Picture the scenario where an older brother received everything he wanted growing up. The younger would claw and fight to gain any little bit of attention, but the elder would still constantly come out on top.
Eventually, the older brother moved out, yet still continued to have all his wishes granted, taking away privileges from the younger sibling. Finally, after 19 years, the duo has reunited and the little brother is ready to fight.
The last time Penn State and Rutgers squared off, in 1995, the Nittany Lions dominated, 59-34. In the years since the matchup, the Scarlet Knights have been waiting for a chance at revenge of their bigger brother to the west.
“There’s certainly a tremendous buzz when people think of Penn State coming to town,” The Daily Targum’s sports editor Greg Johnson said. “For many alumni, the anticipation has been building since the Scarlet Knights’ 1995 loss.”
In the years since they last played, Rutgers has earned only seven winning seasons out of the last 18. Penn State, on the other hand, has doubled that mark with 14.
Along with the on-field success, Penn State has been dipping its paws into the Garden State for years by means of taking recruits away from the home squad. Currently, 15 players from New Jersey are on Penn State’s roster.
Continuing to throw salt on the wound, Lions running back and New Jersey native Bill Belton made statements during Big Ten Media Day last July that angered some Rutgers players.
“You’ve got guys like Bill Belton saying that he wanted to go to Penn State because he wanted to play big-time football instead of staying home,” Rutgers wide receiver Leonte Carroo [KM(5] said Monday, according to Johnson. “Well, I guess we’re going to have to show him he made a terrible decision.”
Along with current Penn Staters making digs at the Knights, recruits have joined in by making their own remarks.
In July, future Penn State wide receiver Juwan Johnson was quoted as stating that while some expect New Jersey natives to automatically play for Rutgers, “we’re just doing…what’ll benefit us later in life,” according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Nonetheless, the smack talking from fans and players comes to a boiling point Saturday night when Penn State and Rutgers square off in Piscataway, New Jersey.
For Knights fans, the game has been 19 years in the making. The hatred against big brother has been building and the opportunity will finally arrive come kickoff.
An example of the disapproval has emerged from Rutgers coach Kyle Flood, who has been noted as referring to Penn State simply as, “the team in Pennsylvania.”
While some Lions fans may find it offensive that Flood won’t address Penn State by its title, James Franklin looks at the statement from a different perspective.
“Well first of all, I really, really like and respect Kyle Flood,” Franklin said. “Second of all, I think we are a school in Pennsylvania. So it just describes us. We are a school in Pennsylvania.”
Clearly, the displeasing feelings are not felt on the Lions’ side.
“I haven’t been paying attention to anything that’s been going on,” Christian Hackenberg said. “For me, it’s another opportunity for us to go out and play this game. We approach every game like it’s a must-win.”
While the rivalry may not be felt as strongly in Pennsylvania, that doesn’t have Rutgers pumping the brakes.
Saturday marks Rutgers’ inaugural Big Ten game and kicking it off with a victory over Penn State would be an ideal situation.
The primetime matchup brings more to the table than the ending result, as many recruits are often deciding between Penn State and Rutgers.
“Beating Penn State right off the bat and having a solid first season could do wonders in swaying more notoriety and hype in the area toward Rutgers,” Johnson said.
While Rutgers is ready for a rivalry, Penn State fans haven’t reached that feeling yet — not to say it is impossible from happening.
A northeast rivalry would benefit both teams in the long run — publicity wise, recruiting wise and just about any other factor that could assist both football programs.
For now, it’s appears to be a one-sided hate, but after Saturday’s primetime matchup, who knows what could develop between the state neighbors.
