Penn State linebacker Glenn Carson was a true freshman last year when the Nittany Lions lost 24-3 at Iowa.

Carson saw limited playing time and has vivid memories of that night at Kinnick Stadium.

“The sideline at Iowa is really small,” Carson said Tuesday.  “The stands are really close to you. You could hear the Iowa fans heckle us and scream at us. ‘Raise your hand if you ever beat Iowa.’

“That’s one thing that stood out in my mind and why this game is so important. Iowa is a wrestling school and Penn State is a football school, so we’ve got to take it to them.”

The Nittany Lions (1-0, 4-1) face the Hawkeyes (0-0, 3-1) at 3:30 Saturday (TV-ABC) at Beaver Stadium. They’ll be trying to stop a three-game losing streak against Iowa and get just their second win in the last 10 games in the series.

Carson, who starts at middle linebacker for Penn State, said he doesn’t remember seeing a sign that read, “We own Penn State.” He later said he was joking about the wrestling and football statement, but he added that he’s remembered how the Iowa fans acted since that night.

“It didn’t get under my skin,” he said. “It’s kind of a thing I kept in the back of my mind. We have to get after it. That gives me a little incentive to beat these guys.

“The Iowa crowd was definitely hostile. I think it’s time to keep them a little more humble.”