Like many other Pitt Panthers, I too felt something magical in the air on November 15th. Coming back from the 2024 Pitt football season and their seven game streak, and this season’s similar turnout in wins, it felt like our team was finally thriving under pressure. Pitt was put on the map and enough for ESPN to treat us to their famous GameDay special—where Pitt fans will gather in the stands and haters will watch at home. Hosted live in Pitt’s own backyard, being branded as a top 25 collegiate team, celebrating the sport with festivities before game time and making it to Good Morning America definitely had all of America’s eyes on Pitt’s stadium.
MY experience camping out for college gameday
Instead of charging up for the game with a power nap, I spontaneously headed over to Acrisure Stadium at 9 p.m. the night before, just to get a chance to kick the 33-yard field goal for one million dollars with Sports Fanatic and Yinzer sports media personality, Pat McAfee. Instead, after running to the Great Lawn by the North Shore, my friends and I arrived minutes after they ran out of the last bunch of the 300 raffle tickets, and suddenly, it wasn’t Pittsburgh weather I was bitter about, but the first loss that foreshadowed the sequence of events to follow.
At this point, I didn’t know whether to eat, nap, stand in line for tickets to the student section, or have silly conversations with others in the dark about sports I don’t know the half about. So to celebrate, I did a little bit of everything, or else I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through such a rough night. I took turns using my friends’ blankets on the freezing grass, and borrowed a random girl’s portable charger for my phone with a side of pizza at 3 a.m. At 4 a.m., and at my warmest, most comfortable state in my sleep, I was awakened by the sound of chaos and fans running for the Pitt tickets to get on TV. At the time, I didn’t really know what I was running for, but I already missed the chance to kick the football, so I was finding anything I could do to make up for that loss.
Staying spontaneous, I sprinted to the overwhelming huddle of fans hungry for any wristbands, I was swarmed and suffocated by hundreds. My anxiety was at an all-time high, and everyone else seemed to be fine, but my legs tingled, my stomach formed a pit, and I was on the edge of pure panic. My purse was wedged in between the kids in front of me, my jacket was falling off, and I was losing grip of my friends. I couldn’t even breathe fully for minutes, and it only got worse with the pushing and pulling. It wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t get out. I was only getting air from the sky above me; it felt like I was at Travis Scott’s Astroworld. Still, no wristbands were retrieved.
The moon disappeared, and the sunrise arrived; it was one of the prettiest gloomy mornings I had seen in downtown Pittsburgh. I took a morning stroll, trying to make sure I was still alive and well for the early rise and shine of tailgates. To top it all off, it poured rain the moment the tailgates started at 6 a.m.!
the one million dollar kick
From one struggling college student to the next, it was clear that the city of Pittsburgh was cheering on Pitt freshman Max Weihbrecht from the sidelines. He was the participant who was randomly selected out of the 300 tickets that were distributed to those who camped out overnight in the cold. Hosted by Pat McCafee, a Yinzer himself from Plum, PA, is well known for many segments of College GameDay, but most famously the 33-yard kick, where average college students are given 1-2 chances to make a short kick worth thousands to millions.
Excited and antsy to kick his first-ever field goal, Max was given two chances to make it. He even borrowed cleats from a random member of the crowd for good luck. After missing the first kick, Max was feeling slightly discouraged but still hopeful. Everyone was chanting his name, and somehow the second kick was worse than the first. I watched the kick from the Jumbotron in the stadium, just outside where the attempt happened. I was almost positive that Max was gonna become “Max-a-Million.” After being let down by this hard watch, I braced myself for the real and highly anticipated game ahead. Even though he didn’t take home any cash, I must give the kid credit for even stepping on the turf. But damn, all that tuition that could’ve been paid for!
Game time
Coming into this College GameDay, it was Pitt at #22 v. #9 in the rankings, but little did I know we would leave the game unranked. The first two minutes of the first quarter were promising. After Notre Dame won the coin toss, Mason Heintshel didn’t let that stop him from passing throws any which way to the right players, like Desmond Reid. Catching the ball from Mason to make money moves on the field was impressive from Reid, considering it was his first game back from injury. From first to third down, we were almost at a touchdown. Just then, Poppi Williams fumbled the ball with his fingertips and I knew it was over from there. Not too long after, Notre Dame made the first two touchdowns of the game and claimed dominance over Pitt with a lead of 14-0 from quarter one.
Quarter two entailed one whole field goal from Pitt. Yes, you heard that right! Three whole points were given to Pitt after this insane play of NOTHING. At least we had that, despite the fact that our best kicker, Trey Butkowski, was out “sick.” Then there was Sam Carpenter, who was our holy savior for this play!
Heading into the third quarter with a whopping 21-3, I’d say this was pretty expected, but more agitating than anything. Notre Dame had just gotten practically a back-to-back touchdown within the span of a minute. Watching the field until I was embarrassed, I sat back down in my seat. During the 30 seconds I wasn’t looking, a Pitt player got hurt. Everyone “ooo’d” as I kept bombarding those around me, saying, “Who is it this time?” Nobody answered me. Finally, I asked the person closest to me to read the jersey number, only to find it was Reid himself. My heart broke for him, his jersey number said it all, we had zero chance of winning this College GameDay.
Rasheem Biles swooped in at the end of the third for a quick six just in time for “Sweet Caroline,” which was pretty bittersweet to hear at my last game as a senior. While we were catching up in the game, I had already accepted our fate—the sharks were slowly swimming away from their win.
In the fourth quarter, I headed home. There was no way I was going to sit there in agony and watch those gold-plated helmets snag points on our field—especially after 36 hours of no sleep. On the bus ride back to campus, however, I was thrilled to discover that as we fought hard and scored another touchdown, making the final score 37-15. It wasn’t what I wanted or what I camped out for, but sure, I’ll take double digits.
AARON DONALD’S JERSEY RETIREMENT
In the final two minutes of the second quarter, sitting in the second row of the Panther Pit means bringing spirit, energy, and occasional participation in their stunts. Instead of lifting the Panther Pit flag, we all raised papers from royal blue, gold, to white with just our eyes cut out of the poster. Holding them up in unison, it read back to Aaron Donald himself, “AD97.”
At halftime, I watched Aaron Donald himself give a short and sweet speech after his jersey had been retired on the walls of Acrisure Stadium. Being in this atmosphere was a big moment for Pitt fans, and for one of the legends of Pitt football. From Penn Hills High School to the Los Angeles Rams, he found his way back to where his career began. He teared up slightly, as his family, friends, and fans rallied for him. It really was beautiful to see.
THEN THERE WAS PETER
At the College GameDay special sponsored by Home Depot, everyone lined up to watch their favorite sports icons approach the stage. I can agree seeing them from afar was cool, but Peter was my favorite. Before I even headed into the game, I knew that if I got anything out of this special day, it would be Peter. Peter is the Emotional Support Animal and companion of Kirk Herbstreit, an American Sportscaster and former quarterback at Ohio State University.
Whether you know Peter from following Kirk’s journey in the sports world or knowing Kirk’s late dog, Ben, real ones know that this dog means everything to him, when traveling, on the job, or sitting at home. My favorite boy, with fluffy gold hair, four paws, and a whole lot of cuteness, I screamed louder than any other football game I had been to. Peter is the Emotional Support Animal and companion of Kirk’s.
Overall, if my own ESPN College GameDay experience had a highlight reel, you would see a montage of Peter’s face and his silliest moments, like peaking his head out the side of the stage, hiding, then reappearing again as he makes his own plays with the crowd.