Iowa tapping into 'electric' night atmosphere for Penn State in prime time
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz can't put a tangible explanation on it. You just have to feel it.
A night game at Kinnick Stadium is a special occasion, one the Hawkeyes will experience for just the 13th time in school history against No. 4 Penn State at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday in the ABC prime-time spotlight.
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The first victory in Ferentz's 19-year tenure at Iowa fittingly happened at night: a 24-0 shutout of Northern Illinois in 1999. That was just the second night game at Kinnick — the first was a 24-7 loss to No. 1 Miami on Sept. 25, 1992.
Ferentz possesses an uncanny ability to drop a few details from every Iowa game, and he remembers that night. Linebacker LeVar Woods — now the tight ends coach — returned a blocked field goal attempt for a touchdown.
"Night games are really special here and lot of things have changed here since then," Ferentz said. "But Kinnick's always been a home field and a great stadium. When you play night games here, it's really special."
Now, the full-blown spectacle will be on display against the Nittany Lions on Saturday. Penn State is the defending Big Ten champion and a national title contender, and running back Saquon Barkley is on the short list of Heisman Trophy candidates. Iowa, meanwhile, could quietly improve to 4-0 for the fifth time under Ferentz. In 2015, a 27-24 victory against Pitt at night helped trigger a 12-0 regular season and a trip to the Rose Bowl.
"This is one of those games that could happen like that," Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell told Sporting News. "If we do have the opportunity to win, then that would be awesome. Even after that, there's no Big Ten game that's easy to win."
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Iowa enhanced its reputation as a tough night venue when the Hawkeyes pulled off a 14-13 victory against No. 2 Michigan last season to improve their home night-game record to 8-4. That was a night running back Akrum Wadley began trending after he compiled 167 total yards.
The Hawkeyes are 3-2 against top-25 teams in those games, including a 3-1 mark under Ferentz. Here's a closer look:
DATE | RESULT |
Sept. 5, 1992 | No. 1 Miami (Fla.) 24, No. 23 Iowa 7 |
Sept. 20, 2003 | No. 18 Iowa 21, No. 16 Arizona State 2 |
Sept. 30, 2006 | No. 1 Ohio State 38, Iowa 17 |
Oct. 2, 2010 | No. 17 Iowa 24, No. 22 Penn State 3 |
Nov. 25, 2016 | Iowa 14, No. 2 Michigan 13 |
The Hawkeyes have been on both sides against Penn State. The 24-3 victory in 2010 was offset two years later in a 38-14 beatdown by the Nittany Lions. Penn State handled Iowa 41-14 at Beaver Stadium last year.
This will be the Hawkeyes' biggest early-season test, but it might not be Iowa's only primetime game. Home games against Minnesota (Oct. 28), Ohio State (Nov. 4) and Purdue (Nov. 18) are also candidates for night kickoffs. Those are games that will determine whether Iowa really can challenge defending Big Ten West champion Wisconsin in their Nov. 11 meeting at Camp Randall Stadium.
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Meeting expectations in terms of atmosphere shouldn't be a problem. The added touch of a new tradition — in which Iowa fans turn and wave to children at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital — has gained national attention.
"It's awesome to be able to give those kids a positive part in the day if they haven't already had one," Jewell said. "To give them something to look forward to. Instead of being negative, it's about being positive. It's about giving those kids hope."
That's what the Hawkeyes have heading into this game. Jewell and the defense will have to be lights-out against one of the best offenses in the FBS. Wadley might need to start trending again. The Hawkeyes will need something to hit that extra gear, but Ferentz expects the same "electric" atmosphere he's used to at night.
He just can't explain the phenomenon.
"I'm not sure I can give you an answer," he said. "Maybe our guys, it brings the high school in them. It's kind of like when you played high school on Friday nights that was exciting, and any time you can play on Saturday night that's a good thing."
Jewell found that assessment interesting, but he can put a finger on it. He knows the difference in those night games at Kinnick, and it's the simplest explanation possible.
"It's definitely the fans," Jewell said. "We try to keep everything the same as players. It's a longer day, it changes the routine a little bit. The fans are crazy in those night games. They're good during the morning games, too, but when those night games come around and we give them something to cheer for, it's pretty special."