For Penn State fans Beaver Stadium is a friendly gathering of thousands doing their part to try and influence the outcome of a football game.
For visiting teams, it’s a place without sanctuary when Penn State fans are really on their game.
Kent State first-year head coach Paul Haynes knows all about the obstacles that come with playing inside of Beaver Stadium and is doing what he can to prepare his team for Saturday’s 3:30 showdown against the Nittany Lions both on and off the field.
“In 2005 it was my first year at Ohio State,” Haynes, a former Buckeye assistant said. “And it was the very first white out, and I base everything on that game. Just the drive up to the stadium, it was one of the few places you saw more white than red. They were just crazy that whole game.”
The 2005 Ohio State game in Beaver Stadium is regarded by many to be the loudest and wildest ever played in Happy Valley. Even if that point is disputed, there is no doubt that the 17-10 victory over the Buckeyes would leave a very vivid memory in Haynes’ mind.
“Now they have fences up to get to the field from the locker room but they had two ropes and we went out for pregame and they had the ropes there. And when we came back the ropes were gone but the crowd was still filing in and they weren’t telling us to have a nice day. So that whole environment is crazy and wild and those are the kinds of things you remember.”
“So I know what that venue and those fans are capable of for sure. I’m sure that they’ll be cranked up this week you know, especially coming off of a loss.”
Penn State fans may not be quite as worked up this weekend as they were in 2005. Even so, with the Nittany Lions coming off of a loss to UCF both the crowd and the team should be looking for a chance to right the ship come 3:30 on Saturday.
Kent State already has a little experience with this type of environment. The Golden Flashes are coming off of 45-13 loss to LSU on the road last week.
