What they're saying about Penn State football's win over Rutgers

On3 imageby:David Eckert11/21/21

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On the back of a strong debut from true freshman QB Christian Veilleux, Penn State football finished its 2021 home slate with a 28-0 win over Rutgers, despite a roster ravaged by the flu.

Here’s what they’re saying about the win.

Nate Bauer, BWI, Penn State defense produces dominating effort to close home slate

Sean Clifford was one of many players struggling or absent due to an illness that gutted the program. Rutgers was subsequently forcing Penn State into repeated punting situations. 

Still, the Nittany Lions’ defense felt no particular cause for concern.

“We knew they couldn’t run the ball on us. We knew they couldn’t pass the ball on us,” Ebiketie said. “So for us, it was just a matter of continuing to do what we’ve been doing the whole game.”

The Nittany Lions did.

Suffocating the visiting Scarlet Knights all afternoon, Penn State’s defense produced its most dominating performance of the 2021 season. A 28-0 shutout, the effort was its second blanking of a conference opponent for the first time in program history.

The route taken to get there was just as impressive as the final result, though. Holding Rutgers to just 160 yards of total offense on 60 plays, Penn State allowed only 10 first downs. The Knights notched just 2.8 yards per play. And maybe most impressively, the Lions permitted the Scarlet Knights to reach their side of the field only once.

As Penn State head coach James Franklin explained, the Nittany Lions did so under circumstances that weren’t ideal.

“Our defense is playing unbelievable,” Franklin said. He noted that linebackers Curtis Jacobs and backup Tyler Elsdon both were afflicted by a bout of sickness Saturday morning. “I’m telling you guys, between throw up and IV, it was an interesting week. Literally, I’ve never been through something like this, especially at this point in the season when you’re already banged up.”

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David Eckert, BWI, Penn State’s flu game: Lions overcome wave of illness to shut out Rutgers

“Nearly every aspect of Penn State’s preparatory process was thrown into disarray ahead of the game. A group message chain with all of the staff members buzzed constantly with updates on player availability. As some players recovered, others fell sick.

The flu crept over the Penn State roster in two waves, one earlier in the week and another on Friday. One day, the Nittany Lions had all of their scholarship quarterbacks at their disposal. The next they had none. Walk-on signal-caller Mason Stahl led the first team offense in Penn State’s practice on Friday, and Franklin said the Penn State staff was prepared to move forward with him at the helm.

Preparing amidst the chaos was challenging. Penn State defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo said it required heightened focus.

“We just had to be more locked in,” he said. “I feel like there were a lot more moving parts. We didn’t really know who was going to be ready to go, so we just had to prepare for every type of situation.”

True freshman quarterback Christian Veilleux got the green light to play Friday, to Franklin’s great relief. Starter Sean Clifford had been instructed to sleep in Saturday morning, with hopes that some extra rest could get him over the hump.

Clifford didn’t warm up because he was getting IV treatment in the training room. A Big Ten Network sideline reporter asked Franklin whether Clifford would go, and the head coach shirked the question.

It wasn’t a tactical choice. At that point, Franklin insists he really didn’t know.

“I had to ask the doctors and trainers where he’s at because he never came out for warmup,” Franklin said. “Then he felt like he could go, the doctors and trainers felt like he could go. Obviously he missed practice time. He hadn’t eaten — the IVs and the whole deal.”

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Greg Pickel, BWI, Will Penn State coach James Franklin soon tell all he’s ‘not going anywhere’?: One big thing

“It appears that James Franklin and Penn State may be close to making a definitive statement about their future together.

According to Neil Rudel of The Altoona Mirror, the eighth-year leader of the Nittany Lions told members of the State College Quarterback Club on Wednesday that “I’m not going anywhere.”

Presumably, he was asked at the usually off-the-record lunch about being connected to other jobs over the last few months. That was his response, per those there who informed Rudel. Franklin has not denied saying it.

Lately, the chatter has been shifting away from other jobs and more toward a new Penn State deal that would undoubtedly provide more funding for his program and likely the coach, too. As of Saturday, no formal announcement had been made or even scheduled, however.

Franklin was asked to address the comment on Saturday after his Penn State team blasted Rutgers 28-0 at Beaver Stadium. His response hinted that something could have happened already but didn’t. It might do so at any time moving forward, though. Update: As Statecollege.com reports and the Board of Trustees’ website says, its Committee on Compensation will meet virtually on Tuesday. Neither a time nor agenda have been set, but it of course is very notable given the context of this story.”

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Daniel Gallen, PennLive, Landon Tengwall makes Penn State debut as Nittany Lions shuffle offensive line in win over Rutgers

“When Wallace exited in the first quarter and Effner flipped from left to right, though, Tengwall got his chance to protect the blindsides of Clifford and Veilleux. He acquitted himself well and took advantage of his opportunity. There were no clear breaks in his game, and his talent was apparent.

Tengwall is an interesting prospect moving forward. Even if he plays in the season finale at Michigan State next week and a bowl game, Tengwall will still enter 2022 as a redshirt freshman. He’ll have a year of development, another offseason with Penn State’s strength staff and three games of live reps under his belt.”

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Ben Jones, StateCollege.Com, Penn State Football: Veilleux Development Gives Nittany Lions Right Answer at Right Time

“…So against Iowa, sticking Veilleux into that hornet’s nest is quite the ask and frankly didn’t make sense at the time. No matter how disjointed Penn State may have been with Roberson, there was no guarantee it would have been better with Veilleux.”

Jon Sauber, Penn State football freshman QB Christian Veilleux shines in his debut vs. Rutgers

“What ensued was the best offensive performance Penn State has put together in weeks and an impressive showing by the true freshman in his first game action as a college athlete. Veilleux completed 15-of-24 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the 28-0 victory and looked poised for the most part. He botched one snap early on, but that was his lone blunder in an otherwise good performance.”

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Greg Patuto, On The Banks, Rutgers overwhelmed by Penn State in 28-0 loss on Saturday

“The Rutgers’ offense was nonexistent from the start as Noah Vedral finished 12-for-23 for 91 yards. The Scarlet Knights were outgunned 407-to-165 and had just 10 first downs in the game.

There was just one turnover by either side but the overall physicality and talent level took over — as we thought it might over the course of 60 minutes.”

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