| Pittsburgh Panthers | |
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| University | University of Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| Conference | Big East |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletics director | Steve Pederson |
| Location | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Varsity teams | 17 |
| Football stadium | Heinz Field |
| Basketball arena | Petersen Events Center |
| Baseball stadium | Trees Field |
| Other arenas | Fitzgerald Field House |
| Mascot | "ROC" the Panther[1] |
| Nickname | PITT |
| Fight song | Hail to Pitt |
| Colors | Blue and Gold
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| Homepage | www.pittsburghpanthers.com/ |
The Pittsburgh Panthers is the name given to the sports teams of University of Pittsburgh. The university is a member of the Big East Conference, Eastern Wrestling League, East Atlantic Gymnastics League, and Eastern College Athletic Conference. Pitt fields 17 varsity teams at the highest level of competitive collegiate athletics in the United States, NCAA Division I. Recently, ESPN.com used the Sagarin system to rate universities based on the strength of their performance in football and men’s basketball over the course of the last five years. Pitt was tied for 10th as one of the nation’s top two-sport schools. In another recent ranking, an all-sports ranking done by Sports Illustrated on Campus, Pitt was ranked 17th among all of the country’s universities in terms of the overall strength of its athletic program. Pitt is one of only five current NCAA Division 1A schools to have won multiple national championships in both football (5) and basketball (2).
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List of Sponsored Varsity Sports
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The Panthers participate in NCAA Division I (Division I-A for football). All Pitt varsity sports teams compete in the Big East Conference except for wrestling (Eastern Wrestling League) and women's gymnastics (East Atlantic Gymnastics League).
Scholar Athletes
During 2006, out of approximately 450 Pitt student-athletes, 311 had term grade point averages exceeding 3.0, 23 had a perfect term grade point average of 4.0, and 124 were named Big East Academic All-Stars.
Football
Traditionally the most popular sport at the University of Pittsburgh is football, at which Pitt has competed at the highest levels since 1889. During the more than 100 years of competitive football at Pitt, the university has fielded some of the greatest all-time teams, players and coaches.
9-Time National Champions
The University of Pittsburgh officially claims 9 National Championships for the Panthers football team: 4 unanimous ones (1916, 1918, 1937, and 1976) and 5 shared titles (1915, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936). The University of Pittsburgh bases its claim for the first 8 national championships on a study conducted in 1970 by Sports Illustrated[1]. These championships, together with its unanimous championship of 1976, are the basis for the university's claim of 9 national championship seasons. Furthermore, in 8 additional years at least one recognized selector of national championships has declared Pitt a National Champion. In total Pitt has been recognized as the National Champion by at least one selector in a total of 17 different seasons[2][3][4]: Pitt has had 8 undefeated seasons: 1904 (10-0), 1910 (9-0), 1915 (8-0), 1916 (8-0), 1917 (10-0), 1920 (6-0-2), 1937 (9-0-1), and 1976 (12-0). Of these 8 undefeated seasons, 4 are not claimed as national championship seasons by Pitt.
Pitt has also had 17 one-loss seasons (1894, 1899, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931-1936, 1963, and 1979-1981). Pitt won Eastern football titles in 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1936*, 1937*, 1955*, 1976*, 1979*, 1980*, and won a co-share of the Big East Conference championship and received a BCS bowl berth in 2004.
*Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy (est. 1936) winner
Football Traditions & Facts
The football team has played at Recreation Park until 1899[5][6], and then began playing games at Exposition Park in 1900[7], but did not exclusively lease the park until 1904.[8][9] Pitt moved in to Forbes Field from 1909 to 1924, and the at Pitt Stadium in 1925. The team moved into Three Rivers Stadium for the 2000 season and then into Heinz Field, where they currently play, in 2001. The upper section of the Cathedral of Learning is illuminated in gold-colored lights after a football team victory. In addition, whenever the football teams scores a touchdown, the ships of the Gateway Clipper Fleet sound their horns. Pitt's tradition of elite college athletes includes; Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka, Dan Marino, Mark May, Marshall Goldberg, Joe Schmidt, Bill Fralic, Hugh Green, Curtis Martin,and Johnny Majors. Dorsett, Ditka, Marino, May, Goldberg, Schmidt, Fralic, and Green are the only players in Pitt history to have their numbers retired. Additional NFL Alum with Pitt ties are Russ Grimm and Jimmy Johnson. Recent NFL players and coaches with Pitt ties, are among several others,Cardinal's WR Larry Fitzgerald, former Charger coach Marty Schottenheimer, and Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden. Also of note is alum Beano Cook. While Beano has no formal NFL ties, he has been a respected member of the sports journalism community for well over 20 years. Pitt Panthers football has also gained a reputation as a national leader in innovation, Bobby Grier became the first African-American player to break the Bowl game color-barrier in 1956.[10] Former NFL head coach and Pitt alum Dave Wannstedt was hired in late 2004 as head football coach. Long-standing football rivalries with Penn State University, the University of Notre Dame, the Backyard Brawl with West Virginia University, and the new River City Rivalry with the University of Cincinnati also highlight Pitt's resume.
Hall of Fame & All Americans
The Pitt Panthers have a long history of producing top football talent. Pitt has produced 85 1st team All-Americans (49 consensus All-Americans, 7th most of all schools). There are 24 Pitt Panthers in the College Football Hall of Fame and four that are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka, and Joe Schmidt
Men's Basketball
Pitt began playing men's basketball in 1905-06 and 20 years later had become a national power as evidenced by Pitt's two Helms Foundation National Championships in 1927-28 and 1929-30. Those teams were led by National Player of the Year, 3-time All-American and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Hyatt. During this period, Pitt was coached by the legendary and ground-breaking Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Henry Clifford "Doc" Carlson, MD, who would end up being at the reins of Pitt's hoops program for 30 consecutive seasons (1923-24 to 1952-53). Led by two-time All-American Clarie Cribbs, Pitt continued success through the 1930s winning four Eastern Collegiate Conference Championships. Pitt appeared in the 1941 NCAA Final Four, and, led by two-time All-American and Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame inducte Don Hennon, appeared in two NCAA tournaments during the 1950s. Bob Timmons took over for "Doc" Carlson and led Pitt to an NCAA and NIT appearance in the 1960s and was followed by head coach Chuck Ridl who, with All-American Billy Knight, led Pitt to the Elite Eight in 1974 and an NIT appearance the year after. Following a short stint at head coach by Tim Grgurich, who led Pitt to the 1980 NIT, Dr. Roy Chipman was hired to lead the Panthers into what could be considered the modern, Big East era of Pitt basketball, and the start of a rollercoaster-like trip back to national significance. Beginning with the 1980-81 season, Roy Chipman took Pitt to its third consecutive post-season appearance with an NCAA second-round appearance following an Eastern 8 Conference tournament title, followed by the another Eastern 8 tournament championship and NCAA berth the following season. With the opening of the 1982-1983 season, Pitt began play as a member of the new Big East Conference. Although Chipman would lead Pitt to three more post-season appearances, he was replaced by Paul Evans as head coach in 1986-87. In eight seasons as head coach, Paul Evans' teams, led by All-Americans Charles Smith and Jerome Lane, would capture two regular-season Big East Championships, secure several top 10 rankings, and advance to 5 NCAA tournaments and one NIT. Following Evans' departure, Ralph Willard took over the Pitt program in 1994-95 and advanced to one NIT in 5 seasons. Ben Howland, who would become national coach of the year while at Pitt in 2002, took over in 1999-2000. In his second season as head coach, Howland's Pitt team would be led by All-American guard Brandin Knight to the Big East tournament championship game and NIT, followed the next two seasons by back-to-back NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances, back-to-back Big East regular season championships, and two more Big East tournament championship game appearances topped by winning the Big East tournament in 2003. Howland's assistant, Jamie Dixon, took over as head coach of the team in 2003-2004 and the program didn't miss a beat registering a third straight Big East regular season championship and NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance as well as another appearance in the Big East tournament championship game. The success has continued with two more Big East tournament championship appearances and 3 additional consecutive NCAA appearances, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2007.Thanks to Aaron Gray
Women's Basketball
The Pittsburgh Panthers Women's Varsity Basketball program started during the 1914-1915 school year and lasted until 1927 before going on hiatus until 1970. Pitt's women's team has posted several conference and NWIT/EAIAW Tournament Appearances. In 2006-2007, the Pitt women, led head coach Agnus Benerato, advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, losing to eventual national champion Tennessee.
