Blue White Illustrated

A NEW DIRECTION verybody loved the Blue-White Game this year. There were no down- pours of the type that ended the 2011 game prematurely. There were no snow squalls like the one that last year kept many Penn State fans huddling under blankets and many others at home. Despite taking place a week earlier than usual, this year's game was played under sunny skies and in temperatures that approached 70 degrees. An estimated crowd of 72,000 showed up, and the only chill that anyone felt was the one that rippled through the coaching sta, as it took the +eld for the +rst time. "I'd never been to a game here before, so running out into that stadium was an unbelievably emotional experience for me," James Franklin said. "I couldn't be more excited. I can't tell you how appreciative we are. I can't tell you how important it's going to be that we sell out every single game." Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop felt much the same. "Certainly when we were part of the SEC, we played in some really cool venues," said the veteran assistant coach, a Pennsylvania native like Franklin and a member of his sta, at Vanderbilt. "This isn't our +rst rodeo, so to speak. But at the same time, I'm from Pittsburgh, and to walk into Beaver Stadium as part of the tradition and history here, and to meet all the alums we met at the alumni reunion [the night before the game] and to hear all the things that we're playing for… we're E | S P R I N G F O O T B A L L w R A P James Franklin keeps the Lions pointed forward, but spring drills are not without their setbacks TELL IT TO THE HAND Franklin was a highly visible presence in his Beaver Stadi- um coaching debut. He watched the game from the field, standing about 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Photo by An- nemarie Mountz

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