Pittsburgh Panthers

Pittsburgh Panthers
University	University of Pittsburgh
Conference	Big East ACC (TBA)
Division	Division I
Athletic director	Steve Pederson
Location	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Varsity teams	19
Football stadium	Heinz Field
Arena	Petersen Events Center
Baseball stadium	Charles L. Cost Field at the Petersen Sports Complex (PSC)
Other venues	Ambrose Urbanic Field at PSC Fitzgerald Field House Trees Pool Vartabedian Field at PSC
Mascot	"ROC" the Panther
Nickname	Panthers
Fight song	Hail to Pitt Pitt Victory Song
Colors	Blue and Gold
Website	pittsburghpanthers.cstv.com

Kiosk in the Great Hall at Heinz Field celebrating Pitt's 1976 football National Championship

The Pittsburgh Panthers, commonly also referred to as the Pitt Panthers, are the athletic teams of University of Pittsburgh, although the term is colloquially used to refer to other aspects of the university such as alumni, faculty, and students. Pitt fields 19 varsity teams at the highest level of competitive collegiate athletics in the United States, NCAA Division I, which compete as members of the Big East Conference, Eastern Wrestling League, East Atlantic Gymnastics League, and Eastern College Athletic Conference.

On September 18, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced that it had extended a formal invitation to Pittsburgh to join the ACC after approving their application. No start date has been set for the Panthers' official membership as of yet, but the school is scheduled to become a member by 2014.

The university's athletic program is one of only five current NCAA Division 1A schools to have won multiple national championships in both football (9) and basketball (2), and the Panthers have been ranked as having among the best combinations of football and basketball programs by multiple publications. Pitt was ranked as having the fifth best combination of football and basketball programs in CBSSports.com's Flourishing Five ranking in 2010. In its "Hoops & Helmets" list of the best combinations, CollegeFootballNews.com has ranked Pitt ninth in 2011, fifth in 2010, third in 2009, 30th in 2007, 26th in 2006, 12th in 2005, fourth in 2004, and third in 2003. Pitt was also ranked 19th for the best combined football and basketball programs during the BCS era and among the top 25 between 1974 and 2008 by Rivals.com. In addition, ESPN.com used the Sagarin mathematical system to rate universities based on the strength of their performance in football and men’s basketball for five years through 2006 and found Pitt was tied for 10th as one of the nation’s top two-sport schools. Further, in a 2006 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.

Department of Athletics

The University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics administers the 17 men's and women's varsity sports teams, as well as the spirit groups such as the Pitt Band and Pitt Cheerleaders. The Athletic Department also provides student-athlete academic support, the Panther Game Plan student-athlete life skills program, athletic training, marketing, development, media relations, and other support and administrative services and divisions.

Scholar Athletes

Joe Walton was both a First Team Athletic and Academic All-American in 1956

Each year the university honors student-athletes who have achieved academic success during the University of Pittsburgh Scholar-Athlete Awards Breakfast where it hands out Blue and Gold awards to student-athletes who have earned over a 3.0 GPA. The 2010-2011 academic year, out of approximately 450 Pitt athletes, 290 achieved a GPA of 3.0 or above, with 21 earning a perfect 4.0. In addition, 150 student-athletes were named as Big East Academic All-Stars or named to the all-academic Big East football team, which does not include athletes from the wrestling and gymnastics teams that compete in other conferences. In 2010, volleyball standout Meagan Dooley was named the Big East Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the university's seventh male or female Big East scholar-athlete of the year winner since the award was instituted in 1985. Dooley was also awarded one of 87 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships for women in 2010.

Varsity sports

The University of Pittsburgh sponsors in 19 varsity sports in NCAA Division I (Division I FBS for football), the highest competitive level of intercollegiate athletics in the United States. All Pitt varsity sports teams compete in the Big East Conference except for wrestling, which competes in the Eastern Wrestling League, and women's gymnastics, which competes in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League.

Men's sports Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Soccer Swimming & Diving Track & Field, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Wrestling

Women's sports Basketball Cross Country Gymnastics Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Volleyball

Pitt baseball circa the 1890s

Baseball

Main article: Pittsburgh Panthers baseball

Baseball, Pitt's oldest varsity sport started in 1869 and has produced multiple All-Americans, Major League Baseball players, and has become a regular threat in the Big East Baseball Tournament championship. The baseball team was ranked in the top 25 during the 2010 season and moved into a new facility, the Charles L. Cost Field at the Petersen Sports Complex, in 2011. Pitt baseball is coached by Joe Jordano.

