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July 29, 2012

A Silly Poll Noticed

Filed under: Football,Non-con,Scandal,Schedule — Chas @ 10:48 pm

So, yes. Joe Starkey noticed the poll I ran just after the Freeh Report and  a week before the Paterno statue was removed. Just part of his overall piece he wrote why Pitt should play PSU.

The topic lit up the airwaves, where the overwhelming sentiment was to renew at least for the two games. The blog PittBlather.com received more than 600 replies to a poll asking whether fans still want to see Pitt-Penn State.

The No. 1 answer (29 percent) was yes, depending on “what steps Penn State takes in light of the Freeh Report.” That was followed by 25 percent saying yes unconditionally and 21 percent saying absolutely not.

Now, Joe Starkey did me the unnecessary courtesy of e-mailing me several days before his column with some questions about the poll, and letting me know he was planning to mention it. (Not the content of his column, just that he was going to mention it.) So I knew something was coming.

Do I agree with what he said? That Pitt should play PSU “first in the name of collegiality”? No. To put it bluntly, screw that.

Playing the game to guarantee a sell out? Um, isn’t that just about the money? That’s not far removed from the reasons Penn State’s powers did what they did with pretending Sandusky wasn’t doing obscene acts with minors in their own football building. That’s the worst reason to play.

Overall, I am still undecided about my feelings on those games in four years. My impulse is still to play. The history. The connections within my family. That all means a lot, and comes into play. It colors my perspective rather strongly in favor of playing PSU.

But when I think about the actions by the powers at Penn State. All to protect the legacy of Paterno. To protect their reputation. To protect their cash cow. It becomes a bit harder to justify resuming playing PSU. Even for only a couple years.





I an from South Central PA originally. I have been a Pitt Fan since I was 9 years old despite growing up surrounded by PSU fans in both my family and friends. I had running bets with classmates on the PITT-psu game for over a decade. I stood up and cheered(in full Pitt Gear) in the psu Sophomore Student section(getting pelted by ice balls) when Carlton Williamson intercepted Todd Blackledge to seal a Pitt Victory. I have lots of memories of the rivalry. From what I heard and read coming out of state penn since the Freeh Report, I have no interest in Pitt playing those whining, non-contrite, arrogant scumbags until they show that they understand that these crimes were not the fault of just one man or a few men. But these crimes were the result of a culture of the importance of the FB brand being penultimate versus saving children’s lives from destruction by a predator. I do not hear or read anything that makes me feel that they believe anything of that sort.

Comment by jw in raleigh 07.29.12 @ 11:27 pm

Play PSU to smash them flat, nothing more.

Comment by Hurriquake 07.30.12 @ 12:01 am

No play, no way.

Comment by Neil 07.30.12 @ 1:29 am

Let me add CAS ’93 for perspective.

Comment by Neil 07.30.12 @ 1:33 am

I don’t hear anyone saying we should drop Notre Dame because of their culture. One negligent death, one rape/suicide.

Everyone chill out; it’s 4 years away.

Comment by Kyle 07.30.12 @ 3:11 am

jw in raleigh
You are correct sir, I live in MD and travel to central PA often. The people call in to talk shows and cry poor me poor me, nothing has changed with the culture or attitude except it is now psu against the world, this will be true in 2016,2026,2056,3016. That is why we shouldn’t play them even if it is to pound them back to creepy valley despite all the great games and memories that we all have

Comment by steve h 07.30.12 @ 6:40 am

Give me a break! Are we really acting like we are holier than thou all of a sudden? That is a joke and quite frankly embarrasses me as a Pitt fan. Every level headed person posting here knows if you start walking around acting like you are better than everyone else you usually get slapped back into reality.
Don’t ever think Pitt is squeaky clean and we will never get busted for violations. That is very naive. Especially if you follow college sports today.
So Pitt is the judge and jury on PSU? That is the NCAAs job, they did it, it is over. Pitt would look like fools to the nation if they cancelled the scheduled games.
Get over the Paterno never wanted to play us BS and lets move on. We all know it is a great game. One of the best rivalries in college football. If you are a true Pitt and college sports fan you know Pitt should always play PSU and WVU. It is what college sports are all about. The week leading up to the game, screwing with your PSU friends and family. The incredilbe satisfaction after a win. The anticipation for next years game if we lose.
As you can tell I love college sports. Not a big pro fan.
It just doesn’t get any better!

