I recognize and am very aware that what you’re about to read contributes to the very content machine that I will now plead with you to end.
Or rather, I will now plead with you not to consume.
It’s become the content machine that is the truest sign of the depths of the offseason that we are in right now.
Pat Narduzzi is once again back, complaining that Penn State won’t play Pitt. That James Franklin is ducking him. That Penn State is so self-absorbed with itself that it won’t give little brother an ounce of attention.
I’m not here to debate the merits of Pitt and Penn State playing each other. I’m not sure I fully have an opinion on it other than the fact that I understand why Franklin or Pat Kraft or Penn State doesn’t want to schedule games at the artist formerly known as Heinz Field or Beaver Stadium.
Much of that idea is rooted in nostalgia anyway and things have certainly changed in the college football landscape.
What I am here to argue – or remind you of – is that you don’t have to pay attention to what Narduzzi says because at this point, it seems to be all the Panthers head coach who is 72-56 and 1-3 vs. Penn State has.
“That Penn State/Pitt one – which we’re still trying to figure out why we don’t play that game still. We should be playing West Virginia and Penn State every single year,” the coach recently told 93.7 The Fan – Pittsburgh’s sports radio station. “I’ll go on record as saying I’m ready to go right now. Let’s line it up, especially these two extra years we have here where we’re not playing anybody. It’s a big-time rivalry, for sure.”
At this point, it’s his one and only trick to make you think about Pitt football. It’s also become a reliable, easy content machine for blogs, radio hosts, podcasts, writers and spammy accounts on Twitter. It’s always going to be even more noticeable at this time of year too. And again, I recognize that by posting this I am contributing to that content machine – one that’s only reward is the fact Narduzzi gets me or you or the media to type or think his name. But I promise this will be the first and last time for the foreseeable future that I will wade into the radioactive blue-and-gold waters because in part, I’m tired of seeing so many of you fall for it.
Sure, there is some elitism baked into all of this. Yes, my bias that Pitt is still Penn State’s little brother is in so many ways – even if 2016 did happen – clouding my judgement here.
Yet I genuinely am now convinced that this is the only way Narduzzi can gain any attention for his team – and his program.
What other news has there been this offseason about Pitt’s football program that’s really made Penn Staters think about it? And moreover, for the discourse around Pitt football, when was the last time you thought about it from the perspective that didn’t include being annoyed that Narduzzi was cutting promos against Franklin (101-42 at Penn State, 3-1 vs. Pitt) on radio stations?
To his credit, it is a clever ploy and one that he has to work hard at.
Pitt football is still – and likely will always be – second fiddle to Steelers football in Pittsburgh. Narduzzi, much in the way Franklin or any coach should, has to fight for your attention. Add in the pestering and festering Aaron Rodgers saga that’s captivated every yinzer and he’s got to fight even harder for your attention.
Meanwhile, Penn State has done it this offseason by hiring the biggest name available at the defensive coordinator role.
Pitt has done it by saying the same thing over and over again that, at this point – in 2025’s college football landscape, especially with a potential B1G-SEC scheduling agreement on the horizon – likely is never happening again.
So that’s why I’m asking you to tune it out. Don’t turn off Pittsburgh’s sports radio stations. There are many fine Penn Staters who work there. Don’t stop reading many of the outlets based in Pittsburgh, either.
But the next time you see Narduzzi stirring the pot, ignore it. It will go away. Eventually. It’s all an illusion. It’s all an act. A performance.
By paying attention to it, you’re giving him what he wants. You’re giving into his goal.
To make you think about Pitt football.
And we don’t do that. You’re better than that. Your school has more resources, a better chance at winning a national championship this season, a better coach and a 53-43-4 record all-time against his anyway.
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