Some Penn State veterans have experienced numerous White Outs, while others have never had one, and a player from each group spoke with the media Tuesday morning.
Because of the transfer portal, there are plenty of players with years of college football experience who are going through their first seasons at Penn State.
Kyron Hudson is one of those players, and thus, Saturday’s showdown with Oregon will be his first– and, as a player, only– White Out experience, since this is his last season of eligibility.
Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zakee Wheatley are more traditional players in the sense that he started their college careers at Penn State and are going to end their college careers at Penn State. This will be his fourth and final White Out experience as a player.
Here’s what all three players had to say about the White Out.
WHAT HUDSON SAID
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
Hudson, who played his first four seasons at USC, can only go based on what his teammates have told him about the White Out.
“They say it’s hard to explain,” he said. “It’s one of the craziest atmospheres, they explain. And then just being a kid that loves football, everybody knows about the White Out. It’s something that you watch on YouTube or see it live on TV. So it’s something special. I can’t wait, for sure.”
For Hudson, this is the type of game that makes him realize he’s lucky to play football.
“I think it’s special,” he said. “Just being that kid watching and now being this kid playing. I think it’s a blessing. I don’t take it lightly. But it’s just another week, another week to be 1-0 every single day. So we’ll just continue to do that.”
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‘A LOT OF FUN’
Dani Dennis-Sutton celebrates a tackle for loss. (Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now)
This will be a sentimental game for Dennis-Sutton in some ways.
For one, he only got to play eight snaps in last season’s White Out game against Washington since he was still recovering from injury.
It will also be Dennis-Sutton’s last White Out game, which is a sign that his four-year Penn State career is almost over.
“Last year, I didn’t really get to play in the White Out; I was still dealing with a little bit of stuff,” he said. “So, it’s my last White Out. I’m excited, man. I think Saturday’s going to be a lot of fun.”
For Wheatley, it’s important that Penn State’s younger players make the most of the moment.
“This is my last one, so it’s kind of a happy, sad moment,” he said. “So I’m just really telling them to take it all in.”
No. 3 Penn State takes on No. 6 Oregon at 7:30 on NBC.
