MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The impossible happened.
Again.
In a college football season that defies belief or explanation, another upset has thrown the national picture into disarray.
No. 2 West Virginia, a 30-point favorite, was upset at home by unranked Pittsburgh, 13-9, in the 100th Backyard Brawl before a stunned sold-out crowd.
The Mountaineers needed to win to have a chance to advance to the BCS championship game.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- No. 2 West Virginia, playing with its starting quarterback Patrick White out since the middle of the second quarter with a dislocated thumb on his right hand, was looking an upset in the eye after three quarters of the 100th Backyard Brawl.
The 4-7 Pitt Panthers, 28 1/2-point underdogs, led 10-7 after three quarters.
The Mountaineers (10-1) needed a victory to have a chance to advance to the BCS championship in New Orleans on Jan. 7.
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. -- Just when it appeared that entire season's work was about to go for nothing, reserve quarterback Jarrod Brown came off the bench and gave West Virginia's No. 2-ranked Mountaineers a spark that allowed them to take a 7-3 lead over Pittsburgh at halftime of the 100th Backyard Brawl.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- One game from a date for the national championship and favored by more than four touchdowns, West Virginia University found that the 100th Backyard Brawl against Pittsburgh was not going to be any walkover.
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. -- West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez spent the entire week trying to convince his team that the game they were about to play Saturday night on their home field was just like any other game they'd ever played.
Right.
And the birth of your first born child is just like any other day you've ever spent. Graduation day is like any other day. The day Ed McMahon knocks on your door with a check for $1,000,000 is just like any other day, too.
Folks, if this weren't for a shot at the national title in New Orleans on Jan. 7 this would not have been like any other game West Virginia had played.
