No. 2 Penn State Prepares to Host Michigan for Annual White Out Game
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No. 2 Penn State Prepares to Host Michigan for Annual White Out Game

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for, Penn State fans - the annual White Out game. This year, the White Out game will be held not only for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, but it is against No. 19 Michigan (5-1).

Penn State (6-0) surged to No. 2 in the polls last week after Syracuse toppled then No. 2 Clemson in what was one of the most shocking upsets in recent college football history.

In typical Penn State fashion, however, the team remains calm, cool and collected, focusing solely on their competitor at hand - the Wolverines.

The Lions and Wolverines have a storied past, with plays like Allen Robinson’s final second catch, but also with defeats like last year’s 49-10 loss for the Lions while visiting Ann Arbor.

Head Coach James Franklin has tweeted out multiple times this week that he needs to the fans and Penn State community to come out stronger than ever, and to represent the school by wearing their cleanest whites.

“We're excited. Obviously it's going to be a great environment. I think people realize the only thing I like more than Christmas is a white-out football game,” said Coach Franklin. “I'm jacked up like I am every year because the environment is special… I think a white-out game day is something I think you don't really understand unless you can come experience it for yourself.”

Franklin went on to describe the electricity that surrounds a white out game at Penn State, and how the energy is practically tangible. We know you have chills right now, fans!

Redshirt senior cornerback Amani Oruwariye (Tampa, Fl.) reinforced Franklin’s statement, but also reflected the humble demeanor that the Lions have cultivated over the past few seasons.

“It's even more exciting being that it's a White Out. You guys know how crazy it is for the average fan. It's like something they won't ever see ever,” said Oruwariye. “But we're excited to just get out there and play under that environment, under the lights, and like I said, be 1-0 again.”

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Michigan’s only trouble so far this season was with fellow Big Ten and Michigan-native school Michigan State, where the Wolverines suffered a 14-10 loss in the first week of October.

The Wolverines were taken to overtime by usually unexciting Indiana, and Michigan skated by with a 27-20 win. The Wolverines’ biggest win so far this year is a 28-10 downing of Purdue.

Despite some of these close calls with often lesser-talented Big Ten schools, Coach Franklin knows that Michigan is capable of doing some serious damage.

“But we're going to have a challenge this week. The way they play defensive football, we're going to have some challenges,” said Coach Franklin. “That's where the mobility at the quarterback position is important. That's where staying patient in the run game is important… We also have to take some shots down the field. I get that.”

Oruwariye summed it up best when asked about how to describe a Penn State White Out game to an outsider.

“I just would say just the loudest thing you'll hear. It's the -- it's just all you hear is just screaming, crazy, fanatic, like crazy fans, and just, like, the whole town is just lit up in white because everyone is wearing white,” commented Oruwariye. “I don't know, it's just -- you have to experience it most of the time to get a feel.”

Who has their tickets ready to go for this weekend? Fans can also stop by Old Main to hang out with College Gameday on Saturday morning before the game.

Penn State is truly the place to be if you want a taste of some of the best college football in the nation. Get out your whitest whites, prep your tailgating gear and don’t forget your tickets for what is sure to be one of the best games of the season. We will see you at Beaver Stadium this Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff!