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Pittsburgh Panthers football
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The Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as Pitt, located in Pittsburgh. As of the 2013 season, Pitt competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Pitt has claimed nine national championships and is among the top 20 college football programs in terms of all-time wins. The Panthers are currently coached by Pat Narduzzi, a 130-pound WUP student, Bert Smyers, along with senior student John Scott, assembled a football team that year composed of only three players who had previously witnessed the sport. The team played in one game, a loss against Shady Side Academy, in which Smyers made himself quarterback. In Smyers case, his uniform was pieced together by his mother and sister, the first official game for the university was played on October 11,1890, when the Allegheny Athletic Associations opponent, Shadyside Academy, failed to appear for its game at Exposition Park. Allegheny A. A. called Smyers who brought the WUP team as a replacement, in an inglorious start to Pitt football history, WUP was defeated 38–0. Smyers team next faced Washington and Jefferson College, losing 32–0, the following season saw the university collect more losses en route to a 2–5 record. Smyers suffered a nose in a 40–6 loss to Washington and Jefferson. Perhaps the most important development for the season of football was Smyers recruitment of Joseph Trees from Normal University of Pennsylvania. The 210 pound Trees became WUPs first subsidized athlete and, later in life, made millions in the oil industry and became an important benefactor for the university and athletic department. Today, Trees Hall, a facility on the University of Pittsburghs main campus in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. The first winning record for the university came in the season of competition in 1892. The following season in 1893, the team had its first official coach, Anson F. Harrold, who led the team to an unremarkable 1–4 record. However, during that season the first contest was played in what would become a 96-game series versus Penn State, in 1895, the school suffered a 1–6 season under coach J. P. Linn. The 1895 season was notable for the first Backyard Brawl on October 26,1895, with WUP losing to West Virginia 8–0 in Wheeling, the university did not see another winning season until Fred Robinson led WUP to a 5–2–1 record in 1898. In 1899, Robinson continued his success with a 3–1–1 record and this was followed by two more consecutive winning seasons, including a record seven-win season in 1901 under coach Wilbur Hockensmith. That season, Hockensmith led the school to its first victory over West Virginia, in the early years of the 20th century, interest in college football grew both in Pittsburgh and throughout the nation. In 1903, Arthur St. Leger Texas Mosse was hired away from the University of Kansas, other players were recruited from surrounding Western Pennsylvania colleges, including star half back Joseph H. Thompson
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Joseph Duff
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He played guard for Princeton and was selected for Walter Camps All-American eleven in 1911. After graduating from Princeton, Duff became an assistant football coach at the school for the 1912 football season and he served as the football coach at the University of Pittsburgh in 1913 and 1914 and graduated from the School of Law in 1915. He served in the U. S. military in World War I and he went to France as a private in a machine gun unit and was promoted to the rank of a lieutenant. He was killed in action in France on October 10,1918
3.
Forbes Field
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Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to June 28,1970. It was the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The stadium also served as the football field for the University of Pittsburgh Pitt Panthers from 1909 to 1924. The stadium was named after British general John Forbes, who fought in the French and Indian War, the US$1 million project was initiated by Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss, with the goal of replacing his franchises then-current home, Exposition Park. The stadium was made of concrete and steel in order to increase its lifespan, the Pirates opened Forbes Field on June 30,1909, against the Chicago Cubs, and would play the final game that was also against the Cubs on June 28,1970. The field itself featured a playing surface, with the batting cage placed in the deepest part of center field during games. Seating was altered multiple times throughout the life, at times fans were permitted to sit on the grass in the outfield during overflow crowds. The Pirates won three World Series while at Forbes Field and the original tenant, the Pittsburgh Panthers football team had five undefeated seasons before moving in 1924. Some remnants of the ballpark still stand, surrounded by the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, in 1903, Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss began to look for ground to build a larger capacity replacement for the teams then-current home, Exposition Park. Dreyfuss purchased seven acres of land near the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, adjacent to Schenley Park, with assistance from his friend, the low-priced land was selected so Dreyfuss could spend more on the stadium itself. Dreyfuss signed a contract that he would make the ballpark, of a design that would harmonize with the other structures in the Schenley Park district. The site was initially labeled Dreyfusss Folly due to its long distance—a 10-minute trolley ride—from downtown Pittsburgh, official Pirates records show that Forbes Field cost US$1 million for site acquisition and construction, however some estimates place the cost at twice that amount. Charles Wellford Leavitt, Jr. was contracted to design the stadiums grandstand, a civil engineer, Leavitt