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Pitt, PSU rivalry might not be


By Rob Biertempfel
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, March 12, 2005


Pitt and Penn State are talking again.
The two schools' athletic directors have reopened informal discussions about renewing their football series.

"Jeff (Long) and I have talked a number of times about a lot of different things, including football," Penn State AD Tim Curley said Friday. "But I wouldn't say we're at a stage where we're near an agreement."

Long was unavailable for comment.





Penn State's recently released schedules for 2007 and '08 show openings for two nonconference games in each season. Pitt has not released information beyond the 2005 season.

There could be even more opportunities for the in-state rivals to meet if the NCAA adopts a measure to expand the regular season to 12 games. Next month, the NCAA board of directors is expected to give its approval.

However, Curley stopped short of saying such an expansion would improve chances for another Pitt-Penn State series.

"I really don't know," he said. "People will be looking to get home games."

Pitt and Penn State last met in 2000, the conclusion of a four-game home-and-home set. Attempts to renew the series have been snagged by Penn State's request for at least a 2-for-1 edge in home games.

Curley would not say if he'd consider an even split for a possible Pitt series.

"We haven't gotten that detailed in our discussions," he said. "Obviously, you're trying to balance out your schedule. Sometimes, that means a 2-for-1, a 3-for-1, or a 6-for-4. There are a whole bunch of different ways to slice it up."

Last summer, it seemed as if the Pitt-Penn State series was for good after then-coach Walt Harris ripped Penn State coach Joe Paterno.

"I think it is a selfish act on (Penn State's) part, not playing us," Harris told The Daily Collegian, the Penn State student newspaper. "I don't think there will be any communication on playing them as long as one man is running the program."

That could have sparked a cold war between the two schools. But Curley and Long have had a friendly relationship for a number of years, since Long's days at the Univeristy of Michigan.

So the two sides kept talking, even after Harris' remarks.

"I don't think that other thing had any (effect) on our discussions," Curley said.

After Miami and Virginia Tech defected to the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East officials considered trying to lure Penn State into the Big East. Pitt chancellor Mark Nordenberg was tabbed to assist with the plan.

However, Penn State president Graham Spanier said he never considered such a move.

"Penn State is pleased to be a member of the Big Ten, and this is where we see our future," Spanier said.



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Rob Biertempfel can be reached at rbiertempfel@tribweb.com or (724) 853-2110.

Pitt v PSU should be played every year no matter what. This is a classic eastern rivalry that was destroyed by conference shuffling.

Penn St. is being arrogant really...their loss.

its just not psu's loss. its a loss to pa in general. its a loss for the fans of both schools. its pretty much tragic that these schools don't play anymore. this is one of the most intense rivals in the country. and the most famous rivalry that isn't played every year. maybe play the game @ a neutral site preferably in phili everyyear similar to florida-georgia games being played in jax. i want this game back

i don't blame Penn State. What do they gain by playing at Pitt every other year?

If I were PSU I would want an extra home game every year. Considering they sell 100k seats even if they are playing Kent or Ohio U, where is the incentive to play Pitt? They don't need it. They don't need the ticket sales, and all they would be doing is helping their in state rival. Pitt needs the series much more than PSU does.

Very much like WVU/Marshall. WVU gains nothing by playing them.

ur kinda wrong wvu crazed. psu-pitt and marshall-wvu is nothing the same.

psu has no rivalries on their schedule. if ur goin to tell me that psu-msu is the same as psu-pitt i'd laugh in ur face literally. what does psu has to gain by playing pitt. good question. it gets the state excited bout its rivalry for one. and tell me this if pitt and psu played each other every year again would every pa recruit play for michigan. hell no they wouldn't. the top stars would play for pitt and psu and would be excited to play against each other similiar to that of the florida schools. pa has enough top recruits to make both schools top 25-15 teams on a consistant basis. now to tell me psu has nothin to gain please kid. thats almost laughable in my opinion.

animus Wrote:ur kinda wrong wvu crazed. psu-pitt and marshall-wvu is nothing the same.

psu has no rivalries on their schedule. if ur goin to tell me that psu-msu is the same as psu-pitt i'd laugh in ur face literally. what does psu has to gain by playing pitt. good question. it gets the state excited bout its rivalry for one. and tell me this if pitt and psu played each other every year again would every pa recruit play for michigan. hell no they wouldn't. the top stars would play for pitt and psu and would be excited to play against each other similiar to that of the florida schools. pa has enough top recruits to make both schools top 25-15 teams on a consistant basis. now to tell me psu has nothin to gain please kid. thats almost laughable in my opinion.

if PSU had a great deal to gain from this series, it would be scheduled. It isn't scheduled. Why? Because PSU knows that Pitt needs it alot more than they do, and they are bargaining appropriately.

Again - why would PSU play in Pittsburgh every other year when they pack in over 100k for ANY opponent at home? It makes no sense. It's like throwing money out the window. If I were Penn State, when that 12 game schedule comes into effect, I would add an extra home game every year against a MAC team. A win, and free money at the gates. It would be sheer idiocy for them to schedule a home and home with Pitt. Which is why they haven't done so.

Pitt would sign on the dotted line in a heartbeat. It hasn't happened because it makes no sense for PSU to do it. It's a shame, I would love to see that series, but reality is reality.