James Franklin suggests neutral site for future Pitt/Penn State games
When Pitt visits Penn State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium, the game will be the 100th and last between the in-state rivals for the foreseeable future.
But Penn State coach James Franklin said it could resume if the schools can “get creative” and, possibly, move the game to a neutral site.
“You just want it to be an even exchange,” he said. “The best way to do that is a neutral site. I’m talking in terms of making it make sense for both schools. That’s an option and it’s one of many.”
Franklin didn’t mention any possible sites, but the only venue within the state that makes sense is Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field (capacity 69,176).
When the teams met in 2016 at Heinz Field, the game attracted the largest crowd in the history of that venue (college or pro), 69,983. A crowd close to 110,000 is expected Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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