Nov. 30, 2009

GAME NOTES LINK:

Pitt-Cincinnati Game Notes

#14/15 Pitt (9-2, 5-1 Big East) vs.

#5/5 Cincinnati (11-0, 6-0 Big East)

GAME STORYLINES                    

Pitt hosts Cincinnati in a game that will decide the 2009 Big East championship and the league's BCS bowl entrant. The Panthers are seeking their first Big East title since sharing the conference crown in 2004 and advancing to the Fiesta Bowl.

No. 5 Cincinnati is the highest ranked team Pitt has faced since Dec. 1, 2007, when the Panthers defeated West Virginia (ranked No. 1 by USA Today and No. 2 by AP), 13-9, in Morgantown. 

Pitt is ranked No. 14 by The Associated Press and No. 15 in the USA Today coaches poll. The Panthers are 15th in this week's BCS standings.

A victory over Cincinnati would give Pitt 10 wins in a season for the first time since 1981, when the Panthers — led by All-America quarterback Dan Marino — finished 11-1 and as high as No. 2 in the final polls.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: The Pitt-Cincinnati game will be a national ABC telecast (WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh). Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Matt Millen (color) and Holly Rowe form the broadcast crew. 

PITT RADIO: 3WS 94.5 (WWSW-FM), Fox Sports Radio 970 (WBGG-AM) and the Pittsburgh ISP Sports Network. Bill Hillgrove calls the action, while three-time Pitt All-American Bill Fralic provides color analysis.

NATIONAL RADIO: Touchdown Radio Productions will provide national radio coverage. Frank Frangie (play-by-play), former Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta (color) and Jon Bloom (sideline) will call the broadcast.

SATELLITE RADIO: The Pitt-Cincinnati game will be aired on SIRIUS satellite radio channel 122 and XM channel 203.

INTERNET: "Panthers All-Access" at PittsburghPanthers.com.

SERIES HISTORY

The winner of the Pitt-Cincinnati game earns the “River City Rivalry” Trophy…the Panthers hold a 7-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 3-1 mark since the 2005 season when the Bearcats joined the Big East Conference…Pitt's lone loss in the series took place in 2008 at Nippert Stadium, 28-21... Cincinnati is winless in five visits to Pittsburgh, including a 24-17 setback in the last game played at Heinz Field in 2007...the Bearcats were ranked No. 23 nationally heading into that '07 encounter...Pitt played at Cincinnati in 2006 and won, 33-15...the '06 game marked the Panthers' first visit to UC in 84 years...in 2005, Cincinnati's first Big East campaign, the Panthers won in Pittsburgh, 38-20...the series' inaugural game was played in 1921, a 21-14 victory by host Pitt.