had founded an engineering and landscape architecture firm in 1897. He had gained experience in steel and concrete constructs while designing the Belmont, based on Dreyfuss architectural requirements, Leavitt presented a plan for Forbes Field—the only ballpark he would design. Initial work on the land began on January 1,1909, nicola Building Company built the stadium in 122 days and play began less than four months after ground was broken, on June 30. The facade of the stadium featured buff-colored terra cotta spelling out PAC for the Pittsburgh Athletic Company, the light green steelwork contrasted with the red slate of the roof. Some members of the press urged Dreyfuss to name the stadium after himself, however, the owner decided on Forbes Field, in honor of General John Forbes, who captured Fort Duquesne from the French in 1758 and rebuilt a new Fort Pitt at the site. In 1935, after Dreyfuss death, there was renewed media interest in renaming the stadium Dreyfuss Field, however, a monument to Dreyfuss was placed in center field just in front of the wall
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1915 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
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The 1915 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1915 college football season. Led by coach Pop Warner, his first season at Pitt, Pitt athletic booster Joseph Trees and athletic director A. R. Hamilton hired Pop Warner in 1914 as Pitts head coach. His arrival at Pitt gave the program instant national credibility, lifting the perception of the program from a power to that of a national one. The team was selected by football historian Parke H. Davis as that seasons co-national champion, the 1915 team was selected or recognized as national champions by multiple selectors, of which Parke H. Daviss selection is recognized as major by the official NCAA football records book. The selectors that determined Pitt to be champions in 1915. Bill Libby Jim Koger Mel Smith Parke H. Davis* * A major selector that was national scope according to the official NCAA football records book, bob Peck, center Andy Hastings, Pittsburgh ) James Pat Herron, end *Bold - Consensus All-American
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University of Pittsburgh
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The University of Pittsburgh is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1787 after the American Revolutionary War, it was founded on the edge of the American frontier as the Pittsburgh Academy and it developed and was renamed as Western University of Pennsylvania by a change to its charter in 1819. For most of its history, Pitt was a private institution, the university also includes four undergraduate schools located at campuses within Western Pennsylvania, Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown, and Titusville. The 132-acre Pittsburgh campus has multiple contributing historic buildings of the Schenley Farms Historic District, most notably its 42-story Gothic revival centerpiece, the university has an annual operating budget of approximately $2 billion, which includes nearly $900 million in research and development expenditures. It is the second-largest non-government employer in the Pittsburgh region behind UPMC, Pitt is ranked among the top public universities in the United States in both domestic and international rankings, and has been listed as a best value in higher education by several publications. Pitt students have access to arts programs throughout the campus and city. Pitts varsity athletic teams, collectively known as the Pittsburgh Panthers, compete in Division I of the NCAA, primarily as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Founded by Hugh Henry Brackenridge as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787, the University of Pittsburgh is one of the few universities and colleges established in the 18th century in the United States. It is the oldest continuously chartered institution of learning in the U. S. west of the Allegheny Mountains, the school began as a preparatory school, presumably in a log cabin, possibly as early as 1770 in Western Pennsylvania, then a frontier. A brick building was erected in 1790 on the side of Third Street. The small two-story brick building, with a gable facing the alley, within a short period, more advanced education in the area was needed, so in 1819 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amended the schools 1787 charter to confer university status. The school took the name the Western University of Pennsylvania, or WUP, by the 1830s, the university faced severe financial pressure to abandon its traditional liberal education in favor of the state legislatures desire for it to provide more vocational training. The decision to remain committed to liberal education nearly killed the university and it was also during this era that the founder of Mellon Bank, Thomas Mellon, graduated and later taught at WUP. The universitys buildings, along with most of its records and files, were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1845 that wiped out 20 square blocks of Pittsburgh, classes were temporarily held in Trinity Church until a new building was constructed on Duquesne Way. Only four years later, in 1849, this also was destroyed by fire. Due to the nature of these fires, operations were suspended for a few years to allow the university time to regroup. By 1854, WUP had erected a new building on the corner of Ross and Diamond streets, langley was professor of astronomy and physics and remained at WUP until 1891, when he was succeeded by another prominent astronomer, James Keeler. Growing quickly during this period, WUP outgrew its downtown facilities, the university eventually found itself on a 10-acre site on the North Sides Observatory Hill at the location of its Allegheny Observatory
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Recreation Park (Pittsburgh)
