The Pitt vs Penn State Rivalry, More Than Just a Game
(Editor’s Note: The Keller & Munro Pharmacy, in conjunction with The Record, staged a ticket give-away contest for the Penn State at Pitt football game on Saturday, the winner Kim Fox of Castsanea. With the resumption of the longtime series, Keller & Munro owner/pharmacist Jeff Packech is providing a series of columns on the rivalry between these two in-state schools. The next in the series is below).
Pitt won the rivalry game against Penn State in 1965 by the score of 30-27. Penn State, however, would dominate the rivalry for the next 10 years. In fact during those 10 years only the 1975 game saw Pitt come within 20 points of the Nittany Lions. 1975 was a turning point game as the series looked to begin a new era of competitiveness and national prominence.
Pitt would open the 1976 season with great promise. Led by 3-time All-American and Heisman Trophy candidate Tony Dorsett, Pitt would open the season at hated rival Notre Dame. Dorsett had embarrassed the Irish by running wild for 303 yards against them in 1975 and the Irish were committed to stopping him this time around. So much so that they allowed the grass to grow to to over six inches at their hallowed stadium in an effort to slow the Heisman candidate. The clever idea would fail as Dorsett opened the game with a 50 yard run and finished with over 180 yards as Pitt defeated the highly ranked Irish. By October 2, Pitt would be ranked #2 in the nation. On November 6, still sitting in the polls at #2 behind Michigan, Pitt played Army at Pitt Stadium. With the game well in hand, the crowd at old Pitt Stadium would go wild as the P.A. announcer pronounced that Michigan tried a 35 yard field goal as time expired AND MISSED. Purdue had upset Michigan and Pitt was Itt.
Pitt would remain at #1 in the polls going into their final game of the regular season at Penn State. Penn State would be bringing a 7-3 record and a 10 year winning streak in the rivalry. The game caught the attention of the nation and was moved from lightless Beaver Stadium to Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh as the feature game of the Thanksgiving weekend. Led by Chuck Fusina, Steve Geise and Matt Suhey, PSU was looking to end Pitt’s pursuit of a national championship. The Lions would hold eventual Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett to just 51 yards in the first half and had the game tied at 7 as the 3rd quarter began. In a bold move, Coach Johnny Majors moved Dorsett from tailback to fullback to start the second half.
Dorsett exploded for 173 second half yards to finish with 224 yards as Pitt’s vaunted defense held the Lions scoreless in the second half. When the dust settled, the scoreboard showed Pitt 24, Penn State 7.
Pitt would go on to defeat #2 ranked Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Years Day. After just four years, Coach Johnny Majors had accomplished what Coach Joe Paterno had not yet achieved. Win a national football championship.
