BWI Blog: Penn State media day live updates

Penn State football is holding its annual media day on Sunday. Head coach James Franklin will address reporters, along with his assistants and players.

And Blue White Illustrated will be on hand to cover all of it. Join us here to take part in the conversation. Catch up on the exhaustive updates we’ve already had through the first three practices in camp, including an exclusive look at early preseason standouts and position battle progress.

Follow our coordinator press conference updates on The Lions Den message board, here!

James Franklin press conference updates

The press conference is set to begin at 12:15 p.m. Follow our live updates, here, in reverse chronological order.

Press conference has ended at 12:50 p.m.

On offseason trip to New England Patriots:

Went up with Manny and Frank Leonard. Were there for two days. Were in all the meetings. Belichick was awesome. He was phenomenal to them.

He and Manny were caught off guard because he asked them to address the team after practice. What happens is, even if you pick up two or three things, it’s worth it. One thing they’re doing now is, if you jump offsides, you are out, you lose your rep and have to run a lap. Patriots do that. 

Wants players to also understand that they as coaches are lifelong learners and trying to improve too.

On who has impressed so far in camp:

Depth on the OL and DL is impressive. The amount of bodies and experience that will impact the team and have really good careers here, that’s impressive. 

Would say same thing at tight end position. Same at running back. Same at corner. 

The way you’re able to practice, sometimes it is difficult to develop threes because third OL isn’t same as third DL, and then QB and all other positions suffer because of it. Having a three deep across the board allows you to develop the whole roster when you have legit guys to put out there physically and mentally. It impacts practice, too. Sometimes threes go out and it’s sloppy and leaves a bad taste in your mouth. There’s less of that now. 

For PAT field goal, having two units going at the same time, getting multiple groups with multiple reps is really valuable.

On outside position coaching:

There has to be a relationship there for it to really work. If your players go home to work with a trainer with very strong beliefs about how to do things, and how they operate, and teaching in a very different way, then it’s really in nobody’s best interest. So for there to be a relationship on the front end, and even some communication going on, that that trainer teaches what you’re teaching, is important.

It’s not like trainers are extension of coaching staff, but it’s important for them to understand what Penn State is trying to do, and it creates conflict for the student athlete. 

Like anything else, in any business. It always starts and ends with relationships.

On safety:

That’s a position they have a two-deep. Could make argument two deep is better this year than last. Not saying starters will be better, because Tig was a great player. What you hope is that among that group, that you can get his production as a group. Thinks an important piece is, having two deep they feel good about, but need at least a fifth they feel good about. In an ideal world, you want a three deep, but in another, need to figure out at least that fifth.

On the QBs:

Drew and Beau, in year two, they look like guys that are year two in the same system mentally, physically. They’re stronger, leaner, faster. More confident in reads. Accuracy, decision making, those things. They’ve been impressive.

Smolik has been the surprise so far of the room. Although he’s learning nuances of position and the offense, in the meeting room when asked questions, he’s not where Drew and Beau are in answering them, but he has a natural feel on the field. Like a point guard, depth and awareness. He throws a really nice ball and is doing well. If they can keep building on it, they’ll feel good about where they’re at.

Open practice will get a bigger opportunity to see the team and evaluate the roster, they look like year two guys. Both have the team’s respect.

In terms of decisions, not announcing or making decisions at any position. It’s a competition and they want to create that at every position as long as possible to bring out the best of everyone.

On changes to college football and how it impacts the job:

It’s been dramatic. Doesn’t know if COVID played a part as well, but seems like since then it has sped everything up. But last five years, more five years than in the previous 50, and doesn’t think it’s close. The game and rules were the same for at least 50 years. And now in the last five there have been changes and dramatic ones. 

Would make the argument, and could have an interesting debate, that some of the changes were needed. Would also say, in defending the NCAA, which no one seems to do anymore, people see once they try to get involved in it that decisions, changes, and rules are much more sophisticated and challenging than it seems. It crosses over into a lot of different worlds.

Best way to describe it, through his lens, is transfer portal. It’s like the pendulum. The pendulum has overcorrected. But there was a problem. Should head coaches have had power to deny players to transfer to 10 different schools? No. That’s not right. That was unfair. And to be honest, only a handful of people abused it. Same as any industry, maybe five percent, that abuse the rules. And now a rule has to correct for that. Instead of allowing coaches, maybe conferences and commissioners come up with standard, to not transfer within conference or limit it, but it was too much.

