Penn State fans have always been looking for a true rival. Many consider Ohio State to be a natural rival because of location, even though every time Penn State plays Michigan State or Minnesota in football, the schools battle for a trophy.
With today’s announcement of Maryland joining the Big Ten conference, and reports Rutgers joining as well, Nittany Lion fans may have finally found that rival.
“Maryland has felt like an outcast in the ACC for awhile, and at times, we have felt like an outcast,” Dan Arnoldi (senior-supply chain management) said. “It could be a new, exciting rivalry for years to come.”
Penn State, in football, is 35-1-1 all-time when playing Maryland. The last time the two schools met was in 1993, when Penn State downed the Terrapins, 70-7. Penn State holds a 22-2 advantage over Rutgers.
“Our football history has always handled Maryland quite easily,” Gavin Steinhubl (junior-supply chain management and ITS) said. “I think it won’t be the same with our so-called rivalry with Michigan State….On the other hand, basketball and other sports, it will be really good. I think if anything Rutgers will bring a lot rivalry-wise because of our New Jersey population [at Penn State].”
Andrew Balland, a freshman communications student at the University of Maryland, is upset his school will be abandoning its traditional rivals in favor of financial gain.
He said the Big Ten’s teams will have no reason to try and start a "rivalry" with Maryland, and added that there is now no reason to root against the Terrapins’ traditional ACC rivals.
“I feel like [Maryland is] just going to get beat badly for so many years to come. There would have to be some sort of outlandish thing to happen to put Maryland in the top four teams of the Big Ten of football to make them noticeable at all,” Balland said. “It’ll be a huge bust.”
With the announcement of Maryland set to join and Nebraska joining two years ago, some are upset that the Big Ten is becoming a “super-conference.”
“I‘m 100 percent against super conferences,” Allen Sheffield (junior-public relations) said. “I like how it usually was. I liked it when it was more evened out.”
Penn State was once an expansion team when it joined the conference in 1993, becoming the Big Ten's 11th member. Nebraska joined in 2011, upping it to 12. Often times, joining a new conference is a chance to make more money for the school. Some are concerned this plays into effect.
“I don't agree with it because I don't understand how it benefits or improves the Big Ten as a whole,” Jeff Jezewski (freshman-communications) said. “Realignment has become too much about the money.”
As for the rivalry situation, some Penn State fans are excited about getting to play Maryland for other reasons.
Eric Sion (junior-journalism) said Maryland will just be another team for Penn State to beat up on.
“I know historically Penn State has owned them so when it’s a one-sided affair it's not really fair to call it a rivalry,” Sion said. “I think it will continue to be a one-sided thing if, in fact, it does become a rivalry.“
