On Sunday, Penn State football head coach James Franklin and Penn State athletic director Patrick Kraft made a statement regarding the program being selected to play in the prestigious Rose Bowl.
Kraft took over in July of this year, and his team has had a very successful year going 10-2 and ranked ninth in the AP Poll and No. 11 in the College Football Playoff rankings as they play Utah in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 2023.
Franklin said in a statement upon learning that the team will be playing in the Rose Bowl :
“I want to thank the Rose Bowl Committee for the invitation to one of the most prestigious and historic bowl games,” Franklin said. “Playing in the Rose Bowl is a truly special way to close out the season with a team, staff and fan base that has stuck together and has trusted the process all year. I look forward to ringing in the New Year in Pasadena with our passionate fans filling the Rose Bowl Stadium on Jan. 2.”
Penn State will look to win its first Rose Bowl since 1994. Franklin is aiming to be the first African American coach to win the Rose Bowl in its history.
Patrick Kraft also made a statement on Sunday:
“We are thrilled our storied Penn State football program will participate in the 109th Rose Bowl,” kraft said. “I am proud of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff for the hard work they put in this season this season to earn the reward of a trip to the Granddaddy of them all. The Rose Bowl has such a rich history, and I can’t think of a better way to cap off a terrific season and send our seniors off with a special memory. I know Nittany Nation will be exited to head to Pasadena to start the New Year.”
A Rose Bowl Victory would be a feather in Kraft’s cap concluding his first year as Penn State’s athletic director.
Twitter: @bwalkerdadon.