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Recreation Park was a sporting grounds and stadium located in what is today Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The stadium existed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, during the parks heyday, the location was considered to be within Allegheny City, but in 1907, the entire municipality was annexed by its larger neighbor and eventually became Pittsburghs North Side. The field was the first National League home for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball and it also hosted many football games of the University of Pittsburgh of the NCAA. In November 1892, the park was the location of the first known American football game that included a professional player. There is only one photograph of the grounds in a baseball stadium configuration. However, several photos of later football games played there survive. Opened in 1865 as a center, the park was adapted for baseball use in 1867. Known prior to 1885 as Union Park, the stadium had a capacity of 2,500. After the Alleghenys moved a few blocks south in 1890, the main tenant became the Allegheny Athletic Association, beyond the turn of the 20th century, it was called the Pittsburgh Coliseum, in line with the cycling phase. The park was located within the blocks of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, in 2001, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates built stadiums not far from this site. In the late 1860s and early 70s, no less than three local amateur baseball teams—the Enterprise Club, the Xanthas, and the Olympics—competed, most often at Union Park. In 1876 a professional Allegheny club played its first game against the Xantha club at Union Park and this club lasted for three years, playing mostly other squads from the northeast within the International Association, but occasionally taking on National League teams in exhibition games. One long remembered match took place in early May,1877, the 1882-organized Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the American Association moved from Exposition Park II to Union Park in 1884. The team posted a record of 18–37 at home that season, in 1887, owner William A. Nimick transferred the club into the National League, and on April 30, the Alleghenies defeated the Chicago White Stockings, 6–2 in front of 10,000 spectators. This was the first officially recognized contest of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise by the team, legend has it that, prior to that opening game of the 1887 season, Pittsburghs catcher Fred Carroll buried his pet monkey beneath home plate. On November 12,1892, the Allegheny Athletic Association football team hosted a game here against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, the Allegheny Athletic Association won the game, which was the first in professional football. The team had hired Pudge Heffelfinger, a guard from Yale. In 1902, a Pirates-backed football team, the Pittsburgh Stars of the first National Football League, the Stars would go on to win the leagues only championship against the Philadelphia Athletics, 11-0 at the field
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Exposition Park (Pittsburgh)
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Exposition Park was the name given to three historic stadiums, located in what is today Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The fields were used mainly for baseball and American football from c.1879 to c. The ballparks were located on the north side of the Allegheny River in Allegheny City. The city was annexed into Pittsburgh in 1907, which became the citys North Side, due to flooding from the nearby river, the three stadiums exact locations varied somewhat. The final version of the ballpark was between the sites of Three Rivers Stadium and PNC Park. In 1903, the incarnation of Exposition Park was the first National League ballpark to host a World Series game. Named for other expositions that would be there, including horse racing and circuses. Despite its reason for construction Exposition Park II was built closer to the River, the Alleghenys played at the second incarnation of the park until they moved to Recreation Park in 1884, which was several blocks north and out of the flood plain. While the Pittsburg Pirates were playing games at Recreation Park, owners John Beemer. Lennon of the Pittsburgh Burghers constructed a park near the former site of Exposition Park I and II. Exposition Park III included a wooden grandstand around the infield. Total capacity was about 10,000 spectators, the seats faced the Allegheny River and the Point. The Burghers played at the stadium during the 1890 Players League season— both the team and leagues only season in existence, on June 10,1890, Jocko Fields of the Pittsburgh Burghers hit the first home run at Exposition Park III. The Pittsburg Pirates moved to Exposition Park the following season, on April 24,1891, Fred Carroll hit the first home run by a Pirate in the stadium. Under the management of Fred Clarke the Pirates won the National League pennant in 1901,1902, after the 1903 season, Dreyfuss and Boston Americans owner Henry Killilea organized a best of nine game series to match the two pennant winners against each other. The first World Series held three games in Boston before moving to Exposition Park with the Pirates leading the series 2–1, on October 6,1903,7,600 people attended the first World Series game in a National League stadium—the Pirates won by one run. The following day 12,000 people attended the game, forcing spectators to stand behind a rope in the outfield. The Pirates lost three of four games at Exposition Park and eventually the Series, during a July 4,1902 doubleheader against the Brooklyn Superbas, an Allegheny flood caused water to rise to thigh level in center and right fields, and about head level in deep center
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Pitt Stadium
