Remember 1989? Sold out Pitt Stadium, a 3-point Nitter win? Fast-forward to 1992, the final game in the series until 1997, a 57-13 pounding by Penn State. Pitt thought it had Penn State locked up forever but Pitt went its own way, not considering the effects of snubbing offers to form an all Easter football conference or pick Penn State over the Big East.
When the offer to join the Big Ten was accepted, Penn State couldn't wait to eliminate Pitt from its football schedule. Games scheduled for 1993 and beyond were dropped. Paterno yakked about how many games Penn State was forced to play in Pittsburgh and threw other insults (Pitt = Temple) our way. Penn State said the rivalry was fleeting and often one-sided.
The Pitt administration should have been angered and much like it did with West Virginia's jump to the Big 12, eliminated the Nitters from future schedule consideration.
Why the different reactions? Pitt believes Penn State has some obligation to help Pitt fill its stadium. Wrong. The financials do not work in Penn State's favor to play Pitt home-and-home every year. Penn State offered Pitt a two-for-one. Pitt felt insulted and refused.
But Pitt should have taken the two-for-one if this would have ensured the rivalry would be played every year. Once every three years a sold-out Heinz Field would add much needed money to the Pitt budget. The effect would have been a positive on Pitt's bottom line.
The two-for-one offer is off the table. So Pitt will continue to ask for ongoing home-and-hones and look like a needy program that is always looking for a loan from its big brother. Do you like the impression that leaves?
After the worst scandal in college football history, the arrogance of Penn State, and the neediness of Pitt begging Penn State to play, let's drop Penn State. Make 2019 be the grand finale.
The ACC puts us on equal footing with Penn State. We are Power 5. Winning seven and eight games consistently with ten and 11 win seasons and national rankings sprinkled in will fill Heinz. Move on. Work on making Pitt-Duke an Pitt-Miami big games that will sell tickets and fill the stadium. Pitt-Cincinnati did. All Pitt has to do is win. After the '18 and '19 games are played, let the next match-up between Pitt and State take place in an ACC/Big Ten bowl game.
When the offer to join the Big Ten was accepted, Penn State couldn't wait to eliminate Pitt from its football schedule. Games scheduled for 1993 and beyond were dropped. Paterno yakked about how many games Penn State was forced to play in Pittsburgh and threw other insults (Pitt = Temple) our way. Penn State said the rivalry was fleeting and often one-sided.
The Pitt administration should have been angered and much like it did with West Virginia's jump to the Big 12, eliminated the Nitters from future schedule consideration.
Why the different reactions? Pitt believes Penn State has some obligation to help Pitt fill its stadium. Wrong. The financials do not work in Penn State's favor to play Pitt home-and-home every year. Penn State offered Pitt a two-for-one. Pitt felt insulted and refused.
But Pitt should have taken the two-for-one if this would have ensured the rivalry would be played every year. Once every three years a sold-out Heinz Field would add much needed money to the Pitt budget. The effect would have been a positive on Pitt's bottom line.
The two-for-one offer is off the table. So Pitt will continue to ask for ongoing home-and-hones and look like a needy program that is always looking for a loan from its big brother. Do you like the impression that leaves?
After the worst scandal in college football history, the arrogance of Penn State, and the neediness of Pitt begging Penn State to play, let's drop Penn State. Make 2019 be the grand finale.
The ACC puts us on equal footing with Penn State. We are Power 5. Winning seven and eight games consistently with ten and 11 win seasons and national rankings sprinkled in will fill Heinz. Move on. Work on making Pitt-Duke an Pitt-Miami big games that will sell tickets and fill the stadium. Pitt-Cincinnati did. All Pitt has to do is win. After the '18 and '19 games are played, let the next match-up between Pitt and State take place in an ACC/Big Ten bowl game.
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