The Backyard Brawl is the highly anticipated rivalry game between West Virginia Mountaineers and the hated Pitt Panthers. The rivalry gets its name from the schools’ proximity to each other. The rivalry is a big part of football and basketball at WVU with both teams playing each other 99 times since the rivalry started. If you can make it to Milan Puskar Stadium for The Backyard Brawl, then you’re in for a treat as it is one of the most intense rivalries in all of college football.
Mountaineers Tailgate Guide
Atmosphere
West Virginia doesn’t have any professional sports franchises, so the fan base for the West Virginia Mountaineers is huge and shows a lot of pride and support for the Mountaineers. As a result, you’ll find people from all over West Virginia at a Mountaineers game. The strong support from all around the state means you’ll make friends quickly as Mountaineers fandom creates a strong bond between fellow fans.
West Virginia fans like to go hard when it comes to tailgating, which can especially be seen in The Pit where the wilder fans like to hang out before games. Fans outside of The Pit like to party as well but in a bit more relaxed fashion. No matter where you tailgate though you’ll see a sea of blue and gold on game day as fans come decked out head to toe in Mountaineers colors. Make sure to put on your best blue and gold before the game to fit in with your fellow Mountaineers fans.
Mountaineers fans prepare a variety of different foods for their pregame parties, which vary from week to week depending on the opponent. Lots of fans here like to prepare different cuisine depending on the opponent. For example, if the Mountaineers are playing the Longhorns lots of fans will create Texas themed dishes.
Finally, the Mountaineer Mantrip is a great pregame tradition that you should definitely take a part in when visiting Morgantown. During the Mantrip the Mountaineer players and coaching staff walk along the pathway dividing the parking lot outside of Mountaineer Field. They are accompanied by The Mountaineer, the Pride of West Virginia Marching Band, and the Mountaineer cheerleaders. WVU students and fans line the path to creating a tunnel-like effect for the passing team members, providing for an interactive and enthusiastic environment. Get to the Mantrip early, so you can get a good spot and see the players and coaches up close.
One of the most famous traditions at West Virginia is fans burning couches after the Mountaineers win a big game. The tradition has come under some pressure recently as authorities have been cracking down on couch burning, but fans still take part in this one of a kind tradition.
One of the unique traditions of West Virginia University is that of the PRT Cram. A PRT can comfortably hold sixteen people but during Mountaineer Week at WVU, the student body tries to cram as many people into a PRT as possible. The current record was made in 2000 in which a whopping 97 students crammed into the PRT.
Instituted during the 2011 season by head coach Dana Holgorsen, the Mountaineer Mantrip is a recent addition to WVU's gameday traditions. During the Mantrip the Mountaineer players and coaching staff walk along the pathway dividing the parking lot outside of Mountaineer Field. They are accompanied by The Mountaineer, the Pride of West Virginia Marching Band, and the Mountaineer cheerleaders.
Post game in Morgantown can be a lot of fun, especially after victories and when fans head to High Street. Reminiscent of Bourbon Street, High Street is filled with local bars and favorite hot spots for fans to continue the party after the game is over. Stop by High Street after the game to continue the festivities with fellow Mountaineers fans.
The Student LotLocated at the Evansdale Residential Complex, the student lot offers games, food, and other basic tailgating activities three hours and thirty minutes before kickoff. A WVU student ID is required to enter, but each student is allowed to bring one guest.
Blue LotIf you’re looking for the best tailgate lot at Milan Puskar Stadium than the Blue Lot is the place to be. It’s where you’ll find the majority of the larger tailgates and is the largest tailgate lot. The one downside though is you’ll need a parking pass to park here, so make sure to get one beforehand if you have your heart set on tailgating in the Blue Lot.
Burgundy or Purple LotsThese lots have tailgating passes for $20, so you won’t have to break the bank to tailgate with fellow Mountaineers fans. Just set up some chairs, a tent, and a grill and you’ll make friends quickly with the people around you.