Comment by notrocketscience 07.30.12 @ 7:32 am

I’m rather indifferent as to playing the nits. If it works out, fine. If not, that’s OK too. Lots of rivalries to accommodate in a tight schedule, ND, WVU, Navy, all have some appeal.

But when the statue comes out of the closet -and it will- then I’d so no thank you.

Comment by dinosaur 71 07.30.12 @ 7:47 am

**say no thank you**

why are my typos so obvious after I submit but so elusive as I type?

Comment by dinosaur 71 07.30.12 @ 7:49 am

Why does Pitt want to associate with a cult that worshipped and gave absolute power to the enabler that protected the Tickle Monster?

Until the cult has been fundamentally transformed, Pitt has no business playing a school that places football first. Pedo State has become a football factory built on lies while graduating thousands of brain dead zombies each year from their many branch campus diploma mills.

Am I arrogant for not wanting to play a school whose fans and alumni still don’t get it? Will they finally get it in 4 years? And if you don’t know what ‘it’ is, you’d make a good State fan.

Comment by TX Panther 07.30.12 @ 8:05 am

I agree TX Panther, F em!

Comment by frankarms 07.30.12 @ 8:12 am

In the following months the upcoming trials will continue to rub their noses in the obvious, so much so that only the dumbest of the dumb nitter will still feel like their university got the $hitty end of the stick in this whole mess that their university leadership CREATED in the first place. This was one man’s transgressions many, many years ago, but they screwed the pooch on that argument when the powers to be (ie. Paterno, etc.) ignored the crime and much worse, covered it up.

The football program has been sanctioned by both the NCAA and the Big 10. These judgements have established circumstances for the penn state football program that they will have to deal with for many years to come.

IMO, it is our job as a competing football program that has already obliged ourselves in scheduling them, to establish ourselves as their punisher and to ensure that we make those sanctions sting as much as possible!

That is why we honor our scheduling commitment, and we play them in 2016 & 17. It is also why we spank their butts like they have never been spanked before. Pitt should really look forward to this game, rip their heads off and spit down their neck holes. Kick them while their down????? Yes indeed, stomp on their necks till they stop breathing IMO. Many wanted the death penalty to be impossed on the nitters, I say kill the beast on the field of play.

HAIL TO PITT, penn state SUCKS!!!

Comment by Dr. Tom 07.30.12 @ 8:13 am

I’m all for punishment on the field when we play. But, I also want to knock some sense into their fans. Maybe we have the university hold a fan scrimmage prior to the game in order to settle differences and make things right. I want their fans to experience a physical beat down as well.

Comment by TX Panther 07.30.12 @ 8:29 am

Over the coming years if the conference scedules permit, it would good if the teams to begin to play again. We all knew that a renewal of the series was not going to happen while Joe Paterno was around. Joe’s gone now and Penn State has a lot of more pressing issues on their plate to deal with.

Comment by Justinian 07.30.12 @ 8:52 am

I agree with Dr. Tom that we should honor our committments for 2016 and 2017 and hopefully kick their butts. The reality is that none of our opinions really matter on whether we should play or not. The conference schedules and the attitudes of the AD, coaching staff, and administration will make that determination. In the meantime, in the words of Al Davis, “Just win baby win.”

Comment by Justinian 07.30.12 @ 9:01 am

@Kyle, there was actually a second sexual incident in February also. I believe this is what you are referring too.

link to articles.chicagotribune.com

Wonder why the NCAA wasn’t involved???????

