For their sake, let's hope folks living by Northwestern's practice fields don't work nights.

The Wildcats are practicing even earlier in the morning now that classes have started and are continuing to blare loud music and other sounds in an attempt to simulate crowd noise.

As they prepare for Saturday's game against Penn State in Beaver Stadium, that means chants of "We are ... Penn State" are echoing through the neighborhood. Penn State students are organizing a "White out" for the game, which means 100,000-plus fans are being encouraged to wear white and may also be given white towels to wave.

Penn State hasn't defeated a ranked opponent at home since 2008. Northwestern is currently ranked 24th.

Coaches are even playing loud music in meetings to force players to concentrate.

"That's why most of the coaches have hoarse voices right now," coach Pat Fitzgerald rasped. "We've been coaching pretty loud in the meetings."

The Wildcats also practiced outside in the rain on their grass practice field Wednesday in an effort to simulate game conditions. Temperatures in the 50s and rain is expected Saturday.