Blackledge: Rivalry means more to Pitt's fans than to Penn State's

Todd Blackledge last played quarterback for Penn State 35 years ago, but he still has vivid memories of lining up and winning against Pittsburgh in 1981, when the Panthers were ranked No. 1 in the country, and in 1982, when the Nittany Lions were rolling to the national championship.

An analyst for ABC and ESPN, Blackledge will be at Beaver Stadium to work Saturday's matchup between the fourth-ranked Lions and the Panthers, the second year of a four-game series that runs through 2019. He says he is "thrilled" that the rivalry is back, but acknowledges the future is uncertain.

"I wished they played every year. I really do," Blackledge said Wednesday in a phone interview.

He also said that in watching a good portion of last year's game – a 42-39 win for the Panthers at Heinz Field — on television, he got the feeling the rivalry meant more to fans of Pitt than fans of Penn State.

"I hope this comes out the right way, but I think it probably still has a lot of meaning to Pittsburgh people," Blackledge said. "I think it should have the meaning for both people, but I think in Pittsburgh, I could feel that watching the game.

"It was really a fun game to watch – exciting, tons of big plays on both teams. You could tell that there was a bigness to that game for the people in Pittsburgh. Whether that's that Penn State kind of was the one maybe that decided not to keep playing … whatever it was, I think it felt bigger maybe for them.

"I do think it does (mean more to Pitt fans). I think it should mean as much to Penn State people."

Blackledge was a junior in 1981 when the top-ranked Panthers raced to a 14-0 first-quarter lead in front of their jubilant fans at Pitt Stadium. But they would not score again as the Nittany Lions intercepted Dan Marino four times and forced seven turnovers in all. Blackledge threw two touchdown passes to Kenny Jackson and ran for a score in Penn State's 48-14 win.

Blackledge connected with Jackson for a touchdown again in 1982 at Beaver Stadium to secure a 19-10 victory for the Nittany Lions, their last game before defeating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and winning their first national championship.

"I tell people," he said, "as vivid as I remember 1981 or any particular play – Kenny Jackson's catch and pirouette on the sideline, the throw to [Gregg] Garrity in the Sugar Bowl – all those great memories, I also vividly remember throwing the interception to [Pitt safety] Carlton Williamson on the sideline in 1980 with under 50 seconds left in the game. We were marching to what could have been a game-winning touchdown."

The Panthers won that game, 14-9, in Happy Valley.

As for 2017, Blackledge loves watching the Penn State offense, particularly running back Saquon Barkley, quarterback Trace McSorley and tight end Mike Gesicki.

"They've got a tight end who is as good as anyone in the country," he said. "They've got a running back who's as good – if not the best – in the country. Then you've got a quarterback that I love. I love the way he plays. I like his moxie. I like his competitiveness. I love his fearlessness of pushing the ball down the field. So I think the pieces are in place for them to continue to get better."

Penn State romped, 52-0, in its opener against Akron while Pitt struggled against 2016 FCS finalist Youngstown State, needing overtime to squeeze out a 28-21 victory. Blackledge said the key this week, however, is "not to read too much into a Week 1 game, good or bad."

"I'm not so sure what Pitt went through wasn't maybe, in the long run in terms of getting ready for Week 2, more beneficial than what Penn State went through," he said. "They had to fight and scrap and find a way to win the game in overtime, which they did.

"I think Week 2 will be different. I think Pitt probably was intentionally very vanilla in that game and got a little complacent. There will be no complacency Saturday; they'll come ready to play in this game. I think it's got a chance to be a good ballgame."