HARRISBURG – State Sen. John N. Wozniak praised the resumption of the 96-year-old Pitt-Penn State football rivalry.
“While games have been scheduled for 2016 and 2017, I am hopeful the schools will continue to work toward permanently resuming the rivalry,” Wozniak said.
The Cambria County lawmaker has continually pressed the presidents and athletic directors of both schools to resume the game since they discontinued the rivalry in 2000. Wozniak hosted a meeting between representatives of the two schools last year at his local office in Johnstown. He said both school presidents pledged to him at that time that they would work cooperatively to resume the game.
The Pitt Panthers will host Penn State at Heinz Field on Sept. 10, 2016. The Nittany Lions will host Pitt in State College on Sept. 16, 2017
Wozniak described the Pitt-Penn State game as “one of the greatest college football rivalries in the nation.” He said the game generated sell-out crowds, national television coverage and intense, good-natured interest from alumni and football fans nationwide.
“It was great exposure for bth schools, an economic plus for both regions of Pennsylvania and a lot of fun for fans of both schools,” Wozniak said. “I commend leaders from both schools for taking this decisive step toward renewing the game.”
The schools first met in 1893. They last played in 2000.
