We made it! Game day is finally here! So let’s start this off right. The best ‘stache in college football needs an opening theme to start the season, don’t you agree? And what better theme than one associated with one of the greatest ‘staches of all time…
There is not a whole lot left to say at this point. Utah is on a 17-game winning streak at home, their last loss coming to Air Force in the 2007 home opener. But Pitt has never played at Rice-Eccles Stadium, so technically we are undefeated in Salt Lake City. Yeah, we know that is a meaningless statistic.
Come 8:30pm tonight, all of these statistics are meaningless.
So there is only one thing left to do…
…print out your signs and let’s start this season off right! Let’s show Utah and the entire nation that we will be a force to be reckoned with this season…that they must “FEAR THE ‘STACHE”!
This morning, Nike held a press conference to show off the 10 new Pro-Combat uniforms that will be worn in the 2010 season and announce the dates they will be worn. Sorry, no script Pitt everyone. But they aren’t half bad. Gold letters and numbers representing steel I-beams, the helmet is designed to resemble a construction hard hat, and the sleeve and undersleeve form the shadow of the panther logo. So when will we wear them? Why during the 103rd edition of the Backyard Brawl on November 26th of course! To go along with it, they have t-shirts for sale (in November) on Nike’s website with the I-Beam Pitt logo and Panther teeth on the front and the phrase “Let’s Brawl” on the back.
Check out Nike’s website here for more info [ Nike Pro-Combat ]
Thanks to our friends over at 93.7 The Fan, we have been asked to join a panel of Pitt bloggers for a weekly Blogger Debate. Each Wednesday, we will discuss Pitt football and other hot topics in college football with Chas Rich of Pitt Blather, Bryan from Pitt Script, and Chris Gates from the Area 4-1-ZOO Blog.
This week, we discuss our expectations for Pitt’s upcoming season, how inexperience will play a role, and exactly how the game will go down in Salt Lake City on Thursday night. Check it out in the Area 4-1-ZOO Blog over on 93.7 The Fan’s website!
Conference: Mountain West Conference. Well sort of. They are in the Mountain West this season, but next season when they come to Heinz Field, they will be in the Pac-10…err Pac-12…err actually Pac-11 since Colorado isn’t jumping ship with them until 2012 now.
Series: Utah leads 1-0. That (1) covers so much history. Utah, coached by Urban Meyer, was the first non-BCS conference to bust the party and be invited to a BCS bowl game. It just so happens that was the same year that Pitt won the Big East via tiebreaker and had the pleasure of traveling to Tempe, AZ to meet them in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. Led by QB Alex Smith, the Utes dominated Pitt 35-7 on their way to a 12-0 season. The debacle would lead to Walt Harris’ firing, Dave Wannstedt’s hiring, and the reason for our existence.
TV/Radio: 8:30pm Versus. Probably on between some combination of MMA fighting, professional bull riding, dog sledding, and hunting shows. No word yet if they are recycling the Pizza Hut Stanley Cup Intermission Report set, Brian Engblom, or his mullet for the halftime show.
Bloggers: “Block U – Home to the University of Utah and all its classless fans!” – www.blocku.com (That’s that tag line from their site, we didn’t say that about their fans…yet). Definitely should check it out this week to get familiar with the Utes. Block U put together a great “Getting to know the University of Utah” when they had joined the Pac-10 thru 12. Take a look.
Fun Facts: In nearby Salt Lake City, just north of their campus on Mount Van Cott, a giant concrete “Block U” graces the skyline. The “U” that has become known as the logo for the university, was built in 1907 and spans over 5,000 sq ft. In 1967, a lighting system outlining the letter was installed. When the Utes win, the lights outlining the letter flash to let everyone in the city below know the team was victorious. Who would have ever thought it would be such a great idea to light up your university’s most recognized icon differently for all of the city to see when the football team wins?
