For the second straight July, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi mentioned Penn State in late July.
Just like last season, Narduzzi’s comments will be sure to catch the attention of PSU fans.
The dig started innocently enough, with Narduzzi talking about his appreciation for having traditional rival West Virginia back on the schedule.
“The Backyard Brawl” returned after a nearly 12-year hiatus in late August 2022 and will run through 2025, with the next meeting scheduled for this Sept. 14 in Pittsburgh.
The Pitt-Penn State series had a similar reboot in 2016 after more than a decade and a half of silence. That series ran through 2019 but the teams haven’t played in the new decade, and there’s no return game in sight.
In the meantime, Narduzzi has taken multiple opportunities to jab Penn State, with the latest being Tuesday at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte
Narduzzi said Pitt would love to play PSU “if they’d play us.”
“They won’t play us,” he added.
Pat Narduzzi says Pitt loves having the West Virginia rivalry on the schedule. Says Pitt would love to play Penn State too “if they’d play us. They won’t play us.”
— Amanda Godsey (@AmandaFGodsey) July 23, 2024
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.#Pittsburg HC Pat Narduzzi on the recent renewal of the Backyard Brawl.
"At Pittsburgh, we embrace rivalries. We'd love to play Penn State, if they'd play us." pic.twitter.com/kZNXObzzca
— Penn State Nittany Lions | Happy Valley Insider (@PennStateRivals) July 23, 2024
Without the two teams playing, comments like this are arguably the No. 1 way to keep this century-plus-old in-state rivalry alive.
Last year at ACC Media Days, Narduzzi appeared to take a shot at Penn State’s offense when talking about QB Christian Veilleux, who transferred from Penn State to Pitt between the 2022 and ‘23 seasons (Narduzzi denied that he meant any disrespect toward Penn State).
The next month, Narduzzi suggested that Penn State coach James Franklin was responsible for the two teams not playing.
Franklin himself has caused a stir amongst Pitt fans with his words, too.
After PSU beat Pitt in 2017, Franklin said winning the rivalry game was comprable to “beating Akron” which didn’t sit well in the Steel City. Franklin later said the comment wasn’t meant to be disrespectful toward Pitt.
Time will tell if and when PSU and Pitt meet again but until then, verbal jabs should be expected as long as Narduzzi’s the coach.
