In case you didn’t think it was official yet.
The University of Pittsburgh has accepted an invitation to play in the 75th annual Brut Sun Bowl, announced Sun Bowl Association executive director Bernie Olivas. The game will pit No. 23 Pittsburgh against a team from the Pac-10 Conference on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at noon (MT) at Sun Bowl Stadium.
“We are extremely happy to have extended an invitation to Pittsburgh to play in the 75th anniversary of the Brut Sun Bowl,” said Sun Bowl Association executive director Bernie Olivas. “Pittsburgh has a storied football program and will be making its third trip to El Paso. They area team on the rise and we could not be more excited.”
Pittsburgh (9-3, 5-2 Big East) secured the selection with a 34-10 road win over Connecticut. The win marked the fourth win in the last five games for the Panthers. Pittsburgh’s opponent from the Pac-10 will be announced on Sunday at 5 p.m. MT.
“Everything about Pittsburgh right now is a positive. They really bring so much to the table,” said SBA football chairman John Folmer. “Running back LeSean McCoy will remind a lot of people of Tony Dorsett, who rushed for 142 yards in the 1975 Sun Bowl for Pittsburgh. Local fans will also remember (head coach) Dave Wannstedt, who spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.”
This marks Pittsburgh’s first nine-win regular season since 1982.
“Pitt football and the Sun Bowl are synonymous with great football tradition,” said Pittsburgh director of athletics Steve Pederson. “It is an honor for us to be playing in the 75th anniversary of a game that has meant so much to college football. We can’t wait to bring our fine team to El Paso.”
It is still not official as to who Pitt will face. Oregon State, though, seems a lock. USC is going to the Rose Bowl. Oregon played in El Paso last year. They could, I suppose invite Cal or Arizona, but no one seems to even think that’s what will happen.
hail to pitt
Dorsett was a junior when he went to the Sun Bowl in 75. Won the Heisman and national chmapionship as a senior in 76. HTP
Also, the last time Pitt went to the Sun Bowl was in 1989. It was just before that game that Paul Hackett had the interim tag removed. While Pitt won that Sun Bowl over Texas A&M, it was also the high point of the Hackett era. After that, it was downhill.
Here’s to Champagne and Shady! *raises a glass*
Beavers’ media sound scared.
I read that earlier. They are still stunned by the colossal beatdown that Oregon gave them last week.
My funny fact, since we’re apparently dropping them in this thread:
The John Hancock Bowl is the first Pitt game that I remember watching on TV as a kid. My parents are both alumni, and I remember being really excited when we won. Definitely made an impression on me as a child when my dad, a professor, would take me into Oakland to pop into Hillman and do research or into the Cathedral to see the Nationality Rooms.
HTP fellow friends, students, and alumni!
BCS Standings
Standings Not Available
AP Top 25
18. Pittsburgh 9-3 428
24. Oregon State 8-4 163
nice jump, Coaches Poll however, less generous when ranking Pitt
…yep, results for USA Today Coaches’ Poll seemingly just in (though yet to appear in “index”):
21. Pittsburgh 9-3 316 23
25. Oregon State 8-4 131 24
link to sports.espn.go.com
Harris Poll is yet to arrive as well
What a wonderful PITT season, especially when people recount after Bowling Green and Rutgers–when everyone wondered if PITT would win 3 or 4 games….congrats to the entire TEAM, and a legion of fans who never gave up (thank You also for Jimmy V, though not a PITT man, showed us with class to never give up)!
Hail to PITT!
-al-
Upending #8 Maryland 86-57?
Things are looking good for Pitt Atheletics.
If not, that is ok too. But it would be nice to be with other Pitt fans for a game this big.
Their program would CRUMBLE. They were 7-5, what did they expect?
In the heat of the season, sure I may have been dissappointed that we didn’t take the Big East and get to the Orange Bowl.
But looking back at the progress made, I can’t be too upset over how things have turned out. In fact, I’m pretty excited about it. We wound up 9-3, with a shot at a 10 win season against a legitimate BCS school in the Big East’s #2 bowl bid this season.
I doubt I’d be able to travel to El Paso for the game, but is there any way to buy tickets and donate them to poor Pitt college students? We need a good turnout if we ever want the Gator Bowl to come calling.
