It's been almost eight years since Pittsburgh played host to one of the greatest upsets in NCAA tournament history. To this day, even the casual sports fan in Pittsburgh can hear the words "Fang" and Coppin State and flash back to that historic day at the Civic Arena -- March 14, 1997.

	Post-Gazette Coppin State coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell is happy to be back in Pittsburgh. Click photo for larger image. Related coverage Matchup: Pitt vs. Coppin State

It was that day that Coppin State, a No. 15 seed from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, shocked No. 2 seed South Carolina, 78-65, becoming only the third No. 15 seed in NCAA history to beat a No. 2 seed. Who could forget the colorful coach of the Eagles -- Ron "Fang" Mitchell -- and the spirit of his players and their never-say-die attitude?

Mitchell fondly remembers Pittsburgh, too.

"Pittsburgh has great fans," he said this week as he prepared his team for tonight's non-conference game against Pitt at the Petersen Events Center. "I've brought my team all over the country for all these years and the treatment we had there ... they were the greatest fans I've ever come across. I will never forget it. I'm really thankful for the opportunity to come back to Pittsburgh. I have great memories of Pittsburgh. The people of Pittsburgh were tremendous."

That was one of the most memorable games Mitchell has coached in a 26-year head-coaching career. But it wasn't his greatest game. That came two days later against 10th-seeded Texas in a second-round game. It was an 82-81 loss, but that didn't matter to Mitchell.

"To me, that was the greatest game of my life," he said. "Just because of the character we exhibited in that game. It seemed like every time we were out of it, we kept battling back. I think a blue-collar city like Pittsburgh, the people loved to see that."

That was the most recent time Coppin State was in the NCAA tournament. The next season the Eagles were 21-8 and 17-1 in the MEAC but lost the MEAC championship game to South Carolina State. It went downhill from there -- 15-14, 15-15, 13-15, 6-25 and 11-17.

Most coaches use jobs such as Coppin State as a steppingstone to move up the coaching ladder to more lucrative jobs in higher-profile conferences. Mitchell had plenty of offers after his successes in '97 and '98, but he didn't want to leave.

"There were a few schools that called me," he said. "I sat down with the president and we shed tears about me leaving. Loyalty became important to me. Coppin State was the school that gave me a chance to be a Division I head coach. No amount of money offered could have taken me away."

Last season brought the first winning season in five years (18-14) and hope for another run at the tournament this season.

Four starters were returning, but the leading scorer quit the team after the second game of the season and a reserve had shoulder surgery.

"At first we thought we had a chance to get back this season," said Mitchell, who has a career record of 533-279. "Now we're playing young people. Now we're playing freshmen. We're still capable of making it happen, but it's going to be harder now."

Coppin State is 2-6 entering the Pitt game, but the Eagles won't be intimidated by playing the Panthers. The Eagles already have played Kentucky, Dayton, Texas, Oklahoma and West Virginia. All on the road. Kentucky and Texas are ranked. The average margin of defeat in those five games is more than 25 points.

It only gets slightly less difficult after Pitt. Utah, Marquette and Minnesota -- all on the road -- follow before the Eagles resume their MEAC schedule.

Playing a tough non-conference schedule is nothing new to Mitchell and Coppin State. Mitchell always seeks out tough competition for his squad, although he admitted this season might be the toughest schedule he has put together in his 19 years with the Eagles.

"We never back away from a game," he said. "We'll play anywhere, anytime."

Mitchell, whose nickname originates from the scratchy-voiced dog character White Fang from "The Soupy Sales Show," said this season's non-conference schedule is similar to the one in 1996-97, when the Eagles earned that NCAA tournament berth. He knows he is in for a tough time against the 10th-ranked Panthers, who are looking to go 8-0 for a third consecutive season.

"I always wanted our kids to experience these kinds of situations," Mitchell said. "We played in front of 23,000 people at Rupp Arena. They have not reacted as well as I'd like, but we're growing. That's what I look for in a team -- growth."