Traditions

  • There's been a longstanding rivalry between Pitt and Penn State, the other college football giant of Pennsylvania. Anti-PSU shirts are sold on the streets in Oakland, and anyone who compares the Pitt Panther to a Nittany Lion is asking for trouble.

  • The official student section during basketball games; this is the place to be if you're a rabid fan.

  • The panther was officially adopted as a mascot in 1909 for a number of reasons. Among them: the panther wasn't being used as any other school's mascot; its gold color was closest to the University's gold; it was already known as a noble animal; and, of course, the name alliterated quite well.

  • Be sure to get there early—real tailgating can start early on football weekends, (7 a.m. for a noon game), and it often ends long after the game at local house parties or fraternities.

  • Pitt's seal is a variation of William Pitt's coat of arms. William Pitt was the first Earl of Chatham and served as the British Prime Minister in the 18th century. On the seal, the three dots are gold coins, which denote the Pitt family's participation in the Crusades; the castle wall signifies the new city; the blue of the checkerboard represents Pitt's status as an Earl; and the white stands for purity, innocence, and gentleness.

  • Between the Cathedral and the Heinz Chapel, you'll find the sidewalk lined with names, beginning in 1950, and continuing every year. This is the Varsity Walk, a tribute to students who have moved through the University with outstanding athletic and academic achievements.