PITTSBURGH -- The history of the 123-year-old rivalry between Pittsburgh and Penn State is undeniable. Trying to convey decades of antagonism to players who were in preschool the last time the Nittany Lions and Panthers shared a football field is another matter.Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi made it a point in the run-up to Saturdays renewal after a 15-year hiatus to give his kids a crash course, one that happened to coincide with a rare media blackout that Narduzzi described as necessary to make sure the Panthers didnt get caught up in any distractions before arguably the programs most notable nonconference game since Sept. 16, 2000, when Pitt handed Penn State and coach Joe Paterno a 12-0 loss.I know when I first got into a major rivalry, I didnt get it the first year, Narduzzi said. I got it the second year. I want to make sure they dont do the same. Its my job to make sure they embrace it and understand what its all about.Penn State coach James Franklin took a slightly different tack. While it may take some convincing for some of the Nittany Lions to get just how big a deal this is within the state, there are sizable number of players on both sides who call Pennsylvania home -- some of whom were wooed by both schools -- that wont need a reminder.So we just want to make sure we have our composure and we have our poise and we go out and play as hard as we can and execute, Franklin said. I want them to play with passion, with emotion, but right up to the edge without having any issues.While its unclear just how heated things will get on the turf at Heinz Field, city officials and the top administrators at each school took precautions to make sure the action stays between the lines.University of Pittsburgh police planned to scour residential neighborhoods around the campus in search of upholstered furniture left outside -- the kind that can sometimes turn into kindling in celebration (or defeat) -- and have anything that could serve as fuel for a pretty good bonfire removed. Pitt chancellor Patrick Gallagher and Penn State president Eric Barron issued a joint statement encouraging what could be a record crowd at Heinz Field to make wise choices.Both teams come in 1-0 after less than spectacular debuts against lesser opponents, perhaps because they were looking ahead. That wont be an issue this time around. The winner gets in-state bragging rights for a least 52 weeks and a very sizable chip to play in the living rooms of in-state recruits.Some things to look for as one of college footballs longest-standing showdowns begins an intriguing renewal:UP TO SPEEDThe Nittany Lions are looking to push the pace behind mobile sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley. That didnt exactly happen last Saturday against Kent State. Penn State managed just 354 yards of total offense and ran just 54 plays, numbers that Franklin expects to go up as the season progresses.I think whenever you can speed up the tempo, thats a good thing, Franklin said. We want to be able to do both of those things. We want to be able to check with me on the sideline to get in the right play and we want to have plays where we can get up and just snap the ball that are plays that have an opportunity to be successful versus multiple defensive fronts and multiple coverages.JAMES BEING JAMESPitt junior running back James Conners return from a bout with cancer included a pair of touchdowns against Villanova but also a pedestrian 3.1 yards per carry, something Narduzzi attributed to the 2014 ACC Player of the Year too often searching for a big play when getting a handful of yards at a time will do. Expect that to change as Conner brushes the rust off.CLUTCH KICKERIf things are close late, the Nittany Lions have an advantage in the kicking game. Tyler Davis is 24 for 24 on field goals in his career while Pitts Chris Blewitt missed a pair of kicks in a 28-7 victory over Villanova last week. Davis understands the usually tricky conditions at Heinz Field -- where the wind can swirl unpredictably -- but pointed to his time kicking over the summer in his hometown of Chicago as pretty good practice for what awaits on Saturday.---Freelance writer Travis Johnson in State College, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.---AP college football site: www.collegefootball.ap.org Anton Khudobin Stars Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Bobby Smith Jersey . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/ben-bishop-hockey-jersey/ . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Brett Hull Stars Jersey . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Mattias Janmark Stars Jersey . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- The strain of fighting against Lewis Hamilton for the past three years will have sapped the strength of Formula One champion Nico Rosberg.That verdict comes from a man who knows Rosberg better than most -- his father Keke Rosberg, the 1982 F1 champion.He has a lot of seasons behind him and Im sure that, especially, the last three seasons have taken a high toll, Keke Rosberg said in the F1 paddock at Abu Dhabi where his son clinched his first title on Sunday after being runner-up to Hamilton in the previous two years.Theyve been very hard seasons, because youre fighting for the championship for three years in a row, constantly, Keke Rosberg said. Its much tougher than trying to finish sixth. I dont know how much its taken out of him.Asked what he thinks his son will do next, the 67-year-old Keke Rosberg joked maybe he retires tomorrow.Actually, he expects his son to continue for a few more years yet.Theres quite a lot of mileage left in him, he said.Next season promises to be an intense battle as Rosberg defends his title and Hamilton tries to wrest it back. Furthermore, the 19-year-old Red Bull driver Max Verstappen will be pushing them hard, as will four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel -- whose Ferrari team ended the season without a race win.If you dont raise your game, you freeze ... You have a lot of talented people here who put in a big effort, Keke Rosberg said as he stood outside the Mercedes motorhome.The level is always high in Formula One. Look at Max, he is the teammate of (Daniel) Ricciardo. Or Sebastian, he is the teammate of (Kimi) Raikkonen, he continued. On that level, when you take the top three teams, all of them have been world champions already, or at Red Bull theyre all young talents. Thats the level we have.The hallmark of Rosbergs title-winning campaign was a steely resolve under Hamiltons pressure, allied to high levels of consistenncy.ddddddddddddYou never have a 100 percent season. Youre not going to win all the races. Its a bit like golf, Keke Rosberg said. When you hit the ball behind the tree, you have to recover from there. So even on a bad day, a golf pro plays a bad shot and recovers. Thats the difference. Its the performance on a bad day, those points count.He was partly speaking from his own experience, having won the 1982 title despite winning only one of the 15 races that season.Seeing his son win the title as the sun was setting in Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening was a strange feeling for Keke Rosberg.After the last two laps I was quite relieved, to be honest, Keke Rosberg said. I was a little bit nervous.Father and son were different kinds of drivers in different eras.Rosberg Sr. was a dashing driver who loved to bash his car around the track in an occasionally reckless manner, while Rosberg Jr. is far more meticulous and methodical.But the mutual admiration shines through.For me its the story of father and a son, purely. I could have been a dentist, makes no difference, Keke Rosberg said. Im happy for my son and thats it. What I did is so long ago. It was a happy time, but it doesnt carry you 30 years after.Keke Rosberg secured his title driving for the Williams team yet only won five races in his career, while 31-year-old Nico Rosberg already has 23 wins -- albeit in an ultra-dominant Mercedes car.He is (a champion). He is standing on his own two feet. Dont forget, I did like 114 Grand Prix in my life and hes now done 200 or something, Keke Rosberg said.So his level of experience and knowledge of the sport is so much higher than mine was. Also engineering, they are so much deeper in there than we were, its like a completely different world.We knew we had four wheels and thats it. ' ' '
