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48 years ago today. Pitt Stadium. The Backyard Brawl. I was there. Were you?

fairgambit

fairgambit

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Aug 20, 2010
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My girlfriend (now wife) was a student at Pitt (I at Penn State) and we went to the PItt/WVU game at PItt Stadium. Pitt trailed 35-8 at the half and she, not being much of a football fan, wanted to leave. I said let's just watch a bit of the 2nd half. We'll leave as soon as WVU scores again. They never did. Pitt scored 28 unanswered points and won 36-35 in one of the greatest games I have ever seen.
 
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fairgambit said:
My girlfriend (now wife) was a student at Pitt (I at Penn State) and we went to the PItt/WVU game at PItt Stadium. Pitt trailed 35-8 at the half and she, not being much of a football fan, wanted to leave. I said let's just watch a bit of the 2nd half. We'll leave as soon as WVU scores again. They never did. Pitt scored 28 unanswered points and won 36-35 in one of the greatest games I have ever seen.
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I was a Pitt cheerleader at the game on the mic during the third quarter. Great game.
 
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"Life was far from perfect. Especially that October day in 1970 when Bowden at midseason held a commanding 35-8 halftime lead in his first Backyard Brawl as the boss. The game was in Pittsburgh where "they had no intention of coming back in the second half. Pitt went with three tight ends in the second half to slow the game down thinking we would score 60. Well we were small and Pitt went for it on every fourth down and started to get momentum."

He let out a long breath, pausing for a moment before the memories rushed back. It has been 44 seasons.

"I went out and sat on the ball" Bowden continued. "They beat us 36-35. I was so embarrassed. I told myself that I would never do that again. Not if I scored 100 points. People accused me of running up scores at Florida State. They should have been with us that day. I coached my team from then on. And I never sat on the football a single game the rest of my career.""

https://www.foxsports.com/florida/s...seminoles-west-virginia-backyard-brawl-100214
 
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fairgambit said:
My girlfriend (now wife) was a student at Pitt (I at Penn State) and we went to the PItt/WVU game at PItt Stadium. Pitt trailed 35-8 at the half and she, not being much of a football fan, wanted to leave. I said let's just watch a bit of the 2nd half. We'll leave as soon as WVU scores again. They never did. Pitt scored 28 unanswered points and won 36-35 in one of the greatest games I have ever seen.
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I was not even born yet!! :)
 
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fairgambit said:
My girlfriend (now wife) was a student at Pitt (I at Penn State) and we went to the PItt/WVU game at PItt Stadium. Pitt trailed 35-8 at the half and she, not being much of a football fan, wanted to leave. I said let's just watch a bit of the 2nd half. We'll leave as soon as WVU scores again. They never did. Pitt scored 28 unanswered points and won 36-35 in one of the greatest games I have ever seen.
Click to expand...
I was there in the student section. Stayed till the end and stormed the field. First time I ever walked on Astro- turf.
 
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JSSTartan said:
I was not born yet but my dads college roommate was Dave Havern. I remember hearing lots of stories about this game.
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Dave was a local kid from Montour High who had some terrific teams back in the late 60's. Dave succeeded Chuck Burkhart as QB at Montour. Chuck became the starting QB at Penn State in 68-69. Ted Kwalick also played for Montour in the late 60's and went on to become an All American at PSU and an All Pro with the 49ers.
 
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fairgambit said:
My girlfriend (now wife) was a student at Pitt (I at Penn State) and we went to the PItt/WVU game at PItt Stadium. Pitt trailed 35-8 at the half and she, not being much of a football fan, wanted to leave. I said let's just watch a bit of the 2nd half. We'll leave as soon as WVU scores again. They never did. Pitt scored 28 unanswered points and won 36-35 in one of the greatest games I have ever seen.
Click to expand...
happen to remember how much time was left when Pitt scored their last td? I am guessing they went for two after the td and missed it.
 
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fairgambit said:
My girlfriend (now wife) was a student at Pitt (I at Penn State) and we went to the PItt/WVU game at PItt Stadium. Pitt trailed 35-8 at the half and she, not being much of a football fan, wanted to leave. I said let's just watch a bit of the 2nd half. We'll leave as soon as WVU scores again. They never did. Pitt scored 28 unanswered points and won 36-35 in one of the greatest games I have ever seen.
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Did they play Sweet Caroline?
 