^{NCAA tournament appearances (3): 1959, 1965, 1995
Conference Championships: Tournament (1): 1995; Regular Season (1): 1994}

Basketball

Men's basketball

Main article: Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball

A Pitt men's basketball game at the Petersen Events Center in 2009

Pitt began playing men's basketball in 1905 and soon become a national power winning two Helms Foundation National Championships in 1927–28 and 1929–30. Those teams, coached by the innovative and legendary Naismith Hall of Fame inductee "Doc" Carlson, were led by National Player of the Year and Hall of Famer Charlie Hyatt. Following a Final Four appearance in 1941, Pitt appeared in a handful of NCAA tournaments throughout the 50, 60s, and 70s, including an Elite Eight appearance in 1974 led by All-American Billy Knight. Pitt entered the Big East Conference in 1982, and by the end of the decade had secured a pair of Big East regular season championships led by All-Americans Charles Smith and Jerome Lane. The last decade has been an era of consistent national and conference competitiveness that has included 10 straight NCAA tournament appearances with five Sweet 16 appearances and an Elite Eight appearance in 2009. In total, Pitt has 23 NCAA appearances, seven Sweet Sixteen appearances, 10 conference regular season championships, four conference tournament championships, ten conference tournament championship game appearances, and 37 players drafted to play professionally with the most recent being Sam Young and DeJuan Blair. Pitt men's basketball plays its home games at the Petersen Events Center and is coached by Jamie Dixon.

^{National Championships (2 Helms): 1927-28, 1929-30 (23-2)
NCAA Final Four (1): 1941; Elite Eight (3): 1941, 1974, 2009; Sweet Sixteen (7): 1957, 1974, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009
NCAA tournament appearances (23): 1941, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
NIT appearances (8): 1964, 1975, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1997, 2001
Conference Championships: Tournament (4): 1981, 1982, 2003, 2008; Regular Season (10): 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1987, 1988, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011}

Women's basketball

The undefeated 1924-25 Pitt women's varsity basketball team

Main article: Pittsburgh Panthers 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 NCAA, NWIT, and EAIAW regional tournament appearances. Over the last five seasons, Pitt has appeared in the national rankings and advanced to five straight post-season tournaments. Included in that stretch are three NCAA Tournament bids which resulted in Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2008 and 2009. Pitt women's basketball plays its home games at the Petersen Events Center and is coached by Agnus Berenato.

^{NCAA Sweet Sixteen (2): 2008, 2009
NCAA tournament appearances (3): 2007, 2008, 2009
WNIT appearances (5): 1981, 1994, 2000, 2006, 2010
Conference Championships: Regular Season (1): 1984}

Cross Country

Men's and women's cross country at Pitt host home meets at Schenley Park and is overseen by head coach Alonzo Webb with distance assistant Clinton Bell.

^{Men's NCAA Top Ten finishes (3): 1951, 1953, 1954
Men's NCAA championship appearances (7): 1951, 1953, 1954, 1964, 1970, 1975, 1990}

Football

Pitt football claims nine football National Championships

Main article: Pittsburgh Panthers football

Traditionally the most popular sport at the University of Pittsburgh, football has been played at the highest levels at the University since 1889. During the more than 100 years of competitive football at Pitt, the University has helped pioneer the sport by, among other things, instituting the use of numbers on jerseys, having the first live radio broadcast of a college football game, and desegregating the Sugar Bowl. Some of football's all-time greatest coaches and players have plied their trade at Pitt, including Pop Warner, Jock Sutherland, Marshall Goldberg, Joe Schmidt, Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett, Hugh Green, Mark May, Dan Marino, Bill Fralic, Curtis Martin, Larry Fitzgerald and Darrelle Revis. Among the top schools in terms of all-time wins, Pitt teams have claimed nine national championships and boast 87 players that have been chosen as first-team All-Americans. Pitt football plays its home games at Heinz Field and has practice facilities located at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex. Pitt football is coached by Paul Chryst.