Comment by Dan 07.30.12 @ 9:20 am

Always take the high road. In this case it means the following:
1. Live up to your contractual obligations;
2. Offer to renew it home/away much like Pitt has with ND…not every year, but many years;
3. If PSU says “yes”, do it;
4. IF PSU says “no”, shake their hands, wish them well and the drop them in everything and I MEAN EVERYTHING!!
5. Last, but it should be first, let Pitt start worrying about Pitt. Pitt needs to establish a vision. Not just for football, basketball, etc.. but for everyone involved all the way down to the secretaries.
Pitt..WE ARE NOW, PSU, YOU USED TO BE

Comment by sfpitt 07.30.12 @ 9:20 am

The hell with penn state the only thing i want to hear abought them is if they lose cimmits or players outhe than that i dont care any more.

What i want to know abought is Pitt recruting in football and basketball and how the out look is for are last year in the big east,

I also wonder if the ACC will take ND in all sports except football .

But i am sick of hearing abought penn state unless someting new comes up screw them tell me abought pitt that is were i am at right now.

Comment by FRANKCAN 07.30.12 @ 9:34 am

please play the game , joe would piss on us and call it rainwater, sched. them now ,we can never act like we are now standing on their former [ped]istool

Comment by paul shannon 07.30.12 @ 9:35 am

Dan, I know of another rape at Notre Dame involving a girl Pittsburgh area girl, where she was treated as the criminal. They have some real issues there. In this particular case no rape kit or other standard proceedures were taken. The local police and the university were also more concerned about their image than the victim.

Comment by Justinian 07.30.12 @ 9:51 am

Clearly I’m in the minority: I’d donate a major organ to see the Pitt-Nit game resume permanently.

I think it’s a travesty that they don’t play annually, in it’s day it was a rivalty equal to almost any other. Especially since it stopped mostly due to the misplaced grudge or a now-dead octo-curmudgeon.

Now that PSU’s been knocked down a peg or two, maybe a little humility will come to play, ending their insisting on a 2-fer-1 home & home nonsense.

Comment by Imma Man! Im 40! 07.30.12 @ 10:53 am

Haha Frankcan you must be sick, no capital letters today man? What’s up with that?!

Comment by Timmeh 07.30.12 @ 10:53 am

And if I had to choose, I’d rather play PSU twice a year rather than either ND or the knuckleheads from Morgantown.

Comment by Imma Man! Im 40! 07.30.12 @ 10:56 am

A few things really stood out in this article…

1) The best line is this simple statement, “The arrogance was astounding.” NO KIDDING! We Pitt fans have been commenting on this type of thing for years. Why did it take NCAA sanctions for a local sportswriter to actually print this? BTW, does anyone think Cook or Smizik will write a line like this, even today? Me neither…

2) You do NOT play the game “…first in the name of collegiality.” You play the game because you agreed to it via contract. Pitt should play the game just to show the honor of the university to its commitments. Dropping the game would make up look petty and childish. But SP should come out and specifically state that Pitt it playing to honor the commitment. It is NOT about nice to your neighbor, nor is it about helping them with their “healing” (what ever that is).

3) Can any local writer resist taking a shot at Pitt with a line like this, “which can always use a sellout”? Seriously, why does EVERY Pitt/PSU discussion end with sellouts/crowd size/108K…???? We don’t sell out… we get it, okay?? We’ve done nothing significant in 25 years and fight against the Steelers for the football fans. Wonder how PSU would attract “fans” under the same circumstances?

4) Again with the “hypocrite” angle, on this?? No, the NCAA is not squeaky clean, but enough already… PSU’s “sins” are MUCH worse than anything the NCAA has ever done. That would be like calling out a judge who cheated on his taxes after he’s locked up a serial killer. Cry me a river on the NCAA’s rulings and the local media’s “horror” on how bad PSU was punished. If they are on TV, then they weren’t punished enough — all the other stuff pales in comparison.

