Every year, FBS schools around the country wrap up their spring practices with an inter-squad scrimmage. These scrimmages are huge deals to some schools as it gives fans a look at what they should expect from their teams in the fall. However it has been a different story for the Pitt Panthers.
Year after year, Pitt struggles to attract Panther fans to come down to Heinz Field and catch a glimpse of their 2013 football squad. In fact in 2011, the Panther’s spring game attendance was last in the conference at an abysmall 1,507 fans. So last year Paul Chryst’s Panthers tried a new strategy. The Pitt football team brought the spring game to the fans by playing at a local high school football stadium.
Last year the team felt they had succeeded in drawing fans to North Hills High School’s Martorelli Stadium. With last year’s success in mind, this year the Panthers are taking their game to the South Hills and are scheduled to play at our very own Blackhawk Stadium.
The game is scheduled for Friday April 12th at night. There is also supposed to be a youth clinic held for children 8th grade and under before the game.
Whether this game being scheduled at a local high school is being used as an attempt to draw fans to watch Pitt or if it’s being used to land local recruits is a hot topic of debate amongst Pitt fans and followers around the city. Pitt has always recruited very well within the WPIAL especially in the past two years. In local recruiting, they landed stars Belle-Vernon lineman Dorian Johnson and Clarion star Tyler Boyd this year, and Hopewell star running back Rushel Shell two years ago.
With the potentially bright future that the Panthers hold, April 12th is a big day in the eyes of Panther fans young and old.