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James Franklin defends Jason Kelce in viral moment smashing Penn State fan's phone

On3 imageby: Sam Gillenwater11/04/24samdg_33
Jason Kelce
Denny Medley | Imagn Images

There was a lot of frustration to go around in University Park during this weekend at Penn State. That included an incident involving a fan and Jason Kelce, who was in attendance as part of College GameDay that morning, outside the stadium before kickoff.

James Franklin addressed that matter during an answer at his press conference today about some of the emotions from Saturday. He said that he wishes his visit to the game had been without that but was actually glad to see that the other person involved received a repercussion for it.

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“I saw something with Jason Kelce. Jason Kelce was coming to State College. I wanted him to have a wonderful experience. I didn’t get a chance to meet him or see him. I saw something that I wasn’t very, very proud of. I wish that didn’t happen,” said Franklin. “But there’s also, in 2024? I love that that person – there was a consequence to his action, you know.”

Kelce got into it with someone who was coming after him as he walked outside of Beaver Stadium. Once things became personal with what he said regarding Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, Kelce smashed his phone on the ground and confronted the person.

That was the last of it on Saturday but, earlier on Monday, reports emerged that the police at Penn State are now looking into it. Kelce has also since apologized for his actions before the kickoff for ‘Monday Night Football’ tonight.

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Again, this comes after a 20-13 loss for the Nittany Lions to Ohio State that led to plenty of outbursts, including some that involved Franklin himself. Still, he thinks there’s a line that’s set and doesn’t need to be crossed when it comes to the passion of fans and the sports that they support.

“Can it go too far sometimes? Yes. Should it be addressed? Yes,” said Franklin.

“So, can it go too far sometimes and we talk about the passion and all those things being great? Yes. But that also doesn’t excuse bad behavior at times,” Franklin said. “It comes with the territory but that doesn’t make it right, if that makes sense.”