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O'Brien: Bring Back the Kickoff Classic

By Mike Pettigano
Head coach Bill O'Brien on the field pregame during the annual Blue-White Game. (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikepettigano/7105210201/in/photostream/" target="new">BSD/Mike Pettigano</a>)
Head coach Bill O'Brien on the field pregame during the annual Blue-White Game. (BSD/Mike Pettigano)

Well, not the proper-noun-version of the Kickoff Classic. But the idea of a neutral-site game to lead off the college football season between two national teams is a very appealing one to Penn State's freshman head coach Bill O'Brien.

Speaking to a room full of fans and media Wednesday night in New York City, BOB said he would like to see Penn State play in an annual season-opening game against a national opponent at MetLife Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands by 2015, and said that "plans were in the works" to make it happen. BOB directly referenced the old "Kickoff Classic" style games played from 1983-2002 in the old Giants Stadium on the same site in New Jersey.

Watch: 1991 Kickoff Classic - Penn State 34, Georgia Tech 22

BOB made waves earlier this week, coming out strongly in favor of a more national non-conference schedule for Penn State, one featuring at least one "marquee" opponent each season. And while the debate continues whether Penn State should commit itself to an additional game away from Beaver Stadium each year or even every few years, the fact that a stronger schedule is on the table is a welcome idea to most fans.

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