Pitt, Penn State. It's back on, and it should be back on forever.

     

                        VS.



Can you ever imagine Alabama and Auburn taking a fifteen year hiatus  in their rivalry? How about Florida and Florida State decide its not in their best interest to play, ditto for USC and UCLA. Some of these games are within conferences, I understand that, but the principle of these teams not playing is outrageous.  Well it is the same thing right here in the Keystone State.  Pennsylvania supports two large Universities with proud Football traditions and solid teams year in and year out, yet they have not played since 2000.  Its not right anyway you shape it. The game is good for the state of Pennsylvania, the fans of the two programs, and college football in general.

         The debate about this game has raged on for a decade, and you hear the same arguments over and again by the two sides. I would like to go into a few of the arguments.  "Pitt needs Penn State more than Penn State needs Pitt"  It depends how you look at it. Who is Penn State's rival? Ohio State?  The Lions are 2-7 in their last nine meetings with the Buckeyes.  Michigan State and the made up rivalry trophy?  I just don't get the sentiment that anybody from Central Pennsylvania gives two hoots about Michigan State and their average program. But hey it might just be me.   So the only Eastern School in an all Midwestern conference lacks that true rival. Hey how about a team less than 200 miles away?  It makes too much sense.  I understand Penn State can play Harvard and still manage to round up 100,000 people to the erector set.  But why not play a meaningful game that will excite the fan base and the entire state?  The game will be on ABC, College Gameday is almost assuredly to be there.  It will be one of the games of the year, every year.  From a Pitt perspective, it is said by someone that Pitt needs the game more than Penn State.  Why? They don't NEED it.  Pitt has an archrival with West Virginia.  Pitt plays Notre Dame on a yearly basis.  They have their two big selling games. Its no secret Pitt isn't selling out on most years, it takes them to actually be in the Top 10 to start getting attendance . Nobody from Pitt will deny it.  Pitt has a great fan base, but horrible fan support.  Its just one of those things.  And in my opinion they aren't begging to play this game based out of a need, but as a want.  The game will generate instant buzz. ESPN, National TV, College Gameday, Showcase for two great Schools, Showcase for a very proud "Football State".  You get why I'm saying?  So in a sense Pitt needs this game, but I believe Penn State needs it as well.
      Another argument you may have heard is Penn State does not want to make this game a priority, that they have more important games.  "He said it works for a two-year series because there were openings in the schedule, but the school is looking to play nonconference games throughout the country to enable the large Nittany Lion fan base to see the team play. And the school's need to play road games across the country combined with its need to play at least seven home games every year means there is very little flexibility in scheduling."  (Taken from the PPG)   Really that is the best Tim Curley can come up with?  Well in the past five seasons, Penn State has played twenty non conference games, only four of which their "large fan base" was able to see.  And by that they play one game at Temple, which was basically a home game, they played up at Syracuse, and Notre Dame, and Alabama(I'm Sure the Nittany Lion Nation is crawling all over Tuscaloosa?)   This season Penn State is going to play their other in-state "rival"  Temple again.  Why not replace the annual Temple game with Pitt?  Let's see a game on ABC at 8:00 in primetime, or the BTN at Noon?   Come on Tim Curley!  And maybe he is just saying this because the old man is still alive, and Joe has never been too fond of Pitt.  But he can not be serious with statements saying he has to play across the country. I don't know why Penn State administration will not just give in from previous stances and just play the game.

    Thirdly the other argument you hear, or have heard is, "Penn State doesn't care about Pitt anymore, the rivalry is dead."  "That is erroneous, erroneous on both accounts."  The rivalry is very much alive, and you would be blind not to see that.  Seriously, think about it.  The two teams recruit the same players, the schools are the two major institutions of the state, and academic wars and arguments rage on all the time. The two schools compete for students, and both are very proud and believe they are the better University.  The Football game will only enhance it further.  Pitt does have West Virginia, but for generations it was Penn State.  That was the game, that was the team.  And the same goes for Penn State.   They don't have anyone to call their rival.  They have played some magnificent games with their neighbors to the West.   It only makes sense to play the game.  Penn State fans will say they don't care about Pitt.  Go out and read message boards, anyday of the year for the past ten years.  Penn State people will be on Pitt boards, vice a versa. When a Penn State played gets arrested its a topic on the Pitt boards, when Pitt loses its a topic on the Penn State boards.  Its silly to say the rivalry is dead, because the rivalry anymore is strictly trash talking.  Its a great thing to settle the debate on the gridiron.  It would be great for the teams to play in every sport. It has recently been talked about playing in Basketball again.  The gap between Pitt-PSU Basketball is a little greater, than Pitt-PSU Football.  But why not play the game?  Penn State bringing Pitt to the Bryce Jordan might cause a stir and get them a sell out game.  A game at the Consol with the tickets down the middle would also be fun.  The schools are so close, they should play.  Plain and Simple.
              This article was clearly written from a Pitt point of view.  But to be fair, its how I was raised. Its how I am.  The rivalry was instilled in me from a young age.  It was made important to me early because I have a predominately Penn State extended family. But facts are facts.  And I will not take them away from Penn State.   Penn State is a huge school, thus creating a huge fan base. And with that fan base, they breed great support.  Pitt, not so much. Pitt is still a fairly large school, in a football town, with lots of fans. But for one reason or another, do not draw well. The sky is blue, the grass is green, and Pitt is only good for 40,000 fans for home games. It is what it is.  Also Penn State does not need Pitt on the home schedule to sell tickets, they can play a High School team and draw just as well.  But I think Penn State needs to realize, they do lack a true rival. They do not have that one circle your calender type game. Pitt can and will be that game. Pitt is Penn State's most frequent opponent in their history, meeting just shy of 100 games.(PSU is Pitt's 2nd most played game outside of WVU).  Alabama,Florida,Michigan, Texas,Oklahoma, Georgia,South Carolina, North Carolina,Virginia, Indiana,Illinois, Iowa, Colorado and more.  What do they all have in common?  Those states get to have in-state rivalry football games on a annual basis.  The Football driven State of Pennsylvania does not.   Something is wrong here.  Let's settle our differences, and agree to hate each other once a season for the rest of our lives.  Penn State fans know they hate Pitt, and Pitt fans know they hate Penn State.  Its a beautiful hate-hate relationship.  Let it grow.