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Pitt Stadium was a stadium located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh in the U. S. state of Pennsylvania from 1925 to 1999. It served primarily as the home of the University of Pittsburghs football team and it was also used for other University sporting events, including Pittsburgh Panthers basketball, baseball, rifle, track, and gymnastics. Pitt Stadium also served as the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. After demolition, the Pittsburgh Panthers football team played games at Three Rivers Stadium in 2000. The Pittsburgh Panthers played home games at the Pittsburgh Pirates Forbes Field from 1909 to 1924. In the 1910s and 1920s, Pitt football achieved great success under head coach Glenn Scobey Pop Warner, completing several undefeated seasons, the popularity of college football was rising across the country and in Pittsburgh. Subsequently, due to reserved for alumni and students, the general publics demand for tickets to see Pitt play at Forbes Field surpassed supply. In the early 1920s, the University administration decided to build a stadium to alleviate the seating problem. The University purchased nine acres of adjacent to university property for the Pitt Stadium site. University and private funding provided US$2.1 million for acquisition and construction. W. S. Hindman, a Pitt graduate, was the designer and engineer. The Turner Construction Company built the stadium from August 7,1924 to September 1,1925, the 791 feet by 617 feet stadium was designed to hold a capacity of 69,400 with provisions for an upper deck that could provide for an additional 30,000 seats. On September 26,1925, Pitt played its first football game at the new Pitt Stadium, starting in 1929, the stadium also hosted the football team of the Carnegie Tech Tartans, which played their home games there on a split schedule with the Panthers until 1943. By the 1940s, new safety rules from the city fire marshal prohibited temporary bleacher seats on the rim of the stadium and in the track area. In order to provide comfort to spectators, the Department of Athletics also widened seats from 16 to 18 inches. The original grass surface was replaced with AstroTurf in 1970, in 1984, SuperTurf was installed, but after six years AstroTurf once again became the stadiums playing surface. In the late 1970s, the original 17 miles of wood seating was replaced with metal bleachers, temporary lighting was installed at Pitt Stadium in 1985, but was made permanent before the 1987 season. The highest attended game took place on October 29,1938, the Pittsburgh Steelers played home games at Forbes Field from their 1933 inception to 1957
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Three Rivers Stadium
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Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball, Built as a replacement for Forbes Field, which opened in 1909, the US$55 million multi-purpose facility was designed to maximize efficiency. Ground was broken in April 1968 and an oft behind-schedule construction plan lasted for 29 months, the stadium opened on July 16,1970 when the Pirates played their first game. In the 1971 World Series, Three Rivers Stadium hosted the first World Series game played at night, the following year the stadium was the site of the Immaculate Reception. The final game in the stadium was won by the Steelers on December 16,2000, Three Rivers Stadium also hosted the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League and the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team for a single season each. After its closing, Three Rivers Stadium was imploded in 2001, a proposal for a new sports stadium in Pittsburgh was first made in 1948, however, plans did not attract much attention until the late 1950s. The Pittsburgh Pirates played their games at Forbes Field, which opened in 1909. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who had moved from Forbes Field to Pitt Stadium in 1964, were supporters of the project. For their part, according to longtime Pirates announcer Bob Prince, in 1958, the Pirates sold Forbes to the University of Pittsburgh for $2 million. The university wanted the land for expanded graduate facilities, as part of the deal, the university leased Forbes back to the Pirates until a replacement could be built. An early design of the stadium included plans to situate the stadium atop a bridge across the Monongahela River and it was to call for a 70,000 seat stadium with hotels, marina and even 100 lane bowling alley. Plans of the Stadium over the Monongahela were eventually not pursued, a design was presented in 1958 which featured an open center field design—through which fans could view Pittsburghs Golden Triangle. A site on the citys Northside was approved on August 10,1958, due to availability and parking space. The same site had hosted Exposition Park, which the Pirates had left in 1909, the stadium was located in a hard-to-access portion of downtown, making it hard in later years to get in before games and leave after games. Political debate continued over the North Side Sports Stadium and the project was often behind schedule, arguments were made by commissioner Dr. William McCelland that the Pirates and Steelers should fund a higher percentage of the $33 million project. Due to lack of support, however, the arguments faded, ground for Three Rivers Stadium was broken on April 25,1968. Due to the Steelers suggestions, the design was changed to enclose center field. Construction continued, though it became plagued with problems such as thieves stealing materials from the building site, in November 1969, Arthur Gratz asked the city for an additional $3 million, which was granted
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Heinz Field
