PITTSBURGH -- Finally, blessedly, the Backyard Brawl returned to college football on Thursday night. Fans saw a game to tell their grandkids about, but were also reminded of the emotion, hatred and yes -- profanity-laced chants -- that go hand-in-hand with this lost rivalry.
Eleven years separated the most recent matchup between the schools. Meaning neither the players nor the students in the Panther Pit, filled well before kickoff, had had ever experienced this before.
Yet you would never know it. Pittsburgh rallied for two touchdowns in the final 3:41 to beat the Mountaineers 38-31, to deafening cheers from delirious students and proud Pitt fans.