How is Penn State preparing for game 15 compared to game one? Here are the ways it's similar, different
Penn State is one of just two remaining College Football Playoff teams, with the other being Texas, preparing for its 15th game of the season in the quarterfinal round. The program, surely like the rest of their peers, put a plan together back in January to ensure its players’ bodies could hold up for a potential 17-game slate. However, it’s one thing to prepare for it and another thing to actually live it.
The Lions have dealt with plenty of injury, some short- and some of the long-term variety, this year. But, generally speaking, they’re in fine shape ahead of a Dec. 31 meeting with Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, and are likely no worse off than anyone else still alive for a title.
“Staying on top of just recovery stuff, any little thing you can, is a big help,” Penn State All-American tight end Tyler Warren said Thursday. “It takes a toll, but you’re kind of just in the groove of it, and in the routine of the season. You’re used to waking up and feeling how you feel, however that is. But doing whatever you can during the day gives you an edge. But also understand that everybody’s in the same situation as you. So it’s not really an excuse to have and it’s just something you got to deal with in this sport.”
That last line is certainly true. But, it’s also accurate to say that the team is operating a little bit differently as it prepares for its final game of December as opposed to how it do so for its first game on the last day of August. The practice pace is slower, and the time on the field is also reduced. Weight room work is mostly the same, though the reps are fewer in there, too.
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More: Are early Fiesta Bowl predictions calling for a Penn State blowout win over Boise State?
“Everybody’s beat up a little bit, so kind of the [practice] reps kind of went down a little bit,” junior running back Nicholas Singleton said. “More jog-through, but being more dialed in with what we’re trying to do as a jog-through, it’s been really good. We’re just ready.”
Asked about taking care of his body at this time of year, Penn State offensive lineman Vega Ioane added:
“It’s more important now than ever. Eearlier in the season, we’re coming off camp, everybody’s banged up a little bit but still pretty fresh going into the season. Now we’re later into the season. So it’s a lot more important now to keep your body prepared. Keep your body right. We preach it in meeting rooms. Coach Franklin preaches it at every meeting. Everybody’s just got to make sure that we’re on top of that, that we’re on top of our A game, and preparing our body for the next game.”
Penn State-Boise State is set for Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
