Cardiac Hill Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi has commented quite a bit on a potential extension of the Pitt-Penn State series. Last week at a function in Lancaster, Narduzzi made it clear that he wants the game to be played beyond the four-game slate:

“I think it’s an in-state rival,” Narduzzi said before appearing at the Manheim Touchdown Club banquet Tuesday evening in Lancaster. “It’s two Power Five conferences that can go head to head. … To me, why not keep the money in state and play (a game between) the two best schools in the state? I’m a firm believer that you keep those rivalries going as long as you can, especially in state.”

I’ll tell you Nittany’s the same thing I told WVU… Just bring it.

I’ve been high on Pat Narduzzi since he came on board in December. Unlike the last coaches who may have opened eyes with a season or two at their previous stop(s) Narduzzi is bringing in a whole new culture in addition to the X’s and O’s. He’s made his living turning 3 and 4 star guys into high round draft picks like Darqueze Dennard. Pitt has more or less stockpiled the same caliber player and if he can pluck an X factor recruit, Pitt can dominate the region east of Columbus. 

But of course this game is just a pipe dream so long as Jimmy Franklin’s heading up Penn State. This is the guy who, when at Vanderbilt, faxed Ohio State after they hired Urban Meyer backing out of their scheduled 2013 matchup. Karma caught up to his ass however and he will spend at least another year as Urban’s Big 10 whipping boy on the field and on the recruiting trail. 

  
Thus far, all the buzz up at State College revolved around his ability to bring in big time recruits. But much like how Narduzzi has made his living coaching up 3 and 4 star guys, Franklin is squashing the potential of 5 star recruits. 

Christian Hackenberg is running out of time. A former #1 recruit, he’s on the career path of a clipboard holder at best, Franklin cannot afford to lose to Pitt and allow the pendulum to swing in the Panthers favor. It would not surprise me one bit to see him bull some shenanigans to bait and switch the in-state matchup from his books and focus his attention on the mighty Temple Owls. 

From Pitt’s point of view I would love nothing more for them to be trailblazers in college football and take that next step to a legitimate out of conference schedule. More and more we are seeing teams schedule at least one, and in most cases two, matchup’s vs power 5 conference opponents. If Pitt could take the lead and add a nice “rivalry-trifecta” of Penn State – WVU – Notre Dame it’s bringing a lot more eyeballs to Heinz Field on fall Saturday’s.