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Penn State

James Franklin references infamous Super Bowl graphic, shares impact of Miles Sanders

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•02/07/23•

AndrewEdGraham

Rutgers v Penn State
STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium on November 20, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Ahead of the Super Bowl on Sunday, and speaking to the media ahead of winter workouts, Penn State head coach James Franklin made a glancing reference to that Super Bowl graphic. Plus, he got to spend a good minute hyping up former Nittany Lion and current Philadelphia Eagle Miles Sanders.

The graphic, for the uninitiated, was tweeted from the Penn State football account ahead of the 2021 Super Bowl. It showed a Penn State football player with the words “A Penn State has appeared in every Super Bowl” in large, pronounced lettering.

Right beneath it: “Except for five since 1967.”

While Penn State got raked over the internet coals for that apparent sleight of hand, Franklin only made passing reference when discussing Sanders and the Super Bowl on Tuesday.

“I’m not going to bring up the statistic that you guys love, about the Super Bowl. I won’t bring that one up. But, yeah, Miles has been awesome. And we’re very proud of him. He’s done really well. Not just on the field and being an impact player for the Eagles but really how he’s represented himself off the field, as well. He’s been like that the whole way. All the way since we recruited him out of high school. He’s just been a phenomenal representative of Penn State and our football program,” Franklin said.

He also highlighted how Sanders fits seamless into the paradigm of a modern NFL running back. He can run inside, outside, pass protect and catch the ball.

“I’m not surprised with the type of year that he is having,” Franklin said. “He really kind of fits the model of what everybody is looking for now, specifically in the NFL. A guy that not only can run the ball between the tackles but also get the ball to the edge but also can be an impact in the passing game. He takes great pride in his pass protection. Really happy for him.”