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Went to my first Backyard Brawl this past weekend…
Posted on 9/18/23 at 7:12 am
Posted on 9/18/23 at 7:12 am
So I’m from the east coast around this area but had never been. Was mostly an NFL fan growing up like most people. Went to school at LSU starting around 10 or so years ago and obviously been hooked on college sports since. I love college football and try and experience some of the big out of conference games and stadiums when I can.
Even though WVU and Pitt weren’t very good, there was great turnout and atmosphere for this game. It wasn’t the greatest atmosphere of all time or anything, but these are clear rivals who should play each other every year. I can tell that playing Kansas and Oklahoma state yearly who these fans have nothing in common with and live half a continent away has absolutely sapped their fan base alongside them being mediocre.
I think when you’re mediocre, continuing to play your traditional rivals regularly breaths life and excitement into your program when there otherwise wouldn’t be much. I think about down years for LSU that were made by a big upset of florida or Alabama or just even a big win against Ole Miss who lsu fans hate. It’s just fun to play your rivals.
Another thing I noticed talking to people, most of the students at WVU are really from New Jersey or the DMV area. I maybe met 2 actual people who are from WV and went to WVU, so I imagine that doesn’t help the long term culture when out of state kids come in and come out and there’s not locals. Felt like LSU when I was there was 80% people who were from LA and their dad went to LSU and his dad went to LSU etc… you could really feel those layers and layers of culture.
Their students also got much more excited for their NFL teams on Sunday compared to the Saturday game even though it was Pittsburgh. Again this makes sense given that most of these kids are really from NFL country. Along with that they didn’t follow WVU recruiting at all. They also generally found it bizarre we would actually watch signing day stuff on TV.
Obviously I am in the SEC bubble but at least at WVU there was a clear and distinct different in passion. I can’t help but think it’s exacerbated by conference realignment getting rid of big annual rivalries plus schools trying to become more heavily out of state to get more tuition money.
Even though WVU and Pitt weren’t very good, there was great turnout and atmosphere for this game. It wasn’t the greatest atmosphere of all time or anything, but these are clear rivals who should play each other every year. I can tell that playing Kansas and Oklahoma state yearly who these fans have nothing in common with and live half a continent away has absolutely sapped their fan base alongside them being mediocre.
I think when you’re mediocre, continuing to play your traditional rivals regularly breaths life and excitement into your program when there otherwise wouldn’t be much. I think about down years for LSU that were made by a big upset of florida or Alabama or just even a big win against Ole Miss who lsu fans hate. It’s just fun to play your rivals.
Another thing I noticed talking to people, most of the students at WVU are really from New Jersey or the DMV area. I maybe met 2 actual people who are from WV and went to WVU, so I imagine that doesn’t help the long term culture when out of state kids come in and come out and there’s not locals. Felt like LSU when I was there was 80% people who were from LA and their dad went to LSU and his dad went to LSU etc… you could really feel those layers and layers of culture.
Their students also got much more excited for their NFL teams on Sunday compared to the Saturday game even though it was Pittsburgh. Again this makes sense given that most of these kids are really from NFL country. Along with that they didn’t follow WVU recruiting at all. They also generally found it bizarre we would actually watch signing day stuff on TV.
Obviously I am in the SEC bubble but at least at WVU there was a clear and distinct different in passion. I can’t help but think it’s exacerbated by conference realignment getting rid of big annual rivalries plus schools trying to become more heavily out of state to get more tuition money.
10
Posted on 9/18/23 at 7:25 am to jlovel7
Pretty accurate. I went to WVU during the fun years of Pat White and followed closely once Geno took over etc. The student body was into all the things you mentioned back during 05-18ish. But the team being bad and no connection to our conference schools hasn't helped the overall feeling/atmosphere.
The move to the Big 12 was fun the first couple years, playing teams you never played before or only played once in a blue moon.
But eventually the new wears off and it's just not the same. DMV is full of VT, MD, Pitt, Penn St grads etc and not being able to look forward to play those teams became a huge bummer.
The last few years we played the teams I just mentioned and it was awesome. Didn't win them all but getting to talk to co-workers about playing them or even going to the game was such a refresher then playing someone in Texas for the 3rd week in a row.
I hate the new conferences and yearn for a return to playing traditional rivals every week.
The move to the Big 12 was fun the first couple years, playing teams you never played before or only played once in a blue moon.
But eventually the new wears off and it's just not the same. DMV is full of VT, MD, Pitt, Penn St grads etc and not being able to look forward to play those teams became a huge bummer.
