There’s a reason Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry called PSU the “Nittany Cryins” during Virginia Tech’s national signing day events Wednesday, and its not because of any ill-will toward James Franklin or the program.
Brent Pry talking to WR Keylen Adams, who sounds like he had a bunch of interest in his recruitment: "All them other schools came calling. The Ohio Staters, the Nittany Cryin's …" #Hokies
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) December 20, 2023
Plenty of Penn State fans who saw what Pry said were initially confused, and understandably so.
Pry and Franklin became close friends over their years coaching together, and since Pry left Penn State to become Virginia Tech’s head coach after the 2021 season, there have been no reports of a rift between the two.
When Pry was talking with VT WR signee and former PSU target Keylen Adams via Zoom Wednesday, he made the “Nittany Cryins” comment.
Later in the day, Pry clarified that this wasn’t done as a malicious shot at PSU, but rather as a reference to an ESPN graphic.
Andy Bitter of Tech Sideline wrote that this “was a reference to a tight game Penn State lost to Ohio State a few years back when Pry was the Penn State defensive coordinator and ESPN’s cameras randomly zoomed for a close-up on Pry’s sad-looking wife, Amy, in the crowd with the caption “Nittany Cryin’”.
Pry also made it clear that he respects Franklin and said that a lot of what Virginia Tech does in recruiting comes from things he learned at Penn State.
Pry said the Nittany Cryin's line came from a loss Penn State had against Ohio State, where the TV camera zoomed in on his bummed-out wife in the crowd and had that line on a graphic.
Said he respects James Franklin a bunch, though. Notes that a lot of what the #Hokies do…
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) December 20, 2023
Pry is from the Altoona area and didn’t leave PSU on bad terms. He departed Happy Valley for Virginia Tech following the 2021 season after six years as defensive coordinator. Pry and Franklin have known each other since 1993, and Franklin brought him on staff at Vanderbilt as a linebackers coach. Pry then followed Franklin to PSU.
PSU signed 25 players this week, including Pennsylvania’s top recruit, Belle Vernon running back Quinton Martin. Penn State ranks as the No. 14 recruiting class in the country by 247Sports.
