Live Updates from Penn State's Peach Bowl Media Day

Penn State head coach James Franklin is set to the podium at 11:30 a.m. ET to kick off Penn State’s media day for the upcoming showdown against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl.

Once Franklin concludes, PSU’s coordinators are also expected to meet with the media around 12 p.m. ET. Assistant coaches Ty Howle and Ja’Juan Seider shared those responsibilities for the final two games of the season. Franklin hasn’t yet named his defensive coordinator for the game following Manny Diaz’s departure, but most expect co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter to assume the role.

New offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki will then meet with the media for the first time at roughly 1 p.m. ET. Players have also been available. The day will conclude at roughly 5 p.m. when the media is able to watch roughly 20 minutes of practice.

Nittany Lion fans can follow all of today’s news as it happens below.

To watch James Franklin’s press conference live, click here.

James Franklin press conference updates

(Updates will appear in reverse chronological order. Page will not automatically refresh. Press conference has ended at 12:03 p.m.)

On staffing once DC is in place:

When you look at his history as a HC, very loyal guy. Got this job and brought 16 people and families with them to Penn State. That’s not common in college football. A lot stayed, and then lost a guy or two over 10 years. When they brought in Manny, was a big part of it to keep this staff. Although trying to hire coordinator, a lot of times they want to bring people with them. Manny brought Lyster with him off the field and worked out for everyone involved. 

Would like to keep as much as possible and clear about that on the front end. Will see how this plays out. Has been transparent about that over time.

The loyalty part, sometimes you make a change, and they don’t understand. But loyalty is to Penn State, entire staff, and entire team, and sometimes you have to make a change for that loyalty. Doesn’t want to seem contradictory on that. Would like to continue that if they could.

On receiver in the portal:

To be honest, there is not a whole lot of ambiguity within the program. Just because they haven’t been announced externally, doesn’t mean it’s amiguous. God forbid there doesn’t need to be an announcement. Less ambiguity in the program than outsiders feel. But maybe that’s part of rationale to ask over and over again. But sometimes that’s the only reason they make announcement is because players don’t want to answer the question.

Feels there should be no surprises. Over time in recruiting process or time here, want to develop strong relationship. Don’t always tell people what they want to hear. Guy wanted promised he would be starter a few years ago, thought he would be the starter, and left without that promise. High expectations and goals here, but won’t change values and morals to treat people differently from how he’d like to be treated. Treats players like own children. That’s been good to them. Tries to live life in a way that he can lay down and get a few hours of sleep.

On the schedule:

It’s not good. It’s chaotic. You’re recruiting your own roster. There are mixed messages everywhere. There are agendas in every direction. More challenging than it’s ever been. Schedule-wise, you could just focus on your team and recruits. Now transfer portal factors in. Not a huge portal team, but they do it. Tampering is rampant. If you talked to any football coach in the country, that’s an issue. Agents, coaches, calling parents, calling high school coaches, of your current team. All the reasons the rules have been in place that aren’t being enforced now. But it’s challenging.

Running in 1,000 different directions and it’s magnified with an OC search, and as soon as you get that done, take a deep breath for a minute, focus on players and recruiting for the future, your staff member gets a chance to be a head coach in the ACC, and you’re starting all over again.

It has been a sprint.

There are less battles happening on campus. But it’s challenging. And having to play Ole Miss on the road in SEC country is a challenge as well. But, it’s a challenging schedule and the issue is, doesn’t know how to pull it back. That’s the challenge for the NCAA, commissioners, ADs, college football coaches. Only people that can fix this is the commissioners with the power to do it. Get them in a room for a week, lock the door with Chick Fil-A sandwiches, and literally A through Z, come up with a new model.

Not sustainable for players and staff. Will see more coaches leaving. But also, it’s attracting people to college football for the wrong reasons. That’s as big of a concern as the other.

On Peach Bowl’s philanthropy:

All of these bowls, as you get to know, they have a significant impact on communities they’re in. Peach Bowl has done more of that than any bowl. That is special. Football, what they do at Penn State, clearly understands it is about wins, records, but also this is a place that says football transcends more than that. To play in a bowl that has core values that believe the same thing is tremendous.

