Bret Bielema’s Bold Take on Penn State Ahead of Epic Showdown!

Penn State football coach James Franklin asks fans to bring “White Out energy” for the upcoming game against Illinois after the win over Kent State on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024

Illinois is gearing up for an exciting weekend as they travel to State College for a highly anticipated ranked showdown against Penn State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday night. The No. 19 Illini are set to face the unbeaten Nittany Lions, and head coach Bret Bielema shared some insights about the matchup during a press conference on Monday. Here’s a summary of his thoughts:

On Penn State as a Team

“This week presents a tremendous opportunity to face a top-ten team on their home turf in one of the best environments in college football. Their offense has a new coordinator, but there’s a lot of familiarity given his background with Kansas. You can see significant growth in this team. As we prepare for the game, it’s evident they uphold a lot of Penn State’s traditions. They’re utilizing multiple quarterbacks, and I believe their offensive line is the best we’ve encountered so far, featuring some incredibly talented but somewhat inexperienced players.

Their tight ends, wide receivers, and running backs are standout talents, easily among the best in the Big Ten. I’ve admired defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s work since I’ve known him; he brings valuable experience, particularly from his time at Indiana, which shows in their game plan. They’re extremely talented defensively, especially on the edges, and their overall capabilities across the defensive line, linebackers, and secondary are impressive. Plus, they have some unique schemes in special teams, with a few left-footed specialists.

This atmosphere will take things to another level. Experience plays a key role, and while we had some success last Friday in Lincoln, this is a whole new challenge.”

On James Franklin’s Programs

“My first encounter with James was back when he was an assistant, and then later while I was in the SEC when he was at Vanderbilt—what he accomplished there was remarkable. When he entered this conference, it was clear how special a place Penn State is, especially under Joe Paterno for so many years. Bill O’Brien also did commendable work, paving the way for James, who has continued to recruit at an elite level.

During my time at Arkansas, I had the opportunity to connect with him on several Nike trips and got to know his character. He’s incredibly driven and possesses a high football IQ without overcomplicating the game. You can tell the players respect him and execute well, minimizing mistakes.

When he lost his defensive coordinator, he responded by adding Manny Diaz and then successfully brought in Tom Allen. He’s done an admirable job replacing coaches and finding talented coordinators who deliver results, focusing on production over just resumes.”

On What Makes Beaver Stadium Special

“My first visit to Beaver Stadium didn’t go well—we found ourselves down 28-0 by the second quarter. I was up in the box with Bill Brazier, an incredible mentor and teacher. I was just a young GA, and when it was 28-0, he calculated 28 times two to get 56 and then doubled that to 112. He looked at me and said, ‘They’re going to beat us 112 to nothing.’ I’ll never forget that moment while I watched him work.

The atmosphere was overwhelming; it felt like a spaceship in the middle of nowhere. This weekend, I’m not sure if the fans will be in blue and white or something else, but they’ll definitely show up dressed for the occasion. They’re expecting a ‘White Out’—whatever that entails.

What stands out to me is the intelligence of their fans. They have a rich tradition similar to Nebraska, as they’ve been supporting their team for a long time and are accustomed to high-level football. I recall Joe Paterno once saying he didn’t like their uniforms, but he acknowledged that everyone recognizes them as Penn State’s. This showcases the foundation of this program and the success they’ve built over time.

One of my memorable experiences relating to their legacy was in Hawaii with Nike, where I unexpectedly ran into Franco Harris visiting Sue Paterno. It was striking to see a star player come to pay respects to a coach’s widow. It felt like a sign of the program’s deep-rooted respect and history, which is really remarkable.”