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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State-Pittsburgh used to be a storied rivalry, filled with memories for many people.None of them will put on a helmet when the teams play their 97th game since 1893.The two teams last met in 2000 and will play the first of a four-game series on Saturday at Heinz Field. The renewed game comes after Penn State dominated the series from the 1960s until the teams last played. The Nittany Lions were 27-9-1 over that span and consistently the bigger team in Pennsylvania.Penn State coach James Franklin said none of his players have even seen a game between the teams in their lifetimes.I dont think they were watching many games at 2, 3 and 4 years old, Franklin said.But the team has been imparting the history of the title Beasts of the East on its players.Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith played in four Penn State-Pitt games from 1988 to 1991 and relayed a few stories about the history of the rivalry.In turn, theyve become familiar with the big names and roles players like Dan Marino and Todd Blackledge played, Pitts dominance in the 20s and 30s when they met exclusively in the Steel City and Penn States after 1960.Theyve got a better feeling now why the games announcement generated excitement nearly four years ago.Were not naive to the fact of what everybody else is is saying, Penn State receiver Chris Godwin said.Pitt players arent saying anything.By decree of head coach Pat Narduzzi, the Panthers arent speaking with reporters this week. Perhaps Narduzzis hope that players avoid all distractions by staying quiet -- which is unlike other weeks when theyre permitted to talk to the press -- is evidence enough that they want to win badly.Its Penn State week this week, Narduzzi said. I know last week a lot of questions were asked if we were focused or not. Whether we were or not, we got the `W so it really doesnt matter. As far as this week goes, our guys will be locked in.Some Penn State players have been looking forward to this game longer than others.Safety Troy Apke is from Pittsburgh and his father, Steve, played for the Panthers from 1984 to 1986.It means a little more that I know my dad played there, Apke said. I think Penn State was really, really good when they played and I think they beat the crap out of them.Penn State cornerback Grant Haley didnt grow up in Pittsburgh but owes his existence to the Steel City. His parents met in medical school in Pittsburgh before moving to Detroit and then Atlanta where Haley was recruited from in 2014.While Haley wasnt a Pennsylvania recruit, Penn State and Pitt have been competing hard for vaunted Keystone State prospects for years despite the lack of a yearly game.Franklin promised to dominate the state in recruiting when he was hired in January 2014. Since then, hes successfully pitched 21 players from each of the past three Top 25 lists in the state. In that time, Pitt has lured 17 to its program.Pittsburgh currently has verbal commitments from four of the Top 25 Pennsylvania prospects in the 2017 class while Penn State has three. Theyre competing for a bunch more as 12 of the Top 25 players still are undecided.Both Franklin and Narduzzi are aware this will be the first true on-field display for recruits still weighing multiple options.Some guys are worried about playing time, Franklin said. Some guys want to go to programs that are going to be winning and winning consistently. A lot of guys want to go to programs that are going to be able to do both, provide a great education, provide an opportunity for early playing time and want to be successful and want to win. So there is no doubt it factors into it. Joe Namath Jersey . LUCIE, Fla. Keyshawn Johnson Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. http://www.cheapnewyorkjetsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-joe-klecko-jersey . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. Dennis Byrd Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Wayne Chrebet Jersey . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. Eoin Morgan wants his England one-day team to keep pushing themselves to new heights and believes there is a confidence in the squad that anything is possible.Englands focus now returns to white-ball cricket with Morgan back in charge for the five ODIs against Pakistan followed by a one-off T20 which finishes the international season.The importance given to 50-over cricket is reinforced by there being no rotation in the one-day squad for this series as eyes remain firmly fixed on the Champions Trophy next June.Since the beginning of the last home season, Englands reinvigorated one-day side has ticked up an impressive list of batting feats: a first total over 400, another total of 399, chasing down 350 with six overs to spare, a ten-wicket win chasing 255 and, individually, a record 46-ball century from Jos Buttler plus Jason Roys 162.Since May 1, 2015 they have scored their runs faster than any other team and hit more sixes.The key phrase is pushing the side. Over the last 12-18 months weve seen the progression of everyone and the skill levels, Morgan told ESPNcricinfo at a NatWest Cricket grassroots event. Theres a huge amount of belief. Its almost as though there are no restrictions to anything we can do.However, Morgan wants more consistency from the side - series win against New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been tempered by losses to Australia and South Africa since the last World Cup - and a climb from their current position of No. 5 in the rankings. Within the next year, the period which includes the Champions Trophy, he wants England within the top three.Realistically, if we want to be favourites going into the Champions Trophy or the World Cup then we need to work our way up the rankings which means showing more consistency in all three facets. We want to be in the top three three years before the World Cup. You still need to deliver in the tournament itself, but getting the results to move up the rankings builds confidence.Morgan believes that one of Englands most significant results of late has been the tie they earned in the opening ODI against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge when Liam Plunkett launched the final ball for six following a stand of 138 between Buttler and Chris Woakes to revive the chase.We were down and out, Morgan said. Its about building the belief that no matter how far behind the game you are there is an escape route.ddddddddddddMorgan said he sees 17 or 18 players that the Champions Trophy squad will come from next year in England. But he added that the squads for the tours to Bangladesh (security permitting) and India will be selected with those specific conditions in mind. He indicated four spinners could be the picked for those trips, something England have edged towards with Liam Dawsons call-up against Pakistan.Morgan explained that, in a perfect world, he would be able to call on a left-arm quick who can bowl 90mph - that is now available in T20 with Tymal Mills, but he is not an option for 50-over cricket. However, Morgan has been delighted by the battering-ram role played by Plunkett and is excited to have Mark Woods pace back.We probably have three guys who can do it [bowl at 90mph] at the moment and you want to have one in the side that can hurry up the batsmen when the ball is offering nothing else. Thats important in the 50-over game where it can stand still for periods.From a personal point of view, this series will be Morgans return to action having been out for almost a month with a chipped bone in his finger. He led from the front in 2015 home season with prolific series against New Zealand and Australia, but has been the most underwhelming of a dazzling top order since.He hasnt hit an international half-century in 23 innings but made an unbeaten 47 off 39 balls in the T20 against Sri Lanka, and was frustrated that the injury struck when he was finding form having made a century for Middlesex in late July.The finger doesnt look great but its functioning better than it looks, he said. I had my first hit two days ago and didnt walk out of the net thinking Im that far behind. That was quite nice because I actually broke it when I was finding a bit of form which was a bit of a pain. Ive had breaks away before, then come into series without having scored many runs, so am very relaxed and feel quite refreshedEoin Morgan was speaking at the NatWest U13 Club Championships Final. NatWest are proud partners of grassroots cricket. To find out more visit natwest.com/cricket ' ' '