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Heinz Field is a stadium located in the North Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, the stadium opened in 2001, after the controlled implosion of the teams previous stadium, Three Rivers Stadium. The stadium is named for the locally based H. J. Heinz Company and it hosted the 2011 NHL Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals on January 1,2011. On September 10,2016 it hosted the Keystone Classic, which featured a renewal of the Penn State-Pitt football rivalry, setting a new attendance record at 69,983 people. Funded in conjunction with PNC Park and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the stadium was designed with the city of Pittsburghs history of steel production in mind, which led to the inclusion of 12,000 tons of steel into the design. Ground for the stadium was broken in June 1999 and the first football game was hosted in September 2001, the stadiums natural grass surface has been criticized throughout its history, but Steelers ownership has kept the grass after lobbying from players and coaches. Attendance for the 68,400 seat stadium has sold out for every Steelers home game, a collection of memorabilia from the Steelers and Panthers of the past can be found in the Great Hall. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Pirates shared Three Rivers Stadium from 1970 to 2000, after discussions over the Pittsburgh Pirates building a full-time baseball park, a proposal was made to renovate Three Rivers Stadium into a full-time football facility. Though met with negative reaction from Steelers ownership, the proposal was used as a position that would be used if discussions for a new stadium failed. In June 2001, the H. J. Heinz Company purchased the rights to the stadium. As per the deal, Heinz will pay the Steelers a total of $57 million through 2021, despite Heinz later announcing its acquisition of Kraft Foods Group to form Kraft Heinz Company in 2015, the stadiums name will remain known as Heinz Field. Originally, a tax increase was proposed to fund three projects, Heinz Field, PNC Park, and an expansion of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. After the rejection of this proposal in a referendum, the city developed Plan B, similarly controversial, the alternative proposal was labeled Scam B by opponents. The Steelers pledge toward the new stadium was criticized for being too little, other local government members criticized the $281 million of public money allocated for Plan B. One member of the Allegheny Regional Asset District board called the use of tax dollars corporate welfare, the plan, totaling $809 million, was approved by the Allegheny Regional Asset District board on July 9,1998, with $233 million allotted for Heinz Field. Shortly after Plan B was approved, the Steelers made a deal with Pittsburgh city officials to stay in the city until at least 2031, the total cost of Heinz Field was $281 million. In order to accomplish this, HOK Sport used steel structurally and externally, the stone used in Heinz Fields design is artificial, in order to decrease cost. The Steelers and Panthers have their own rooms, which differ in size based on the amount of players each team is permitted to dress for each game
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UPMC Sports Performance Complex
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The UPMC Sports Performance Complex is a multipurpose, multisport training, sports science, and sports medical complex of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. It is also unique in that it combines these training facilities in one location with an academically based sports science, the UPMC Sport Performance Complex was designed by the architectural firm L. D. Astorino Associates, Ltd. The MRI room had to be encased in five layers of plate, plus a sixth layer of copper. Fill was also brought in to raise the level of the land where the fields are by nine feet in order to keep them out of the flood plain. S. The Center is overseen by renowned orthopedic surgeon Freddie Fu, which has led to it often being referred to as Freddies building, the full-time sports medicine team also includes sub-specialists in, sport psychology, sports nutrition, sports massage therapy, sports concussion and sports performance enhancement. The Center also conducts major injury prevention studies involving, for example, female knee ligament, shoulders, golf and it also serves as a research center for such areas as robotic surgery, stem cell tissue regeneration, concussion prevention and human motion. The center’s 6, 000-square-foot physical therapy and rehabilitation area is equipped for physical therapists. The program usually begins with advanced neuro-musculoskeletal assessment in the center’s Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, the Center also provides all of its services to many non-athletes with other types of musculoskeletal injuries related to physical activity. The 125, 000-square-foot indoor practice facility contains a full-size FieldTurf football field, surrounding track, a court. Located in a area of the indoor practice building is a 3. The 100, 000-square-foot Panthers/Steelers indoor training, coaching and management building is split evenly in half, on the building’s first floor are the teams’ weight training and athletic training rooms, locker rooms, and a cafeteria-style kitchen and dining room. On the second floor are meeting and film viewing rooms, coaching and administrative offices. It additionally houses coaching and administrative offices as well as the Panthers academic support personnel. Each Panthers coach has their own meeting room for their positional players complete with video capabilities. Pitts locker room features 128 lockers which are personalized for each Panthers player, the Panthers weight room is furnished with the latest in training equipment and is utilized year-round for both offseason and in-season lifting regimens. The Steelers, along with their training facilities, have installed a library in tribute to the Steelers founder, outdoors, there are four side-by-side 80-yard-long football practice fields which are ideally situated for private practices and have viewing towers and lighting for evening sessions. Three of the fields are natural turf and one was outfitted with Sportexe synthetic turf in June 2007, in addition to being a major corporate sponsor of the teams, UPMC is the teams’ preferred health care and sports medicine provider. Injury evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation as well as UPMC’s Sports Performance Program all are available to the athletes on-site year round, health & Fitness UPMC Sports Performance Complex Center for Sports Medicine Virtual Tour Pittsburgh Panthers, UPMC Sports Performance Complex
