Penn State and Rutgers to Renew Football Series in 2014-15 – Intercollegiate Athletics
When the Nittany Lions travel to Rutgers in 2014, it will be the first meeting between the two teams in 19 seasons. I was at that last meeting, played at Giants Stadium (my first Penn State football road trip), and missed the post-game argument between coach Joe Paterno and a guy who does not even have his own Wikipedia entry. Word to the wise, if you coach a program that has never won a bowl don’t mess with a guy who has won a couple of dozen.

Since that fateful meeting, two different men have coached the Scarlet Knights. Perennial Paterno successor candidate Greg Schiano is the current big cheese in New Brunswick (or is it Piscataway?) and easily the most successful one to date. Rutgers has gone to four straight bowl games, winning three in a row and was briefly in the top 10 in 2005 I think. That being said, I think the odds that Schiano will still be coaching at Rutgers then are probably lower than Paterno still coaching at Penn State. Schiano, a former Penn State assistant is thought to be campaigning for the job if/when it becomes available. By the way, the press release makes no mention of Schiano.

Rutgers expanded its on-campus stadium and seem awfully determined to use it, so the game being played in the new Meadowlands stadium seems unlikely at this time. Between 1981 and 2000, the Nittany Lions played in the Meadowlands something like nine times, including twice in 1996 (Kickoff Classic, their third and a relocated Temple game), making it a home away from home. They will likely have to settle for the birthplace of college football instead.

I am pleased to see this series being started again, but I won’t be surprised if it becomes an out-of-conference game that winds up being regrettable. Sustained Rutgers success has yet to occur in my life time and probably my grandmother’s too. This is the kind of road game I figure having a solid chance at getting tickets to attend though. We need more of these in addition to elite non-con scheduling.

Penn State is scheduled to host Rutgers in 2015. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series 22-2, with the most recent loss being in 1988, Joe Paterno’s first losing season. Long-time Penn State assistant Dick Anderson was the Rutgers coach at the time.