Also doesn’t think open transfer is good. It sounds anti student athlete, but it’s not. Still believes in student athlete model, and No. 1 thing they should do is educating. When you look at graduate rates, every time you transfer you lose credit and likelihood of graduation decreases.

Should players have options and choices? Yes. Should players be able to restrict their movement? No. But could have gotten to more of a middle ground than from one extreme to where they are now.

And if you take education out of it, for college athletics and specifically football to teach people how to overcome adversity. And on the other end of spectrum, you come up with rules and guardrails that lawyers use to come up with an exception for every kid. 

One of the best things they could do is get all commissioners in same room at same time and do what’s best for college athletics on the whole, because they’re the most powerful people in college athletics.

On adding Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten:

Is appreciative that Dr. Bendapudi and Pat Kraft keep him in the loop. You see what’s going on in college football right now, and it’s not a surprise, but it’s very different from the college athletics everyone grew up with. It used to be a pretty regional. It’s a huge win for USC and UCLA from a travel perspective.

On excitement for this season:

This is as much depth as they’ve had. Three deep at pretty much every position. Would describe it more of a 2.5 deep. If you talk about DE, talking about five guys they think they can win with. Two deep at each side, and then a spare that can swing. And at some positions there is a true three deep. Doesn’t remember having that across the board. And it applies to specialists, who also have more competition.

Stability on the staff is good and leads to a chance to be successful.

Excited? Yes. Questions to answer? Yes. In arguably the best conference in college football, and maybe best division? Hard to say that they’re not. Has been a part of both conferences that are part of that discussion.

Entering the 10th year:

This aligns more with his DNA and who he is as a person. Very loyal. But also it aligns with what the university is used to as well. So those things make a ton of sense. It’s unusual for there to be three athletic directors and presidents in his time.

Is very appreciative and has a ton of respect for all three presidents and ADs, who all came to Penn State at different times with different challenges. But it’s somewhat unusual in today’s college football, which is also in some ways sad, that he’s a rarity at 10 years.

This is a special place with tradition, history and passion. There are 19 alumni in Lasch, 10 former lettermen. Take pride in that as well. There have been challenging days, but many more good days, and wakes up every day blessed and appreciative.

Opening statement

They’re bigger, stronger and faster than they’ve been. They have more maturity.

Practices 1 and 3 were both very good. First day in shoulder pads yesterday. Having all three coordinators back, there’s a ton of value in that. No new teaching except for young players. 

So far, so good. 

Looking forward to the open practice they’re having. It’s something they wanted to do for a while. Haven’t always been on same page with coordinators doing it. He went with Manny Diaz to visit the Patriots this past offseason and think it’s going to be a good thing. They like to play in Beaver Stadium, which is good. But there is an aspect of playing in front of fans and media that also prepares them.

Asking media to follow the rules. Will pretty much cover a similar format of Eagles and Steelers of what they do for preseason practice. Want to do it moving forward as well.

Not a member? Join Blue White Illustrated for more team coverage!

If you haven’t already, now is the time to subscribe to Blue White Illustrated! Sign up now for just $1 for your first month as an exclusive promo ahead of the start of training camp! Or, annual subscriptions are now on sale for 25 percent off! That’s only $74.99 for one year of access. 
Get access to premium articles covering Penn State athletics, recruiting content and also join thousands of Nittany Lions fans on the Lions Den message board! CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!

Nittany Lions fans, check out some great premium content on Blue White Illustrated!

Preseason camp Penn State team updates

Buzzworthy: Preseason battle progress
Buzzworthy: Early preseason standouts
Under the radar camp battles to monitor

Penn State football camp begins: What we’re watching
Penn State Check-In: Assessing the Nittany Lions’ quarterback position as camp begins
Breaking down Penn State’s Prowler Package evolution
Penn State Prowler Package camp battles
The weekly rundown: Preseason camp finally arrives for Penn State football

Caedan Wallace, pushing past injury, makes progress ahead of 2023 season
Preseason primer: When will the starting quarterback be named?
Projecting the preseason camp depth chart – Offense
What we’re watching at Penn State practice: Receivers
Penn State August to-do list: A healthy and productive camp plus much more