Franklin opens door to resumption of Pitt series
Penn State coach James Franklin said Tuesday that he’s willing to continue the football series with Pittsburgh beyond Saturday and even made a novel suggestion.
“I could see us maybe doing a neutral site game with them,” Franklin said. “I think that’s a possibility, but we’ve got to be creative about it.”
Because Pitt plays home games at Heinz Field, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the only possible neutral site in Pennsylvania is Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Penn State does not have a schedule opening until 2024 and plays a Power Five opponent in every year until 2026. Because the Lions want to play at least seven home games a year, it doesn’t appear they have an opening to play a game at Pittsburgh until 2028.
“The challenges with us having a ninth conference game (in the Big Ten) and them having eight (in the Atlantic Coast Con
ference), there are some problems with home and home,” Franklin said. “But we’re open to having discussions. It’s got to make sense for both parties. It’s got to make sense for Pitt. It’s got to make sense for Penn State.”
Penn State (2-0) and Pitt (1-1) will face each other for the 100th time – the final scheduled meeting – Saturday at 12 noon at Beaver Stadium (TV-ABC; WEEUAM/830).
Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi said Monday he’d like to see the series continue, and so would Pitt officials and fans.
The teams began playing in 1893 and met every season from 1935-92, the year before Penn State joined the Big Ten. The Lions and Panthers have played just seven times since then, including a four-game set from 19972000, when many of the current players were toddlers or not yet born.
The current four-game set, which began in 2016, ends Saturday.
“I’m from Ohio, so I don’t really know too much about the history,” Penn State defensive tackle Antonio Shelton said. “I mean, an instate game like this is cool. But we try to approach everything the same way. It’s one game at a time. Our goal is to be 1-0 at the end of the game.
“Some people will make this game a bigger deal than it is. Not to say we’re taking Pitt lightly at all; we treat every opponent the same. We’re going to treat Pitt like we did Buffalo. Our process doesn’t deviate.”
Linebacker Jan Johnson comes from a family of former Penn State athletes. He was asked Tuesday what playing Pitt means to him.
“It’s another opportunity to go out and play at Beaver Stadium and get a W,” Johnson said.
Penn State has won nine of the last 11 meetings, including a 51-6 rout last year at Heinz Field, and is 2910-1 against Pitt since 1959. Of the 99 games so far in the series, 73 have been played in Pittsburgh.
“We’re excited about this game,” Franklin said. “From a historical perspective, what this game has meant to the state and to college football, and from a geographic perspective, we get it as well.
“Do we understand that this is a big game to the media, to the fans, to the lettermen and to college football? Yeah, we’re not burying our heads in the sand. We understand the significance and the impact of this game, but our approach does not change.”
Franklin said several times that Penn State officials are willing to discuss scheduling future games.
“We are not closing the door,” he said. “We are open to a bunch of discussions, whether that is home and home, whether that is neutral site, whatever that may be. But it sure would make it a lot easier if we both were playing eight conference games or nine conference games. That would help college football and this game, too.”