Arrington: PSU-Pitt series "I love it .... a beautiful thing"

[grg78]

From an Audrey Snyder interview with Lavar Arrington

Q: Shifting gears here, but next year Pitt and Penn State will play …

A: I love it. Love it. That’s something that should always be there Pitt and Penn State should always play. Pitt was my first love obviously. You think about the guys who played at Pitt while I was growing up right literally like 10 minutes down 279, so Pitt was my first love. … Then comes D.J. Dozier, and I fell in love with Penn State and once I found out that guys who were just made to be gods in our community, Franco Harris and Jack Ham, then I found out that these guys were Penn Staters and my attention and my love affair shifted to Penn State from that moment on. That’s something that exists in a lot of people in western Pennsylvania, so it makes sense for that game to go on.

Q: Extending that series beyond 2019 is a priority for both schools, and it would seem like that’s what fans want, too. You certainly sound like you’d be on board with it.

A: Of course that’s what they want, because it’s hometown heroes playing against hometown heroes. That’s a beautiful thing to see it be able to play out on the college level.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...Q-A-with-LaVar-Arrington/stories/201508270114

 

[Ranger Dan]

As I've said before, the game should alternate between Penn State and Pittsburgh and the games in Pittsburgh should either alternate home and home for PSU/Pitt, or be a neutral site game (each team getting 50% of the seats). This should happen until the all time home and away disparity is resolved.

 

[fairgambit]

I agree with LaVar on a lot, but not this. With the limited openings on the schedule, I would rather play home and home against teams like Texas, Alabama, Notre Dame, Oregon, USC, LSU, Florida State. Any one of those games would draw more national interest than Pitt.

 

[Art]

LaVar is entitled to his opinion even if it's misguided.

 

[NittanySteel]

As I've said before, the game should alternate between Penn State and Pittsburgh and the games in Pittsburgh should either alternate home and home for PSU/Pitt, or be a neutral site game (each team getting 50% of the seats). This should happen until the all time home and away disparity is resolved.

If Europe could let Germany off the hook for WWII reparations, I think we can get over this issue.

 

[Ranger Dan]

If Europe could let Germany off the hook for WWII reparations, I think we can get over this issue.

The difference is that Europe stood to benefit more from a successful/stable Germany after WWII, than for a depleted and heavily penalized Germany after WWI.

Penn State, in contrast, does not stand to benefit from a strong Pitt football program. Why would Penn State want to give more credibility to a program that is in one of its most talent rich recruiting areas? Scheduling Pitt even up on an ongoing basis is a chump move, and I believe Penn State will regret doing so (if that happens).

 

[Sviatoslav]

Why not let the series resume for an agreed-upon time frame, standard home/away rotation 50-50 split. When they lose 90% of those games maybe they'll give up and move on. We play Temple on a regular basis why not make it Pitt instead? They'll froth at the mouth and their hatred will grow when their denial is exposed, but that will end the jabbering about which team rules the roost in this commonwealth.

 

[martypsu]

I agree with LaVar on a lot, but not this. With the limited openings on the schedule, I would rather play home and home against teams like Texas, Alabama, Notre Dame, Oregon, USC, LSU, Florida State. Any one of those games would draw more national interest than Pitt.

I agree--We will have openings for 1 OOC away game every other year when Big 10 goes to 9 games and we must have 7 at home, so I'd rather be playing schools with a national profile than Pitt

 

[Fac]

As I've said before, the game should alternate between Penn State and Pittsburgh and the games in Pittsburgh should either alternate home and home for PSU/Pitt, or be a neutral site game (each team getting 50% of the seats). This should happen until the all time home and away disparity is resolved.

You and others really need to forget about what transpired years ago. Get over it.

 

[lein]

As I've said before, the game should alternate between Penn State and Pittsburgh and the games in Pittsburgh should either alternate home and home for PSU/Pitt, or be a neutral site game (each team getting 50% of the seats). This should happen until the all time home and away disparity is resolved.

Where would you play a neutral site game, Philly? Seems it would have to be in state. If Philly, think Pitt will even bring 10k fans?

 

[anon_is9z1n0h3zblb]

Not this again.

Lavar has never been a deep thinker, but in one question he went from being a pariah on the Pitt board to the only Penn Stater that they like. But how is this a "priority" for both schools?

And 10K fans is more than they get a Heinz field.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Where would you play a neutral site game

The neutral site game would be in Pittsburgh. Penn State would have a true home game, travel, percentage or seats, and revenue from TV, etc. For the neutral site games in Pittsburgh, it would be a split seating, revenue, but obviously Pitt would be the "home team" geographically.

 

[Ranger Dan]

You and others really need to forget about what transpired years ago

My point is that we should forget about Pitt alltogether...

 

[lein]

The neutral site game would be in Pittsburgh. Penn State would have a true home game, travel, percentage or seats, and revenue from TV, etc. For the neutral site games in Pittsburgh, it would be a split seating, revenue, but obviously Pitt would be the "home team" geographically.

