UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Saturday night at Beaver Stadium the stage is set for a sea of white as No. 7 Penn State and No. 24/22 Iowa are set to clash as top-25 opponents.
The 32nd all-time meeting between the Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes will take place on CBS, who will broadcast its first game at Beaver Stadium since 1990. The two undefeated teams perennially play close games with 14 of the last 31 games decided by a single possession.
Penn State is coming off a Big Ten opening win on the road against Illinois and will place its nation-leading streak of at least 30 points in 10 consecutive games on the line. Head coach James Franklin took questions from the media as the anticipation of the Penn State White Out builds.
The White Out Awaits
The first full stadium Penn State White Out in 2007 started one of the most recognizable games in all of college football as more than 100,000 fans draped in white line the stands. Penn State's annual tradition makes its highly-awaited return for the 15th full stadium Penn State White Out on Saturday.
An undeniably loud crowd, who can help turn the tide of a game comprises, one of the premier atmospheres in sports. Penn State holds a three-game winning streak in white out games and has won five of the last six.
Penn State will play Iowa in the Penn State White Out for the second time ever, with the first meeting coming in 2009. Franklin expressed with the Beaver Stadium crowd playing a role, his players will need to take it in and then transition their focus on making plays.
"We are very appreciative of having one of the best environments in all of sports, and we're very appreciative of the White Out and what it means for this community and the state, really for college football," Franklin said. "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."
Terry Smith a Coaching "Constant"
Associate head coach/cornerbacks coach Terry Smith has been the orchestrator for success in a group that calls themselves "DBU." For Franklin, Smith has been a "constant on our staff here at Penn State."
A former Penn State letterman who played as a three-year starter, Smith has made an influential impact on the defensive backs at his alma mater. Smith has worked alongside Franklin during his entire 10-year tenure and has worked to "change a narrative" as outlined by Franklin.
Smith has guided talents like Joey Porter Jr, John Reid and Amani Oruwariye to the bright lights of the NFL and with players such as Kalen King, Johnny Dixon, Daequan Hardy and Cam Miller, Smith has built a group built upon the pillars of trust and total transparency.
"He coaches his guys hard, but I think does it in a way where he never crosses the line, and has their respect," Franklin said. "It's amazing how much honesty there is in that room. I mean, very blunt, direct honesty that he has created that culture in that room, not just from him, but player to player, which he's created that culture in that room, which I think is probably more important than ever."
Kaden Saunders Finding His Role
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Kaden Saunders does not let his 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame define him. Despite being undersized, the wideout has emerged as a reliable punt returner who can change the complexity of a game.
The Columbus, Ohio, product has filled the shoes of former Nittany Lion Parker Washington in as the punt returner and was named a game captain at Illinois. Saunders made his presence felt on offense with a pair of catches for 19 yards.
Saunders saw limited action last season but after a full offseason of dedication to the weight room and a commitment to his craft, he's built his confidence and strength to develop as a key contributor for Penn State.
"I think the way he catches the ball right now as a punt returner is one of those things that no one's talking about, that's underappreciated," Franklin said. "Catching the ball in traffic the way he is, with such confidence, with such poise, there's a ton of value. That ball gets to the ground, it rolls another 12 yards. That ball gets to the ground, it hits one of our players. I think it's a really good starting point to build on."
