No. 23 Pittsburgh Topples UConn To Earn Bid To 75th Annual Brut Sun Bowl



EL PASO, Texas (December 6, 2008) - 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 first nine-win regular season since 1982.

"Pitt football and the Sun Bowl are synonymous with great football tradition. 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."

This will mark the third appearance by the Panthers in the Brut Sun Bowl. The Panthers first came to El Paso under the direction of Johnny Majors in 1975 and returned in 1989 with Paul Hackett at the helm.

"A trip to El Paso for this year's Sun Bowl is a tremendous reward for our football program and university," said Pittsburgh head coach Dave Wannstedt. "I had the pleasure of being part of this great bowl game as a first-year grad assistant at Pitt with Coach Majors back in 1975. Moreover, my family and I are looking forward to returning to the great state of Texas, where we lived during my days coaching with the Dallas Cowboys. The Sun Bowl has strong tradition and we are excited to add to its wonderful history this New Year's Eve."

Pittsburgh defeated Kansas, 33-19, in the 1975 Sun Bowl. Wannstedt served as a graduate assistant coach for Majors. The Panthers set an NCAA bowl game record that day, as three players from the same team rushed for 100 yards. Tony Dorsett rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns and Elliott Walker added 123 yards and two touchdowns, while the game's MVP, quarterback Robert Haygood, added 101 yards rushing and 60 yards through the air on eight of 11 passing.

Pittsburgh returned to the Sun Bowl in 1989 to take on Texas A&M. A freshman quarterback named Alex Van Pelt led the Panthers on a come-from-behind victory to secure a 31-28 win over the Aggies. Swervin' Curvin Richards rushed for 156 yards that day for Pitt, while Van Pelt completed 20 of 40 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns.

This marks the 25th bowl appearance by Pittsburgh, but the first since the 2004 season, when the Panthers won a share of the Big East Conference title and participated in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Pittsburgh is 11-13 all-time in bowl appearance and 2-0 in the Brut Sun Bowl.

The Panthers are 22-22 against Pac-10 schools all-time - Arizona (1-0), Arizona State (0-1), California (3-2), Oregon (2-2), Oregon State (1-0), Stanford (2-1), UCLA (5-9), USC (4-6) and Washington (4-1).

The 75th Annual Brut Sun Bowl is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 31 at noon (MST). CBS Sports will broadcast the game for the 41st consecutive year, which is the longest running partnership between a network and a bowl game. Ticket prices for the game are $15, $20, $30, $40, $50, and $60. Tickets can be purchased at the Sun Bowl Association office (915-533-4416, 800-915-2695 or ticket@sunbowl.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ), online at http://www.ticketmaster.com or at any TicketMaster outlet.

http://www.sunbowl.org/index.php?option=...8&Itemid=2

Congratulations to the Panthers!!

Congrats, the people in El Paso put on a good show.
If you go make sure you hit barbeques and see Carlsbad's caverns

Shannon Panther Wrote:Pittsburgh returned to the Sun Bowl in 1989 to take on Texas A&M. A freshman quarterback named Alex Van Pelt led the Panthers on a come-from-behind victory to secure a 31-28 win over the Aggies. Swervin' Curvin Richards rushed for 156 yards that day for Pitt, while Van Pelt completed 20 of 40 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns.

I was at that game in 1989 and I'll be there this year too.

Shannon Panther Wrote:The Panthers are 22-22 against Pac-10 schools all-time - Arizona (1-0), Arizona State (0-1), California (3-2), Oregon (2-2), Oregon State (1-0), Stanford (2-1), UCLA (5-9), USC (4-6) and Washington (4-1).

Just curious about our other BE schools, it is doubtful that anyone else in the Big East has played that many games against the Pac-10, right?

Yosemite Panther Wrote:

Shannon Panther Wrote:The Panthers are 22-22 against Pac-10 schools all-time - Arizona (1-0), Arizona State (0-1), California (3-2), Oregon (2-2), Oregon State (1-0), Stanford (2-1), UCLA (5-9), USC (4-6) and Washington (4-1).

Just curious about our other BE schools, it is doubtful that anyone else in the Big East has played that many games against the Pac-10, right?

Can't speak for the other Big East teams, but SU has played Pac-10 teams only 26 times but our record is 16-10 against them.

Hard to believe though that we have never played Stanford, a fellow private institution.

Cheers,
Neil

Congrats Panthers. You turned it around pretty well after the opening day disaster. Folks cant really smack Wanstedt anymore. He's getting it done, and I think the Panthers will be very good next season.

Also cograts to all of the other BE bowl teams.

cuseroc Wrote:Folks cant really smack Wanstedt anymore

Schiano can But in all seriousness congrats to Pitt after that lost to Bowling Green I would have never expected them to come back and win 9 games finish tied for 2nd and in the top 25. Pretty impressive guys and good luck against Oregon St/Cal.

UltimateCFBfan Wrote:

cuseroc Wrote:Folks cant really smack Wanstedt anymore

Schiano can

What will I do for fun now?

However, even in the NFL Wanny had a season or 2 in which his teams did okay. But I'm reserving judgement until he repeats this success...

Congrats! Go down there and kick some butt!

Congrats. ND can suck it!

Cubanbull Wrote:Congrats, the people in El Paso put on a good show.
If you go make sure you hit barbeques and see Carlsbad's caverns

Just don't go to Mexico: Linky

By the way, it looks like it will be Oregon or Oregon State in that bowl, Cal is going to the Emerald Bowl.

More than probably Oregon state since Oregon went last year and did not take many fans

Congrats Pitt. You boys deserve this one.

Yea Pitt is going to be playing Oregon St.

I'm going to get my tickets asap. Got to buy em before the locals do.

Man, Oregon State vs Pittsburgh is going to be a VERY good game!

CatsClaw Wrote:Man, Oregon State vs Pittsburgh is going to be a VERY good game!

The Beavs are becoming a regular opponent. It will be our 2nd bowl game against the Beavers in the last 6 years. We beat them in Phoenix in the Insight Bowl in 2002, 38-13. They had 2 NFLers in their backfield that night, the Browns Derek Anderson at QB and the Rams Steven Jackson at TB. We had some guy named Fitzgerald catching passes for us.