FOOTBALL WVU, Pitt vie in 95th meeting

The Mountaineers and Panthers will inaugurate the new grass installed Monday at Heinz Field.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The home-field advantage might not prove as critical as the new-field advantage.
Today's game between Pittsburgh and West Virginia will be the 95th in a rivalry that dates more than a century, and matches schools that traditionally have little in common other than they both wear blue and gold.
More significant, No. 17 Pittsburgh (8-3, 5-1 Big East) and No. 24 West Virginia (8-3, 5-1) will play the first game on the new grass installed Monday at Heinz Field.
It's the third turf for the stadium this year and the second this month. The last made it through only eight games, including Sunday's 29-21 Steelers victory over Cincinnati in which both teams struggled with footing on a torn-up turf.
New grass
Now, with new grass that has yet to root, one slip on a field goal attempt or one block missed by bad footing could determine which team enjoys a nine-win regular season and finishes at least second in the Big East and, possibly, which goes to the Gator Bowl.
Both coaches admit to being baffled as to how big a factor the new grass will be.
"I did not major in agronomy, so I really don't have much to say about the turf," Pitt coach Walt Harris said. "I'm sure if one of our players slips, an untimely slip in the game, then I might have more to say about it."
All West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez knows about new sod, he said, is "When they did my house, they told me it would take a couple of months."
This is the first time since 1989 that both go into the game nationally ranked. The game is already a sellout, Pitt's first in two seasons at 65,000-seat Heinz Field.
With so much riding on the outcome, there has been little room for the traditional exchanges that often flavor the rivalry.
Last year, West Virginia defensive back Richard Bryant stirred up Antonio Bryant by saying, "I don't know anything about the guy," even though the Panthers' star was a first-team All-American in 2000.
Bryant stars
Antonio Bryant proceeded to light up West Virginia for 186 yards receiving and a touchdown in a 21-17 victory, Pitt's second straight following seven West Virginia wins in eight years.
"Antonio Bryant did some talking for them, but he could back it up," Rodriguez said. "To me, just go play."
If it can stand up to the Mountaineers -- and if it can stand up on the new turf -- Pitt can win its third in a row in the series, its longest winning streak since taking seven straight from 1986-92. The Panthers also would secure their first nine-victory season since Dan Marino's senior season in 1982.
To do so, the Panthers must control West Virginia career rushing leader Avon Cobourne and get another big game from junior Rod Rutherford, who has thrown for 2,348 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for five touchdowns. His running was a big factor as Pitt took No. 1 Miami to the final play before losing 28-21 Nov. 21.
Many yards
Cobourne has 1,489 yards this season, despite being held below 100 in two of his last three games. Cobourne has had decreasing totals each year against Pitt: 210 yards in 1999, 100 in 2000 and 68 last season.
Just like Rutherford, West Virginia quarterback Rasheed Marshall came from Pittsburgh's City League.
"Basically, this game has been talked about since we were juniors and seniors in high school," Marshall said. "All my friends were saying, 'Well, in a few years, you'll probably be starting for them and Rod will be starting at Pitt, and you'll come back home.' It's going to be a wild game."