Penn State coach James Franklin holds Michigan State week news conference

Penn State head coach James Franklin is holding his weekly press conference live from Beaver Stadium as the Nittany Lions prepare for Michigan State.

Watch at this link.

Follow our live updates from his press conference, here:

Live Updates: Penn State head coach James Franklin press conference

(Updating in reverse chronological order. Press conference has ended at 1:20 p.m.)

Questions in the room

On discovery phase offensively to what defense is doing and working through that and being fast: The interesting thing is, the longer your opening drive is, the better. That’s obvious. But what he means is, when you can get through the different sets and motions, are they playing the way anticipated, or where are they different, what are the blitzes. 

That’s where the opening drive, not only are you doing those things, but you want plays that are multi-purpose. You don’t want specific things. You want bread and butter base plays with multi purpose.

But if you go three and out, it’s a negative, and you haven’t had time to see what they’re doing. You don’t get to figure out who they are fast enough. If you struggle in your first two opening drives, you had to do that to figure out who they are and their approach and mentality. 

If you look at analytics of opening drive score, it’s important, but also to figuring out opponent. Did they have a bye week to come up with more stuff?

On Manny Diaz as possible top assistant in college football: It was unique how it happened. You almost feel bad about reaching out. He just got really bad news professionally, and you’re calling him that day or the next day, and make pitch that it makes sense for both of them.

It went fast. Him being interested, then working through details, and buying Brent Pry’s house and moving in there, then putting his stamp on the defense. As the season has gone on, gotten better and better and more confident. His perspective in staff meetings has been really good reinforcing things.

As assistants, everyone has the answers for how to handle things, but Manny, Terry, Coach Wiz, being a head coach before, those experiences are valuable. Being a head coach then going back to assistant, you view game and profession differently. He’s been great. He’s really enjoying it. Thinks he’s done a really good job of not just teaching Xs and Os, but also building a defensive culture. Being a head coach of the defense, which is what he wants. All of those things must align with program’s core values and mission, but he’s been great. 

He’s having fun doing it. Sometimes as a head coach, the reasons you get into the profession, the way it has evolved, it pulls you further away from the reasons you got into it. And depending on how you construct your program, it can pull you further. 

Is proud of Manny. Is happy he’s here. When he goes into the D staff room, they have great morale. They have fun, they work hard, everyone has a voice. Staff as well.

Is looking forward to the offseason having time to talk after a year of what his thoughts are and dig into his experience. Haven’t had the time to do that. It’s been really good. 

Really good staff. Thankful for the staff and the players. Just have a good sense. It also helps that he took over a defense in a really healthy spot. Brent left it in a great spot. So much respect for Brent meant the hire was really important for scheme and culturally. He’s got presence, so he could get in front of guys and get them on board very quickly.

On being at peace this year, and whether that’s fair to say: His name being attached to other jobs is beyond his control. But the other stuff, yeah. And the biggest factor for that is the alignment. That has been phenomenal. Has always been happy with the leadership, but did feel like they needed more alignment, specifically when it comes to football. That’s been obvious. From the chair, to the president, if you spend time around her, she has an energy and enthusiasm and positivity for Penn State specifically, but for this community and students and their experience. It’s infectious.

Pat is aggressive when it comes to athletics. He’s fighting not just for football but all sports. That has been really good. It’s been a real positive. That’s probably the biggest thing. 

Feels like he can focus more of time and energy on players and the program right now than probably ever in 12 years, going all the way back to Vanderbilt. 

On appreciating the shared experience with Sean Clifford: Shared experience and shared suffering. THat’s fair. As coaches, you can relate things with QB, and responsibility and leadership with them. 

There are times where Sean or Trace would come in office and ask for perspective on something. That’s one of the things that, especially now, he respects so much about Sean is he’s self-aware. It’s a critical quality for everyone to have. It’s the only way you grow and get better. It makes it hard to coach guys that aren’t self-aware. He’s got a good feeling and appreciation for that. 