^{National Championships (9 claimed): 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1976
Undefeated seasons (8): 1904, 1910, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1920, 1937, 1976
Eastern and Conference Championships (14): 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1955, 1976, 1979, 1980, 2004, 2010
Bowl appearances (28): Rose (4), Fiesta (4), Sugar (3), Gator (3), Sun (3) Insight (2), Tire/Car Care (2), BBVA Compass (2), Cotton (1), Tangerine/Capital One (1), Tangerine/Champs Sports (1), Liberty (1), Bluebonnet (1)}

Gymnastics

Pitt volleyball has won more Big East Conference Volleyball Tournament Championships than any other team

Pitt women's gymnastics has qualified for the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship all but two years in the last ten seasons.[1] Pitt is one of only 22 schools in the nation to claim an individual national champion, Lisa Shirk who won the uneven bars in 1982. Pitt Gymnastics host home meets at Fitzgerald Field House, has a Gymnastics Training Center at the adjacent Trees Hall, and is coached by Debbie Yohman.

^{AIAW / NCAA national championship appearances (1): 1981
Individual National Champions: 1}

Soccer

Pitt field competitive Big East varsity teams for men's and women's soccer, softball, and women's tennis. Men's Soccer is coached by Joe Luxbacher while women's soccer is coached by Greg Miller. Both programs moved into a new facility, Ambrose Urbanic Field at the Petersen Sports Complex, in the spring of 2011.

^{Men's NCAA Elite Eight (1): 1962; Sweet Sixteen (1): 1965
Men's NCAA tournament appearances (2): 1962, 1965}

Softball

Softball was founded as a varsity sport at Pitt in 1998 and entered the Big East in 1999. In 2010, Pitt earned its highest ever seed in the Big East tournament in 2010. The team moved into a new softball facility, Vartabedian Field at the Petersen Sports Complex, in 2011. Pitt softball is coached by Holly Aprile.

Swimming and Diving

Pitt's Swimming and Diving teams have produced several Olympians and dominated the Big East Conference having won 19 men's and 9 women's Big East Championships since joining the conference in 1983. The Swimming and Diving teams train and compete at Trees Pool. The men's team first competed in 1913 while the women's team was founded in 1974. Both men's and women's swimming are coached by head coach Chuck Knoles while diving is coached by Julian Krug. The women's swimming team is assisted by Assistant Head Coach Jeff Berghoff.

^{Men's NCAA championship appearances, team scored (19): 1938, 1953, 1954, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
Men's Conference Championships (41): 1934, 1938, 1940, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004}

Women's NCAA championship appearances, team scored (12): 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003
Women's Conference Championships (10): 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

Tennis

Pitt women's tennis host matches at an indoor facility at The Club in Monroeville and an outdoor facility at Washington's Landing. Tennis is coached by George Dieffenbach.

Track and Field

Olympic gold medal winner John Woodruff is part of Pitt's tradition in 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.[2] Pitt track and field is coached by Alonzo Webb.

At the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, the Pitt men have finished as high as fifth place, while the Pitt women have finished as high as third.

^{Men's NCAA Indoor Top Ten finishes (4): 1971, 1986, 1987, 1988
Men's NCAA Indoor championship appearances, team scored (16): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 2007, 2008
Men's Indoor Individual National Champions: 6
Men's Indoor Conference Championships (1): 1987}

Women's NCAA Indoor Top Ten finishes (4): 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999
Women's NCAA Indoor championship appearances, team scored (11): 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006
Women's Indoor Individual National Champions: 7
Women's Indoor ECAC Championships (3): 2001, 2004, 2005; Conference Championships (3): 1989, 1999, 2005

At the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Pitt men have finished as high as 8th place, while the Pitt women have finished as high as 9th.

^{Men's NCAA Outdoor Top Ten finishes (2): 1928, 1929
Men's NCAA Outdoor championship appearances, team scored (28): 1921, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1946, 1950, 1954, 1956, 1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2006
Men's Outdoor Individual National Champions: 12
Men's Outdoor IC4A Championships (1): 1940; Conference Championships (2): 1989, 1994}

Women's NCAA Outdoor Top Ten finishes (2): 1994, 1999
Women's NCAA Outdoor championship appearances, team scored (13): 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006
Women's Outdoor Individual National Champions: 3
Women's Outdoor ECAC Championships (4): 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006; Conference Championships (5): 1990, 1991, 1994, 2005, 2006

Volleyball

Main article: Pittsburgh Panthers women's volleyball

The Pitt volleyball program was established in 1974, and since that time the Panthers have had 33 winning seasons, one of the nation's top all-time winning percentages, appearances in 14 national championship tournaments, and the most Big East tournament championships, eleven, in the conference. Pitt volleyball host home matches at the Fitzgerald Field House and is coached by Toby Rens.

