It’s a different world than it was when James Franklin started coaching at Penn State but for Franklin, his program is one of the last real ones out there.
Penn State still has to win three games to get its first national title since the 1986 season (Franklin was 14 back then) and the focus now shifts to Boise State
But Franklin still finds time to reflect when he can, and he used part of his postgame presser to reflect on how he feels about his players.
WHAT JAMES SAID
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: James Franklin
“I love the guys in that locker room. I said it to them in there, and I’ll say it again. One of the – in my opinion – one of the few places left where it’s a real college football program in there. It’s a real college football program in there and a college football program that everybody should be proud of because those guys are doing it the right way. And at a time where it’s more challenging than it’s ever been.”
GENERATIONS OF GREATNESS
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Abdul Carter
Penn State wore its Generations of Greatness uniforms Saturday.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.So instead of the traditional plain white helmets with no numbers, Penn State’s helmets for SMU will have numbers on the side.
Instead of the traditional blue face masks, Penn State’s face masks will be gray. Usually, Penn State reserves these uniforms for Homecoming, which took place Sept. 28 against Illinois. But the expanded Playoff field makes things different.
Perhaps that’s fitting because Franklin feels this Penn State team could play in any generation.
“These guys put the team first, they put their teammates first, they sacrifice. A lot of distractions right now, and these guys could have played for Penn State in the ’90s, the ’80s, the ’70s, and the ’60s. No disrespect to the ’50s, but they could have played there too. Just I’m proud to be their head football coach.”
Penn State takes on Boise State Friday, Dec. 31 in the Fiesta Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 on ESPN.