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Backyard Brawl
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The Backyard Brawl is an American college football rivalry between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and West Virginia University Mountaineers. The term Backyard Brawl has also used to refer to college basketball games played annually or semi-annually. It is a trademark for both universities, and refers to the close proximity of the two universities, separated by 75 miles along Interstate 79. The football rivalry is the 14th oldest in the United States and is shown on national television. In the past, the Backyard Brawl has been seen on ABC, CBS, ESPN, through the 104 games played between these two schools, Pitt leads the series 61–40–3. On Saturday, December 1,2007 the 100th edition of the Backyard Brawl took place at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, the 4–7 Panthers upset the 2nd–ranked Mountaineers 13–9, knocking West Virginia out of the BCS National Championship Game. The game was one of the most important Backyard Brawls, one of the biggest upsets for the Pittsburgh Panthers, one of the biggest upsets of the season, and was voted as the Game of the Year by ESPNU. The Mountaineers got revenge when the returned to Morgantown in 2009. The 2009 Backyard Brawl was the most watched game in the history of ESPN2, the football series was first played in 1895, and the game has historically been one of the more intense rivalries in the eastern United States. The rivalry between the two schools is due mainly to proximity, WVUs campus in Morgantown, West Virginia is only about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh, and the two schools often compete for the same recruits. The 1921 edition of the Backyard Brawl was the first college football game broadcast on the radio when Harold W. Arlin announced the 21–13 Pittsburgh victory on KDKA, from 1962–2011, the series alternated between Pittsburgh and Morgantown on a yearly basis. Before that, the games were held in Pittsburgh on an almost regular basis, at one point, Pittsburgh hosted the game 11 years in a row and also hosted eight straight contests between 1938–48. The most consecutive games played in Morgantown, three, were held from 1932–34, West Virginia started out the series leading, 5–1. Pittsburgh won four games in a row from 1904–08 to tie the series at 5–5, in 1909, the teams played to a 0–0 tie, making the series 5–5–1. The following year, Pittsburgh won 38–0, taking a 6–5–1 lead in the series, since the series began interchanging annually between Morgantown and Pittsburgh in 1963, the Mountaineers have held a 25–22–2 advantage over the Panthers. On November 25,2004, the Backyard Brawl series saw its 97th game, Pittsburgh celebrated the event with a 16–13 win at Heinz Field. On December 1,2007, the 100th Backyard Brawl took place, Pittsburgh upset WVU by a score of 13–9. Coming into the game, WVU was ranked first in the Coaches Poll, with the loss, WVUs BCS National Championship Game chances were lowered
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River City Rivalry
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The River City Rivalry was an annual game played between former Big East rivals University of Pittsburgh and University of Cincinnati. The rivalry itself was brief, played annually from 2005. Before the rivalry was titled, the two played each other in 1921,1922,1979, and 1981. The rivalry went on hiatus, like many throughout the country, in the aftermath of the 2010–13 NCAA conference realignment. However, the two teams are scheduled to meet in a series for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The Paddlewheel Trophy is the trophy that was created in 2005 when the Bearcats joined the Big East Conference to which the Pittsburgh Panthers already belonged. Prior to 2005, the teams had met previously on only four prior occasions, the trophy stands 46 inches tall and weighs 95 pounds. Mounted on the base is a brass, engine-room telegraph that is a working model that was set for use on a ship in Seattle. The face of the telegraph was redesigned with logos from both teams on either side that can light up. The lever can be pulled to the side of the school who has won which also causes the ringing of bells, the front includes a steel plate featuring a carved outline of Allegheny, Monongahela Rivers and Ohio River as it runs from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati. The 22 by 8.5 inches base is made out of Ipê wood, over 175 man-hours of design and labor went into its construction. The 2009 matchup between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh was described by one national columnist as the most fascinating game Ive ever seen, the game functioned as a Big East championship game, with Cincinnati entering first in the conference, and Pittsburgh at second. The Panthers had an early 31–10 lead, however, the kickoff was returned for a touchdown by Mardy Gilyard to make it a 31–17 game at halftime. Cincinnati completed the comeback, tying the game at 38 late in the 4th quarter, Pittsburgh running back Dion Lewis scored a touchdown with 1,36 left in the game, but a mishandled snap by Andrew Janocko prevented the Panthers from converting the extra point. The Bearcats then drove down the field and scored on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Tony Pike to Armon Binns with 33 seconds left, Bearcats kicker Jake Rodgers converted the extra point attempt, and Cincinnati held on to win 45–44. Following the game, Cincinnati rose to a #3 ranking in the final BCS standing while Pitt dropped to #17, the game has been described as one of the most crushing losses in the history of Pitt football