There is a weight to that. It’s also why when you talk about their relationship, it’s why it’s so strong. Why it’s so strong with Trace. Because you went through shared experiences together. And, you get a ton of the grief and frustration and you feel it, sense it, see it, hear it. It’s all of it. 

Doesn’t care if it’s high school, college, or NFL. There is a strong correlation and shared experience.

On balancing emotions and senior day vs. still playing a game after ceremonies: The reality is to recognize it. It’s totally fine to recognize some emotions go with it. And what you try to do is channel it. Have a time for that, then put it to bed, then focus on the game, and after the game it’s an emotional time too because it’s the last time this specific group is together in Beaver Stadium.

Have a plan to handle it, to not be on a high, or a low, or the rollercoaster. Learn how to funnel it.

On Jon Sutherland and spending time around him: Is a huge Sutherland fan. Another one that has handled his entire Penn State experience the right way. He’s been a special teams weapon for multiple years and captain. A defensive role player, starter, moved positions, now a starter at another position.

He’s a huge routine guy. In the facility taking care of his body all the time. That’s when he was an undergrad, grad school, and that’s his legacy is teaching young guys how to prepare body and maximize time here. He’s been phenomenal that way.

And the Canadian guys, he’ll have an opportunity to play football, in the NFL, but they’re extremely valuable to to the CFL as well and will create opportunities for him as well. And then when football does come to an end, he’ll be prepared. Thinks that’s a big part of their job as coaches and staff to make sure guys are prepared for when football ends. It’s a difficult transition, and too many times sees players and programs who they’re not prepared. 

A lot of these young men coming out of high school, entire identity is wrapped around football, and they’re so much more than that, and to go to a program that values them for that is valuable too. Football always comes to an end, so being in a program that reinforces that and excites them for next chapter in life, it’s good. 

Big Jon Sutherland fan.

On being emotional for this group of seniors and the roller coaster: Tig did his share the other night, and his first season was the pandemic and how bad it was. Then the next year got back to normal routine, and remembers Tig saying ‘so this is how it is?’

They’ve been through a bunch. Everyone in the country went through it. Different athletic departments handled it differently, but everyone went through it. Some six year guys, it’s a long time to be around each other, but he still struggles with it. When you’re able to stay at a school a long time, it helps because guys come back. It’s so much more common and easy when you’re still at the same school.

A few weeks ago Ebiketie and Congo were back. Spring game, White Out, bye week or work schedule, it helps. But senior day is an emotional day for the players, for the staff. Same for the parents. There are relationships with the parents. Home last week and Trace’s mom was in town, and there were two things of her salsa in the fridge. It’s all of it. It’s the community, the family, the relationships. A ton of families at practice this week.

Home games are so much better over Thanksgiving because families come into town and stay for the game. 

Was pulling out of the parking lot last night and Donald Driver and his wife were there next to him. It’s tough when the last game is on the road and Thanksgiving isn’t at home. Makes it more challenging. But, it’ll be emotional. 

A bunch of guys taking graduation photos today with him in the facility. This is a challenging game because students are gone for break, but hope place sells out, hope everyone cheers them for senior day, and for pregame introductions.

Questions on Zoom

On Tre Wallace, Omari Evans, Liam Clifford development and excitement for them: Is excited for them. That’s the nature of the game and the sport. When opportunity presents itself, you have to be ready. It’s always interesting because a lot of guys are ready when their number gets called, and some aren’t. Always interesting to see how that plays out.

But has been impressed by those guys and how they’ve handled this season. Last week, this week, and moving forward, it’s going to be important for them. Going to need KeAndre and Mitch to take on more responsibility. But also need those other guys to step up as well.

On Sean Clifford, at some point, being a coach: Doesn’t think he has interest in that. Sean loves football, but he is an entrepreneur, is a business man, has already started those things and is prepared for them to do them full time when football comes to an end. 

