Feb. 25, 2008

 

 

    PITTSBURGH--Riding the momentum of a dramatic season-ending upset of West Virginia and the signing of one of the nation's best recruiting classes, the University of Pittsburgh today announced its 2008 football schedule.

 

    Anticipation is already building for the upcoming season. The Panthers are being touted as a team to watch both in the Big East and nationally in 2008. Moreover, Pitt will be hosting one of its most attractive schedules in recent memory - a six-game slate at Heinz Field that includes the best of the Big East as well as intriguing non-conference foes.

 

    The Panthers will play 12 regular-season games, highlighted by:

 

·       Seven teams that advanced to bowl games in 2007.

 

·       Four dates already scheduled for national television.

 

·       Pitt's first meeting with traditional Big Ten power Iowa (Sept. 20) in 56 years. The Panthers and Hawkeyes last played in 1952.

 

·       The return of one of college football's most spirited rivalries to Heinz Field -- the 101^st edition of the "Backyard Brawl" with West Virginia (Nov. 28). The Panthers and Mountaineers staged one of last season's most memorable games, a 13-9 Pitt triumph in Morgantown. The 2008 game will be an ABC telecast.

 

·       Home Big East games with Louisville (Nov. 8) and Rutgers (Oct. 25). The Cardinals have played in bowls nine of the last 10 years, while the resurgent Scarlet Knights are shooting for their fourth consecutive postseason trip.

 

·       The renewal of Pitt's historic series with Notre Dame (Nov. 1). The Panthers visit South Bend for the first time since their thrilling 41-38 victory over the Irish during the 2004 Fiesta Bowl season. The game will be a national NBC telecast.

 

·       Pitt's first visit since 1987 to the Naval Academy (Oct. 18), which has advanced to five consecutive bowl games.

 

    The Panthers open the season on Aug. 30 against Bowling Green, a 2007 GMAC Bowl participant. On Sept. 6, Pitt will host Buffalo, which finished as co-champions of the Mid-American Conference's East Division last year.

 

    The four-game Big East road slate includes three teams that advanced to bowls in 2007: USF (Oct. 2), Cincinnati (Nov. 22) and Connecticut (Dec. 6). The USF game will be an ESPN Thursday night national telecast, while Connecticut will be on either ESPN or ESPN2. The Panthers also visit longtime eastern rival Syracuse (Sept. 27).

  

    Season-ticket packages are currently on sale for as low as $72 and can be purchased online (PittsburghPanthers.com), by phone (800/643-PITT) or in person at the Petersen Events Center ticket office. Current season ticket holders who renew online by March 31 will receive a $10 discount.

 

    "If you look at this schedule, it fits well for our team and for our fans," Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson said. "We have said previously that this will be an exciting home schedule. Now that we have the dates, it solidifies the fall for our fans at Heinz Field. We are also pleased that we have so many national television opportunities already in place. We have six home games that will be very special and ones that the people of Pittsburgh will not want to miss."

 

    "From start to finish, I believe this is one of the most challenging and exciting schedules we have had in recent memory," Coach Dave Wannstedt said. "The Big East continues to prove itself as one of the very best conferences in the country. In non-conference play, we will face two outstanding independents, two contenders in the MAC and a traditional Big Ten power. We are enthused about the challenge and it is a definite motivating factor for our players' offseason preparation."

 

2008 Pitt Football Schedule

 

Date                            Opponent                                               Time

   

Aug. 30                       Bowling Green                                      TBA

                                                                                               

Sept. 6                        Buffalo                                                   TBA

                                                                                               

Sept. 20                      Iowa                                                        TBA

 

Sept. 27                       at Syracuse*                                            TBA

 

Oct. 2 (Thurs.)            at USF* (ESPN)                                     TBA                                               

 

Oct. 18                        at Navy                                                   TBA

 

Oct. 25                        Rutgers*                                                TBA

 

Nov. 1                         at Notre Dame (NBC)                            2:30 p.m.

 

Nov. 8                         Louisville*                                             TBA

   

Nov. 22                       at Cincinnati*                                          TBA

 

Nov. 28 (Fri.)             West Virginia* (ABC)                          TBA

 

Dec. 6                          at Connecticut* (ESPN/ESPN2)             TBA

 

 

    All home games denoted in bold

                                     

    *denotes Big East Conference game

 

    Due to television considerations, TBA kickoff times will be announced at a later date