For the past four years, Trinity seniors have been standing side by side, cheering on the Hillers. Is that all about to change when college rolls around?
The University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University have been rivals for many, many years, from the crazy chants to the funny memes, and next year seems to be no different.
Because of the distance of 75 miles between them, the Mountaineers and the Panthers have been participating in a fun football game known as the “Backyard Brawl.” Their first game was in 1921 and was the first college football game ever broadcast on the radio. The two teams not only rival in football but also in baseball, letting fans interact from fall to spring.
Senior Luke Cowden, who will be attending Pitt, says, “I’ll be attending the backyard brawl because of the atmosphere that the game produces. Everyone gets competitive and wants bragging rights for the next year. The game gets all the students fired up.”
Sharing a fierce rivalry that goes far beyond the football field, these schools offer great experiences, education and advantages. Whether bleeding blue and gold or navy and gold, the decision to attend Pitt or WVU is about location, interests, academics and tradition.
One factor students look at is the location. Pitt is a vibrant school in the hills of Western Pennsylvania, offering the urban experience. It also contains a rich history in industry, and the Steel City also provides many opportunities for jobs, internships and growth.
On the other hand, Morgantown is along the Monongahela River that is filled with tons of boats and excitement. WVU is known for its lively college atmosphere and beautiful, nature-filled campus; WVU’s hometown offers a homey feeling with many outdoor activities.
Senior Assaad Nassar says, “I picked WVU over Pitt because of the academics and the amount of money that I got when looking at the two options that I had. It seemed like WVU had an interest in me, so, I mean, I had to go with the clear and better school, obviously, Let’s go WVU and let’s go Mountaineers!”
The University of Pittsburgh is a member of Association of American Universities (AAU), and is known for its research and top-ranked programs in fields such as engineering, business and health sciences. WVU is known for areas of study such as energy and environmental research as well as fields like journalism, forensic science and aerospace engineering.
No matter what chant one decides to sing during “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, both schools provide students with wonderful opportunities and education. It really depends on specific interests. Remember, that even though Trinity alumni may rival against old friends in the years to come, everyone is a Hiller at heart!