^{AIAW / NCAA Sweet Sixteen (3): 1978, 1981, 1990
AIAW / NCAA tournament appearances (14): 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003, 2004
NIVC tournament appearances (2): 1989, 1995
Conference Championships: Tournament (11): 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003; Regular Season (6): 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003}

Pat Santoro was a four-time All-American and two-time national champion at 142 pounds for Pitt wrestling

Wrestling

Main article: Pittsburgh Panthers wrestling

The wrestling program has a rich history finishing second at the NCAA Championships twice and in the top ten 13 times, being 13th in the number of all-time individual national champions produced with 16, and boasting 70 All-American wrestlers throughout its history.[3] Pitt competes in the Eastern Wrestling League but formerly was in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (The Big East Conference does not sponsor wrestling). Pitt wrestling host home meets at Fitzgerald Field House and is coached by Rande Stottlemyer.

^{NCAA Runner-up (2): 1954, 1957; Top Ten finishes (13): 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1970
NCAA championship appearances, team scored (56): 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Individual National Champions: 16
Conference Champions: Tournament (6): 1954, 1955, 1956, 1960, 2011, 2012; Regular Season (3): 2010, 2011, 2012}

Spirit groups

Pitt Band

Main articles: University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band and University of Pittsburgh drumline

Pitt Cheerleaders

The history rich University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band was founded in 1911 and performs at sports and other events, including at every home football game and select away football games. Its constituent group, the Pitt Pep Band, performs at all home basketball games and at post-season away games. The Pitt Band's drumline, known as The Crew, also performs at football games and occasionally at select basketball games. The Band also oversees the Golden Girls majorette group. The Pitt Band is directed by Jack R. Anderson.

Pitt Cheerleaders and Dance Team

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 in 2007, and advancing to finals in 2010 to finish 13th. The Cheerleading team also oversees the costumed Panther mascot named Roc. The Cheerleading and Dance Team is coached by Theresa Nuzzo.

^{NCA and UCA All-Girl Division I Cheerleading National Championships (3): 1992, 1993, 1994}

Facilities

Petersen Events Center

Pitt athletic teams utilize the follow facilities and venues:

• Charles L. Cost Sports Center - Multi-sport (baseball, softball, soccer, track & field) indoor practice facility
• Heinz Field - Football home field
• Fitzgerald Field House - Wrestling, volleyball, indoor track & field, and gymnastics home venue and olympic sports training, locker room and office facilities
• Petersen Events Center - Men's and women's basketball
• Petersen Sports Complex - An on-campus multi-sport complex housing the home competition and practice venues for baseball, soccer, and softball.
  • Ambrose Urbanic Field - Men's and women's soccer
  • Charles L. Cost Field - Baseball
  • Vartabedian Field - Softball
• Schenley Park - Men's and women's cross country home course

  

  UPMC Sports Performance Complex

• The Club - indoor tennis home facility located in Monroeville
• Trees Fields - practice and intramural fields, and future site of a new track and field and band complex.
• Trees Hall - Swimming and diving home pool (Trees Pool) and the Gymnastics Training Center
• UPMC Sports Performance Complex - Indoor and outdoor football practice facility
• Washington's Landing tennis courts - outdoor practice tennis courts

Panther Club

The university Athletic Department has an official booster club, the Panther Club, which is directly active in raising money for the athletic department from alumni, boosters, and fans. It also oversees the Varsity Letter Club, a booster club specifically for former Pitt student athletes. The Panther Club was previously known as Team Pittsburgh, and prior to 1997, was known as the Golden Panthers. Although independent of the Athletic Department, the Pitt Alumni Association often coordinates with the Athletic Department and Panther Club in hosting events corresponding with both home and away athletic events.

Club sports

Numerous Pitt athletic teams compete intercollegiately at the student club level without official sanction or sponsorship from the university's Department of Athletics. Although some are registered as official student organizations with the University of Pittsburgh Student Government Board and thus receive some small funding from that body, they are all largely self-supported.

