The forecast for Penn State’s Blue-White Game on Saturday in Beaver Stadium is partly sunny, with plenty of stars.
AccuWeather is handling the weather, and is calling for a high of 76, with a 30% chance of showers.
Penn State head coach James Franklin is handling the stars, with fans anxious to get an extended look at five-star quarterback Drew Allar, as well as the explosive RB tandem of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen; a deep, talented and aggressive defense; and possible 2024 NFL first-round draft picks Olu Fashanu and Kalen King.
The media, as usual, is handling the hype. Many national outlets and way-too-early polls have the 2023 Nittany Lions ranked in the Top 5.
Throw in the momentum of an 11-2 record and Rose Bowl victory in 2022, the Blue-White Boardwalk fan festival and a $0 admission fee, and you have the potential makings of an all-time attendance record.
Blue-White Game attendance numbers are estimates, since admission is free. But the all-time record for the annual Penn State spring football scrimmage is 76,500, set in 2009 under head coach Joe Paterno, when the Nittany Lions were coming off an 11-2 record with a loaded roster. Under Franklin, Penn State has drawn more than 70,000 fans three times.
The 2022 edition of the Blue-White Game drew an estimated 62,000 fans. Due to a depleted roster at offensive line, last year’s event — it wasn’t really a game — included a format that was part scrimmage, part workout, part kicking drills and part 7-on-7. For football fans anxious to see at least a semblance of a real game, it was also partly-disappointing.
Franklin promises a better show this Saturday (kickoff is at 2 p.m.).
“We anticipate going back to a traditional spring game like we’ve had in the past,” Franklin said at the start of spring drills. “I know a lot of people have gone away from that. I think there’s value in it. I also think that we’re one of the unusual schools where 75,000 people show up to watch a spring game. I would like to be able to show them a spring game.
“We’re one of the unique places. We’re going to have more people at our spring game than most people have for a regular game in the fall. Whenever we can create a spring game atmosphere. We want to do that for the fans.”
NUMBERS AND VALUE
Franklin is right, of course. In 2022, only 18 college football programs averaged more than 70,000 fans per home game. Penn State ranked No. 2, averaging 107,379 in Beaver Stadium. (Michigan was No. 1, with 110,246, and Ohio State was No. 3, with 104,663.) Overall, nine of those were in the SEC and five in the Big Ten.
For spring games in 2022, Penn State had an estimated 62,000 fans in attendance, for its first “normal” spring scrimmage since 2019, when the Nittany Lions drew about 61,000. The 2020 game was canceled due to COVID, and the 2021 Blue-White Game had limited attendance (7,521), due to COVID.
According to 247 Sports, last year Penn State ranked third in spring game attendance. Oklahoma, with a new head coach in Brent Venables, drew a college football-high 75,360. Georgia, coming off a national championship, drew 68,002. Ohio State was fourth, with 60,007, and Nebraska rounded out the top five, with 54,357.
Franklin said he likes the idea of a scrimmage that models — as much as possible — a real game format.
“There’s value for me in seeing the guys play under the lights — I guess not technically, I should say — but under the lights and in front of the fans and with the media there and with everybody’s eyes on them and watching,” Franklin said. “Because some guys rise to that occasion and some guys feel the pressure and anxiety from that. So, figuring that out, there’s value in that.”
He also likes to stretch the coaching staff, which in 2023 includes two new full-time coaches, former Nittany Lion and PSU GA Deion Barnes (defensive line) and wide receivers coach Marques Hagans.
“I like to break the coaching staff up,” Franklin said. “I like to give opportunities for other guys on the offensive and defensive side of the ball to call a game. So when you’re able to break it up into a 1’s vs. 2’s (first string vs, second-string), I don’t typically have Manny (Diaz, D-coordinator) and Mike (Yurcich, O-coordinator) calling the plays for both sides.
“I will give other guys opportunities to do that as well. I think that’s a really good professional development opportunity, too. I think spring ball is really valuable, especially the way we try to do it.”
BLUE-WHITE ATTENDANCE
| Year | Attendance | Weather (high temp) | Coach | W/L Prev. Yr. |
| 2007 | 71,000 | 70 | Paterno | 9-4 |
| 2008 | 73,000 | 83 | Paterno | 9-4 |
| 2009 | 76,500 | 69 | Paterno | 11-2 |
| 2010 | 55,000 | 67 | Paterno | 11-2 |
| 2011 | n/a | 68/rain, called in 3Q | Paterno | 7-6 |
| 2012 | 60,000 | 74 | O’Brien | 9-4 |
| 2013 | 28,000 | 72, some rain | O’Brien | 8-4 |
| 2014 | 72,000 | 61, drizzle | Franklin | 7-5 |
| 2015 | 68,000 | 67 | Franklin | 7-6 |
| 2016 | 65,000 | 67 | Franklin | 7-6 |
| 2017 | 71,000 | 69, drizzle | Franklin | 11-3 |
| 2018 | 71,000 | 52 | Franklin | 11-2 |
| 2019 | 61,000 | 62, drizzle | Franklin | 9-4 |
| 2020 | no game* | Franklin | 11-2 | |
| 2021 | 7,521** | 52 | Franklin | 4-5 |
| 2022 | 62,000 | 65 | Franklin | 7-6 |
| 2023 | tbd | forecast: high of 76 | Franklin | 11-2 |
* Canceled due to COVID
** Attendance restricted due to COVID
Weather statistics according to the National Weather Service
