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APP. STATE. APP. STATE. APP. STATE. APP. STATE. APP. STATE.
Come on, Judge. You posting about other games will ruin the team’s focus.
It's never too early to hate Pitt.
You can't post that without the sleeping Pitt fans pics. Why you tease me?
I never get enough of those incredibly enthusiastic Pitt fans! Hail to snoozing Pitt fans!
Pitt fans may line up in the men's room at the end of Penn State game, so that can receive their free beverage from very happy Penn State fans.
Pitt fans may line up in the men's room at the end of Penn State game, so that can receive their free beverage from very happy Penn State fans.
Now just a month until the much-anticipated third round of the Pitt-Penn State football rivalry, Panthers players generally stayed away from the topic during Thursday’s media day.
“I look at it as a game that we have to win,” senior offensive lineman Alex Bookser said. “They’re probably going to be ranked whatever they’re ranked. Those are games that we want to win and we want to win them badly.”
Two years ago, Pitt took down Penn State at Heinz Field. Last season, the matchup shifted to Happy Valley and the Nittany Lions prevailed. The teams meet again September 8 in Pittsburgh.
“It’s going to be a dog fight, as usual,” junior wide receiver Tre Tipton said. “We’re looking forward to that dog fight. But, mainly, we just want to play for these seniors.
“We’ve got an old guy in our room. We want to play for him and make sure that he goes out this year with a great record and above what we’ve ever done before.”
The ‘old guy’ is 22-year-old senior Rafael Araujo-Lopes, who is certainly aware that many Penn State fans and some within the University do not view Pitt as a rival anymore.
Last season, after the game, Penn State coach James Franklin said, “last year, for their win, it was like the Super Bowl. But, for us, this was just like beating Akron."
The comments enraged many Pitt faithful.
"Since they don't want to consider it a rivalry, I'm not going to call it a rivalry,” Araujo-Lopes said. “But, for me, it's going to be an important game, it's going to be a big game and I think it's going to set our season off."
Unlike Araujo-Lopes, who hails from Florida, Bookser grew up in Mt. Lebanon and has more of a personal connection in the rivalry. One of his best childhood friends is former Penn State safety Troy Apke.
“I don’t really worry as much what they think on the other side,” he said. “I don’t know why you would lessen an opponent.”
“We know who they are. We know they’re good. They’re a good team, just like a lot of the other teams we’re going to play. We’re going to take it serious. You love playing people in-state.”
Tipton, who had the early part of his career at Pitt taken away due to injury, was unable to factor into Pitt’s 33-14 loss at Beaver Stadium in 2017 or the 42-39 win the year prior. He’s now keeping his eye on the big picture.
“We’re not looking to be 5-7, we’re not looking to be 8-5,” he said, acknowledging that Pitt does play Albany before they battle Penn State. “We’re looking to be way better than we’ve ever been. And that’s the goal.
“So, with that said, no matter what the situation is, no matter who we’re playing, we’re going to take it and go in there and ‘lock the gates.’”
The expression, ‘lock the gates,’ has been said within the Pitt program for some time, but has become more prominent in the school’s marketing during this offseason. It is painted on the ground as players take the field at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in the South Side. It harkens back to the days when gladiators were locked into the Coliseum floor often, ironically enough, with lions.
When Araujo-Lopes was asked if he feels disrespected by the way Penn State views Pitt, Araujo-Lopes summed it up.
“Nope,” he said, almost dramatically abrupt. “Just, when September 8th rolls around, we’re going to be ready. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be ready and it’s going to be a good game.”
A fight is on the horizon. Gladiators against Lions. Only one month until they ‘lock the gates.’
I hate this game so bad. It will be a good test in a snake pit environment. Just wish this series was over.
Damn straight!See, I love it. Especially going there.
I want it be late 4th quarter, an empty Heinz Field except for all the Penn State fans, just rocking with "We Are" chants. Take that shit over. Like the end of that rainy Rutgers game a few years ago.