So your neutral site game would leave something around 40k seats empty by playing in Pbg and not State College.

The demand by Pitt for 50% of gate receipts from Beaver Stadium was one reason Paterno's attempt at an all sports conference failed.

 

[fairgambit]

My point is that we should forget about Pitt alltogether...

To me it's like many of the friends I had in high school. We were very close once, but time has changed us all. We have different interests, different goals, and have moved on. In a couple of instances I met former classmates and we tried to rekindle our friendships, but it didn't work. So it should be with Pitt. We share proximity with them and little else. Let's move on.

 

[nits74]

To me it's like many of the friends I had in high school. We were very close once, but time has changed us all. We have different interests, different goals, and have moved on. In a couple of instances I met former classmates and we tried to rekindle our friendships, but it didn't work. So it should be with Pitt. We share proximity with them and little else. Let's move on.

I thought Penn State had. Pitt, not at all.

 

[Gitzit]

Playing pitt only helps pitt recruiting, it does nothing to help Penn State. IMO

 

[pandaczar12]

Why not let the series resume for an agreed-upon time frame, standard home/away rotation 50-50 split. When they lose 90% of those games maybe they'll give up and move on. We play Temple on a regular basis why not make it Pitt instead? They'll froth at the mouth and their hatred will grow when their denial is exposed, but that will end the jabbering about which team rules the roost in this commonwealth.

The temple series is unbalanced, and was also scheduled when PSU only had 8 conference games.

You and others really need to forget about what transpired years ago. Get over it.

Tell that to the fan base that boasts nonstop about national championships that "transpired" years ago.

 

[doctornick]

You and others really need to forget about what transpired years ago. Get over it.

By that logic, though, if we were to "forget about what transpired years ago" then why even talk about playing Pitt? The entire premise of playing them is because "we used to do it" so if we should ignore things that happened in the past, there's little endearing rationale to schedule them going forward.

 

[Ranger Dan]

So your neutral site game would leave something around 40k seats empty by playing in Pbg

Why would these 40,000 seats be empty? I'd bet that any/every Pitt fan would by these tickets, and whatever is left would be scooped up by Penn State fans.

 

[docwilly]

From an Audrey Snyder interview with Lavar Arrington

Q: Shifting gears here, but next year Pitt and Penn State will play …

A: I love it. Love it. That’s something that should always be there Pitt and Penn State should always play. Pitt was my first love obviously. You think about the guys who played at Pitt while I was growing up right literally like 10 minutes down 279, so Pitt was my first love. … Then comes D.J. Dozier, and I fell in love with Penn State and once I found out that guys who were just made to be gods in our community, Franco Harris and Jack Ham, then I found out that these guys were Penn Staters and my attention and my love affair shifted to Penn State from that moment on. That’s something that exists in a lot of people in western Pennsylvania, so it makes sense for that game to go on.

Q: Extending that series beyond 2019 is a priority for both schools, and it would seem like that’s what fans want, too. You certainly sound like you’d be on board with it.

A: Of course that’s what they want, because it’s hometown heroes playing against hometown heroes. That’s a beautiful thing to see it be able to play out on the college level.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...Q-A-with-LaVar-Arrington/stories/201508270114

 

[docwilly]

here we go again

 

[lein]

Why would these 40,000 seats be empty? I'd bet that any/every Pitt fan would by these tickets, and whatever is left would be scooped up by Penn State fans.

You said "The neutral site game would be in Pittsburgh. " Without looking, Heinz field is probably 40K seats smaller than Beaver Stadium. Seems one would want the neutral site games at State College.

 

[NittanySteel]

The difference is that Europe stood to benefit more from a successful/stable Germany after WWII, than for a depleted and heavily penalized Germany after WWI.

Penn State, in contrast, does not stand to benefit from a strong Pitt football program. Why would Penn State want to give more credibility to a program that is in one of its most talent rich recruiting areas? Scheduling Pitt even up on an ongoing basis is a chump move, and I believe Penn State will regret doing so (if that happens).

Yes, playing Pitt for 6 years (and going 6-0) in the 90's really did wonders for Pitt's program, when they went 37-74.

 

[BobPSU92]

Looking at it in a vacuum, and for a guy from Pittsburgh who grew up rooting for pitt but then played for Penn State, I can understand the appeal. However, we do not live in a vacuum. There is a much broader view to consider than the one through Arrington's Three Rivers glasses.

 

[Roar More]

I would love to play Pitt. All they have to do is earn it by being invited to play in the proper bowl game.

 

[Marshall30]

Was he drinking at the time?

 

[Nashville Lion]

I for one don't want to play Pitt....we have nothing to gain from it.

 

[indoorgolf]

I agree with LaVar on a lot, but not this. With the limited openings on the schedule, I would rather play home and home against teams like Texas, Alabama, Notre Dame, Oregon, USC, LSU, Florida State. Any one of those games would draw more national interest than Pitt.

There is no way Franklin would agree to play those traditional powers. Did,you see the out of conference games he scheduled at Vandy and so far at PSU ?

