WATCH: Sean Clifford emotional after standing ovation at Rose Bowl
Sean Clifford just played his final game as a Penn State Nittany Lion, which resulted in a 35-21 victory over Utah. Fittingly, the sixth-year QB received a standing ovation from the PSU faithful at the Rose Bowl. Clifford did not try to hide his emotions.
Clifford will go down in Penn State history as one of the most prolific passers to ever pass through Happy Valley. With 10,382 career passing yards and 84 passing touchdowns, his contributions to the Nittany Lions’ offensive efforts over the years will not soon be forgotten.
Clifford finished the game with 279 passing yards and two touchdowns, including the longest touchdown pass in Rose Bowl history – an 88-yard score from Clifford to KeAndre Lambert-Smith.
It’s only fitting that Clifford ends his career on one of the most important stages in college football. He can leave Penn State knowing his legacy has forever been cemented as a Rose Bowl champion.
James Franklin shares emotions of winning Rose Bowl, praise for Sean Clifford
After the game, Franklin and his team celebrated the victory on the sidelines with a traditional Gatorade bath — as cameras showed the coach desperately trying to avoid it and tackling one of his players in the fun moment. While trying to dry himself off, ESPN’s Holly Rowe asked Franklin how it felt trying to escape the traditional coach’s bath.
“Yeah I’m just happy for our guys,” answered Franklin. “Come out and here and play that team, got so much respect for Utah and Coach [Kyle] Whittingham. Out here on the road it was basically a home game for them. And our guys played their tails off, I’m just so proud of them — offense, defense and special teams.”
Franklin was then asked about his defense’s second-half performance as they ramped up the pressure on Utah’s passing game — unfortunately as they were missing starting quarterback Cameron Rising due to injury.
“Yeah… [pressure] was the difference in the second half. We were able to get pressure on the quarterback which we weren’t able to do, through not only just four down but also bringing pressure.”
Rowe closed her post-game interview with the Penn State coach by asking him about his conversation with quarterback Sean Clifford after the win, as the two shared a moment on the field before the final whistle.
“I’m just happy for him. He’s kinda seen it all in his Penn State career. And at Penn State it’s important — not how we just do it on the football field — but in the classroom and in the community. And he’s done it with utmost class the entire time. That’s what college football is about, that’s what Penn State’s about.”