Today it was announced that Pitt was one of ten college football programs chosen to wear Nike’s Pro Combat uniforms for select games during the 2010 season. At this time, we do not know the dates they will be worn or what they will look like…but we will find out on September 1st. Our best guess is the Miami and/or WVU games as both teams were also selected. As for what they will look like…all we know from the press release is “Nike worked diligently with each university to bring relevant elements of the school’s rich heritage into the futuristic elite fit uniform designs.” Is it too good to be true?
BEAVERTON, Ore. (August 17, 2010) – Ten of the top college football programs have been selected to wear uniquely designed Nike uniforms for at least one game during the 2010 season the company announced today.
The University of Alabama, Boise State University, University of Florida, University of Miami (FL), The Ohio State University, Oregon State University, University of Pittsburgh, Texas Christian University, Virginia Tech and West Virginia University will wear the innovative designs for a minimum of one game on their schedules. The dates of those games will be announced at the unveiling of the uniforms Sept. 1 in New York.
The Nike Pro Combat System of Dress uniforms the schools will wear are engineered to provide superior protection and durability, while utilizing advanced fabrics and tooling that reduce weight.
Nike worked diligently with each university to bring relevant elements of the school’s rich heritage into the futuristic elite fit uniform designs. The collaborations with the universities produced the highly customized uniforms that will be revealed just days prior to the start of the 2010 college football season.
Bulletin board material! Get your bulletin board material here! Camp is just starting and bulletin board is already flying. The latest is courtesy of WVU receiver Jock Sanders on Pitt being favored to win the Big East:
“The crazy thing about it to me is, Pitt got everybody back and we got everybody back and we beat Pitt — so those polls to me don’t really mean anything,” Sanders said.
“Hands down [we're the best team in the Big East], and we’ll show that this year. It is all about politics. For Pitt to get all those [first-place] votes and we got just as much back as them, it is crazy, but, like I said before, at the end of the year after we play them, they’ll regret [being the favorites]. They’ll regret it all.”
Today Coach Wannstedt, Dion Lewis, and Greg Romeus spent the day on ESPN’s campus, appearing on various TV and radio shows, and even internet chats. One particular chat question with Coach Wannstedt caught our attention:
The pervasiveness of the ‘Stache is nothing new to the University of Pittsburgh football program. Actually, its roots can be traced all the way back to the beginning. The first coach to understand its mystical power was Arthur “Texas” Mosse, when in 1904 he led our Pitt Panthers to their first undefeated season. Throughout the years, many coaches and players began sporting the fuzzy upper lip, some using it to establish their true manliness and others in hopes of achieving greatness on the field. Our current leader, Coach Wannstedt, is the current torch bearer of the ‘Stache. He wears this symbol with pride and knowing full well the responsibility that goes along with it. For support, Coach has assembled the finest army of ‘Staches to embark upon the mission of returning the Pittsburgh Panthers back to the national championship.
Greg Gattuso – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line
Greg Gattuso
Phil Bennett – Defensive Coordinator
Phil Bennett
Rob Blanc – Head Athletic Trainer
Rob Blanc
In the coming season, Coach Wannstedt will again set out to follow in the footsteps of the great Arthur Mosse and lead our Panthers back to the top of the Big East where we belong. While we wait for the season to kick off, we have compiled a list of the top 5 Pitt Panthers mustaches.
Top 5 Pitt Panther ‘Staches
Honorable Mention – Jim “Jimbo” Covert
Jim "Jimbo" Covert
#5 – Russ Grimm
Russ Grimm
#4 – Mark May
Mark May
#3 – Arthur “Texas” Mosse
Arthur “Texas” Mosse
#2 – Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka
#1 – Dave Wannstedt
Dave Wannstedt
What do you think, who do you think has the best ‘Stache in Pitt history? Well now is your chance to vote. If not for one of these nominees, then leave us a message in the comments of who your nominee is (and preferably a picture or link to a picture).
The Official Fighting Wannstache T-Shirt pre-sale has officially begun! Purchase a shirt between now and July 26th for $3.00 off this season’s already lower prices! All pre-sale orders will ship the week of Monday, August 9th in time for back-to-school and football season. Check out the ‘Stache Store at the TFWshop.com today to place your order before the sale ends!
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