Welcome home, coach.

That’s the theme to tomorrow night’s meet and greet with new head… Welcome home, coach.

That’s the theme to tomorrow night’s meet and greet with new head football coach Dave Wannstedt at the Petersen Events Center, which will also feature the unveiling of the new Panther logo to students — an updated version of the old Pitt script.

The official announcement and unveiling is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the UPMC Sports Complex in South Side.

The Panther Pitt, football’s version of the Oakland Zoo, has, with cooperation with Pitt athletics, set up an evening with Wannstedt for students.

Wannstedt is scheduled to speak to the students and then walk around to greet the students personally, much like Jamie Dixon did in his meet and greet.

With the Blue-Gold game scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Gateway High School, the Panther Pitt is looking to start up the support for the 2005 Pitt football team — support from students that has dropped in the Walt Harris era, a time that saw an empty, quiet student section virtually every game at Heinz Field during the team’s Fiesta Bowl run.

Just as Wannstedt is working to regain ties with local high schools, he’s working to make his 12th man better and more supportive than ever.

“I get the feeling he knows what he wants from this event,” said Brent Healy, vice president and co-creator of the Panther Pitt said. “He is more excited than we are about this.”

There will be free T-shirts featuring the newly released Panther logo for the first 500 students. Free Panther rally towels will be handed out as well.

A raffle will determine who wins a new Pitt helmet, with the new logo, autographed by Wannstedt. The raffle prizes also include season tickets and other Pitt apparel.

Season tickets will be on sale at the event to keep students from having to pay the $5 online handling fee that is applied to students. Plus, it’s a chance to jump ahead of the game.

“They’re urging students not to procrastinate,” Healy said, “because they can and will sell out.”

Bill Hillgrove, who calls the games for Pitt and the Steelers on the radio, will be on hand for the night to introduce Wannstedt.

The festivities begin at 8 p.m. in the main lobby of the Pete, in front of the Jumbotron that hangs above the Panther merchandise shop.

“I think it’s an historic event,” Healy said, adding, “Nothing like it, that I know of, has ever been done before at Pitt. I am inspired because the athletics department got behind the Panther Pitt’s idea 100 percent, and SGB traditions has supported it with money, ideas and man power. It’s shown me that good ideas can really come to fruition here. It’s also so exciting to see students so fired up about a coach.”

The Panther Pitt is also planning other promotions that specifically promote Wannstedt and the Pitt football program.

“Wannstedt is an outgoing and prolific Pitt alum, and the student reaction is intense,” Healy said.

He also pointed out that this is a sign of a new era of Pitt Football — one that many fans have been awaiting for a long time.

Wannstedt made a reference to that in his press conference on Dec. 23 when he was officially announced as head coach.

“Nobody needs to tell me about the tradition,” Wannstedt said. “I was part of it. I lived it. I experienced it. I felt it. And that’s the passion that drives me to return to those great, great days of Pitt football.”

His passion, which will be seen in Pitt’s nationally televised season-opening game on Sept. 3 against Notre Dame, will also be on display in front of the students tonight.

“I hope students appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this era, and to meet its new leader,” Healy said. “I also hope this pre-spring game rally becomes a tradition for the University and the program.”