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Panthers of Pittsburgh
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The mascot is generally referred to as the Pittsburgh Panther or Pitt Panther, while the costumed panther mascot is also named Roc. Up to 20 physical representations of panthers can be found in and around the universitys campus, the University of Pittsburgh adopted the Panther as its official animal and mascot on November 16,1909 at a meeting of students and alumni. When named the Western University of Pennsylvania, the university had been referred to by the nickname of Wup and athletic teams referred to as the Wups, a play on the schools abbreviation W. U. P. At this time, the university began the process of moving from what is now Pittsburghs North Side to its current location in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. According to George M. P. Baird, who made the suggestion for the Panther as the universitys mascot, the Panther was the most formidable creature once indigenous to the Pittsburgh region. It had ancient, heraldic standing as a noble animal, the close approximation of its hue to the old gold of the Universitys colors, hence its easy adaptability in decoration. A costumed Panther character has made appearances at University of Pittsburgh athletic events for decades, the Panther mascot appears at various university events, both athletic and other. The oldest representations of panthers are four Panther statues that guard each corner of the Panther Hollow Bridge, giuseppe Morettis four cast bronze Panther statues created in 1897 guard each corner of Panther Hollow Bridge in Schenley Park adjacent to the Pitt campus. Panthers were once found throughout the region and became to symbolize it. These statues, and Panther Hollow, existed prior to the move by 1909 to Oakland which includes the neighborhood of Panther Hollow adjacent to the schools campus. Representations of Moretti statues were used in university logos. At one time, painting or defacing the Moretti sculptures was a form of vandalism committed by the fans of rival universities prior to the schools football games. A panther head spews water in this fountain located at the base of the Cathedral of Learning, joseph Gattoni did the Cathedrals stone work, although no information is available on whether he specifically worked on the fountain. This Panther outside the William Pitt Union is ten-and-a-half-feet long and was cast with a sleek and muscular tone in pure bronze by sculptor Miriani Guido in Parma, with one paw poised in the air, the panther is designed to appear ready to pounce on an unsuspecting enemy. The statue arrived on campus in May 2001 and was stored over the summer in a University warehouse until placed outside the William Pitt Union at the end of August 2001, a time capsule to be opened in the year 2051 was buried beneath the statue. This tradition was featured in a television advertisement for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson automobile. This Panther sits outside Gate A of Heinz Field across the Monongahela River from downtown Pittsburgh and it is based on the design by Thomas N. Mitrakos for the award for the Pitt Varsity Letter Club Awardees of Distinction. The statue,12 feet long is set on a granite base, paved in the stone around the base is an image of the Cathedral of Learning
15.
Hail to Pitt
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Hail to Pitt is the most traditional fight song of the University of Pittsburgh, which is commonly referred to as Pitt. The saying Hail to Pitt. is also the most traditional and commonly used slogan of the University of Pittsburgh, the slogan is frequently used in promotional material, printed on merchandise and souvenirs. It was also the title of a 1982 history of Pitt athletics by author Jim OBrien, the slogan is often used among alumni as a statement of affiliation, including as a closing signature in conversation or correspondence between alumni, and is sometime abbreviated as HTP or H2P. The musical pageantry of the University of Pittsburgh began mostly under the initiative of various students and it was during this period, around 1908, that the University began the process of moving from what is now Pittsburghs North Side to its current location in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. In this atmosphere, an abundance of music and chants extolling the newly renamed university appeared throughout student productions and publications, Hail to Pitt is the most traditional of various fight songs of the University of Pittsburgh. Lyrics were written by George M. Kirk and music by Lester Milton Taylor, the first performance of this song was in a production of the Cap and Gown Club, a student musical theatre company, titled Here and There in the spring of 1910. Kirk, who served as a Pitt cheerleader for three years, helped push for the use as the Pitt fight song. However, by the 1930s, the songs popularity led to issues with its use on radio broadcasts of games involving the schools football team. Because Pitt did not own the copyright to the song, permission for its use had to be obtained from the owners prior to any broadcast. This led the university to commission and adopt a new song, however, Hail to Pitt continued to be performed and survived as the universitys primary musical number. Hail to Pitt has been many times on local and national radio. It is believed that Hail to Pitt was the first college song to be broadcast on the radio when KDKA used it when airing the first football game in 1911. The performance of Hail to Pitt appeared in Part 1 of the 1932 Victor Records release of Collegiate Melody, which remains the Warings Pennsylvanians best known song. Hail to Pitt was also performed by Tommy Dorsey as part of his broadcast from Meadowbrook Ballroom in Cedar Grove, released on two 78-rpm discs by Republic records, the album featured Hail to Pitt, Pitt Alma Mater, The Panther, and the Pitt Victory Song. Garbers album is considered one of the best recorded collections of songs in existence. During the 1952-1953 school year, the Pitt Band and the Pitt Mens Glee Club collaborated to release a compilation songs titled Songs of Pitt on RCA Victor Records, Allen Company of New York, as well as more recently in Studwell and Schuenemans College Fight Songs published in 1998. A limited edition box titled Proud Traditions A Musical Tribute to Pitt was released on the Europadisk Ltd. the lyrics below represent the current lyrics to Hail to Pitt ascribed to by the Pitt Band. Note that U-N-I are sung as three letters of the alphabet, not to be confused with the phrase you and I