Olympic Sports
Pitt has had a long history of success in other intercollegiate athletic events.
Track and Field
In Track and Field, Pitt has produced several Olympic and NCAA champions such as 800m Olympic gold medalist John Woodruff, two-time 110m hurdle Olympic gold medalist Roger Kingdom, and 7-time NCAA champion and 2005 World Champion triple jumper Trecia-Kaye Smith.[11]
Wrestling
The wrestling program has a rich history and is among the leaders in producing individual national champions with 15.[12]
Volleyball
Pitt's women's volleyball is the 12th winningest program in the nation[13] and has won 11 Big East Championships and appeared in 11 NCAA tournaments since the program began in 1974.[14]
Swimming and Diving
Pitt's Swimming and Diving teams have produced several Olympians and won 19 men's and 9 women's Big East Championships since joining the conference in 1983.
Gymnastics
Pitt women's gymnastics has qualified for the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship all but two years in the last ten seasons.[15]
Baseball
Baseball, Pitt's oldest sport, has produced multiple major league baseball players and has become on common presence in the Big East post-season championship.[16] Other sports have also found success.
Soccer, Softball, and Tennis
Pitt also fields competitive Big East Conference teams in men's and women's soccer, softball, and women's tennis.
Support Groups
The history rich Pitt Band was founded in 1911 and performs at athletic and other events. The Pitt Cheerleaders have won multiple cheerleading national championships, including three straight from 1992-1994. At the 2007 NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheerleading and Dance National Championships, Pitt's Cheer squad won the 2007 Challenge Cup and finished in eighth place overall in the All-Girl Division I category. The Pitt Dance Team has also been competitive in national competitions, earning a top-20 finish at the NCA/NDA competition in the Division IA category.[17][18]
Rivalries
Pitt biggest active rivalry is with West Virginia University, which began with football games that date back to 1895. The annual contest is called the Backyard Brawl, due to the proximity of the two schools' main campuses (they are 80 miles apart) and the shared boundary between western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The game is traditionally played on Thanksgiving weekend. In 2007, the two schools will play in the 100th game of the Backyard Brawl. A basketball rivalry with WVU shares an intensity similar to that of the football one. Pitt's largest former football rival was Penn State University, which is still a heated rivalry among some fans. The series began in 1905 and ended in 2000 with Penn State leading the series 50-42-4. The two teams ended play due to long standing coaching and administrative feuding. Pitt athletic officials have publicly supported an annual renewal of the rivalry, however Penn State has publicly countered that it is financially restricted from agreeing to a long term series on a home and home basis. In addition, the two schools have stopped playing each other in men's basketball, but still compete in other sports as well as in recruiting. Pitt and Duquesne University have had a long-standing rivalry in men's basketball. Their annual game, alternating locations between the two campuses but once held every year at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena, attracts lots of local interest and has thus been dubbed the City Game. Both schools' women's teams also play their annual version of the City Game. Also, Pitt is one of the handful of schools that has a longstanding rivalry with the University of Notre Dame. Pitt has played Notre Dame on a semi-regular basis since 1899, with never more than three years passing between contests since 1943. The two universities recently[year needed] signed a contract to play eight games between 2008 and 2015. Pitt also has a long standing rivalry with eastern football foe Syracuse University, which often spills over onto the basketball court. In 2005, Pitt began a football rivalry with the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, dubbed the "River City Rivalry". This annual Big East Conference game stems from both cities being situated along the Ohio River and features a trophy of a riverboat telegraph (a device for signaling the boat's engine room) [19]. Pitt leads the series 3-0 after a 24-17 victory over the Bearcats on October 27, 2007. Pitt also has a significant basketball rivalry with the University of Connecticut. The Pitt and UConn rivalry first sparked with a last second win by then number one ranked Connecticut at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House in 1998 that was followed by a crowd-displeasing emotional outburst by Connecticut's Khalid Al-Amin. The rivalry took on new significance in the 2002 Big East Conference Tournament championship game that saw Pitt lose in double overtime. Pitt went on to avenge its loss the following season by defeating UConn in the 2003 Big East Championship game. Pitt and UConn also met for the championship in 2004 and have since played in many conference games of significance since. Since joining the Big East Conference in 2005, Marquette University has played several meaningful and close games with Pitt which have resulted in a burgeoning rivalry. In the 1980s, Pitt had an intense rivalry with cross-state rival and fellow Big East conference member Villanova University that was touched off by recruiting battles over several high profile players.
