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 Cheap Shoes UK . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Cheap Nike Shoes UK Online . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. http://www.discountukshoes.com/ . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Wholesale Nike Shoes UK . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Wholesale Shoes UK Authentic .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. There is no world title at stake in the fight between former world title challengers Gabriel Rosado and Willie Monroe Jr., but there is a chance it could lead to the biggest fight of eithers career.Rosado and Monroe, who have both lost in past world title bouts, will meet in a scheduled 12-round middleweight fight in the co-feature of the Canelo Alvarez-Liam Smith junior middleweight title bout Saturday night (HBO PPV, 9 ET) at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.Golden Boy Promotions hoped to have middleweight titleholder Billy Joe Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs), of England, in the co-feature to showcase him to an American audience, with the plan that if he and Alvarez both won, they would fight in December for what would be Alvarezs debut at 160 pounds. Alvarez is the lineal middleweight champion but has been boxing at a preferred catch weight of 155 pounds.But when Saunders turned down Rosado (23-9, 13 KOs) and Monroe (20-2, 6 KOs) as his opponent, as well as Curtis Stevens, Golden Boy and Monroe promoter Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions made the match between Rosado and Monroe.If Mexicos Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) beats Englands Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) -- and Alvarez is a heavy favorite -- he would still need a December opponent for a likely 160-pound debut. The Rosado-Monroe winner could be given that huge opportunity.Gabes one of the most exciting fighters in boxing today, Golden Boy president Eric Gomez said. Hes always in a great fight. [Saturday] wont be an exception. Hes going to come to fight, and the big prize is Canelo. The winner of this fight very well could be fighting Canelo in December.Golden Boy, of course, preferred that Rosado, 30, of Philadelphia, would get a shot at Saunders on Saturday. When Saunders turned Rosado down and then Monroe, Gomez wanted to figure out a way to keep Rosado on the card.When that [fight with Saunders] fell apart, I went to Gabe and I said, Gabe, theres a couple of other guys out there. I want to make an exciting fight.The first name that came out of Gabes mouth was Willie Monroe. He said, Get me Willie Monroe. I want to fight Willie Monroe. I want to teach this guy a lesson. This guy has been going after me on social media. Thats the guy I want.So the fight was quickly made between two fighters who both were knocked out challenging Gennady Golovkin for his middleweight world title. Rosado has had two title shots, both in 2013, getting stopped by GGG in the seventh round and by then-titleholder Peter Quillin in the 10th round because of severe cuts.My mom used to say one door shuts, another one opens, Pelullo said. Willie and Gabriel Rosado got this opportunity because Billy Joe Saunders would not fight either one of them. And Eric calls us up and says, Would you fight Gabe? And Willie has never really turned anybody down. So this opportunity is terrific for both Willie and Gabe Rosado. The winner of the fight, and everybody knows this, is a natural for the winner of the Canelo-Smith fight.Monroe, 29, of Rochester, New York, who made a name for himself by winning ESPNs Boxcino middleweight tournament in 2014, got knocked out by Golovkin in the sixth round in 2015 but bounced back in June by outpointing former junior middleweight title challenger John Thompson, the 2015 Boxcino junior middleweight tournament winner.The game plan doesnt really change as much as far as [[Monroe] and Billy Joe, Rosado said.dddddddddddd Theyre both southpaws. We were already working with southpaws, and they kind of, in a way, have similar styles. I think Billy Joe is probably a little more slicker. But the game plan didnt change. Both guys can box and move and things like that. Its just the style were working on, and its pretty much the same size, so nothing changed.At the end of the day, Ive got Willie Monroe, and were going to take care of business. Thats all it is. Im not even going to think about Billy Joe Saunders.Monroe was ready, willing and able to fight Saunders as well and had begun to train for the possible fight. When it went down the tubes, he happily accepted the fight with Rosado.We were approached with the Billy Joe Saunders fight first, and Gabriel Rosado at least made it to negotiations, Monroe said. When Billy Joe Saunders was asked to fight Willie Monroe, they immediately said, Nope.Even without a guarantee of a big fight with Alvarez going to the winner, Rosado and Monroe are anxious to fight each other.I feel like Monroe disrespected me, and he will see what I think about that in the ring, Rosado said. I am going for the knockout once I step on the mat. This fight has the potential to leave a huge mark on my career, and once that final bell rings, there will be even more opportunities and fights waiting for me.Said Monroe, I am ready to get in and brawl. Its a privilege to be under one of the biggest HBO cards of the year. Going up against Rosado will be interesting, and I am ready to see what he brings into the ring.Rosado labored through a five-fight winless streak (0-4 with a no-decision) before winning his last two fights. He gives a lot of the credit for those wins to new trainer Fernando Vargas, the 1996 U.S. Olympian and former two-time junior middleweight world titleholder.Its great training with Fernando, Rosado said. We are comfortable with each other now. The chemistry was always there, but it takes a while to get familiar with the trainer. Having already trained for two fights together helped us prepare for this big opportunity. Everything is flowing.I think Monroe is a decent fighter, but Im going to show that he is not on my level as far as experience. I think Im a young veteran. Ive beat top names and lost to top names, but Im bringing more to the table.Gomez said Golden Boy wont shut the door on matching Alvarez, should he beat Smith, with Saunders in December, although Saunders would also have to keep his title Oct. 29, when he faces an opponent to be determined on the undercard of the rematch between heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko. Saunders will also be sought after by Golovkin for a unification bout.We werent able to get the fight done with Billy Joe Saunders, [but] I havent closed the door yet, Gomez said. But, look, weve got two guys that are going to go at it. This is a real fight. Gabe wants to prove that he still belongs and hes in the upper echelon of boxing, and hes got a tough fight.Willie Monroe wants to do the same thing. So [if] these guys put on a great fight, a great show, anythings possible. Were going to keep all avenues open, all doors open. I dont see why the winner of this fight shouldnt get a Canelo fight. ' ' '