Paterno not optimistic Penn St. will renew rivalry with Pitt

PITTSBURGH (AP) Joe Paterno doesn't sound very optimistic about the prospects of the Pitt-Penn State Football series reconvening any time soon.

Speaking before a Penn State alumni event in Pittsburgh, Paterno said the economic realities in an era of 12-game football seasons hurt the chances of the in-state rivals playing again.

Penn State and Pitt have played 96 times. Penn State has a 50-42-and-four edge in the series that was an annual meeting until 1992. That was about the time Pitt joined the Big East and Penn State the Big Ten.

The two schools met from 1997 to 2000, but have not since and have no plans to.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-19-07 1957CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list