As several Sunday News readers have already pointed out, Pitt was included among Penn State’s 2009 non-conference opponents in my story in yesterday’s paper. It was of course a mistake, and a bizarre one. At one point the story did include a mention of Walt Harris, who was Pitt’s coach the last time it played Penn State, since he’s now an assistant at Akron. I cut that part out, but evidently the word Pitt was somehow left in. That’s the only thing I can figure. That or some sort of subconscious Freudian wishful thinking.
My bad, and apologies to everyone who wasted time on E-Bay or StubHub looking for Pitt-Penn State tickets.
In other Nit-News:
All Big Ten DT Jared Odrick, of Lebanon, was cited for disorderly conduct after allegedly throwing a punch during a minor frecas in State College a couple weeks back. Dude: You’re a star now, and a big (6-5, 300 or so), strong guy, and therefore a target. He careful out there.
Joe: “Odrick is OK right now, but you only get so many chances.”
JoePa is a reasonably media-savvy guy. When he knows the media is going to ask him about a topic of any controversy, he of course thinks ahead about how he’ll respond. His responses whenever he gets asked about the non-con schedule - claiming that he doesn’t know how good these stiffs are, or that he doesn’t have anything to do with putting it together, etc. - are so lame that I think he knows he’s trying to defend the indefensible. He just can’t come up with anything.
Anyway, when the Penn State sports-info folks put out a release anouncing they’re playing Rutgers in 2014 and 2015, they included the following bit of propaganda:
“The Nittany Lions’ regular season non-conference opponents during the past decade include: Pittsburgh (2000), Southern California (2000), Miami, Fla. (2001), Southern Miss (2001), Virginia (2001-02), Nebraska (2002-03), Boston College (2003-04), South Florida (2005), Cincinnati (2005), Notre Dame (2006-07), Oregon State (2008) and Syracuse (2008-09).”
Of course, in the same period they’ve also played Central Michigan, Youngstown State, Coastal Carolina, Akron more than once, Temple several times, Bowling Green, Florida International (or Institute, as Joe calls it) and Buffalo.
Notice also the divide. Up to 2004, it’s a reasonable list. Since ‘05 they’ve played South Florida about two years before it got good, Cincinnati about a year before it got good, Notre Dame twice (once when it was horrible), and Syracuse when it was horrible and, this year, Akron again, Temple again, Syracuse again (and apparently horrible again) and, of course… wait for it…. Eastern Illinois, all of them at home. For what it’s worth, 2005 is when Penn State starting winning again.
I think Penn State is embarrassed by this. Hence the Rutgers series, which is at least an upgrade with what could be a regional rival. And the Alabama home-and-home, which begins next year in Tuscaloosa. And there is a report, from Miami Herald via the intrepid Eric Thomas, that Penn State has been talking with Miami about a series.
No, they’re not playing Pitt. They should be, but they’re not.
And finally: JayPa has a Twitter feed. Sample: “Sitting in the Red Cross dropping a pint of blood. Donating blood is good karma. Go do it if you can.”
It is evidence of my commitment to you, the reader, that I’m even willing to type the words, “Twitter feed.”
No need to thank me. Especially if I made you look for Penn State-Pitt ducats.
