You have a few days until the Pitt football game. You’re finalizing plans: what time to wake up (if it’s an early game), when to meet your friends and what to wear, among many other things. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first football game or not; it can still be difficult to plan all that you have to do leading up to the game and how to dress for the crazy Pittsburgh weather! It can be a frazzling experience, but don’t worry because we have some great tips on how to get through a Pitt football game smoothly (and have a fun time as well, even if we lose!).
1. Dress appropriately for the weather!
It can be extremely hot during the first few games in September and early October. The sun is beating down strongly, and there are a lot of people surrounding you. Make sure to check the weather beforehand to see how you should dress. In September, I make sure to wear shorts, comfortable tennis shoes (you’re standing for roughly 3-4 hours), the Panther Pitt shirt and something like a bandanna to hold my stray hair back or a hat to protect me from the sun. Always wear sunscreen! Mid-October and November can be extremely cold, so make sure to wear layers. Invest in a super cheap pair of hand warmers, grab extra socks and a super cute Pitt knit hat. And if it rains, get creative! Ponchos, rain jackets and even a rally towel can get you by. Just make sure whatever you wear, you’re hailing to Pitt comfortably.
2. Fuel Up!
The hype leading up to a Pitt game is unreal! You’re probably not thinking about having a well-balanced breakfast or drinking a full bottle of water before you get to Heinz Field, but it’s so important that you do. Stadium food is pretty expensive and a liter water bottle costs about six dollars! The past two home games I attended, I ate breakfast beforehand that satisfied my hunger the entire game, and I made sure to stay hydrated. You’ll need the energy to jump, yell and cheer for our Pitt Panthers. Also, bonus: once it gets cold, Heinz sells hot chocolate that is great for keeping your hands warm as well as filling your tummy with yummy hot chocolatey-ness.
3. Seating
A lot of things depend on where you’ll be sitting for the Pitt game. Some people like to wait until the absolute last minute to get inside the stadium and sit up top. Some people are there before the gates open and are the first ones to run to the front row of the student section. The lower bowl is (in my opinion) the BEST place to be. I choose to sit beside the band because I can follow along with their cheers and I’m right along the sidelines to see all of the action, without even looking at the jumbotron. That being said, make sure you know all of the Pitt cheers! They’re pretty simple and very easy to catch on to, but if you’re front row, make sure you know the fight song by heart! Trust me, I was practicing all summer.
4. Stay the entire game!
This is super important! Games can be extremely close, and sometimes, it comes down to the fourth quarter to determine a winner (like during the Penn State game). The #4quarters hashtag has been circulating, and everyone has been pushing it this year. Our football team feeds off of the good energy that the Panther Pitt sends their way. They really love it when we all stay the entire game and show them support even when they’re down a touchdown. If we win, the football team even comes over and sings the Victory song with us. It’s a great moment, and hey, you might even have the chance to high-five a player!
5. Know your way home
Everyone is rushing to get out of the stadium once the football game is over. You’re hungry and tired and the last thing you want to do is wait in a long line to catch a bus back to Pitt. What are your other options? Pitt Athletics has been really good about sending out a few e-mails on transportation home after the game. It also appears a few times on the screen at the games. However, sometimes you delete those emails and you’re not looking at the jumbotron during the game to catch a glimpse. You can catch the T home, take one of the Port Authority buses home (General Robinson is usually empty) or even an Uber/ Lyft for an extremely inexpensive price. If you stay the entire game, the Pitt shuttles back will even provide you with chips and a water bottle on your bus ride home! How cool is that?
There is a lot of planning that goes into attending a Pitt football game. How do you dress? Where do you sit once you get there? How do you get home? Hopefully we answered your questions and provided you with a foolproof guide to have the best time at Pitt football games! Hail to Pitt, and we hope to see you at the next home game at 7:30PM on October 1st!