History of the Penn State White Out Game
This week marks the 13th Penn State White Out. The 11th all-stadium White Out. A holiday in Happy Valley as Penn State fans look forward to this game every year. There will be over 100,000 people in Beaver Stadium all dressed in white, screaming at the top of their lungs so they will not be able to talk at work on Monday. The history of the Penn State White Out game is an interesting one that started in the student section in 2004.
The Origin
The Penn State White Out game started in 2004 when the former director of Penn State football’s communication and branding had an idea. He wondered what it would be like if the entire student section, that takes up approximately twelve sections of Beaver Stadium, wore white. He thought white would be a good idea because the students undoubtedly had a white shirt lying around.
The problem in 2004 was that there was only one home game left before late October when it starts to get very cold in Happy Valley. There were two weeks to plan the student section White Out before the October 9th match-up with Purdue. Being 2004, social media was not what it is today. There was no Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat. Facebook was still in the early stages of development. The football marketing team resorted to signs around campus, students handing out reminders, and standing on street corners to try to get the word out. This strategy worked. The student White Out was born.
Student White Out a growing success
Penn State would go on to lose to Purdue in the first White Out game, but it was back in 2005 and it made an impression. The student White Out in 2005 against Ohio State solidified that this could be an annual thing. Former Penn State linebacker Dan Connor stated, “My helmet was shaking. When you play at Penn State, it’s always loud…but any of those White Out games, especially the night ones, it was a different level.”
Penn State would beat the number six Buckeyes 17-10 that year, in large part due to the noise level inside Beaver Stadium. The student section was rocking, so much so that Ohio State center Doug Datish still remembered in 2006 how his ears rang when the Buckeyes approached the student section decked out in white. In addition, Ohio State lineman T.J. Downing told the Collegian, the Penn State newspaper, that he could not hear fellow offensive line member Nick Mangold from two feet away.
The all-student White Out was a success. This event is when Ohio State alum and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit‘s alleged Penn State love affair started. After the game he praised the Penn State students, calling them, “the best student section in the country…they’re crazy.”
Code blue?
The Penn State students tried another tactic in 2004 as well; code blue. Students went to each dorm building leading up to the game and reminded everyone attending the game to wear blue and be on time. There is no evidence to suggest that code blue ever worked. It remains to be just a little blip in the history of the Penn State White Out game.
The Progression
There was no White Out game in 2006 due to the way the home slate was scheduled, but it was back in 2007. And, it was bigger than ever. The marketing department thought ahead. They printed White Out game reminders on the season tickets. They aired commercials featuring fans dressed in all white and stationed stadium personnel at every exit wearing all white the week before to remind fans about the White Out the following week. These new tactics worked, the fans responded and the stadium was decked out in white for the match-up with Notre Dame.
The first all-stadium White Out
Notre Dame came to Happy Valley for the first time since 1991. I was 14 years old for the first all-stadium White Out. There was no way I was missing my mom’s Fighting Irish take on my Nittany Lions in Beaver Stadium. It would prove to be tricky though. The game was played on September 9th, during my first high school soccer tournament. My coach was not fond of me leaving the tournament early. With a little persuading and the fact that I had no more games left in the day, my dad and I were able to make it for the first ever all-stadium White Out.
Penn State would win the contest 31-10. Then Nittany Lion quarterback, Anthony Morelli, marveled at the White Out. He stated after the first all-stadium game in 2007, “It was incredible.” He was further astonished by the noise, “It’s so loud, you can almost feel it.”
The right pieces for success
There has been an all-stadium White Out game every year since 2007, except for 2010. At least 107,280 fans have attended every White Out since 2004. Making it the biggest home game of the year. The history of the Penn State White Out is incomplete though without noting the major keys to the game’s success. Time of season, time of kick-off, and the opponent are the three ingredients for a perfect White Out.
My freshman year at Penn State in 2011, the second game of the season was against Alabama. Therefore, because it was Alabama and the biggest named opponent on the schedule the White Out was set for that game. The problem was it was a noon kick-off at the beginning of September. Not the best equation for a White Out. Penn State lost 27-11 and the student section cleared out before the start of the fourth quarter due to the heat. The opponent was right, but the time of season and time of kick-off were not correct.
The best White Out is the one at night. It is the most intimidating because 106,000 plus people all dressed in white under the lights contrasts well with a dark sky. The two White Out games played at night that stick out the most are the 2013 four-overtime win against Michigan and the more recent 2016 win against Ohio State.
The White Out Game vs. Ohio State
Urban Meyer’s White Out Success
This will be Urban Meyer‘s fourth White Out game in Beaver Stadium. The Buckeye head coach is 2-1 during White Out conditions. All three games were close until the end. His first was in 2012. A game where the Buckeyes beat a struggling Penn State team 35-21. His next would come two years later in 2014, where the Nittany Lions took the Buckeyes into double overtime. Meyer would get the best of the White Out that year as well, winning 31-24. Finally, the White Out would once again best the Buckeyes in 2016, as it did in 2005, to upset the number two team in the nation 24-21.
The 2018 White Out
This Saturday will be the latest installment in the history of the Penn State White Out as ESPN’s College GameDay is making its second straight White Out appearance. The show was on hand for the White Out last year when the Nittany Lions trampled Michigan.
Even Urban Meyer will not sugarcoat the challenge that a White Out brings. In his weekly press conference on Monday, Meyer stated, “It’s just a difficult place,.” He continued with, “That’s certainly one of the top-five stadiums to play in. Very loud, and the fans are into it. Very good environment; great environment.” He also joked two years ago leading up to the 2016 match up that he wished Penn State “would save the White Outs for other games.” Sorry Urban, looks like you did not get that wish again this year.
The White Out on Saturday will be just the second out of the four White Outs that Meyer will coach in without a defensive end with the last name Bosa. Former defensive end Joey Bosa was on hand for the 2014 match-up in Beaver Stadium and Nick Bosa played a huge role in the 2016 thriller. He had one tackle-for-loss and one sack in the contest. After much speculation, Meyer confirmed this week that after having major surgery, Nick Bosa will not play this weekend. This will be a blow for the Buckeye defense entering a tough environment.
The Buckeyes are not the only team without a veteran guy for the White Out. It was announced Tuesday afternoon in James Franklin‘s weekly presser that senior running back Mark Allen is out with a season-ending injury. Even though Miles Sanders has been the clear starter at running back this season, Allen was the guy to supplement Sanders. The Nittany Lions will now look to freshman Ricky Slade to fill that role.
2018 White Out particulars
The 2018 White Out festivities have already started at University Park. Penn State students started their week-long camp out at ‘Nittanyville’ yesterday in preparation for Saturday. The Berkey Creamery is also getting in on the White Out fun, creating a new popcorn flavor, especially for Saturday. ESPN’s College GameDay returns for a second straight season. They will be setting up on Old Main Lawn again this year. The show starts at 9:00 AM (ET) on ESPN. Finally, kick-off will be at 7:30 PM (ET) in Beaver Stadium on ESPN.
