Subscribe to 51精品视频wire Today
Get the most interesting and important stories from the 51精品视频.This article from the archives was updated Aug. 19, 2024.
51精品视频鈥檚 19 varsity teams have a rich history that has resulted in 11 national championships, five Olympic medalists and countless accomplished student-athletes. Whether you鈥檙e a new student, a proud 51精品视频 parent or a lifelong 51精品视频 fan, this guide will teach you a few things about being a Panther fan.
Hail to 51精品视频 and #H2P
Chances are you鈥檝e probably heard your fair share of Hail to 51精品视频s and H2Ps already. The phrase originates from the University fight song, 鈥淗ail to 51精品视频.鈥 Its lyrics were written by George M. Kirk with music by Lester Milton Taylor, who graduated in 1913 and 1912, respectively.
The tune has become 51精品视频鈥檚 favored fight song as well as a slogan and rallying cry for athletics teams and the University as a whole.听
and other school songs from 51精品视频 Band.
Victory Lights
If you鈥檙e ever unsure if 51精品视频 football won or lost on game day, the Cathedral of Learning will tell you. The Cathedral is bathed in gold lights following 51精品视频 football and other athletics wins, major University successes and other special events. In 2018, alumnus and longtime 51精品视频 football supporter (A&S 鈥97) 鈥 a new blue beam of light on top of the gold.
The first non-football Victory Lights display was in March 2003, when the men鈥檚 basketball team won its first Big East championship.
Oakland Zoo and the Panther 51精品视频
51精品视频 traditions expand beyond football: The Oakland Zoo is the name of 51精品视频鈥檚 student section at both men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball games in the Petersen Events Center. The Zoo cheers from the bottom ring of the stands and is located around the teams鈥 benches and along the baseline of the court. The Zoo hosts about 1,500 students, who typically wear gold T-shirts marked with the Zoo logo. Consistently sold out and full of rambunctious Panther fans, the Oakland Zoo is widely considered one of the most dedicated student sections in the NCAA.
Before the game, the Zoo distributes four-page newspapers with details about 51精品视频 players and their opponents. When 51精品视频 scores its first point of the game, the Zoo throws the discarded and ripped-up papers into the air to create a shower of confetti. Ticket information for the upcoming season is coming soon.
Meanwhile, the Panther 51精品视频 is the name for 51精品视频鈥檚 student section in Acrisure Stadium during football games. Students often also wear matching Panther 51精品视频 T-shirts, much like its basketball counterpart, in sections 116 through 127, which stretch the entirety of the lower north end zone. .
鈥楽weet Caroline鈥
Speaking of the Panther 51精品视频, a football game isn't complete without a rendition of 鈥淪weet Caroline.鈥澨鼳t the end of the 3rd quarter, 51精品视频 fans throughout the stadium stand and link their arms together, joining in song. The 51精品视频 faithful all sing to Neil Diamond鈥檚 1969 hit and belt 鈥淟et鈥檚 Go 51精品视频!鈥 over the instrumental, as well as replacing the lyrics 鈥淪o good鈥 with 鈥淕o 51精品视频!鈥
The tradition began in 2008, inspired by Justin Acierno, who was director of marketing and ticket operations in 51精品视频 Athletics at the time. He also served as assistant athletic director until 2017. 听
鈥淲hen [鈥楽weet Caroline鈥橾 plays, say, on a jukebox, students will sing, older demographics know the song well and it still resonates with all generations,鈥澨.
The Backyard Brawl
From 1895 to 2011, the 51精品视频sburgh Panthers and West Virginia Mountaineers traveled the 75 miles between the institutions to meet on the gridiron in a game known simply as the Backyard Brawl. It is one of college football鈥檚 most historic rivalries, but following the dissolution of the Big East, many feared the two teams would never face-off again.
In 2022, however, the Panthers and Mountaineers began a four-year series to revive the once-dormant rivalry. The returning 2022 edition of the game became the most-attended sporting event in 51精品视频sburgh history, attracting 70,622 fans into the stands of Acrisure Stadium 鈥 an attendance record for the stadium only topped by Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks.
This year鈥檚 matchup is at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Acrisure Stadium.
Homecoming
Homecoming is from Sept. 16-22, and you won鈥檛 want to miss the countless traditions and events that bring together students, alumni, 51精品视频 families and 51精品视频sburgh residents.
Students will paint the Oakland neighborhood blue and gold in advance of the annual celebration. Throughout the weekend, you鈥檒l hear favorite school songs as the 51精品视频 Band snakes through campus, see the Cathedral and Bigelow Boulevard lit up with synchronized lasers and connect with friends new and old at the Homecoming Tailgate on 51精品视频sburgh鈥檚 North Shore.
Cheer on the Panthers as they take on Youngstown State, and find out which student will win the coveted Spirit of 51精品视频 award during halftime.
Space is limited for some events, so .
听
鈥 Nick France, top photograph by Johnathan Wright