Coach James Franklin and Penn State is looking to go 1-0 for the fourth time this season this weekend, and Iowa is in the way
Here are some key points from coach Franklin’s Tuesday presser.
JAMES ON WHITEOUT WEEKEND
Franklin opened the presser by mentioning one of the best nights of the year for all Penn State fans: The White Out
“We need the fans to arrive early and be loud,” Franklin said, “have a full stadium before kickoff. Very similar to what we did at West Virginia.”
Franklin also mentioned that CBS will be broadcasting a game from Beaver Stadium for the first time since 1990, and also mentioned that two familiar names will be back at their college football home.
“Trace McSorley and Grant Haley are honorary captains. They’re right now in the weight room getting a workout in. They’re beloved in Penn State history, in my opinion. I know they are in our building.”
JAMES ON DREW ALLAR’S FIRST WHITE OUT START
Franklin was asked a question this week that was sure to be on many minds: How will Drew Allar fare in his first White Out start?
For Franklin, Allar and Penn State are “done with the whole first-time stuff.”
“First stripe-out, first helmetstripe,” Franklin said. “We’re done talking about that stuff. He had a first start. We’re past that. He had a first road start. We’re past that. First home game. We’re past that. Now he is no longer kind of going through the firsts.”
Franklin followed up that statement by expressing his appreciation to the fans who make the whiteout environment “the greatest show on earth.” But at the end of the day, he’s focused on the game, not what’s surrounding it.
“We are very appreciative of having one of the best environments in all of sports,” Franklin said, “and we’re very appreciative of the White Out and what it means for this community and the state, really for college football. I want our players and our fans to take 30 seconds in the beginning and take it all in, but after that, it’s all about execution. Whether it’s an Orange Out, a Black Out or a White Out, at the end of the day, it will come down to football and executing plays and playing well.”
JAMES ON IOWA
Penn State plays Iowa for the 32nd time in program history, and this will be the second time Iowa has come to Beaver Stadium for a White Out. For James Franklin, Iowa and its coach, Kirk Ferentz, have established an identity.
“They are who they are,” Franklin said, “and they take tremendous pride in their identity and doing it well, so you know what you’re going to get from them. Again, I mean that as a major compliment. They’re going to have wrinkles that are going to cause you challenges every year. But they do what they do and they do it well. It aligns with their identity. I don’t think it takes very long to get accustomed to who they are and their style of football. I think there’s enough film and evidence out there for our coordinators, as well as the rest of our staff.”