5) Yes, Pitt should “take the high road.” But not to “Give Penn State’s new football stewards a clean slate and a fair chance.”, do it because you already agreed to it. After the games have been played agree to more games ONLY if it in in the best interest of Pitt FB. If not, end the series…

ME 2011

Comment by ME 2001 07.30.12 @ 11:53 am

Note that it is unlikely the series would continue if ND ever joins another conference (than the ACC) and has to play 8 or 9 conf games.

They consider the games with USC, Mich, Mich St and Purdue as well as with Navy all more important than playing Pitt

Comment by wbb 07.30.12 @ 11:58 am

I think that State Penn got off with a slap on the wrist from the NCAA. Hopefully the victims lawyers will make them pay more dearly.
Having said that, as long as they continue to play they will be our rivals whether we play them or not. We recruit the same players, they are part of our state, they are similarly ranked academically, many families have both Pitt and psu graduates.
I want to get them on the field so that we can beat their butts every year. Playing them will help our recruiting as well. I think that part of paterno’s ploy in not playing us was to try to render us irrelevant.
College football is about rivalries. The Pitt-Penn game was a major event for decades. Notre Dame has been a rival since the days of Jock Sutherland and Knute Rockne.
wvu we should not play. They are not in our universe academically. Their fans are a bunch of dangerous inbreds. They were never a rival until the Pitt-Penn State game went away. The “Backyard Brawl” was a manufactured rivalry like the “River City Rivalry” or the “Land Grant Cup”. We should not help them to recruit in Pennsylvania by playing them. Let them play Iowa State and Kansas State.

Comment by Houston Panther 07.30.12 @ 12:00 pm

houston panther
since when does academics play a part in who we schedule in non con games, did Buffalo join the ivy league recently? We have played WVU 104 times vs. PSU 96 how is that a manufactured rivalry, yea PSU was the biggest game when we played every year, but they really don’t want to play us anymore. Curly said that this wouldn’t become a regular series. WVU fans want to see the game continue. You said we should play PSU for recruiting, WVU is closer and has been recruting the burgh for years(see Major Harris 88 national champ game), if they play well in big 12 they will pull kids from the burgh all the more reason to play them. Just saying

Comment by steve h 07.30.12 @ 12:47 pm

Play the game – it’s in the best interest of Pennsylvania – and will be a fun rivalry. The NCAA and the courts will punish PSU – not playing them only punishes Pitt and their fans.

Comment by Tossing Thabeets 07.30.12 @ 12:55 pm

I agree with Dr. Tom. His prognosis is correct, honor the commitment and beat them to a pulp. They deserve what they already got and will get from the two scheduled games. Afterwards never play them again. Why enable their fallen program? It aint about forgiveness but just rewards not only for their Cult transgressions but their pride. I see no value in it for Pitt to build them up again. Let them wallow in misery for years and if we ever meet them in a bowl…..BEAT EM DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Kenny 07.30.12 @ 12:57 pm

There is no question in my mind that we should play the two games already scheduled. To act otherwise would show the same arrogance that PSU has displayed towards us for years. As for a long term commitment to play PSU, I graduated from Pitt in the mid 80’s when the Pitt-PSU rivalry was at a fever pitch…I know the intensity of that game and frankly was shocked that PSU discontinued the series. But they did, the rivalry is dead. The Backyard Brawl on the other hand has grown from a rivalry to a fierce rivalry. If we can only sign one long term deal with a team, then I would want that team to be WVU. If we can’t get a long term deal with a team because of scheduling, then as many have posted here before, I would like to see a rotation of WVU, PSU, and ND.

Comment by HbgFrank 07.30.12 @ 12:59 pm

Most of us remember how big the Pitt-Penn State game was. But it’s been a very long time since it has been a regularily scheduled game. When Pitt and Penn State were both independents, it mattered more. When you’re in a conference and you’re competive in that conference, those games have more meaning. With Penn State in the Big Ten and Pitt entering the ACC, I don’t see a Pitt-Penn State game ever having the same importance as it once had. We need to move on and look to succeed in the ACC. Older rivalries with Virginia Tech, Miami, and Boton College will once again gain in importance. More than that the gamesagainst those teams will actually matter.

