Former Penn State defensive coordinator and current Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry has a close friendship with his old boss, Penn State head coach James Franklin.
Things haven’t changed since Pry moved on from Penn State.
But Pry did make Penn State fans think a bit when talking to one of his new players on Wednesday’s early signing day.
There’s a backstory here. When talking with a signee, Pry referred to Penn State as the “Nittany Cryins.” According to Andy Bitter of Tech Sideline, Pry said 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 affirmed his respect for Franklin and Penn State.
Pry had this interesting description for PSU while detailing who talked to one of their new signees, wide receiver and former PSU target Keylen Adams.
Pry said Adams was recruited by Big Ten schools, including: “The Ohio Staters, the Nittany Cryin’s …”
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
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 Penn State 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. Virginia Tech placed No. 42 overall, one spot behind Pitt (No. 41).
