Ah, the Pitt Panthers and West Virginia Mountaineers—the rivalry that won’t end any day soon. In 2011, the infamous “Backyard Brawl” went into the backseat when the two schools stopped being conference buddies. It broke a streak of 68 meetings that dated all the way back to 1943. But honestly, maybe it was for the best. Things were getting out of hand with fights, dramas, and chaos that were practically war zones. Still, the rivalry officially came back in 2022 because, well, it’s never truly over. Fast forward to today and the Mountaineers’ announcement of rehiring Rich Rodriguez.

As Rod is all set to take the head coach position, the college football world is hitting with some serious nostalgia for the days when the Backyard Brawl was really something. “Rich Rod” was at WVU from 2001 to 2007 and had a 4-3 record against the rival before he decided to join Michigan in the messiest of ways. But now he’s back in Morgantown, and he didn’t mince his words, taking a jab at the Pitts.

“I misspoke earlier when I said the worst 4 letter words were soft and lazy. I left out Pitt,” Rodriguez was quoted saying at a press conference. Yeah, that’s right, he went there. But it didn’t end there. Things got a little spicy when a Pitt fan got kicked out for causing a scene. Rodriguez, feeling the heat of the moment, threw some more fuel on the fire with a classic line, “Any other Pitt fans can leave the building!” As if that wasn’t enough, ESPN’s Pat McAfee, who was around during the Rodriguez era at WVU, was also in attendance, soaking in the drama.

Now, if you have witnessed the historic Backyard Brawl rivalry, you know that this rivalry has some legendary moments. Take 2007, for example. Pitt, with a dismal 4-7 record and ranked unranked, shocked the hell out of WVU. The Mountaineers were ranked No. 2 in the BCS and favored by 28 points, but Pitt went ahead and pulled off a 13-9 upset.

Oh, and Pat McAfee, yeah, he missed two crucial field goals in that game. Ouch. And let’s not forget the annual couch burnings that became part of the legend of the Backyard Brawl. The media loved to blow it out of proportion, but it’s still part of the folklore, and honestly, this fire is what makes this rivalry even spicier. Moving forward, do you know that even Nick Saban spoke about this rivalry recently?

Nick Saban’s behind-the-scenes role in West Virginia hiring Rich Rodriguez

Nick Saban might not have wanted the center stage, but he sure gave West Virginia fans a behind-the-scenes look at how Rich Rodriguez got in touch with Morgantown. WVU legend Pat McAfee spilled the beans on ESPN about Saban’s involvement, and just before Rodriguez’s press conference, Saban explained why he believes Rodriguez is still relevant.

“West Virginia University has always been very important to me. I grew up there being a big-time Mountaineer fan… My heart’s always been with West Virginia. I actually coached there for a couple of years, and I love the people in the state,” Saban shared, giving fans a glimpse into his short coaching experience at the school.

Saban also praised Rodriguez for his past success at WVU, saying, “I’m happy that Rich is back, and I think he’ll do a great job there.” Saban went on to explain how his experience working with great coaches shaped his belief in Rodriguez’s abilities. “He’s a great mind. He was an innovator in the game… everybody does zone reads now like it’s nothing, but he invented it,” Saban said.

He also shared that his conversations with WVU’s athletic director helped solidify the decision, pointing out that it’s not just about coaching knowledge but fitting in with the culture and recruiting the right players, saying, “I think Rich is the right guy to do that.” With Saban’s endorsement, it’s clear West Virginia made the right move to bring back Rich Rodriguez. The Brawl just got the actual sensation!