How can it be a staple if it’s never happened before?“The 2018 Pittsburgh Panthers should be solid on defense, a staple of any Pat Narduzzi squad.”
FAKE NEWS
The teams are two games into a four game series after not playing for 15 years. 2016 went down to the wire but 2017 was never really in doubt. Dog fight as usual? Nah. They should worry about beating Albany first.“It’s going to be a dog fight, as usual,” junior wide receiver Tre Tipton said. “We’re looking forward to that dog fight. But, mainly, we just want to play for these seniors.
The seats are gold, the same color as urine. Maybe they could call it a piss out.Can they claim a "yellow out" based on the empty seats at their home games (minus the Penn State game)?
No, I'm serious. Not joking. Can they?
OL
Now just a month until the much-anticipated third round of the Pitt-Penn State football rivalry, Panthers players generally stayed away from the topic during Thursday’s media day.
“I look at it as a game that we have to win,” senior offensive lineman Alex Bookser said. “They’re probably going to be ranked whatever they’re ranked. Those are games that we want to win and we want to win them badly.”
Two years ago, Pitt took down Penn State at Heinz Field. Last season, the matchup shifted to Happy Valley and the Nittany Lions prevailed. The teams meet again September 8 in Pittsburgh.
“It’s going to be a dog fight, as usual,” junior wide receiver Tre Tipton said. “We’re looking forward to that dog fight. But, mainly, we just want to play for these seniors.
“We’ve got an old guy in our room. We want to play for him and make sure that he goes out this year with a great record and above what we’ve ever done before.”
The ‘old guy’ is 22-year-old senior Rafael Araujo-Lopes, who is certainly aware that many Penn State fans and some within the University do not view Pitt as a rival anymore.
Last season, after the game, Penn State coach James Franklin said, “last year, for their win, it was like the Super Bowl. But, for us, this was just like beating Akron."
The comments enraged many Pitt faithful.
"Since they don't want to consider it a rivalry, I'm not going to call it a rivalry,” Araujo-Lopes said. “But, for me, it's going to be an important game, it's going to be a big game and I think it's going to set our season off."
Unlike Araujo-Lopes, who hails from Florida, Bookser grew up in Mt. Lebanon and has more of a personal connection in the rivalry. One of his best childhood friends is former Penn State safety Troy Apke.
“I don’t really worry as much what they think on the other side,” he said. “I don’t know why you would lessen an opponent.”
“We know who they are. We know they’re good. They’re a good team, just like a lot of the other teams we’re going to play. We’re going to take it serious. You love playing people in-state.”
Tipton, who had the early part of his career at Pitt taken away due to injury, was unable to factor into Pitt’s 33-14 loss at Beaver Stadium in 2017 or the 42-39 win the year prior. He’s now keeping his eye on the big picture.
“We’re not looking to be 5-7, we’re not looking to be 8-5,” he said, acknowledging that Pitt does play Albany before they battle Penn State. “We’re looking to be way better than we’ve ever been. And that’s the goal.
“So, with that said, no matter what the situation is, no matter who we’re playing, we’re going to take it and go in there and ‘lock the gates.’”
The expression, ‘lock the gates,’ has been said within the Pitt program for some time, but has become more prominent in the school’s marketing during this offseason. It is painted on the ground as players take the field at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in the South Side. It harkens back to the days when gladiators were locked into the Coliseum floor often, ironically enough, with lions.
When Araujo-Lopes was asked if he feels disrespected by the way Penn State views Pitt, Araujo-Lopes summed it up.
“Nope,” he said, almost dramatically abrupt. “Just, when September 8th rolls around, we’re going to be ready. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be ready and it’s going to be a good game.”
A fight is on the horizon. Gladiators against Lions. Only one month until they ‘lock the gates.’
Now just a month until the much-anticipated third round of the Pitt-Penn State football rivalry, Panthers players generally stayed away from the topic during Thursday’s media day.
