It’s been so long since Todd Graham and Dana Holgorsen coached one another that the last time was way back in something called the … hold on, let me Wikipedia this … Backyard Brawl?

But that matchup in 2011 was the fourth time in four seasons those two had gone head-to-head. The series got the better of them and the people who followed their careers. This week, though, Graham downplayed the rift and Holgorsen had actually forgotten the time he called Graham a cheater.

Given the benefit of hindsight, they believe the condition was a little bit exaggerated for the purpose of provocateurs.

“It was new to the Backyard Brawl,” Holgorsen said. “We’d been common opponents for three straight years going into that Backyard Brawl, which was a good story. But there’s nothing to it now. It’s not a story.”

To hear them talk about it now, it was never about not liking one another. It was about not liking losing to one another. The games were typically played with a lot on the line. Tulsa was 7-1 and ranked in 2008. Houston was 7-1 and ranked the following season. The Golden Hurricane then had a chance in 2010 to win a major intrastate game. The 2011 matchup was the last time Pitt and WVU played.

“We’ve always competed against each other,” Graham said. “A lot of that stuff, we just had some epic battles, man. I remember being at Tulsa and they kicked a 53-yard field goal with one second left to beat us one year.

“So we were always going against each other and we’ve always been competitors. To be honest with you, that helps your career, probably in both ways, but there’s nothing but respect on my end. I have great respect for him as a coach and his knowledge. He’s one of the best there is in the business.”