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Pitt Victory Song
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The Pitt Victory Song, one of the most popular and widely used fight songs of the University of Pittsburgh, is often played in conjunction with Hail to Pitt and the Panther Song. Lyrics were written by G. Norman Reis and Louis M. Fushan, music was written by Benjamin Levant. The song debuted in the Cap and Gown Clubs 1938 musical production entitled Pickets, although commonly performed at university events, few people today know the rarely heard first portion of the song that occurs before the chorus. However, the most common cheer that is used during Pitt-related events, which while perhaps derived from the songs lyrics, is often cheered even in absence of the song or music. During the 1940s Joseph Wood conducted a recording of a collection of songs entitled Songs of the University of Pittsburgh that featured Walter Scheff, Ralph Nyland, and Michael Stewart. Released on two 78-rpm discs by Republic records, the featured the Pitt Victory Song, as well as Hail to Pitt, the The Panther. Various compilations by the Pitt Band and Pitt Mens Glee Club have also produced that have included the Victory Song. Around the 1952-1953 school year, the Pitt Band and the Pitt Mens Glee Club collaborated to release a compilation songs entitled Songs of Pitt on RCA Victor Records. More recent compilations include Pitt Spirit released on cassette in 1989, Proudly Pittsburgh in 1997. The Victory Song is also included on Gameday Faves, Classic College Fight Songs Volume 8, as of 2010 the Victory Song is available for purchase in a variety of formats including compact discs, MP3s, and ringtones. The lyrics specifically reference and focuses on football and this reinforces the attention on, and popularity of, the universitys football team at the time of its writing. During the 1970s and 1980s, the rivalry was especially intense, during this period, words to the final portion of the song containing the bridge were substituted by students. The altered version without the bridge remains the version played by the Pitt Band to this day. However, the bridge was played as part of the Victory Chorale until 2015 where it was removed completely. A1938 printing of a book containing college songs shows a slight variation in verse from So lend a hand. That is described above to So give a hand, Hail to Pitt University of Pittsburgh Alma Mater Pitt Band Pitt Athletics Pitt football Pitt basketball University of Pittsburgh MP3 of the Pitt Victory Song Pitt Band
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University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band
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The University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band, or Pitt Band, is the college marching band at the University of Pittsburgh. The band includes approximately 288 instrumentalists, a squad known as the Golden Girls, a color guard. The band was founded in 1911 and has won awards over the years. All members of the band must pass an audition in order to join, the band is currently housed in Trees Hall, however, Pitt has had discussions on building a new marching band facility. The earliest noted incarnation of a university band was in 1904 when it was named the Western University of Pennsylvania and it consisted of eight young men whose official uniforms were inexpensive caps. After a few years, uniforms made up of a hat and a sweater were adopted, however. Ohio Northern game with just 8 musicians in uniforms only consisting of scarlet felt caps with blue tassels, Band members played on seven instruments borrowed from Bechers Music Store. Half of the funding for the band was provided by the Athletic Council with the other half donated by students, alumni. Uniforms were provided in 1912, including mackinaws, from a donation by Edward V. Babcock. The band struggled in its years, particularly during World War I, until 1918 when Italian immigrant Mario S. Rocereto was named director. Rocereto raised the standards of the band by making membership in the band only and adding new uniforms consisting of blue overcoats with blue. The band greatly grew and improved under Rocereto, the band gave its first home concert on 5 April 1922 in the Carnegie Music Hall and was composed of male musicians from multiple schools within the university. In the late 1930s, Pitt’s military department took over direction of the band, Band uniforms were military-like with cross belts and members had to pass rigid musical aptitude and marching tests. From 1939 to 1971, Robert “Ace” Arthur was the director of the band, in the 1940s, the Pitt Band developed a national reputation and was considered by some among the top collegiate marching bands in the nation. The band played the show at the 1956 Sugar Bowl. Following Arthur’s retirement Donald Hower led the band from 1972 to 1985, women musicians first joined the band in 1972 and the baton twirling majorette corps, dubbed the Golden Girls, was added around 1975. O’Neil Sanford led the band from 1985 to 1995 and a 16-member color guard was added, the band grew considerably under both Hower and Stanford, partly due to the great success of the Pitt football team. The band played at the 1977 Sugar Bowl, where Pitt defeated Georgia to become the 1976 national champions, following Sanford’s resignation in 1995, long-time assistant director Jack R. Anderson served as director of the band