Comment by Justinian 07.30.12 @ 1:08 pm

steve h-Pitt joined the ACC rather than the Big 12 partly because of geography and because they share our philosophy that you can have a first rate school academically and can have sports programs. WVU wasn’t welcome in the ACC. What Curly said doesn’t matter much. He is going on trial.
Justinian-I am also looking forward to restarting rivalries with Virginia Tech, Miami, BC and Florida State. Won’t miss the “River City Rivalry” or the “Backyard Brawl”.

Comment by Houston Panther 07.30.12 @ 1:40 pm

Houston Panther, I’ll toast to that as well. To rekindling some of the old rivalries, in the new conference.

Comment by Justinian 07.30.12 @ 1:53 pm

HbgFrank – I agree 100% with that. Play one at home and one on the road every year with an annual cream puff and life is good. Screw ND – best case scenario is that they join the ACC and we could keep all three on the sched.

That schedule alone would be a boost to recruiting. Not many teams have two fierce rivalries. Being out of conference would even add to the fun because it wouldn’t affect conference standings and the teams could play looser.

Comment by Tossing Thabeets 07.30.12 @ 2:07 pm

I was more excited than most in the renewal of the PITT-Ped State series, having went to PITT during our latest great period in football. We went to several games at Creepy Valley, still vividly recall the interception by Carlton Williamson to seal the victory up there in… I think… 1979. Place was a dump (beaver pedhole) and still remember the stands had about 2-4 inches of standing water in them from a rainstorm.

However in light of ALL the lurid, perverted revelations in the last 9 months that slowly creeped out of Creepy Valley, I really don’t want PITT’s name associated with Ped State’s in any manner, shape or form !!

Tell them to screw off in a similar manner as the previously enshrined (and now infamous) great man and pedophile enabler, told us back in the late 90’s.

To do anything else is akin to saying football is more important than doing the right thing. Let’s hope we do the right thing ! Like our motto says,
Truth & Virtue (meaning moral excellence)

Veritas et Virtus !!
Hail to Pitt !!

Comment by Emel 07.30.12 @ 2:50 pm

The first penn state player to transfer is QB rob bolden.

Comment by FRANKCAN 07.30.12 @ 4:35 pm

Having witnessed the arrogance of penn state before and during their big can’t count conference membership – and the aftermath of affair Sandusky, with more criminal and civil trials to follow – I, personally, don’t care if Pitt ever plays penn state again in any sport.

Having said that, perhaps the best thing is to honor the contracts to play the nitters and pound them into the turf. then, move on. I would rather see Pitt play Temple.. Why Temple? Temple is no joke anymore and a game in Philadelphia cannot hurt recruiting in the Philadelphia area.

Saturday, I bought my 7 month old son a Pitt onesie and bib at the Pitt shop on Forbes Avenue. They fit him great! That is my best expression of what I think of WVU, psu and their greedy conferences.

Comment by Penguins Fan 07.30.12 @ 4:41 pm

FrankCan, I figured if anyone would go it would be Rob Boldon. He’s apparently bummed out that that O’Brian announced his starting quarterback, before the start of camp. Normally guys in that situation have no recourse but to stay, unless they choose to transfer and sit out a year. With the NCAA’s ruling, he can go elsewhere and play immediately. At least by going right now he will at least have camp to begin to learn a new system.

Comment by Justinian 07.30.12 @ 5:39 pm

Justinian i cant belive were he went for his first vist LSU is he good enough to play there.

Comment by FRANKCAN 07.30.12 @ 7:41 pm

Pitt-PSU rivalry gets my blood pressure up like no other game. We love to hate State and we have all the more reason now to hate them! Let’s enthusiastically encourage the series to continue. Let’s stop criticizing and play ball!

Comment by barreman 07.30.12 @ 7:51 pm

penn state safety tim buckley transferred.

Comment by FRANKCAN 07.30.12 @ 7:59 pm

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