Pitt’s Dave Wannstedt and Virginia’s Al Groh faced off in 2000 when Wannstedt was head coach… Pitt’s Dave Wannstedt and Virginia’s Al Groh faced off in 2000 when Wannstedt was head coach of the Miami Dolphins and Groh of the New York Jets in the AFC East Division.

A lot has changed since then.

The two men will meet again as head coaches tomorrow, but this time as head coaches of their alma maters.

Under the lights at Heinz Field, Pitt and Virginia will open the season with a matchup that dates back to 1953.

As the 117th football season in Pitt history begins and the Panthers prepare to take on the Cavaliers, Pitt has hopes of a better start than last season when it was blown out in its season opener against Notre Dame, and then lost to Ohio University in overtime the following week.

Wannstedt, though, is happy with the progress the Panthers have made.

“Yes, we are further ahead today than a year ago, no question,” Wannstedt said. “We are where we need to be mentally and in pretty good shape physically. It’s a work in progress, we have a real clear picture of where we are going and what we are going to become