn’t taken place since 2011. It was lost to conference realignment, as Pitt went to the ACC and West Virginia to the Big 12. In 2022, the game will be revived as an out-of-conference match-up. Now, West Virginia head coach Neal Brown has a new take on the revival of the game.

“Well, it’s an important rivalry,” Neal Brown said while explaining that he wasn’t the coach when the series was scheduled.

“It’s really important for us to play regional rivalries,” said Neal Brown. “The Backyard Brawl will be my first opportunity to be a part of it. Our fan base is extremely passionate about that game. So it’s a game that I would be in favor of playing each year. I think it’s a great kickoff for college football.”

Neal Brown said that the Backyard Brawl was more than just a great game for fans to get excited about. It’s also a great game to focus and excite his team ahead of Week 1.

“It’s been a great carrot for our guys as we’ve gone through winter, through spring ball, now through summer workouts to know that,” said Neal Brown. “Man, we’ve got not only a game to look forward to but it’s a rivalry game that’s going to be in prime time. We’re not playing on so-called week zero, but we are the premier Power Five game versus a Power Five opponent on Thursday night, and our guys are excited.”

The Backyard Brawl is one of several rivalries that was lost due to conference realignment. It’s also one of several old rivalries that have recently been renewed. The Oklahoma–Nebraska series is another great example of this.

Neal Brown’s West Virginia will enter with a three-game winning streak against Pitt. However, the Panthers lead the series overall, with a 61-40-3 record all-time.