 

[docwilly]

I for one don't want to play Pitt....we have nothing to gain from it.

 

[docwilly]

$$$$$$$$$$$$looser @ Pitt

 

[Marshall30]

No.

 

[BlueBand]

I agree with LaVar on a lot, but not this. With the limited openings on the schedule, I would rather play home and home against teams like Texas, Alabama, Notre Dame, Oregon, USC, LSU, Florida State. Any one of those games would draw more national interest than Pitt.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Offer Pitt a 2 for 1 agreement, and replace Temple or a MAC (or lower) flavor of the year team. That still allows us to try to get a home and home with one of the teams you mentioned. If they don't want to accept it, move on. That said, if it's up to Franklin, you will never see any of those teams on the schedule, except in a bowl game or playoff. So don't hold your breath unless Barbour decides butts in the seats is more important than Franklin's desire for no big tests in the OOC.

And for those whining about "legitimizing Pitt" by playing them... how's that worked out for Temple?

 

[Art]

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Offer Pitt a 2 for 1 agreement, and replace Temple or a MAC (or lower) flavor of the year team. That still allows us to try to get a home and home with one of the teams you mentioned. If they don't want to accept it, move on. That said, if it's up to Franklin, you will never see any of those teams on the schedule, except in a bowl game or playoff. So don't hold your breath unless Barbour decides butts in the seats is more important than Franklin's desire for no big tests in the OOC.

And for those whining about "legitimizing Pitt" by playing them... how's that worked out for Temple?

ASWP was offered two-for-one years ago and turned it down. Unlikely that they bite on it now.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

The temple series is unbalanced, and was also scheduled when PSU only had 8 conference games.



Tell that to the fan base that boasts nonstop about national championships that "transpired" years ago.

Hey the last one Penn State had was 29 years ago as opposed to 39 for Pitt. It's not that much of a difference.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

As I've said before, the game should alternate between Penn State and Pittsburgh and the games in Pittsburgh should either alternate home and home for PSU/Pitt, or be a neutral site game (each team getting 50% of the seats). This should happen until the all time home and away disparity is resolved.

That was a long time ago. I understand your desire to even the venue ledger but there were different players making the choices then for both Universities and it was ages ago.

 

[BlueBand]

ASWP was offered two-for-one years ago and turned it down. Unlikely that they bite on it now.

New coach, new AD, new President. If they want it that much, maybe they will. If not, we do what we have to do. But you at least offer. We're the ones bargaining from a position of strength, over something they seem to want more than us (older alumni aside). If they accept, they're as good or better for our strength of schedule as Temple, Buffalo, Army, UMass, etc. if Narduzzi gets them winning more, we get a stronger OOC opponent and better game for national or regional interest.

 

[Art]

New coach, new AD, new President. If they want it that much, maybe they will. If not, we do what we have to do. But you at least offer. We're the ones bargaining from a position of strength, over something they seem to want more than us (older alumni aside). If they accept, they're as good or better for our strength of schedule as Temple, Buffalo, Army, UMass, etc. if Narduzzi gets them winning more, we get a stronger OOC opponent and better game for national or regional interest.

Makes it less likely to be accepted, but let Barbour offer, she's dumb enough to try.

 

[fbh1]

From an Audrey Snyder interview with Lavar Arrington

Q: Shifting gears here, but next year Pitt and Penn State will play …

A: I love it. Love it. That’s something that should always be there Pitt and Penn State should always play. Pitt was my first love obviously. You think about the guys who played at Pitt while I was growing up right literally like 10 minutes down 279, so Pitt was my first love. … Then comes D.J. Dozier, and I fell in love with Penn State and once I found out that guys who were just made to be gods in our community, Franco Harris and Jack Ham, then I found out that these guys were Penn Staters and my attention and my love affair shifted to Penn State from that moment on. That’s something that exists in a lot of people in western Pennsylvania, so it makes sense for that game to go on.

Q: Extending that series beyond 2019 is a priority for both schools, and it would seem like that’s what fans want, too. You certainly sound like you’d be on board with it.

A: Of course that’s what they want, because it’s hometown heroes playing against hometown heroes. That’s a beautiful thing to see it be able to play out on the college level.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...Q-A-with-LaVar-Arrington/stories/201508270114

Let me see, would I rather see us play Temple, Buffalo, Army more than Pitt... I'll take the only true rival that we have really ever had... Pitt. I grew up with that as our main rival, we still have numerous posters that are still fixated on what the Pitt board is posting. I think it is mainly a function of age as to whether you want to renew a Pitt series. Most (not all) of my friends that went to school in the 60's and 70's miss that way we used to pummel them. I don't get the same satisfaction from beating the Owls.

 

[BlueBand]

Makes it less likely to be accepted, but let Barbour offer, she's dumb enough to try.

Disagree. The new coach and AD are the ones leading the charge, so I'd say it's more likely they would accept.

Now, I'm not saying it's likely to happen, but... more likely now than before.