When Terry Smith was introduced Monday as Penn State’s interim head football coach, he said he wanted the players to be tougher and to have more fun.
It’s clear that the Nittany Lions haven’t enjoyed the last few weeks, which have included three consecutive Big Ten losses and the firing of head coach James Franklin.
“We’re not used to losing,” center Nick Dawkins said. “We lost three in a row. That’s not fun. There’s nothing fun about that. Everything is so different right now. We have to see how everything plays out.
“I think we’ll play with a sense of ownership and pride for Coach Franklin and for Coach Terry.”
Penn State (0-3, 3-3) will resume its season against Iowa (2-1, 4-2) Saturday night at 7 (TV-Peacock) at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
It will be the Lions’ first game without Franklin since Nov. 30, 2013, when they upset Wisconsin 31-24 on the road in Bill O’Brien’s final game as coach.
“Success is the team pulling a rope in the same direction,” Smith said. “When you watch us play, you guys will come in and your questions won’t be about effort. Your questions won’t be about us looking lethargic.
“If we lose, it’s going to be because that team beat us and they were just better.”
Iowa has defeated Albany, Massachusetts, Rutgers and Wisconsin and has lost to Iowa State and Indiana.
Mark Gronowski, a transfer from South Dakota State, has completed 65.4% of his passes for 743 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions. He has rushed for 159 yards and eight TDs.
The Hawkeyes, though, rank 112th nationally in total offense, 123rd in pass efficiency and 128th in passing yards.
Not surprisingly, their defense is their strength. They’re fifth against the run, seventh in total yards allowed and 8th in points allowed.
“We have to be tougher up front,” Smith said, “and that sets the tone for what everyone else does.”
Penn State will be playing with a new quarterback. Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer is expected to make his first college start after three-year starter Drew Allar suffered a season-ending leg injury late in a 22-21 loss to Northwestern last week.
The 6-2, 207-pound Grunkemeyer has played in four games this season, completing 8-of-11 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown and rushing four times for 8 yards and one score.
He played in one game last season, the first-round College Football Playoff game against SMU, and completed 1-of-2 passes for 9 yards.
Longtime Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz was asked this week how much he’s seen of Grunkemeyer.
“Not much,” he replied.
The Hawkeyes have relied on their ground game for a long time and will test Penn State, which has allowed 144.3 rushing yards per game (71st). The Lions allowed Northwestern to drive 75 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Penn State wide receiver Devonte Ross is making his second appearance at Kinnick Stadium in as many years. Last year, he caught five passes for 142 yards and returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown in Troy’s 38-21 loss to Iowa.
“Our goal this year is to get a hand on him,” Ferentz said. “I swear I’ve never seen that in a game. It’s almost impossible to do. It’s unbelievable. We didn’t have much luck against him. Now they have two other guys (wide receivers Kyron Hudson and Trebor Pena).”
For the Lions, the goal for the rest of the season is simple.
“We’re just trying to do our best to keep the legacy of Coach Franklin going,” linebacker Dominic DeLuca said, “keep everything going that he’s worked with us as a family.
“Do it for Coach Franklin. Do it for the guys in the locker room. We have to do it for everyone at this point, for all the Penn Staters who love the game and who love the Nittany Lions.”
Rich Scarcella’s pick
Iowa 19, Penn State 17
How the Nittany Lions react to James Franklin’s firing is a mystery. They could be inspired or uninspired. If they’re inspired and play with tremendous effort, they can be in this game until the very end. They’re a better team on paper, but that was the case the last two weeks and they stumbled, leading to Franklin’s dismissal.
Source: Berkshire mont