“I look at it as a game that we have to win,” senior offensive lineman Alex Bookser said. “They’re probably going to be ranked whatever they’re ranked. Those are games that we want to win and we want to win them badly.”
Two years ago, Pitt took down Penn State at Heinz Field. Last season, the matchup shifted to Happy Valley and the Nittany Lions prevailed. The teams meet again September 8 in Pittsburgh.
“It’s going to be a dog fight, as usual,” junior wide receiver Tre Tipton said. “We’re looking forward to that dog fight. But, mainly, we just want to play for these seniors.
“We’ve got an old guy in our room. We want to play for him and make sure that he goes out this year with a great record and above what we’ve ever done before.”
The ‘old guy’ is 22-year-old senior Rafael Araujo-Lopes, who is certainly aware that many Penn State fans and some within the University do not view Pitt as a rival anymore.
Last season, after the game, Penn State coach James Franklin said, “last year, for their win, it was like the Super Bowl. But, for us, this was just like beating Akron."
The comments enraged many Pitt faithful.
"Since they don't want to consider it a rivalry, I'm not going to call it a rivalry,” Araujo-Lopes said. “But, for me, it's going to be an important game, it's going to be a big game and I think it's going to set our season off."
Unlike Araujo-Lopes, who hails from Florida, Bookser grew up in Mt. Lebanon and has more of a personal connection in the rivalry. One of his best childhood friends is former Penn State safety Troy Apke.
“I don’t really worry as much what they think on the other side,” he said. “I don’t know why you would lessen an opponent.”
“We know who they are. We know they’re good. They’re a good team, just like a lot of the other teams we’re going to play. We’re going to take it serious. You love playing people in-state.”
Tipton, who had the early part of his career at Pitt taken away due to injury, was unable to factor into Pitt’s 33-14 loss at Beaver Stadium in 2017 or the 42-39 win the year prior. He’s now keeping his eye on the big picture.
“We’re not looking to be 5-7, we’re not looking to be 8-5,” he said, acknowledging that Pitt does play Albany before they battle Penn State. “We’re looking to be way better than we’ve ever been. And that’s the goal.
“So, with that said, no matter what the situation is, no matter who we’re playing, we’re going to take it and go in there and ‘lock the gates.’”
The expression, ‘lock the gates,’ has been said within the Pitt program for some time, but has become more prominent in the school’s marketing during this offseason. It is painted on the ground as players take the field at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in the South Side. It harkens back to the days when gladiators were locked into the Coliseum floor often, ironically enough, with lions.
When Araujo-Lopes was asked if he feels disrespected by the way Penn State views Pitt, Araujo-Lopes summed it up.
“Nope,” he said, almost dramatically abrupt. “Just, when September 8th rolls around, we’re going to be ready. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be ready and it’s going to be a good game.”
A fight is on the horizon. Gladiators against Lions. Only one month until they ‘lock the gates.’
It's either sad expectations or delusions....lesser of two evils?It's a sad expectation for the home fans when simply outnumbering the opposing fans is good enough.
WEAR WHITE, Penn State fans....
The game has officially sold out, Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke announced on Tuesday. The stadium has a listed capacity of 68,400 and 69,918 set a Heinz Field and Pitt home game record the last time the schools played in Pittsburgh in 2016.
Of course, the game is not just a big draw for Pitt fans, with many Blue and White partisans living in Western Pennsylvania or making the short drive from Central Pennsylvania. Some of the changes Pitt has made since the last time around, like not including the Penn State game in any mini-plans, were made with the intention of giving the Panthers a greater home-field advantage.
“My expectation is that it’s going to be a Blue and Gold night and that there’s going to be a lot of Panthers fans,” Lyke said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of Penn State fans that are relatively close, so I’m sure there’s going to be a decent showing, but there’s no way to really tell, but I expect our Panthers to out-number and out-cheer Penn State.”