PSU-Notre Dame rivalry alive and well

While Penn State's football rivalry with Notre Dame doesn't rival those of Pitt (92 games), Syracuse (68) or West Virginia (59), quite a bit of interest grew in the games between the Nittany Lions and the Fighting Irish.

The series, which began in 1913 and finished in 1992 when Penn State joined the Big Ten, is tied with both teams winning eight games and posting a tie. There is talk of renewing the relationship, especially on the part of the Irish.

"We want very much to do that," said George Kelly, Notre Dame's assistant athletic director. "There's no more of a marquee matchup than Penn State."

While Notre Dame may have the interest, Penn State has not been involved in any discussion with the Irish administration.

"I have heard absolutely nothing from Notre Dame about scheduling," said Frank Rocco, a Penn State assistant athletic director whose responsibilities include building the football team's long-term schedule.

Because of conference commitments, Penn State must play eight Big Ten games, usually leaving only three for non-conference games. And the University tries to have its games tied down eight to 10 years in advance, leaving little room for juggling of the schedule.

Notre Dame, Kelly said, is already full through 2005, with one opening in 2003.

"This is something that has to be revisited. We've got to sit down in earnest," Kelly said. "I think it's good for both parties. It's been a great relationship. We've won, we've lost, but I think everybody's been very considerate in both instances."

The teams first met on Nov. 8, 1913, in South Bend, Ind., where the Irish beat the Lions, 14-7. The series reached its peak in the 1980s and early 1990s, when the teams met for 12 straight years (1981-92). The Irish won the last game in the series, beating the Lions, 17-16, on Nov. 14, 1992, at Notre Dame.