ACC Countdown: Pittsburgh

Quick Facts
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Founded: 1787
Enrollment: 28,823
Nickname: Panthers
School Colors: Vegas Gold and Navy
Joins the ACC: July 1, 2013
Chancellor: Mark Nordenberg
Director of Athletics: Steve Pederson

Panther Links
Website: pittsburghpanthers.com
Facebook: /PittsburghPanthers
Twitter: @PittAthletics
Instagram: /pittathletics
YouTube: /pittpanthervision

Orange vs. Panthers
FB: 31-34-3
MBB: 63-39
WBB: 30-19
MSOC: 7-8-3
WSOC: 9-3-3
SB: 15-8
TEN: 8-1
VB: 9-31

FOR STARTERS

Like Syracuse, Pittsburgh will join the ACC on July 1, 2013. Pitt has been a member of the BIG EAST since 1982.
There are 19 varsity sports at Pittsburgh.
11 Pittsburgh teams have won national championships: nine in football (1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1976) and two in men's basketball (1927-28, 1929-1930). Among its individual national champions are 16 in wrestling.
Pitt's football team plays its home games at Heinz Field (65,050), its basketball teams play at the Petersen Events Center (12,508), its soccer teams play at Ambrose Urbanic Field (735), softball plays at Vartabedian Field (600) and volleyball plays at Fitzgerald Fieldhouse (4,122).
Syracuse and Pitt have played every year in football since 1955, a streak that will continue on Nov. 23 in the Carrier Dome as the Panthers are the Orange's annual opponent from the Coastal Division. In basketball, both the men's and women's teams will play Pitt at home and away this season.

MCNEIL'S PUTBACK SETS OFF DOME CELEBRATION
On Feb. 1, 2003, just over two months before it would win the national title, No. 24 Syracuse defeated No. 2 Pitt, 67-65, in thrilling fashion at the Carrier Dome. Jeremy McNeil's two free throws tied the game late, and then his putback of a Gerry McNamara shot with 3.0 seconds left put SU up by two. After a Pitt timeout with .8 seconds left, the court had to be cleared of fans, and Brandin Knight's 3-pointer that followed was released after the buzzer, giving SU the victory and setting off a celebration among the 30,303 at the Loud House.

'CUSE HANDS PITT FIRST PETERSEN DEFEAT
On Feb. 29, 2004, Syracuse became the first opponent to win at Pittsburgh's Petersen Events Center. The unranked Orange defeated No. 3 Pittsburgh, 49-46, in overtime. The triumph snapped the Panthers' 40-game home winning streak. Gerry McNamara scored five of Syracuse's seven points in the extra session. Hakim Warrick led the way with 17 points and eight rebounds while playing all 45 minutes.

BIG EAST SWAN SONG
In their final game as men's basketball BIG EAST rivals, the Orange defeated Pitt, 62-59, in the BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinals on March 14, 2013 at Madison Square Garden. Michael Carter-Williams scored the final seven points of the game to give him 11 points and seven assists for the game, while James Southerland led all scorers with 20 points that included an amazing 6-of-6 performance from 3-point range.

HEMINGWAY TAKES OUT PANTHERS
Senior Iasia Hemingway's career-high 33 points and a strong second-half defensive effort led Syracuse women's basketball to an 83-60 victory at the Petersen Events Center on Jan. 7, 2012, SU's last game at Pitt as BIG EAST rivals. The Orange held Pitt to 29.2 percent shooting in the second half and 35.8 percent for the game, and scored 23 points off 23 turnovers. SU's 34-of-38 free throw shooting tied a program record for makes and set a Peterson Events Center record.

ALEXANDER LEADS SU
Kayla Alexander scored a game-high 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked seven shots to lead No. 23/21 Syracuse women's basketball to a dominating 80-39 victory vs. Pittsburgh in front of 1,355 on Play 4 Kay Day at the Carrier Dome on Feb. 16, 2013. The win gave the Orange its best overall record through 24 games in program history (21-3).
Photo Gallery

GRIDIRON UPSETS
Syracuse had two notable upsets against the Pittsburgh Panthers. In 1958, the unranked Orangemen defeated No. 12 Pitt, 16-13, in Archbold Stadium.

Again in 1970, unranked SU defeated No. 15 Pittsburgh in a 43-13 blowout in Archbold Stadium. Martin Januszkiewicz rushed for 76 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown, while Randolph Zur was 5-of-5 passing for 93 yards, two scores and rushed for 40 yards and two more touchdowns.

RHODES & REYES RUN ALL OVER PITT
Junior Damien Rhodes stole the show on Senior Day in the Carrier Dome on Nov. 6, 2004. Rhodes rushed for 103 yards on 23 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown against the Panthers in double overtime. Senior Walter Reyes also played a key role in the win, accounting for 123 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries before leaving the game in the third quarter due to a back injury. The 38-31 Syracuse victory in double OT in front of 37,211 fans in the Carrier Dome improved SU's record to 5-4, 4-1 at home.

ORANGE WINS 2012 DOME BATTLE
In the most recent meeting between the two schools, SU defeated Pitt, 14-13 in the Carrier Dome on Oct. 5, 2012. The Orange scored all of their 14 points the first quarter, but was able to hold off Pitt for the win. The Orange defense was led by Brandon Sharpe, who had a career-high seven tackles including six for a loss and four sacks. The offense also had an impressive showing with senior quarterback Ryan Nassib, 19-30 for 185 yards, leading the way. This was SU's first victory over the Panthers since the 2004 double-overtime thriller.
Photo Gallery

ON THE DIAMOND
Syracuse softball has firm control of the all-time series with Pitt, 15-8, including a doubleheader sweep in their last meeting. Behind dominant pitching performances by Jenna Caira and Stacy Kuwik, SU won at home, 8-0 and 4-1 on April 18, 2012. Caira threw a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts in game one, while Kuwik hurled a four-hitter with 10 Ks in game two.
Photo Gallery

WOMEN'S SOCCER SUCCESS
Syracuse won the first six meetings against Pittsburgh and leads the all-time series, 9-3-3. In its inaugural season, the Orange defeated the Panthers, 6-0, at the SU Soccer Stadium. The six goals rank third on SU's single-game record list. Freshman Jaime Mingoia enjoyed a record-setting day in the conference. She tallied three goals and seven points, which are both tied for the top spot on Syracuse's single-game record list. Mingoia led the Orange in scoring that season with 28 points.

TENNIS SUCCESS
Syracuse's tennis has had success against Pitt over the years, amassing an 8-1 record, including a dominating 6-1 victory for the Orange in the last meeting on Feb. 17, 2013 in Syracuse. After taking the doubles point, the Orange won five of six singles maches to cruise to victory. Amanda Rogers, Maddie Kobelt, Jimena WU, Komal Safdar and Brittany Lashway all recorded victories.

LEFEBRVE REACHES MILESTONE
Noemie Lefebvre surpassed 1,000 kills for her career in Syracuse volleyball's 3-0 win at Pitt on Oct. 30, 2011. Lefebvre became the 11th player in SU volleyball history to reach the 1,000 kill plateau and is now just the sixth player to have 1,000 career kills and digs. The Terrabonne, Quebec native had 14 spikes on the day.

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