Well this is a bit of a shocker I have to say. Penn State is back on the schedule, though this time no one gets a homefield advantage.
Syracuse and Penn State will resume a traditional football rivalry in 2013 when they square off at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
The Aug. 31 game will be the first of a three-game series between the Orange and Nittany Lions, according to a release from SU athletics director Daryl Gross and Penn State AD Tim Curley.
That might be a misnomer about neither team having homefield advantage. The New Meadowlands is, of course, Syracuse's new second home stadium. The Orange will also play USC there in 2012 and Notre Dame in 2014 and 2016.
Obviously the best part of SUAthletics.com's announcement about the renewed series is the fact that DOCTOR Daryl Gross' name is not only prominently placed (that's a given) but that it's BOLDED. Fantastic.
"We look forward to continuing our long term series with Penn State," Gross said. "Playing a neutral site game in the New Meadowlands versus Penn State was the impetus for a longer series. Had this opportunity not been available it would have been years before we were able to resume the series. We want to thank the New Meadowlands for presenting this opportunity to both universities. The opportunity allows Syracuse football to continue to play in its largest alumni area and carry the banner of New York's college team. We look forward to head coach Doug Marrone leading our team in our home away from home."
The way things are going, expect our new slogan to take a page out of the Los Angeles Angels playbook: New Jersey's College Team of New York.
The good news? Penn State and Syracuse should be playing each other often. It's the lost rivalry we were supposed to have for all these years.
The bad news? Penn State is still really good and we're still really not. But we've got two years so get ready so that's something. And the Orange acquitted themselves worthy in the last meeting with the Lions.
The super news? This fits in with Syracuse's grand plan to not play anymore games in the Carrier Dome.
Update: You've got a little time to plan for the 2nd and 3rd games of the series, they won't take place until 2020 and 2021.