University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Unite to Kick Off with Tailgate Saturday
9/28/2017 1:19:00 PM | General
Events Showcase All 19 Pitt Varsity Sports Teams
PITTSBURGH – The first of 14 Panthers Unite events to be held over the 2017-18 school year will be Saturday at the Pitt football game against Rice, set to kick off at noon at Heinz Field.
"Our 450 student-athletes are united in the goal to achieve at the highest level possible: the Gold Standard," Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. "The Panthers Unite events are opportunities to bring this impressive group of student-athletes together to support one another. Each program has a dedicated Panthers Unite game and we are excited to kick off this initiative this weekend."
The initiative is designed to showcase all 19 Pitt varsity sports teams together. One event from each of the school's 14 programs' schedules (combining men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor/outdoor track and field and men's and women's swimming and diving) was designated as the Panthers Unite promotion.
"I think the Panthers Unite initiative is a great way for us to show support for all of our teams as a collective unit," wrestling head coach and Pitt alumnus Keith Gavin said. "Kicking it off at the football game will be a great experience and I'm looking forward to seeing the full support throughout the year."
All Pitt student-athletes are encouraged to attend and support their fellow Panthers at each event. At Saturdays' football game, a student-athlete tailgate will be held outside Heinz Field prior to kickoff. At halftime, all Panthers will be recognized on the field.
"I am very excited for the kick off of the Panthers Unite games at the tailgate this weekend to gather with my fellow student-athletes to support and cheer on the football team," Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Vice President Caroline DeFrank said. "It'll be a great way to come together to demonstrate the Gold Standard."
Below is a list of each program's chosen Panthers Unite event:
Football – Saturday, Sept. 30 – Rice
Women's Soccer – Thursday, Oct. 5 – Syracuse
Cross Country – Saturday, Oct. 7 – CMU Invitational
Volleyball – Friday, Oct. 20 – North Carolina
Men's Soccer – Tuesday, Oct. 24 – Akron
Swimming & Diving – Friday, Oct. 27 – Miami/Michigan State/James Madison
Women's Basketball – Thursday, Nov. 16 – Duquesne
Track & Field – Friday, Dec. 1 – Blue-Gold Meet
Men's Basketball – Saturday, Dec. 9 – West Virginia
Gymnastics – Saturday, Jan. 13 – Oregon State
Wrestling – Friday, Feb. 16 – Virginia
Tennis – Friday, April 6 – Clemson
Softball – Saturday, April 14 – Georgia Tech
Baseball – Tuesday, April 17 – West Virginia
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"Our 450 student-athletes are united in the goal to achieve at the highest level possible: the Gold Standard," Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. "The Panthers Unite events are opportunities to bring this impressive group of student-athletes together to support one another. Each program has a dedicated Panthers Unite game and we are excited to kick off this initiative this weekend."
The initiative is designed to showcase all 19 Pitt varsity sports teams together. One event from each of the school's 14 programs' schedules (combining men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor/outdoor track and field and men's and women's swimming and diving) was designated as the Panthers Unite promotion.
"I think the Panthers Unite initiative is a great way for us to show support for all of our teams as a collective unit," wrestling head coach and Pitt alumnus Keith Gavin said. "Kicking it off at the football game will be a great experience and I'm looking forward to seeing the full support throughout the year."
All Pitt student-athletes are encouraged to attend and support their fellow Panthers at each event. At Saturdays' football game, a student-athlete tailgate will be held outside Heinz Field prior to kickoff. At halftime, all Panthers will be recognized on the field.
"I am very excited for the kick off of the Panthers Unite games at the tailgate this weekend to gather with my fellow student-athletes to support and cheer on the football team," Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Vice President Caroline DeFrank said. "It'll be a great way to come together to demonstrate the Gold Standard."
Below is a list of each program's chosen Panthers Unite event:
Football – Saturday, Sept. 30 – Rice
Women's Soccer – Thursday, Oct. 5 – Syracuse
Cross Country – Saturday, Oct. 7 – CMU Invitational
Volleyball – Friday, Oct. 20 – North Carolina
Men's Soccer – Tuesday, Oct. 24 – Akron
Swimming & Diving – Friday, Oct. 27 – Miami/Michigan State/James Madison
Women's Basketball – Thursday, Nov. 16 – Duquesne
Track & Field – Friday, Dec. 1 – Blue-Gold Meet
Men's Basketball – Saturday, Dec. 9 – West Virginia
Gymnastics – Saturday, Jan. 13 – Oregon State
Wrestling – Friday, Feb. 16 – Virginia
Tennis – Friday, April 6 – Clemson
Softball – Saturday, April 14 – Georgia Tech
Baseball – Tuesday, April 17 – West Virginia
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