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upj87 said:
happen to remember how much time was left when Pitt scored their last td? I am guessing they went for two after the td and missed it.
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As I recall Pitt's 4 second half TD's were all followed by a kick, so they added 28 to the 8 they had to make 36. I think the final score came with less than a minute left, maybe 45 or 50 seconds. I don't recall how they got to the 1st 8. Was it two FG's and a safety, or a TD and 2 point conversion. Hopefully someone remembers.
 
fairgambit said:
As I recall Pitt's 4 second half TD's were all followed by a kick, so they added 28 to the 8 they had to make 36. I think the final score came with less than a minute left, maybe 45 or 50 seconds.
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I watched the video and the score was 35-30 before Pitt scored their last td....no biggie, just wondering. long time ago.
 
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How in the world did those who attended find parking, and manage to find the stadium in crowded Oakland? Must have been a horrendous experience.
 
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fairgambit said:
My girlfriend (now wife) was a student at Pitt (I at Penn State) and we went to the PItt/WVU game at PItt Stadium. Pitt trailed 35-8 at the half and she, not being much of a football fan, wanted to leave. I said let's just watch a bit of the 2nd half. We'll leave as soon as WVU scores again. They never did. Pitt scored 28 unanswered points and won 36-35 in one of the greatest games I have ever seen.
Click to expand...

I was there as an 11 year old. I remember waiting for my friend's dad after the game outside of the main gate and watching the pissed off WVU fans trying to force their way into the WVU locker room.
 
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fairgambit said:
My girlfriend (now wife) was a student at Pitt (I at Penn State) and we went to the PItt/WVU game at PItt Stadium. Pitt trailed 35-8 at the half and she, not being much of a football fan, wanted to leave. I said let's just watch a bit of the 2nd half. We'll leave as soon as WVU scores again. They never did. Pitt scored 28 unanswered points and won 36-35 in one of the greatest games I have ever seen.
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Yes I was, I was a senior in high school, went to Pitt the next year as a freshman. We are old!!!!
 
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Las Panteras said:
Ted Kwalick was a terrific player.
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Indeed he was. In High School and College he was dominant. I saw him play a game in High School where he hit a guy so hard it split the guy's helmet. He was a 3 time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL.
 
I was there in the South end zone. The hoopies were hootin and hollerin and laughing coming into the locker room below us at halftime. Pitt ran the ball down their throats in the second half, scoring on all 4 of their possessions, I think. Bill Pilconis with the winning catch? Just going by memory.
 
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fairgambit said:
My girlfriend (now wife) was a student at Pitt (I at Penn State) and we went to the PItt/WVU game at PItt Stadium. Pitt trailed 35-8 at the half and she, not being much of a football fan, wanted to leave. I said let's just watch a bit of the 2nd half. We'll leave as soon as WVU scores again. They never did. Pitt scored 28 unanswered points and won 36-35 in one of the greatest games I have ever seen.
Click to expand...

I was a student at Pitt then and watched the entire game from the student section ...... WVU led 21-0 and Pitt scored and made a 2 pointer to cut the lead to 21-8 but WVU scored two more TD's to take a 35-8 halftime lead ...... that was a HUGE lead in those days ..... Pitt came out in the 2nd half and mostly ran from a power-I formation and shoved the ball down WVU's throat ..... we completed a few key passes but mostly ran between the tackles ...... I think Pitt ran something like 65+ plays in the 2nd half ..... we made 2 pointers after the 2nd and 3rd TD's and the score was 35-16, then 35-24 at the end of 3 quarters ...... we scored in the 4th quarter to make it 35-30 but missed the 2 pointer, then scored again to make it 36-35 and missed another 2 pointer ..... the winning TD was scored with 55 seconds to play ..... WVU got the kickoff and marched down near midfield or slightly in Pitt territory and were trying to get close enough to try a FG but they fumbled and Pitt recovered and won !!!!!!

WHAT A DAY !!!!!!!!!!
 
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