A big rule change that Penn State and every other college team is having to adjust to is in-helmet communication.
Unofficially dubbed the “Stalions rule” after Michigan’s infamous staffer, Connor Stalions, teams now give their signals through in-helmet communication.
Coach James Franklin confirmed at his first weekly presser of 2024 that the people who have a mic in their helmet are the quarterback (Drew Allar) and MIKE linebacker (Kobe King), who is unofficially the quarterback of the defense.
But what happens when there are two quarterbacks on the field at the same time? For a lot of teams, this question is irrelevant since only so many use two QBs simultaneously. But for Penn State, it is a relevant question thanks to the versatility of Beau Pribula.
Penn State has the ability to use Pribula as a runner, passer and receiver, and if Week 1’s 34-12 win at West Virginia is any indication, he’ll be sprinkled throughout any game PSU is in.
Speaking with reporters via Zoom Tuesday, Pribula explains what happens when he’s on the field in regards to the helmet situation.
“When I got on the field, you’re not allowed to have two-helmet communications on the field at once,” Pribula said. “So we have to have different helmets, or when we have two quarterback (sets), I have to have (a helmet) without one in. When it’s just me in the game at the end I do have to have… I was the only quarterback in the game, so I had to have a different helmet. So changing helmets, that’s something that we actually practiced leading up to this game, just kind of switching helmets and getting used to that because that’s actually something that people might take for granted.
Pribula said the helmet adjustment is a “big deal.”
“Especially for our equipment staff,” he said, “and they did a great job with that.
Pribula also said hearing offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki call the play through the headset can be challenging due to the crowd noise.
“Sometimes it’s hard to hear,” he said, “especially in loud atmospheres like that (West Virginia). So he really just tries to remain calm and try to be crystal clear with what he’s saying. Because sometimes it gets hard to hear.”
