Marc Bulger Shares Unique Backyard Brawl Perspective, Reveals Favorite Memory

Few players can offer the unique perspective former WVU quarterback Marc Bulger has when it comes to the Backyard Brawl. Bulger, a Pittsburgh native who played high school football at Central Catholic in the heart of Pitt’s campus, shared his insight about the rivalry and his favorite moment while appearing with legendary radio host Mark Madden.

Unlike players of today, Bulger was able to experience a full slate of four Backyard Brawls during his college career. He stated in three of those games, throwing 11 touchdown passes against the Panthers.

Despite it being one of the most historic rivalries in college football history, Bulger feels the hate and animosity isn’t equally disturbed. Bulger believes WVU fans hate their rival up north more than Pitt fans hate the Mountaineers.

“West Virginia actually has more resentment toward Pitt than Pitt does toward us,” Bulger explained to Madden. “They think we are just a bunch of hicks, even though I’m a Yinzer. We just think that Pitt fans, (and) the city looks down on West Virginia. That’s the issue.”

He also had no trouble pinpointing his favorite Brawl memory. When prompted, Bulger immediately picked the 1998 game at the now defunct Three Rivers Stadium. Bulger had one of the best games of his entire football career, a career that saw him spend eight years in the NFL, in WVU’s 52-14 domination of Pitt. He threw six touchdowns and secured revenge for the Panthers’ 41-38 overtime win in Morgantown during the prior season.

Pittsburgh native and former WVU QB Marc Bulger had this to say about his big performance in the 1998 Backyard Brawl while appearing with @MarkMaddenX.

"I could have thrown for 10 touchdowns, probably. But Coach (Don) Nehlen pulled me. It was just good getting revenge on them.…

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) September 13, 2024

“I could have thrown for 10 touchdowns, probably. But Coach (Don) Nehlen pulled me. It was just good getting revenge on them,” said Bulger. “Just growing up seven or eight minutes from Three Rivers Stadium and getting to play there. The Allegheny Club and everything, my family was up there. It was just fun because Pitt had a good team that year, and we handled business.”

Like many others, and echoed by both Neal Brown and Pat Narduzzi this week, Bulger wants to see the Backyard Brawl as often as possible no matter what happens to college football in the future.

“Having rivalries like that is so great. There are just so many games that should be automatic.”

Find more coverage of Marc Bulger at WV Sports Now.

Also, find Tim Benz’s article about Bulger’s appearance with Madden at TribLIVE.

For a related story, WV Sports Now’s Mike Asti explains what WVU needs to do to beat Pitt in the 2024 Backyard Brawl.