Pitt overcame the odds to defeat Duke 54-45 at Heinz Field on Saturday, delivering many in the city of Pittsburgh a moment of joy when they needed one most.
Hours before the game, a tragedy befell the city, as a gunman opened fire on the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, a neighborhood adjacent to Oakland, where Pitt’s campus is located. Eleven people were killed in the shooting.
Out of respect for the victims, their families, and others mourning the tragedy, the university announced after Saturday’s game that it would darken its Victory Lights, which traditionally illuminate the Cathedral of Learning after its teams’ wins.