High Streetost game in Morgantown can be a lot of fun, especially after victories and when fans head to High Street. Reminiscent of Bourbon Street, High Street is filled with local bars and favorite hot spots for fans to continue the party after the game is over. Stop by High Street after the game to continue the festivities with fellow Mountaineers fans.
Mountaineers Stadium Guide
In Game
The Pride of West Virginia gets the game started off on the right foot with their tremendous pregame performance. Their signature formation is the state outline of West Virginia, which they take during the playing “Hail West Virginia.” It’s a sight to behold and will really get you pumped to cheer on the Mountaineers when they enter the field.
Another aspect of attending a Mountaineers game that makes it a great game day experience is the fans. The West Virginia fans are extremely passionate and come from all over the state to cheer on their Mountaineers. There are no professional teams in West Virginia, so you’ll find that West Virginians live and die with the Mountaineers.
In addition to being very passionate, you’ll also find that Mountaineers fans are very vocal in their support of their team. The fans here don’t hesitate to trash talk or give opposing players hell, so don’t be afraid to heckle the opposition as it is something that is encouraged here. Mountaineers fans are one of the main draws to attending a West Virginia football game, so you’ll have a great time getting to know the people and making friends with your new Mountaineer friends.
Fans have loved stopping in the Hall of Traditions since it opened at Milan Puskar Stadium in 2006. It is filled with interactive displays, videos, photos, records, and more that contain the history of Mountaineer football. It is open to fans before home games at the stadium, so stop by if you get the chance.
Dubbed “The Pride of West Virginia” is WVU’s marching band which proudly falls into formation of the state of West Virginia and marches to the end zone before each Mountaineer home game
Going back to 2007 there has been at least one Gold Rush home game where everyone in attendances dresses in gold. The tradition was modeled after Penn State’s whiteout tradition and has brought the Mountaineers success in short existence as the team is 5-2 during Gold Rush games.
Many fans show their Mountaineer pride by wearing coonskin hats to the games. Put on your coonskin hat and join in on the fun that is a Mountaineers football game.
The Mountaineer Mascot carries a period rifle and powder horn which is used to fire a single shot to signal to the start of home football games. The rifle is also fired to celebrate WVU scores as well.
Fight Songs
Fight, Mountaineers
Fight, fight, fight, fight, Mountaineers! We’re here to cheer for you. Take that old ball down the field. We’re putting our faith in you. Play that team right off its feet. You can’t be beat we know. And when the game is through, we’ll all cheer for you. West Virginia, West Virginia, rah!
WVU Alma Mater
Alma, our alma mater The home of Mountaineers Sing we of thy honor Everlasting through the years. Alma, our alma mater We pledge in song to you Hail all hail our alma mater West Virginia U!
Take Me Home, Country Roads
WVU has taken this famous song released by John Denver as its own. Denver's song is one of the many songs played at home games and he was the 1980 stadium opening to dedicate the song to the team. Join in on the singing of Take Me Home, Country Roads to really feel apart of the West Virginia crowd.
Almost heaven, West Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River Life is old there, older than the trees Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze.
(Chorus) Country roads, take me home to the place I belong West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads. All my memories gather round her Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water Dark and dusty, painted on the sky Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye.
(Chorus) I hear her voice in the morning hour she calls me The radio reminds me of my home far away And driving down the road I get the feeling That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday. (Chorus ~ twice)
Let’s Go...Mountaineers!
During home WVU games, fans square off in a cheering challenge. One side of the stadium shouts “Let’s go!” and the other follows with “Mountaineers!” which is led by the cheerleading squad and mascot.
Prior to the announcement of a first down, Mountaineer fans raise their hands and cheer in unison until the first down is called. Following the call, fans will lift their arms up and down three times, clap, and chant “W-V-U! First down!”
Here you will get a taste of our unique fishbowl and find everything there is to know about the historic hot spot, from our frosty fishbowls of beer to our delicious sandwiches and award-winning chicken wings.
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