This is a business, yes, but doesn’t mean you can’t do it in a charitable way and make a profound impact on your community. Great leadership in this bowl. As a society, those things are more important than ever, especially to young people. Organizations, companies, trying to make a bigger impact than serving the best chicken sandwich in the world. Chick Fila and Peach Bowl doing that at a high level, and would argue Penn State is as well.

On Manny’s personality and fit for relationships:

That’s a huge part of it. Everyone is aware, but gets undervalued, who you follow has a big part of your success. You follow a real disciplinarian, or someone extremely loose, or charismatic, those things factor into it. One of the things really good about Manny is, they didn’t really do a whole lot. Means that as a compliment. Just difficult enough to attack. But if you look at it, Manny did a really good job of keeping things simple so guys could play fast and aggressive. 

But also, his ability to get in front of the room, the coaches, the players, command it and get buy-in, that’s just as important if not more than scheme. So talking about hiring someone, all those things factor into it. That’s when you’re talking about fit, it’s different at Penn State after Manny. But also, Brent was strong in those areas as well. When Brent was leaving, people were really upset. Brent had recruited and coached all the players. Manny had a ton of success but hadn’t recruited most of the guys. But he built them up and earned respect, which makes it challenging. Also hiring someone not intimidated to walk into that room as the No. 1 D in the country. It’s going to be hard to improve this group. All of it is more challenging to do than people realize.

On Kotelnicki’s situation:

Talking about tough to leave, tremendous amount of stability at Kansas. But his production is what excites. They were at Buffalo and had success at a place that hadn’t had it. Same at Kansas. Big reason for being attracted to him in the first place. Also coming up under a guy he had a ton of respect for in the profession. Points, success, yardage, game control at Kansas, and he was a bit part of their success.

On Andy Kotelnicki:

Loves model of being able to bring guys in, give them a feel for the program, personnel, structure, and hit the ground running. He had a really good situation. Has a ton of respect for Kansas and Coach Leipold. He didn’t need to leave there. Forced a ton of dialogue that made sense for both parties. Thinks it made sense for everybody. Had a ton of conversations ahead of time to be on the same page.

Then once arrived on campus, knew what program was getting, he knew what he was getting into. Haven’t had a lot of time together. Franklin has been gone all week. But it’s been good. So far, so good. Ton of experience/responsibility at the last place. A lot of time spent on looking at the terminology, the language, what can stay the same, what can change, what needs tweaked. Things that can be more helpful and descriptive for players.

Also able to hire someone else on his staff. Similar to Lyster for Manny. But again, haven’t had that much time together. Everyone running in 1,000 different directions. Good to be back and today will be good for everyone.

On impact of bowl for players with a decision:

Doesn’t love the seven questions of guys after they’ve already answered about opt out, deciding to come back, plans for next season. But does think there is a ton of value in finishing what you started. A lot of ways to do that. Very aware of what’s going on in college football. Aware of some of the trends and advice some players are getting. But through relationships, there is ability to have a conversation with players, parents, and make sure that guys are making the right decisions for them and futures. Sometimes there is a feeling that what is in players and Penn State’s best interests don’t align, but feels that it does.

Playing Ole Miss in this type of venue for majority of players will increase values, opportunities, draft grades. So just wants to make sure they’re thoughtful and looking at things from both sides. 

Curtis Jacobs has been great, Olu, guys have been phenomenal in way it’s been handled. But more challenging than ever.

On when he’d like to make a decision:

Yesterday.

What qualities he’s looking for:

Someone who has extensive DC experience. Someone that runs a similar scheme and philosophy because current players have had a lot of success in similar system. Has had three DCs that have all played at a high level. Have recruited to a certain scheme as well. How Penn State plays isn’t the only way to win. But a lot of gymnastics would go into making change and create questions about how players would fit in new scheme with 3-4 or 3-3.

You do interviews, watch film, study analytics, and on top of it, looking for a fit with players, staff, community. If someone had head coaching experience, there is value in that. Manny’s time as a HC was valuable. Stacy Collins value as previous head coach. That’s not end all be all, but helpful if they can find it.

Updated plans for DC and who will handle the bowl:

Very similar to what they’re doing on offense. Ja’Juan Seider and Ty Howle, will do the same on defense with Anthony Poindexter and Rob Smith.