James Franklin, Kyle Whittingham set Rose Bowl stage

The lead-in is, at least, coming to a close. Penn State and Utah are set to meet in the Rose Bowl on Monday, the exclamation point on two bright seasons for each respective program.

And to mark the occasion, head coaches James Franklin and Kyle Whittingham met with the media for a final time on New Year’s Day. 

The joint press conference was the first between the coaches since the Rose Bowl match-up was announced on Dec. 4. In it, they took questions previewing the game, the direction of their programs, and more.

Here is a look at some of the pertinent news and notes items to emerge from the session:

Penn State’s James Franklin, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham final press conference notes

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If anything this bowl season, the more Penn State and Utah have gotten to gauge each other, the more they’ve doubled down on their initial impressions. 

Flatly, Utah reminds Penn State of Penn State. And, Penn State reminds Utah of Utah, according to each head coach.

Whittingham offered that the similarities between the two programs stylistically, leaning on backbone defenses with matching philosophies to prioritize stopping the run, have helped with preparations. Franklin, meanwhile, said that the reality of a team at this point in the season is that the 12 games played already have provided an extensive experience to be ready for nearly any type of opponent. 

More important, Franklin opined, is the fact that both Penn State and Utah are diverse and malleable.

“When I look at Coach and their program, similar to ours, is we have an offense that does a little bit of everything. As a head coach, (it) has been important for me for that very reason,” Franklin said. “If you’re just lining up and running two backs all the time, it’s hard to get your defense ready for some spread.

“So, having diversity in your offensive package is not just important for your offense. But it’s also important to prepare your defense. Being able to have some tempo into your offense. Not that we do it all the time or they do it all the time. But if you never see it and then you’re playing a team that’s going fast all the time, then that can be challenging, as well. Part of the head coach’s responsibility is to make sure that you have enough things in your packages on offense, defense, and special teams that prepare your team year-round, not just week to week.”

James Franklin’s personnel pride

Penn State’s freshman standouts, running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and linebacker Abdul Carter, were all highlighted.

To no surprise, both head coaches were effusive in their praise for all three players. Franklin highlighted the healthy relationship between Singleton and Allen. He said it propels each player. And, Carter’s rare burst as a talent that stands apart.

Whittingham, while also highlighting many of the same on-field qualities all three players bring to the field, also touched on the pieces that surround them and allow their abilities to shine.

So, for Carter, it’s a defense that Utah respects “at every level.” And, for Singleton and Allen, the outstanding production is made possible by a solid offensive line. 

Needing all three to be impactful Monday, Franklin set the table for Carter and what that production will mean.

“When you list out all the traits and attributes that you’re looking for at the linebacker position, he’s got a lot of them,” Franklin said. “And, I think he’s only going to get better. And, I think he’ll take a step in this game and will continue to grow throughout his career.

“I’m proud of how he’s kind of handled all of it. He has. We’re going to need him to play well. We expect him to play well.”

Finishing it off

Both coaches were asked about the importance of this game for their respective programs. Whittingham maintained that Utah is proud of what it accomplished to get to this point. Having finished atop the PAC-12 two years running, the Utes are pleased. 

But, for both coaches, the opportunity to make right a return trip to the Rose Bowl that ended in a loss the last time out, for Utah in a last-minute loss to Ohio State last year and for Penn State in a 2017 loss to Southern Cal, there is a clear motivation. 

So is the chance to head into the 2023 offseason with a springboard. 

“Getting here is one thing. And it takes a tremendous amount of hard work and perseverance. And (it takes) a plan and doing it from the time the season ended last year,” Franklin said. “But both of our programs want to try to finish this thing the right way.

“We both are going to have momentum going into next year based on what we did and what we have on our current roster. Being able to get a win to end the season. There are not too many programs that are able to end their season with a win. We’d like to be one of them. And being able to do it against a really good opponent, I think that’s important, too.”