We don’t know when Pitt and Penn State will play football again, but Pitt receiver Zion Fowler wishes it could happen soon.
The team’s last played in 2019 and have only played four times this millennium.
Opinons on whether the rivalry should come back vary.
Some feel that the rivalry— which started in 1893 and has featured 99 meetings— needs to come back and become an annual tradition again.
Others feel that the rivalry is unnecessary.
Zion Fowler is among the former.
In response to news of Penn State and West Virginia’s start time and TV station— 7:30 on NBC Sept. 2– becoming official this past weekend, Fowler, a ‘23 signee from St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, quoted the tweet Monday morning.
”They could schedule WVU but not us 😂 🤦🏽.
They could schedule WVU but not us 😂 🤦🏽♂️ https://t.co/YKB9lFWdTM
— Zion Fowler ✞ (@CantGuardZion) May 8, 2023
Penn State and West Virginia is another regional matchup that used to take place annually, but most fans would agree that PSU-WVU isn’t in the same ballpark as Pitt-Penn State in terms of significance.
Although Pitt and Penn State haven’t played since 2019, the rivalry is kept alive through other platforms, Twitter ranking high on the list.
There are some examples of this from the past 365 days alone.
Last May, former Pitt defensive end John Morgan quipped “107 diamonds vs. 107k“ in reference to Pitt’s 2021 ACC Championship and Beaver Stadium’s capacity.
In January, Penn State coach James Franklin and Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi gave their rival teams unfavorable rankings in the final coaches poll.
As one can imagine, Penn State fans weren’t too thrilled about Fowler’s tweet.
Pitt players don't shut up Penn State. I've never seen a Penn State player say anything about Pitt. https://t.co/yAFtxCNl5K
— Dan McG (@DMcgerv) May 8, 2023
Pitt isn’t good enough to play against Penn State https://t.co/fk9NHoitTA
— Nick (Alpha Male) (@Nick__________3) May 8, 2023
Cause we’re tired of selling out your own stadium bud. https://t.co/WHgTIc8nTU
— Peter Morano (@PeterMorano26) May 8, 2023
Penn State should schedule Pitt in Pittsburgh and then after thoroughly spanking them all game, they should have a freshman come in and throw 50 yard TD passes to go up 46 points. Wait… https://t.co/7InlNnZKYA
— James Perotti (@famous_jameis64) May 8, 2023
Wasn’t the last 3 times enough? https://t.co/ZkCi1qDsWe pic.twitter.com/9HirYLt7bU
— PS Football U (@psufootballu) May 8, 2023
In any case, little things like this will help keep the Pitt-Penn State going on for a long time regardless of if or when the teams play again.
