Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter, Rogers Clemens and Christian Veilleux. Just a couple of right-handers who will have played in New York City over the years.
Pitt and Syracuse will kickoff at Yankee Stadium Saturday afternoon, with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on the docket, and the Panthers will wear some classic away uniforms. Gold, white and blue, to be specific.
Pitt will wear gold helmets with the blue Cathedral stripe, white jerseys with blue numbers and blue pants. And while it will just be during warmups, the warmup gear will include the famous pinstripes worn by the New York Yankees.
For those who will be unable to make it out to Yankee Stadium, the ACC Network will broadcast the clash between the Panthers and the Orange.
The matchup will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first football game at Yankee Stadium — which was also played by Pitt and Syracuse.
“We look forward to celebrating this significant anniversary involving Pitt, Syracuse and the Yankees,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said in the release. “This is an incredible milestone in college football, and we appreciate the cooperation of our tremendous partners to make this a special opportunity for our student-athletes, programs and fans. Yankee Stadium has a rich history of hosting college football games and we’re proud to add this game to its tradition.”
It will be Pitt’s fourth trip to Yankee Stadium for a football game, with the first being a 3-0 loss to the Orange in 1923. The most recent was Pitt’s Pinstripe Bowl appearance against Northwestern — a 31-24 loss — in 2016.
Pitt and Syracuse have met every season for the last 55 years, and with the new ACC scheduling format, the matchup will continue for the foreseeable future.
Pitt has played Syracuse 78 times in program history, dating back to a 30-0 inaugural win in the 1916 season. With a 43-32-3 all-time record against the Orange, Pitt has gotten the best of Syracuse of late.
A 19-9 win over a then-ranked Syracuse last November extended Pitt’s win streak to five games. Pitt has won 18 of the last 21 games played dating back to 2002.
And while Pitt is 0-4 on the road this season, with just two wins at home, ‘Cuse is winless in the ACC to start the season — and lost by a combined score of 167-44. It’s not looking good for head coach Dino Babers or his team.
LeQuint Allen has been a successful running back for the Orange this season, but inconsistent quarterback play has held the team back in conference play this season.
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