Club Sports
The following teams compete in intercollegiate non-varsity club sports: Men's and Women's Ultimate, Pitt Crew, Men's and Women's Ice Hockey, Men's and Women's Lacrosse, Men's and Women's Rugby Club, Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Water Polo, Panther Cycling Club, Panther Equestrian Club, Panther Wresting, Women's Fast-Pitch Softball, and Pitt Club Baseball [20]
Pittsburgh Panthers Radio Network
- Altoona, Pennsylvania (WFBG 1290 AM)
- Bedford, Pennsylvania (WBFD 1310 AM)
- Berwick, Pennsylvania (WFBS 1280 AM)
- Bradford, Pennsylvania (WESB 1490 AM)
- Butler, Pennsylvania (WBUT 1050 AM)
- Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Harrisburg) (WHYL 960 AM)
- Connellsville, Pennsylvania (WLSW 103.9 FM)
- DuBois, Pennsylvania (WCED 1420 AM)
- Erie, Pennsylvania (WFNN 1330 AM)
- Honesdale, Pennsylvania (WPSN 1590 AM)
- Huntington, Pennsylvania(State College) (WHUN 1150 AM)
- Indiana, Pennsylvania (WCCS 1160 AM)
- Johnstown, Pennsylvania (WCRO 1230 AM)
- Latrobe, Pennsylvania (WQTW 1570 AM)
- Myersdale, Pennsylvania(Somerset) (WQZS 93.3 FM)
- New Castle, Pennsylvania (WKST 1200 AM)
- Oil City, Pennsylvania (WKQW 96.3 FM)
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (WWSW 94.5 FM)
- Pittsburgh, PA (WBGG 970 AM)
- Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (104.1 FM)
- St. Mary's, Pennsylvania (WDDH 97.5 FM)
- Scranton, Pennsylvania (WICK 1400 AM)
- Uniontown, Pennsylvania (WBMS 590 AM)
- Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania WYCK 1340 AM)
- York, Pennsylvania (WOYK AM 1350)
- Yahoo! Sports Radio
- SIRIUS Satellite Radio
References
- ^ "ROC" the Panther Bio. University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved on 2007-01-12.
External links
- Official Site of PITT Panther Athletics
- [http://www.bigeast.org/schools/pitt/bige-pitt-body.html/ Big East Website - PITT Athletics
- A humorous take on Pitt Athletics
Profile]
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| Football: Cincinnati (Bearcats) • Connecticut (Huskies) • Louisville (Cardinals) • Pittsburgh (Panthers) • Rutgers (Scarlet Knights) • South Florida (Bulls) • Syracuse (Orange) • West Virginia (Mountaineers) |
| Non-football: DePaul (Blue Demons) • Georgetown (Hoyas*) • Marquette (Golden Eagles) • Notre Dame (Fighting Irish*) • Providence (Friars) • St. John's (Red Storm) • Seton Hall (Pirates) • Villanova (Wildcats*) |
| *These schools field football teams outside of the Big East |
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| Bloomsburg (Huskies) • Clarion (Eagles) • Cleveland State (Vikings) • Edinboro (Scots) • Lock Haven (Eagles) • Pittsburgh (Panthers) • West Virginia (Mountaineers) |
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| George Washington • Maryland • New Hampshire • North Carolina • NC State • Pitt • Rutgers • West Virginia |
![[19]](http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/cinn/sports/m-footbl/auto_action/298574.jpeg){kind=link}