Fanpost: The Backyard Brawl - Upsets and Great Comebacks

Good rundown of some Backyard Brawl history by reader lturk. Create your own Fanpost over to the right and we may publish it here.

2008 - McCoy carried the Panthers to a 19-15 win over West Virginia before 63,019 fans at Heinz Field in the 101st meeting of the rivalry known as the Backyard Brawl. With the Panthers trailing by 15-13 late in the fourth quarter, McCoy carried the ball nine times — all but once on Pittsburgh’s final possession — and rushed for 59 yards. After putting the Panthers ahead with a 1-yard run with 52 seconds remaining, McCoy stood in the end zone with his arms stretched wide and a smile spread across his face.

2007 - A season of college football upsets ended with one of the biggest in Backyard Brawl history.  Unranked Pitt toppled No. 2 West Virginia, 13-9, in the Big East upset of the season before a stunned crowd of 60,100 at Milan Puskar Stadium.  Pitt running back LeSean McCoy led both teams in rushing with 148 yards on 38 carries. He broke the Big East rushing record for a freshman with 1,328 yards this season.  The Panthers' defense took it from there, holding West Virginia to 104 rushing yards -- 206 yards under its rushing average per game.

2004 - Pitt overcame the Mountaineers in the Backyard Brawl after being down 13-9 in the fourth quarter, Pitt QB Tyler Palko lead a drive that consisted of four third-down conversions that ended with a two-yard run by Palko for the score.  Palko's fourth quarter heroics earned Pittsburgh a trip to the Fiesta Bowl.  The most memorable play of the game came when Palko hurdled over defensive back Pacman Jones in the second quarter on a scramble for a first down.

In 1997, underdog Pitt landed a surprise bowl bid by scoring a stirring 41-38 three-overtime comeback win in Morgantown after Pete Gonzalez completed a 20-yard pass on a fourth-and-17 play in overtime.

1989 - A 42-yard field goal on the game's last play capped a 22-point rally for Pitt and enabled the Panthers to tie West Virginia, 31-31. Ed Frazier kicked the field goal and the Mountaineers were undone after leading, 31-9, at the end of the third quarter.

1982 -- Dan Marino led the No. 2 Panthers to a fourth-quarter comeback from a 13-0 deficit, throwing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Julius Dawkins, and Bill Maas sacked Jeff Hostetler for a safety with 41 seconds left to clinch the victory. Paul Woodside's 52-yard field goal fell short. Final: Pitt 16, WVU 13.

1970 -- Trailing, 35-8, at halftime, Pitt switched to a Power-I formation and cut its deficit before Dave Havern threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Bill Piconis with 55 seconds remaining. Final: Pitt 36, WVU 35.

In 1954, a mediocre Pitt team that fired its coach during a 4-5 season took West Virginia out of the

national title race with a 13-10 upset, the Mountaineers' only loss.

1955 -- With Sugar Bowl representatives among the crowd of 57,996 at Pitt Stadium, the Panthers upset No. 6 WVU to earn a trip to New Orleans. Final: Pitt 26, WVU 7.

Here's hoping we can add one to the list.  Hail to Pitt!