The following teams compete in intercollegiate non-varsity club sports:

Baseball [4]
Men's Handball [5]
Men's Ice Hockey (ACHA Div. I and II teams)[6]
Men's Lacrosse [7]
Men's Roller Hockey [8]
Men's Rugby [9]
Men's Soccer [10]
Men's Ultimate Frisbee [11]
Men's Volleyball [12]
Men's Water Polo [13]
Men's Wrestling [14]

Women's Gymnastics [15]
Women's Ice Hockey [16]
Women's Lacrosse [17]
Women's Rugby [18]
Women's Soccer [19]
Women's Softball, Fast-Pitch [20]
Women's Ultimate Frisbee [21]
Women's Volleyball [22]
Women's Water Polo [23]

File:Pitt-Script.svg

The "script Pitt" logo served as the primary logo from 1973 until 1997

Auto Racing [24]
Capoeira [25]
Cycling [26]
Disc Golf [27]
Fencing [28]
Equestrian [29]
Field Hockey [30]
Golf [31]
Judo [32]
Rowing [33]
Ski [34]
Snowboard [35]
Tennis [36]
Triathlon [37]
Taekwondo [38]
Quidditch [39]
Western Equestrian [40]

Rivalries

The 1908 edition of the Backyard Brawl at Exposition Park

Pitt's biggest rivalry is with West Virginia University, which began with football games that date back to 1895, and spills across multiple sports. The annual contests are called the Backyard Brawl, due to the proximity of the two schools' main campuses that are 80 miles apart, as well as the shared boundary between western Pennsylvania and North-Central West Virginia and the fact that both school reside in the same Designated Market Area. The football rivalry represents the most played opponent for each school, and is traditionally played on Thanksgiving weekend, with the result often having implications both on the conference and national level. A men's basketball rivalry with WVU shares an intensity similar to that of the football one, and is also shared between the women's basketball teams as well. The basketball teams are designated annual rivals in the Big East Conference and face each other twice per season. Most other sponsored varsity and club sports fielded by both schools also share a similar rivalry. The rivalry has been relatively unique in college athletics in recent years as the two most high profile sports, football and men's basketball, have resulted in games between teams have been all been nationally ranked in the same season.

Until 2000, Pitt's most-played and largest 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 a 12-0 Pitt victory, but with Penn State leading the series 50–42–4. Although the two teams ended play due to long-standing coaching and administrative feuding, the rivalry is scheduled to resume for a two game series in 2016 and 2017. 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.

The City Game trophy

Pitt and Duquesne University have had a long-standing rivalry in men's basketball. Their annual game, scheduled to be held every year at the Consol Energy Center, is between the only two Division I basketball schools located within the city limits, and at one time, was the most intense basketball rivalry for both basketball programs. The inter-city rivalry attracts significant 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 are in the midst of 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). Pitt leads the all-time series 7–2 as of the end of the 2009 season.

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 El-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. In the 2008-2009 season, Pitt earned its first win over the country's top-rated team by beating UConn on the road, and later at home while Connecticut was again ranked #1.

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. This rivalry has heated up again in recent years, especially after Villanova defeated Pitt at the last second of a 2009 Elite Eight game.

Pageantry

File:Pittsburgh Panthers Alternate Logo.svg

The "torch-cut" Panther has been used as a logo since 1997

See also: University of Pittsburgh § Traditions, and Pittsburgh Panthers football § Traditions

Mascot

Main article: Panthers of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh officially adopted the Panthers of Pittsburgh as its nickname and mascot in 1909, shortly after changing its name from the Western University of Pennsylvania.

The University of Pittsburgh claims that it was the first college or university to choose the panther as a mascot, which it did on November 16, 1909. According to alumnus George Baird, the reasons given for choosing the Panther were: 1. The panther was the most powerful animal that once roamed western Pennsylvania.
2. Its standing as a noble animal.
3. At the time, no other school used the panther as a symbol.
4. Its colors are similar to Pittsburgh's colors of gold and blue.
5. The "happy accident of alliteration."

Over 20 representations of panthers can be found in and around the university's campus and athletic facilities. Students, alumni, and fans rub the nose of one Panther statue in particular, the Millennium Panther located outside the William Pitt Union, in order to bring good luck to the university's teams prior to athletic contests. This tradition was featured in a national television advertisement for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson automobile. In addition, a costumed mascot, named "Roc", performs with the Pitt Cheerleaders at various athletic and non-athletic university events.

