Penn State Nittany Lions

Rutgers coach explains what makes a rivalry

Published Jul. 31, 2015 2:13 p.m. ET

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Marcus Hartman

Rivalries are important in college football. They give the sport color and character, raising the intensity between teams and of course their fans. 

But the "R" word gets thrown around a lot, perhaps more than it should. When teams play a handful of memorable games in a row, questions begin about whether or not that is a rivalry. When teams are near each other -- even if they aren't historically associated with each other much -- they also begin to be seen as rivals. 

But do those things really equal a rivalry? 

Let's allow Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood to explain. 

"Rivalries could come down to three things," he said when asked about the Scarlet Knights becoming rivals with Penn State. "Geography, certainly the geography is there. 

"Recruiting. Do you have players in both programs that were recruited by both schools? We do. Certainly the case. 

"And then competitive football games which we had last year, so is it the start of something like that? It might be. But I think those things have to happen organically. I don't think you can create them." 

In their first season as members of the Big Ten, the Scarlet Knights nearly knocked off Penn State only to see the Nittany Lions score 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to claim a 13-10 victory in Piscataway. 

That was a night-time affair, as the game between the two Eastern schools will be this season. Rutgers travels to Penn State on Sept. 19 for a game that will kick at 8 p.m. ET.

"I think it's the third game of the year," Flood said. "When that game comes -- when it comes to game week for that game, that will be the most important game on our schedule just like everyone is. It's the only game you get to play that week. We're looking forward to it. I know it will be a great environment out there. They've got a very exciting fan base. We're looking forward to that game. But we're not looking at that game now because we've got two we've got to play before it." 

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