One thing that’s somewhat sad is there is less of that now. A lot of players see hours coaches work, and some want to stay involved in the game but choose commentating or something because of the hours. Coaching has never been a conversation with Sean. QB training on the side could be something for him.

On Chris Stoll and being a game captain: Externally, he might not get talked about a lot. Internally, he’s talked about all the time. He addresses the team a lot. They talk about him all the time and his role. 

He is Mr. Consistent. He’s been awesome. Great student. Great spokesperson. And typically, when you talk about the coin toss captains, is trying to take it off some guys’ plate, so if you have a specialist that can do it, it lets those guys be focused on what they have to do. Also prefers to have the same guys speaking every week. There have been bad mistakes made sometimes. So, having same guy do it every week has value, and that wasn’t necessarily the plan, but it has evolved like that. 

He’s done a great job. Is really glad and proud that he chose Penn State a long time ago, earned a scholarship and did everything the right way. He’ll have a chance to continue playing, but whenever football ends for him, he’ll be ready for that too.

Alan Zemaitis tweet, on the energy in the building: Thinks they have good energy, good mojo about them right now. It’s late in the season. It’s a long season. There are times where this time can be challenging and a grind on everyone, and it doesn’t feel like that. Even with bumps and bruises, and they have a ton of them, it doesn’t feel like that.

Isn’t saying it’s all puppies and rainbows. There is tough coaching and accountability going on. But they’re in a good place. Leadership is as good as it’s been. Meet every Sunday. Even if it’s for five minutes, swap feedback.

Terry Smith comes, and made a comment, as a former captain he told them that they deserve credit for doing a phenomenal job with leadership. They’ve led the charge. 

It’s easy sometimes when leader holds someone accountable, but when you have alignment with captains and they reinforce the message and calling those things out, it puts you in a good place. Positivity spreads, and so does negativity, so you better be working toward the positivity as much as you can and be aware of negativity. 125 players and a big staff, you’re going to have some of that.

On Sean Clifford and one unique thing about him:

His perseverance. Through good, through bad, through praise, through criticism. And he has maximized this Penn State experience in a way he wishes and hopes more guys do. There are guest coaches, and always tells guys to introduce themselves, and Sean is over at the table last week introducing himself and exchanging contact info. He’ll get another degree from Penn State. He’s just handled it all with class.

He has learned, grown, and evolved through his time here. But biggest word is perseverance. Describes him best. Means it from a positive perspective. It’s one of the most important traits anyone can have.

On Parker Washington status for next year:

Have conversations that are going on, and happy to talk about this week, and then typically get together after the season is over and will address those things in more detail. Not avoiding the question, but not all of those conversations and decisions have been made yet.

On Parker Washington, Olu Fashanu, and Joey Porter Jr. status: 

Parker Washington will be done for the season. Had the conversation with him and his mom. Wanted to cover that with them first and comfortable with it.

Olu Fashanu, they expect back. Hopefully this weekend. Will see this weekend. Same thing with Joey Porter.

Opening statement

Won turnovers. Didn’t win penalties. Did not win drive start. Won sack battle. Won explosive plays. Some areas to clean up.

Players of the game: Kaytron Allen. Curtis Jacobs and Abdul Carter. Nick Singleton on ST. Awesome for those guys.

Positives: Played really good, complementary football. Most proud of getting better each week. Best teams in college football do that. 16 different players with sacks this year. 26 players with a TFL. Has never seen stats like that before.

Kickoff return was an awesome thing to see. Have invested a ton of effort and time in that. Three non-offense touchdowns, first time since 1998. Got 65 players into the game. Every defensive player that was on the bus to the game got in.

Third down on offense needs to improve. Ball security is huge. Can’t coach it or talk about it enough. That was an example of, ball secured tight, but part of it is pad level, and you can’t allow defender to put helmet on the ball.