With everything that’s come along with James Franklin’s firing, it doesn’t even feel like Penn State football has a game on Saturday. Yet, the Nittany Lions take the road for a date with Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, one of the hardest places to play in the Big Ten, at 7 p.m.

The Hawkeyes took the last matchup in Iowa City between the two squads in a 23-20 comeback win over the Nittany Lions in October 2021. However, the circumstances going into that game couldn’t be any more different from Penn State’s situation going into Saturday. The last time Penn State played without Franklin as its head coach was in November 2013.

There’s no other way but forward, though. While the Nittany Lions remained focused on playing the best way they can play against the Hawkeyes, there’s no escaping their fresh emotional wounds for Franklin.

Interim head coach Terry Smith said that Franklin had a chance to address the team following his firing on Sunday. He said the meeting was emotional, and he held individual meetings with players on Monday to aid their emotional process for their ex-coach.

However, there’s no way to move forward besides focusing on Iowa. After all, the season doesn’t stop just because Franklin’s no longer around. Instead of completely disregarding their emotions, though, Smith is telling the players to deposit their feelings into beating Iowa on Saturday.

“This is the sport you’re allowed to physically unleash yourself. So, all your ailments in the world, you’re allowed to physically punish the guy across from you, and it’s okay,” Smith said after practice on Wednesday. “This is the outlet that we’re going to look for, that it’s physically okay to punish the Iowa players, much like they’re trying to do to us. But, you know, channel your energy in the right way, stay disciplined, and knock them off the ball every play.”

Smith has emphasized all week that he wants to bring back fun to Penn State football. He doesn’t want it to be a robotic team based on schemes and aiming for perfection. With low stakes the rest of the season now, it’s important for the players to let go of all their intense emotions on the field.

Smith described Sunday as a traumatizing experience for the whole program, but those feelings have no negative use. Penn State has to transform that trauma into an internal drive to perform and execute while reestablishing an on-field identity.

“We good now. I mean, we came closer. We all bought into each other and doing it for each other. At the end of the day, that’s all we got is our brothers and this coaching staff that’s here. I think we’re more bought-in now than ever,” Zane Durant said.

Iowa’s rushing attack averages 184 yards per game, good for sixth in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions’ defense allows 144.3 rushing yards per game, which currently stands as the fourth-worst in the conference.

It’s been a glaring point of concern for Penn State in its recent stretch of games, but with a more passionate effort on deck, now’s the time for the Nittany Lions to make a change and come out swinging against the Hawkeyes.

“We’re at Penn State University, which is known for football and education. A lot of us came in for football, and that’s what we love to do,” Durant said. “We got an opportunity to let out our emotions on the field in an emotional game. Why not use it for what we came for?”

Despite the clear shift to focusing more on the emotional aspect of losing Franklin and immediately having to get back up and prepare to play, Durant noted that Smith has tried his best to make it an easy transition for players.

He said Smith has kept the same processes during practice and that he continues preaching Franklin’s 1-0 mindset.

Redshirt senior safety Zakee Wheatley said Franklin’s firing helped the team unite and bond over the shared trauma they faced. He said Smith emphasized that the team has to rely on each other at this point in their football careers. Every single one of them entered the Lasch Building at the hands of Franklin, but with him now gone, they have to play for each other.

Wheatley said he’s been trying to spread his own positive energy throughout the locker room as a leader on the team. He wants his energy to trickle down and reinforce Smith’s emphasis on bringing back fun to Penn State football.

“That’s the main thing. Have swagger. Have some enthusiasm out there. Have fun,” Wheatley said.
“Football, it’s already a tough sport. You gotta come out here and have fun. Make it, you know, say, have jokes, crack around. Have fun and enjoy yourself.”