Pittsburgh Panthers History

With 19 varsity teams and a spot in the one of the elite conferences in the country, the ACC, the Pittsburgh Panthers have an unbelievable array of amazing athletic events that go down on campus from year to year, making them a mainstay of Pittsburgh University in the process. Of course, a lot of the prestige of the campus comes from the football and basketball teams, which have become two of the very best teams in the country on a regular basis and routinely brings superstars to the campus. The baseball team and others aren't too bad either, as this is a university that does a lot more than just dominate on the gridiron and hardwood.

But it all still does come together on Saturday afternoons during the college football season. The University of Pittsburgh Panthers are among the most storied names in the entire NCAA football world. Past Panthers have ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, like Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka, Rickey Jackson and others. The city of Pittsburgh is known for its passion for sports, and one place where that passion comes together isHeinz Field. Heinz Field is the home of the Pittsburgh Panthers football team along with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL, making it the backdrop for a bevy of unbelievable football games each and every season. Be in the stands and you'll feel the electricity of the crowd in a way that you simply can't through that disappointing little flatscreen.

The Panthers' change to the ACC also has profound implications outside of football, though, most notably with their basketball team. In the Big East, the Panthers had made frequent deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, with Sweet Sixteen appearances as recently as 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2009. After years of playing in the Big East, the ACC is the new home of the Pittsburgh Panthers, giving them a whole new challenge now playing in the conference routinely called the best in college basketball. Each ACC matchup is filled with top-tier talent, and often you'll find the future stars of the NBA taking to the court to light up the scoreboard and put on a show. But even though the NBA is exciting too, it's a completely different thing when it's all about school pride, as it helps bring the energy of the stands to a whole new level that you'll have to see up close and personal to appreciate.

University of Pittsburgh University Info

Over the years, the University of Pittsburgh has become one of the major staples of Steel city, which isn't something likely to change anytime in the near future. Pitt was actually established all the way back in 1787, around the time that the U.S. founders were putting the final touches on the U.S. Constitution down the road in Philly. With more than two centuries of development, the University of Pittsburgh has built an incredible reputation both in the classroom and on the sports field. Alumni like John Wistar Simpson, Leonard Baker, Michael Chabon and Paul Lauterbur are just a few of the famous names who studied at Pittsburgh before a major mark on their respective fields. With as many famous academics as athletes, this is a rare school that has the perfect balance between classroom and athletic prominence.

Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh has been one of the staples of the Eastern part of the United States for a very long time, with a world-class sports scene and one of the best concert scenes that you'll find anywhere. Known for the nickname Steel City, Pittsburgh has a rich history that dates back to world-famous businessman Andrew Carnegie, who in many ways put Pittsburgh on the map and solidified it as one of the crucial cities of American development.

These days, Pittsburgh is well known for not just its great history but for the Penguins of the NHL, the Pirates of the MLB and, of course, the Steelers of the NFL. The NFL is still absolutely king when it comes to American sports, and you'll understand why that is very clearly if you make it out to Heinz Field for a highly anticipated Steelers matchup. Steel City is one of the very best sports towns in the world, with fans springing to life to back up all of their sports teams every single season. But even though we all know Pittsburgh has a great sports scene, it's the Pittsburgh Panthers who give college fans plenty to cheer about as well, with elite football and basketball teams and strong programs across the board in another sports as well. With their long tradition of excellence in a variety of aspects, the University of Pittsburgh has become somewhat of an icon of the city.

Pittsburgh Panthers Trivia

Did you know that Gene Kelly was a Pittsburgh alumnus?

Before he made a major name for himself in some of the most famous musicals in history, Kelly hit the books at the University of Pittsburgh, eventually graduating in 1933. Kelly would go on to win an Oscar and electrify audiences with memorable performances in Singing in the Rain, An American in Paris and others.

Pittsburgh Panthers Fan Experience

When it comes to seeing a big game, it doesn't get much better than college football, though that's something that you need to see for yourself. The NFL is one great way to see a ballgame, but there's something special about watching the best amateur athletes in the country battle it out on the gridiron. If you've never been out to a prominent game featuring two of the better teams in college football, you simply have no idea what you've been missing. Though Heinz Field isn't one of the bigger football stadiums in the country, at more than 65,000 for the top games of the season, it still transforms into the perfect place for some elite college football, setting the gold standard for Pittsburgh athletics. Of course, the Peterson Events Center is also a great backdrop for the biggest hoops games of the season for the Panthers, and keeping an eye on the Pittsburgh calendar of events is always a good idea.