Count me as one in favor of it. Here are my pro and con thoughts on doing this.

CONS
1) it makes Pitt's annual strength of schedule harder than most others within the ACC.
2) It reduces the variety of attractive match-ups for OOC games.
3) It shuts WVU out as an opponent in OOC let alone as an annual rivalry game.

PROS
1) Improves attendance.
2) Rekindles a nationally recognized rivalry better than Pitt-WVU.
3) Provides and attractive OOC slate that gives Pitt great credibility if they win againt both schools.
4) This would improve recruiting for BOTH schools - especially if high school FB players truly get back into Pitt vs PSU. Pitt gets a more solid connection to eastern PA and gives it better access to NJ.

Worst Case scheduling Scenario (assumes Pitt in Atlantic, VT as an annual cross-over rival)

In no particular order or away/home designations

FCS/MAC
Penn State
Notre Dame
Florida St
Clemson
Wake Forest
NC State
Maryland
Boston College
Virginia Tech
Miami
Georgia Tech

One or the other would be great. I would prefer PSU for the rivalry factor.

ND just doesn't excite me. I would prefer WVU to ND.

The only yearly rivals that Notre Dame has are Navy, Michigan, and USC.

(02-02-2012 03:52 PM)ndlutz Wrote:  One or the other would be great. I would prefer PSU for the rivalry factor.

ND just doesn't excite me. I would prefer WVU to ND.

Interesting you say that. Obviously ND isn't the same ND as years past, but I'd figure their name alone would attract fans to Heinz.

From what I'm hearing, we are working towards a long term series with PSU. I'd be very pleased w/ PSU, WVU/ND(rotating) and a MAC school for our OOC. But I'm afraid it'll just be one of those 3 schools plus a MAC/Sun Belt and a 1-AA school.

In terms of bringing fans to Heinz, ND is great. As for how they move the excitement meter for me personally, they're low. At this point I would get up for a game against FSU, Clemson, VT, WVU, and of course PSU. I just don't care about playing ND personally.

I understand that Pederson said that we're interested in playing PSU and ND every year but not so much WVU. I can understand that position even if it's not my own. This came from tweets from Chris Peak.

Word has been for a while now that PSU wants a long term series. Wonder what the latest is on this front.

How would this look for a schedule?

9 ACC games: VT, Va, UNC, Duke, GT, Miami, Syracuse, BC, and Maryland
3 OOC games: Penn St, Notre Dame, and 1 FCS

Mark, that would be an absolutely phenomenal season.

Who does Pitt consider their primary rival? I think it is important to schedule your rival every year, even if they are OOC. Some of the best games around are OOC rivals. Florida State-Florida, Georgia-Georgia Tech, Clemson-South Carolina....

Depends on the fan, most of the older generations 35+ consider PSU, and I consider WVU. Seems like Pitt doesn't want the WVU series to continue.

(03-01-2012 11:55 AM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  Depends on the fan, most of the older generations 35+ consider PSU, and I consider WVU. Seems like Pitt doesn't want the WVU series to continue.

I'm not too old, but I would have to say that the youngest of fans would very quickly become enmeshed in the Pitt-PSU rivalry if it resumes. Even for those who did not grow up with it, hating PSU would become much more natural than hating WVU could ever be. If Pitt and PSU ink a long term agreement to play each other again, then it is a serious possibility. If the B1G would ever allow PSU to play Pitt during rivalry week...then watch out, because this game would get very big again. JMO.

I think you're right miko, its just that the last time the teams played I was a Jr in HS. And I'm 30 now. Maybe once the team play again, I may end up hating them again esp when tons of my friends are Nitters.

(03-01-2012 06:46 PM)miko33 Wrote:  If the B1G would ever allow PSU to play Pitt during rivalry week...then watch out, because this game would get very big again. JMO.

Not likely, but how about opening week? or week 2? I could see this game being in prime time if it's on the right date.

I am 33 years old and was a senior for the 12-0 game. I always hated PSU much more that WVU. I really miss the old stadium chant " P E N N S T sucks, Penn State Sucks, Penn State Sucks!"

I agree the BigTen would NEVER allow Pitt / Penn State late in the season. However, it would be a GREAT Prime Time Game say the second or third week of September!

If we can't play PSU late in the season, I'd like to play them Prime Time Labor Day Weekend even if its Sunday. There isn't a Steelers game that week because the season didn't start yet and would more than likely be the only game on TV.

Outside of bowl games the Big Ten does not allow any of their teams to play any other day than Saturday. I would guess the game to be late September much like it was the last few years it was played.

I'm actually surprised I didn't know that. I knew that the B1G didn't let the schools play prime time in November.

(03-03-2012 11:12 AM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  I'm actually surprised I didn't know that. I knew that the B1G didn't let the schools play prime time in November.

Yeah, and it really hurts some of their lesser teams in regards to TV coverage, becasue the Northwestern's and Minnisotta's of the world can never play on a Wednesday or Thurday night.

Would PSU be interested in locking their OOC with Pitt, a Pac 12 school, and a MAC home game every year?

Yea your right. I think the B1G could make even more $$$ if they committed to some weeknight games.

I honestly don't think Penn State will commit to us long term. We're also in a tough spot to be committing to anyone long term (tougher than they are, ironically) due to the 9 game schedule the ACC is going to roll out. At the same time, I think Pitt would be willing to bend to play Penn State yearly. Penn State just doesn't show us the same kind of respect and they feel the need to have 7 home games every year and 8 as often as possible. God forbid they have to go on the road.

I would embrace Pitt playing ND and Penn State yearly. It would certainly make our schedule extremely difficult, but I think we would be respected for that. It would certainly make the early season more interesting.