Pitt-Cuse, then and now

Cheerleaders charge through Pitt Stadium during the Panther’s last home game of the season on November 4, 1979. (Edwin Morgan/The Pittsburgh Press)

(From left) Joe Binder, Jan Shadle, Saverio Strati and Carol Baumgartner conduct cheer leading practice at Phipps Conservatory on June 7, 1981. (Andy Starnes/The Pittsburgh Press)

Pitt cheerleaders, Vicki Veltri and Jack McBride, perform at a game on September 9, 1974. (Andy Starnes/The Pittsburgh Press)

Pitt-Cuse, then and now: Pitt took on Syracuse Saturday, marking the final home game of the season. Not much has changed over the past three decades.

In November 1979, the Panthers defeated Otto the Orange, 28-21. The matchup also marked Pitt’s the last 1979 home game. They maintained a 7-1 record — a little better than this year’s mark. 

While the timing in the schedule is similar, there are a few differentiating details between games.

Instead of taking over Heinz Field, the 1979 team played in Pitt Stadium on the University of Pittsburgh campus. The Panthers switched stadiums in 2000.

Aside from a change in venue, the cheerleading uniforms have undergone significant alterations. That day, the squad sported beachball-sized pom-poms and windbreaker jumpsuits. 

Today Pitt’s cheerleading team has (thankfully) veered away from the puffy ‘80s trend.