[Penn State News]

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Joe Paterno doesn't sound optimistic about the prospects of the Pitt-Penn State football series being revived any time soon.

Speaking Tuesday before a Penn State alumni event, Paterno said the economic realities in an era of 12-game football seasons hurt the chances of the in-state rivals playing again.

"We're not sure exactly how many games we can play out of the Big Ten," Paterno said. "Financially, we have to have seven home games. If Pitt would say tomorrow, 'We'll go twice up to your place if you come once down here...' The last time we came to Pitt, they charged more money for our game than any other game."

Penn State and Pitt have played 96 times with Penn State holding a 50-42-4 edge in the series that was an annual meeting until 1992 - about the time Pitt joined the Big East and Penn State the Big Ten.

Paterno Not Optimistic Penn State Will Renew Rivalry With Pitt :: Panthers' insistence on home-and-home difficult for Nittany Lions

[Lefty Noob]

Interesting addendum to this story over at The Sporting News:

"It's now very clear that Penn State and Pitt will not play again until after Lions coach Joe Paterno retires. The official reason: Penn State wants a series rotation of three home games in State College for two in Pittsburgh. The real reason: Paterno still hasn't gotten over Pitt's refusal to form a Northeast Conference -- a league Paterno desperately wanted -- nearly two decades ago. Says one official close to the situation: "Pitt could agree to the three-for-two and Joe would still say no." Officials from both schools want the game -- and the big-money television payoff that likely would come with it -- but there is little doubt Paterno makes the rules. . . . "