The last few years we played the teams I just mentioned and it was awesome. Didn't win them all but getting to talk to co-workers about playing them or even going to the game was such a refresher then playing someone in Texas for the 3rd week in a row.
I hate the new conferences and yearn for a return to playing traditional rivals every week.
Posted on 9/18/23 at 10:09 am to jlovel7
"eat shite pitt"
Posted on 9/18/23 at 10:49 am to jlovel7
Your greedy SEC and Big 10 god complexes wanted this
Posted on 9/18/23 at 1:42 pm to jlovel7
2007
Posted on 9/18/23 at 3:43 pm to jlovel7
Can confirm, from 30 years ago, the WVU student body is made up of mostly NJ, MD, Ohio and Pa. It's cheaper to go to WVU than Rutgers and really not that far of a drive.
Posted on 9/18/23 at 4:53 pm to jlovel7
That seems like a solid rivalry and a fun game to attend.
This post was edited on 9/18/23 at 4:54 pm
Posted on 9/18/23 at 5:13 pm to jlovel7
One hope I have is that the TV networks are going to demand that schools play 9 or 10 conference games and play teams from other power conferences - they aren't paying billions for LSU-Grambling - and that will keep games like LSU-Auburn happening and rekindle some of these old school geographic rivalries like Pitt-WVU or Nebraska-Oklahoma.
Posted on 9/18/23 at 5:44 pm to jlovel7
quote:
Another thing I noticed talking to people, most of the students at WVU are really from New Jersey or the DMV area. I maybe met 2 actual people who are from WV and went to WVU, so I imagine that doesn’t help the long term culture when out of state kids come in and come out and there’s not locals. Felt like LSU when I was there was 80% people who were from LA and their dad went to LSU and his dad went to LSU etc… you could really feel those layers and layers of culture.
I lived in Morgantown for 3 years. I was surprised at this at first, but then I learned that WVU's out of state tuition is about $10,000 - $15,000 per year lower than Penn State, Ohio State, VT, and UVa and WVU is pretty liberal with its student aid distribution. I also learned that West Virginia is one of the major party schools for the DC, western Pa, and eastern Ohio areas students would rather go to WVU than a city or commuter college in their home states.
quote:
Their students also got much more excited for their NFL teams on Sunday compared to the Saturday game even though it was Pittsburgh. Again this makes sense given that most of these kids are really from NFL country. Along with that they didn’t follow WVU recruiting at all. They also generally found it bizarre we would actually watch signing day stuff on TV.
That has to do with them being terrible the last 3 seasons. I first moved to Morgantown in 2019. The fan base was excited to have no longer have to watch Dana Holgerson's teams choke. There was legit excitement when Texas came to town that year. Neal Brown's mediocrity has a lot more to do with the fans' apathy in my opinion.
Posted on 9/18/23 at 9:17 pm to jlovel7
First off, I hope you had a great time and got to partake in some WV delicacies like pepperoni rolls and moonshine.
The atmosphere was good. It was a must-win for Neal Brown. Not a pretty game by any means but a win nonetheless.
Definitely agree with you about games like that breathing life into the program. This weekend they (WVU) host Texas Tech. It'll still be a good atmosphere but not nearly the same level of hype and build up all week.
WVU does have a lot of out of state students from Ohio, PA, Maryland, Virginia, and the NE. I attended WVU from 2014-2019 and I noticed that too about students from the NE and their connection to NFL teams. The college football culture just isn't as strong up there. Being from WV, I had (and still have) many friends who eat breathe sleep WVU football and WVU sports. To us, that was (is) our NFL team so to speak. The out of state and especially NE kids just don't have the same connection/didn't grow up with it.
Would love to make it down to BR for a game sometime.
The atmosphere was good. It was a must-win for Neal Brown. Not a pretty game by any means but a win nonetheless.
Definitely agree with you about games like that breathing life into the program. This weekend they (WVU) host Texas Tech. It'll still be a good atmosphere but not nearly the same level of hype and build up all week.
WVU does have a lot of out of state students from Ohio, PA, Maryland, Virginia, and the NE. I attended WVU from 2014-2019 and I noticed that too about students from the NE and their connection to NFL teams. The college football culture just isn't as strong up there. Being from WV, I had (and still have) many friends who eat breathe sleep WVU football and WVU sports. To us, that was (is) our NFL team so to speak. The out of state and especially NE kids just don't have the same connection/didn't grow up with it.
Would love to make it down to BR for a game sometime.
This post was edited on 9/18/23 at 9:23 pm
Posted on 9/18/23 at 9:49 pm to jlovel7
Did you see any couches burning?
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