The Oakland Zoo

Student sections

Main article: Oakland Zoo (cheering section)

The student section for basketball has received national acclaim for the atmosphere it helps to create in the Petersen Events Center. The student section for football is termed the Panther Pitt.

Song

Main articles: Hail to Pitt, Pitt Victory Song, and University of Pittsburgh Alma Mater

The Pitt Band and its constituent Pitt Pep Band are often heard to play Pitt's fight songs, "Hail to Pitt", The Panther, and the "Pitt Victory Song" are typically played during athletic contests, along with other music. The University of Pittsburgh Alma Mater is typically played prior to or following athletic contests. In addition, a recent popular tradition involves the crowd singing a "Let's Go Pitt!" version of "Sweet Caroline" between the 3rd and 4th quarter of football games.

The Varsity Walk

Varsity Walk

Varsity Walk' is a walkway between the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Memorial Chapel on which is carved the names of former Pitt athletes (each year since 1950) who have promoted the University through their athletic (Panther Award) or academic (Blue-Gold Award) achievements.

Victory Lights

Victory Lights

The upper section of the Cathedral of Learning is illuminated "gold" after every home football team victory, as well as important victories in other sports.

Notable Panthers

Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino played at Pitt from 1979 to 1982

Main article: List of University of Pittsburgh people

Alumni, students, faculty, athletes and non-athletes alike, often refer to themselves as "Panthers". There have been many notable individuals who have been associated with the University of Pittsburgh throughout its history ranging from athletes like Mike Ditka and Larry Fitzgerald, to celebrities like Gene Kelly and Mister Rogers, writers like Michael Chabon, businessmen like Andrew Mellon, and scientists like Jonas Salk. For more examples, see the List of University of Pittsburgh people.

Media

Pitt Panthers Television

Starting with the 2010-11 school year Comcast and Xfinity in Central and Western Pennsylvania as well as the border communities in East-Central Ohio and Northern West Virginia will receive an all-Pitt-Panthers network featuring all sports and commentary hosted by Pitt in second-tier cable packages. The channel, located on The Comcast Network Channel 188 or 210, will also feature rebroadcasts of games carried by CBS, ABC or ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU shot by its own production crew and with the Pitt Radio announcers on play-by-play. The University promises at least 500 hours a year of sports games and matches.

Pittsburgh Panthers Radio Network

The following radio stations are part of the Pittsburgh Panthers Radio Network.

Internet & Satellite
CBS College Sports Panthers All-Access
Sirius Satellite Radio
Terrestrial
Location	Station	Programming
Altoona	WFBG 1290 AM	Football, Men's Basketball
Ambridge	WMBA 1460 AM	Football, Men's Basketball
Beaver Falls	WBVP 1230 AM	Football, Men's Basketball
Bedford	WBFD 1310 AM	Football
Butler	WISR 680 AM	Men's Basketball
	WBUT 1050 AM	Football
Connellsville	WLSW 103.9 FM	Football, Men's Basketball
DuBois	WCED 1420 AM	Football, Men's Basketball
Elizabethtown	WPDC 1600 AM	Football, Men's Basketball
Erie	WRIE 1260 AM	Football, Men's Basketball, Dave Wannstedt Show, Jamie Dixon Show
Harrisburg	WTKT 1460 AM	Football, Men's Basketball, Jamie Dixon Show
Huntingdon	WHUN 1150 AM	Football, Men's Basketball, Dave Wannstedt Show
Johnstown	WCRO 1230 AM	Football, Men's Basketball, Dave Wannstedt Show, Jamie Dixon Show
	WCCL 101.7 FM	Football
Latrobe	WQTW 1570 AM	Football, Men's Basketball
Meyersdale	WQZS 93.3 FM	Football, Men's Basketball, Dave Wannstedt Show, Jamie Dixon Show
Pittsburgh	KDKA 93.7 FM	Football, Men's Basketball, Dave Wannstedt Show, Jamie Dixon Show
	WJAS 1320 AM	Women's Basketball, Agnus Berenato Show
Uniontown	WMBS 590 AM	Football, Men's Basketball, Dave Wannstedt Show, Jamie Dixon Show
York	WOYK AM 1350	Football, Men's Basketball

External links

• Official Site of PITT Panther Athletics
• Big East Website - PITT Athletics