Gorman: Central's Thorpe feels love at PSU

With the chance to play football at the college of his choice, CJ Thorpe took a road trip to visit SEC powers.

The Central Catholic offensive lineman went to Auburn, Alabama and Georgia before coming home and committing to Penn State on Saturday.

“It was a really good experience,” Thorpe said. “I got to see some perspective, to see how the schools treated me as a kid not from that area. I'd only been to Penn State and a couple other schools — Michigan, WVU and Pitt — so it was different.”

Distance didn't matter in his decision. What he wanted to see was who would show him love, who would acknowledge the 6-foot-2, 312-pound offensive lineman is a four-star prospect.

For Thorpe, there was no place like home. Not only is Penn State where his father, Chris, played running back in the mid-1980s but where CJ felt most wanted.

That's what Pitt and Penn State need, to undo the damage caused by their refusal to play each other since 2000.

Now that the rivalry will be renewed this fall, both schools must battle to keep the top talent in Pennsylvania.

Consider: Rod Rutherford, the hero for Pitt in that 2000 game, now has a daughter who is a senior at Seton-La Salle. CJ Thorpe was only 18 months old when Pitt and Penn State last played.

“Since they haven't played too much, it hasn't been a big deal. But it's going to be,” Thorpe said. “I'm excited about that, getting to play some of my old (Central) teammates who went to Pitt.”

When Pitt and Penn State play, friends become rivals and the game becomes a blood feud.

When the state's top talent stays home, it enhances both schools' chances of returning to national prominence.

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at kgorman@tribweb.com or via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.