James Franklin suggests neutral site for future Pitt/Penn State games

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James Franklin suggests neutral site for future Pitt/Penn State games

Jerry DiPaola | Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:18 p.m.

Fans tailgate outside of Beaver Stadium before an NCAA college football game between Penn State and Buffalo in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019.

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.

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