Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen talks with offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki (right) before an NCAA college football game against Kent State, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

The most significant development to come out of last week’s 56-0 win over Kent State was the shift of defensive coordinator Tom Allen from the field to the press box.

Allen clearly preferred to work the game from the sidelines.

He started the season that way and had not coached from the press box for 15 years.

That includes stints as Indiana’s head coach where, of course, he was on the sidelines (2017-23) and prior as DC at South Florida along with stops at Ole Miss, Arkansas State and Drake.

If my math is correct — which is not a given — not since coaching at Division II Lambuth or Division III Wabash has Allen been upstairs.

James Franklin did not say the move is permanent, but it’s hard to envision Allen will toggle back and forth as the calendar flips to October.

Franklin has said several times he thinks the best place for coordinators to call the game is the press box because it has better work space for play sheets and fewer distractions.

Bob Shoop much preferred upstairs while Brent Pry was on the sidelines. There have been so many OCs that I’ve lost track of their game-day positions, but Mike Yurcich was in the booth last year after spending his first two seasons on the sidelines beside Franklin.

“He (Allen) wasn’t sure, after not being up there for so long,” Franklin said. “Then I think after going up and doing it, I think it became a viable option for him and for us. We’ll take it on a week-to-week basis and see what’s best ultimately for our team and ultimately for our defense.”

Franklin added: “Obviously, when you play well, that has an impact too.”

Another factor has been the new helmet communication. Allen will call the play, and defensive analyst Dan Connor will now relay it to middle linebacker Kobe King.

Allen’s voice has been described as “raspy,” and Connor is easier to understand in an already loud stadium.

“Not saying that Coach Allen wasn’t understandable, but (Connor’s) a younger guy,” King said. “He gets us more.”

“We’re working through some of the kinks,” Franklin said.

Penn State’s poor defense in the first half against Bowling Green, when the Lions allowed 24 points in an eventual 34-27 victory, triggered the switch so no matter where Allen is positioned, his unit is under further scrutiny.

SUBHD: Click bait

Illinois coach Bret Bielema made a flippant remark about the atmosphere for tonight’s game — saying “I know they’re calling it a White Out Energy or whatever the hell that means” – which went viral.

But the full context of what he said was respectful.

Bielema remembers being at Beaver Stadium for the first time. He was a graduate assistant at Iowa and working alongside Bill Brazier, one of his mentors under Hayden Fry.

The year was 1994, and nobody was slowing down the Nittany Lions’ offense.

“We were down 28-0 to start the second quarter,” he said.

Brazier did some math, leaned over to Bielema and whispered, “They could beat us 112-0.”

The final score was 61-21, but Bielema never forgot the atmosphere and the crowd, which he called “overwhelming.”

“The part that stands out is their fans are intelligent,” he said. “They’ve got tradition. Very similar to Nebraska. They’ve been doing this for a long time. Penn State fans are accustomed to great football.”

Bielema also told the story of being on the Nike trip in Hawaii and “coming around the corner was Franco Harris.”

“He came to see Sue Paterno,” Bielema said. “Joe had (already) passed …I said, ‘That’s the sign of respect.’ I’ve got huge respect for them.”

SUBHD: Nitpicking …

N The 1994 team, which finished unbeaten but uncrowned, will be honored between the first and second quarters tonight. Let’s hope the powers that be do a better job with recognition than they did last year for the unbeaten team of 1973, none of which were introduced by name and instead were called upon for a group wave.

N Franklin said Monday he’d have an injury update Wednesday on LB Dom DeLuca and RB Cam Wallace. He didn’t. Wallace’s injury appeared to be the more serious, but he’s a third-teamer. DeLuca is a defensive leader.

N Statistic to keep your eye on tonight: Sacks. Penn State has only four through three games, which is tied for 104th nationally out of 134 teams.

N UNLV quarterback Matt Sluka announced this week he’s leaving the team after leading it to a 3-0 start and a Top 25 ranking over an NIL dispute. Sluka, who transferred from Holy Cross, contends he was promised $100,000 but hasn’t been paid. Stay tuned for more cases like this.

N The odds for some of the Lions’ bigger upcoming games have been updated. USC is now a 2.5-point favorite on Oct. 12, and the Lions are a 4-point underdog to Ohio State at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 2.

Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com. He will respond to questions and brief comments in Gameday.

PSU Game Info:

No. 19 Illinois (4-0) at No. 9 PSU (3-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Odds: Penn State is a 17.5-point favorite

TV: NBC