The discussion raged last week, and probably won’t die down for at least a few more days.
Whether Penn State and Pitt are genuine rivals or simply schools that happen to share a state is very much a matter of perspective, but most seem to agree that it’s at least an issue worthy of conversation.
That’s not a debate anyone will have about Penn State and Georgia State, which will close out the Nittany Lions’ non-conference schedule at 7:30 p.m. Saturday when it visits Beaver Stadium.
Don’t bother pondering whether Georgia State is a rival of Penn State’s; it’s not, and never will be. Never mind that the Nittany Lions’ 33-14 victory Saturday against Pitt was just a few minutes old when coach James Franklin suggested that Georgia State is the most important game of the season for his team.
If only for this week.
“Sunday, we’re going to wake up and start preparing for the next team and I’m going to say the same thing,” Franklin said. “That that team is the most important and that game is the most important game on our schedule.”
It seems unlikely that the Panthers — yes, Georgia State is the Panthers, too — will present a serious challenge for Penn State on the field, given that the Nittany Lions are 2-0 and ranked No. 5 in The Associated Press poll, while Georgia State lost to Tennessee State, 17-10, Sept. 2 in its only game this season.
Fact is, the toughest thing for Penn State players might be to actually name more than one or two players on the Panthers roster, at least until the coaching staff begins to brief them on Georgia State.
But that lack of familiarity with the Panthers personnel should not be confused with a shortage of respect, according to numerous Nittany Lions players.
Georgia State figures to be a near-hopeless underdog Saturday, but Penn State insists it will prepare for the Panthers with the same vigor and attention to detail that it would invest in getting ready for any other opponent.
“You can’t take your foot off the pedal any week,” safety Marcus Allen said. “This is Division I college football. It doesn’t matter who’s lined up across from you. They’re going to give you their best shot.
“We have to prepare like it’s the only game on our schedule. … There’s not necessarily a drop-off, as far as your mentality. Your mentality has to stay the same.”
Georgia State’s mindset isn’t known, but the Panthers presumably have spent the time since their opener trying to eliminate some of the mistakes that caused them to stumble out of the gate.
“We’ve got to run the ball better,” coach Shawn Elliott said. “And, obviously, we can’t have five turnovers.”
Penn State will be out to create as many of those as possible Saturday, but won’t assume it will happen simply because it is facing a low-profile opponent.
“As corny as this may sound — and you probably hear coach Franklin and all the guys, the staff members, say it all the time — we work to our standard every day,” offensive tackle Andrew Nelson said. “That’s something that we do that’s special here.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Akron, if it’s Pitt or if it’s Georgia State. We’re going to play to our standard. We’re going to try to put as many points on the board as we can as an offense and just play like champions, no matter what team we’re playing.”
Or how much of a rival it is.
Dave Molinari: Dmolinari@Post-Gazette.com and Twitter @MolinariPG.
First Published: September 10, 2017, 10:22 p.m.
