Published: November 21, 2009 12:13 am      

Pitt freshman getting education on Backyard Brawl

PITTSBURGH — Pitt freshman running back Dion Lewis is using the

No. 8 Panthers’ week off to get an education.

A history book is helpful, though not the kind that can be purchased at the University of Pittsburgh Book Center.

He’s learning about the Pitt-West Virginia series, and one of the first lessons being taught by his teammates is to keep his helmet on.

Even when he’s on the team bus.

Several players related how their bus was pelted before the Panthers, losers of seven of nine, upset the then-No. 2 Mountaineers 13-9 two years ago to prevent West Virginia from playing for the national title.

Lewis’ predecessor, LeSean McCoy, never knew how much dislike exists in the rivalry until he heard the bang of what apparently was a rock slamming off the bus as it meandered through a crowd of fans.

“The players were kind of quiet and the fans were screaming,” coach Dave Wannstedt said at the time. “LeSean stood up and said, ‘Hey, coach, it’s just like the movies.’ ”

Welcome to the Backyard Brawl, Dion Lewis.

“That was an experience, and I’m sure it will be the same way this year,” said Wannstedt, himself a former Pitt player. “I’ve got a few Pitt-West Virginia stories but I haven’t gotten into it yet. I don’t want to start too early, but after we come back we’ll recount a few stories and refresh their memories.”

Pitt (9-1, 5-0 in Big East) plays at West Virginia (7-3, 3-2) next Friday in a game that won’t affect the Panthers in the Big East race. However, a loss could shove them down in the AP poll and BCS rankings and lessen their chances for an upper-tier bowl.

“I know that everybody hates West Virginia, so it kind of rose up on me a little bit,” said Lewis, who grew up in Albany, N.Y. “I know it’s going to be a big game.”

Not as big as the Dec. 5 home game against No. 5 Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0), which will effectively decide the Big East Conference champion and BCS representative. That will be as big a game as Pitt has played since the January 1982 Sugar Bowl against Georgia, but the Panthers are aware of the dangers of focusing on that game too soon.

Even if they beat Cincinnati, the Panthers’ best season since they were 11-1 in 1981 will be tarnished more than a little should they lose beforehand to their biggest rival.

Defensive end Jabaal Sheard is certain the Panthers will be ready to play in Morgantown, if only because the series demands it.

“It’s definitely a fun game to play,” Sheard said. “It’s a loud stadium. The fans hate you. They’re yelling at you. It’s really something down there. That really gets your emotions going and gets you ready to play.”

The Panthers took advantage of their second week off in a month’s time following their 27-22 victory over Notre Dame to do more contact work than usual during a game week.

There also was some blackboard work, though none specifically designed for coach Bill Stewart’s Mountaineers.

“I’ve said this all year long, we want to be playing our best football our last game,” Wannstedt said. “To do that, it’s important to practice hard every week and keep working on your skills and fundamentals.”

Wannstedt felt if the game plan was installed too soon, the preparation might get stale next week, when the Panthers should be peaking.

“The worst thing you can do in an emotional game like this is to start too early,” said Wannstedt, who gave the players Friday and today off. “We just wanted to put in the physical work and mental work this week, and then we’ll start gearing toward West Virginia beginning Sunday.”

The Panthers must get ready for West Virginia’s 3-5-3 defense, which will be unlike anything they have seen except for Navy’s 3-4. It’s of special interest to Lewis, who is No. 6 nationally with 1,291 yards rushing.

“We’ll get some extra film time and studying,” Lewis said. “It’s a blessing that we have the extra time to get through it.”