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‘They Could Schedule WVU But Not Us’: Zion Fowler Embracing Pitt-Penn State Rivalry

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Zion Fowler has never, and will never, play Penn State during his time at Pitt. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t aware of the rivalry.

Fowler — a wide receiver signee in the class of 2023, who will be enrolling at Pitt in just a few days — took notice of the announcement that Penn State and West Virginia will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 2, he made his thoughts known about the Keystone State rivalry. Or rather, a lack thereof.

“They could schedule WVU but not us,” Fowler wrote on Twitter, adding the laughing and hand-to-the-forehead emojis.

Pitt and Penn State haven’t played since a four season stretch from 2016-19, and since 2000 before that, but there have been 83 meetings all-time between the Keystone State rivals.

As of now, it doesn’t appear there will be a renewal of the series any time soon, but that doesn’t — and hasn’t — stopped players and coaches from continuing the rivalry.

Former Pitt defensive end John Morgan referenced often-mentioned stadium attendance numbers last May with a “107 Diamonds vs. 107K” NIL deal, pointing to Pitt’s ACC championship ring following the 2021 season.

And at the end of the 2022 season, the coaches continued it, too. Pat Narduzzi ranked Penn State ninth in his final Coaches Poll, the lowest of any coach polled, while James Franklin was one of the few coaches polled not to rank Pitt.

Pitt-Penn State games resumed under the watch of Franklin and Narduzzi, beginning with a 42-39 Pitt win at Heinz Field in 2016 after almost two decades of inaction, but Penn State gained the upper hand over the next three meetings.

Penn State won matchups in 2017, 2018 and 2019 — capping the four-game resurgence with a 17-10 win at Beaver Stadium in 2019.

The all-time history, dating back to a 20-0 Pitt win in 1915, is slightly skewed in Penn State’s favor. Pitt trails at a 38-41-4 deficit.

There is no current timetable for a Pitt-Penn State matchup in the future.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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Brad Bacha
Brad Bacha
10 months ago

WVU will smack both of these teams this year. Just wait

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