The rivalry is coming back.

For years, Pitt and Penn State waged one of college football's most colorful and historic rivalries. It was a game that captured the attention and passion of fans in Pennsylvania and throughout the country.

On hiatus since 2000, the Pitt-Penn State series will again resume after the two universities signed a home-and-home agreement for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Pitt will host the initial game at Heinz Field on September 10, 2016. The Panthers will play at Penn State on September 16, 2017.

"This is an exciting day for college football fans," Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson said. "The tremendous history of this rivalry is well documented and the passion that fans have for this game is enormous. We are very pleased that this two-game series is now in place and a new generation of fans can experience the excitement of a Pitt-Penn State football game beginning in 2016."

"As a young football fan in Texas, I used to love watching Pitt and Penn State play every November," first-year Pitt head coach Todd Graham said. "The games were intense and featured some of the greatest players in the history of college football. The resumption of this series is great for the two schools and football fans everywhere."

Pitt and Penn State last clashed on September 16, 2000, when the Panthers blanked the Nittany Lions, 12-0, at Three Rivers Stadium. Freshman Rod Rutherford scored the game's lone touchdown when he took a short pass from John Turman and raced for a 62-yard TD. A smothering Pitt defense limited Penn State to just 64 yards rushing and 225 yards overall.

Penn State holds a 50-42-4 advantage in the all-time series that began in 1893. The schools played every season from 1900-31 and 1935-92. Following a four-year break, the series resumed for four games from 1997-2000 before its current hiatus. The rivalry gained national stature during the 1970s and `80s when the teams regularly met with both eastern supremacy and national title implications at stake.

gorocks99;802360 wrote:http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061411aaa.html



Good for college football.

THE4RINGZ;802368 wrote:I never understood why they stopped playing this game in the first place.

gorocks99;802360 wrote:http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061411aaa.html



Good for college football.

enigmaax;802409 wrote:Irrelevant for college football.

killer_ewok;802382 wrote:Wasn't/isn't Paterno against it?

ts1227;802437 wrote:They're waiting until 2016 because he will probably be dead by then

LJ;802441 wrote:False, they will have an 89 year old coach on the sidelines

Little Danny;802488 wrote:The reason Pitt and Penn State stopped playing one another had to do with hard feelings from PSU after not being accepted into the Big East back in the 80s. They believed Pitt spearheaded the decision of blocking them from the league. Due to contractural obligations, the teams kept playing one another; but the dye was cast. Ultimately, the decision paid off for PSU who has grown by leaps and bounds in the Big Ten.

gorocks99;802421 wrote:Why? Not only have these two teams had a combined 3 BCS appearances in the past 6 years, but a regional (and state) rivalry like this is good for the pageantry/history/rivalry fans.

gorocks99;802421 wrote:Why? Not only have these two teams had a combined 3 BCS appearances in the past 6 years, but a regional (and state) rivalry like this is good for the pageantry/history/rivalry fans.

ts1227;802437 wrote:They're waiting until 2016 because he will probably be dead by then

KnightRyder;802533 wrote:All of this started at the desk of then-athletic director Joe Paterno. Paterno saw a huge payday in an All East Sports Conference and talked most of the big names of eastern football (Syracuse, Boston College, Maryland, West Virginia) to at least think about the idea. The brass at Pitt decided that they didn't want any part of any of Paterno's idea, money or no money, and instead cast its lot with the fledgling Big East. Without Pitt, everyone else stayed put.

Paterno was angry and extracted his revenge. He dumped Pitt, Syracuse, West Virginia, and Maryland from his football schedule, with only the Orangemen making a two-year cameo long after the folks who didn't back Paterno were long gone from power. He took on new partners in the Big Ten, and all the money and publicity he predicted with his sports conference came with the new affiliation. He didn't need his former eastern foes to make headlines and money anymore. He could sell out shiny new Beaver Stadium's 107,350 seats every week, even if it meant bringing in I-AA tomato cans to kick around.

believer;802950 wrote:So Paterno wanted Penn State to behave pretty much like any other big time college program then?

Tobias Fünke;803079 wrote:^^Agreed. But Paterno can be spiteful and it doesn't tarnish his legacy or anything. Business is business.

KnightRyder;802533 wrote:All of this started at the desk of then-athletic director Joe Paterno. Paterno saw a huge payday in an All East Sports Conference and talked most of the big names of eastern football (Syracuse, Boston College, Maryland, West Virginia) to at least think about the idea. The brass at Pitt decided that they didn't want any part of any of Paterno's idea, money or no money, and instead cast its lot with the fledgling Big East. Without Pitt, everyone else stayed put.

Paterno was angry and extracted his revenge. He dumped Pitt, Syracuse, West Virginia, and Maryland from his football schedule, with only the Orangemen making a two-year cameo long after the folks who didn't back Paterno were long gone from power. He took on new partners in the Big Ten, and all the money and publicity he predicted with his sports conference came with the new affiliation. He didn't need his former eastern foes to make headlines and money anymore. He could sell out shiny new Beaver Stadium's 107,350 seats every week, even if it meant bringing in I-AA tomato cans to kick around.

MorgansRaiders;804451 wrote:Ryder, you nailed the explination of the PSU/Pitt differences. Paterno has been a little cranky for many, many years and I think he took the refusal of the other eastern schools a little too personal. But that being said, it is a great rivalry and I'm excited that it is back on, even for just two years.

Actually, Miami Fla backed out of a series with Penn State to cause the opening in the Lions schedule for 2016-2017. Fortunately, Pitt also had an opening to allow for these games to be played.

KnightRyder;804499 wrote:i think it was back in 2007 penn state proposed renewing this rivalry. but it had to be on paterno's terms, which were for every one game at pitt they would play two at penn state. pitt declined the offer. cant blame them.