The 2021 Penn State-Iowa Game Won't Be a Factor Saturday, Kirk Ferentz Says
In 2021, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz explained the booing from some fans who thought Penn State players were faking injuries by saying, "I thought they smelled a rat, I guess, I don't know, so they responded the way they responded." Two years later, Penn State fans haven't forgotten. But when the Hawkeyes visit Penn State on Saturday for the White Out game, Ferentz doesn't expect that history to matter.
"Not really. I don't know how many of their players were here in '21. I don't know how many of our guys were here, either. And then probably, like me, not many of them remember much about it other than it was a tough game," Ferentz said this week. "And once you play the game, it's usually pretty much like the rest, you move on to the next season, next game, I don't think it's a big game deal there."
Penn State and Iowa played a grueling game at Kinnick Stadium in October 2021, which the Hawkeyes won 23-20 after rallying from a 17-3 deficit. The Lions lost two captains, quarterback Sean Clifford and defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, to game-ending injuries. Other players left the field but returned.
Two days after the game, Ferentz said that he knew several players legitimately were injured. But he and several staff members also noticed "a couple guys that were down for the count and then were back a play or two later." Ferentz added that several members of his staff have worked at programs that used code words to indicate when players should stay down. Evidently Iowa fans noticed as well.
"And our fans aren't stupid," Ferentz said in 2021. "They're watching, they know what's going on. I've been here 23 years I think that's only the second time we have seen that kind of stuff going on."
A day later, Penn State coach James Franklin addressed the situation in depth after practice. He said the Lions lost five players in the game with injuries, including Mustipher for the season. Franklin also defended his program from the implication that players had fake injuries.
"I would ask anybody that's listening to take your Penn State hat off, or take your Iowa hat off," Franklin told reporters in State College. "I'm just going to talk [about] what I believe and what I think from a strategy standpoint, from a common-sense perspective, from what's good for college football. So how does this strategy make sense against a huddle team?"
Franklin was not asked about the 2021 game during his weekly press conference Tuesday. Asked whether he and Franklin had addressed the situation since then, Ferentz said no.
"There's nothing to talk about other than congratulations or good luck," Ferentz said. "In fact, there's no good thing to — I'll share this with you. After twenty-some years of being a head coach, I don't know of a good thing to say afterwards other than good luck. What do you say? If you win, lose, what do you say? Not much to say. So good luck."
RELATED: Penn State knows what to expect from Iowa
Injuries strike Iowa's offense
The Hawkeyes will be without several significant offensive players Saturday. Tight end Luke Lachey, the team's leading receiver with 10 catches for 131 yards, is out for the season following an injury he sustained last week against Western Michigan. Further, running backs Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson will miss the game, leaving the Hawkeyes' backfield thin. Franklin did note that Leshon Williams ran for 145 yards in the win over Western Michigan.
Kirk Ferentz's White Out history
Ferentz is 1-0 in White Out games, having led the Hawkeyes to a 21-10 victory at Beaver Stadium in 2009. The Lions took a 10-0 lead but turned over the ball four times and gave up a special teams touchdown thereafter. Ferentz called the White Out one of the "great experiences" of college football. But he'll remind the current Hawkeyes of that past experience.
"We always talk about getting off to a good start, especially on the road, just try to take the crowd out of it. We did the exact opposite of that in '09," Ferentz said. "And the next thing you know it's [10-0]. We're looking up, the place is going crazy. But the rest of the story there, it's a 60-minute game. And when you're playing a team that's as talented as these guys are and as good as they are, well-coached as they are, there's going to be some lows, too. Hopefully we create some highs but there's going to be some lows, and you have to keep playing. And if you're fortunate you can make it a 60-minute game. That's the whole idea."
Impressed with Drew Allar
Penn State's sophomore quarterback is making his first White Out start and also his first start against Iowa. Franklin's over that part of Allar's young career. "I think we're really done with the whole first time stuff," he said. Ferentz doesn't expect Allar to flinch, either.
"Composure," Ferentz said when asked what impresses him about Allar. "He's very talented. Big guy, can run and throw. But just seems very relaxed and in command and very composed back there. And I'll go back to he got extensive playing time in the opening game a year ago. First game of the Big Ten last year against Purdue, on that Thursday night he played a lot and really did a good job. He didn't look like he was out of place at all, and now he's got the keys to the car, so he's doing a really good job with it."
More on Penn State
Penn State and Iowa have a wild history at Beaver Stadium
Flashback: In 2021, James Franklin responded to Iowa's suggestion that his team faked injuries
Penn State knows what to expect from Iowa
First look: Penn State vs. Iowa
Football's only part of Micah Parsons' success, James Franklin says
AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.
