Live updates: James Franklin Orange Bowl press conference
Penn State head coach James Franklin is meeting with reporters on Saturday as his Nittany Lions prepare to take on Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals. This time, with a bit of a twist.
Set to hold the news conference in person, Franklin will do so from the Pegula Ice Arena around the block from Beaver Stadium.
Why? Well, because Beaver Stadium took on a new shape on Saturday morning. Welcoming the demolition of the west side press box in front of media and spectators, the venue became an active construction site immediately upon the completion of the Nittany Lions’ win over SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 21.
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In the time since, Penn State has strung together a two-game winning streak to advance to face the Fighting Irish on Thursday in Miami. Follow along as Franklin updates Penn State’s injury standing, previews Notre Dame, and more.
Live updates: Penn State head coach James Franklin Orange Bowl press conference
(Press conference is set to begin at noon. Updates will appear in reverse chronological order. Page does not automatically refresh.)
James Franklin press conference ended at 12:47 p.m.
Balancing this season with prepping for next roster retention
01/04/2025 11:47:51 AMThey put everything into that season, rightfully so, but a year later you’re paying for that. That’s where staff sizes are so important. Have guys on campus right now for official visits. That is challenging. Have talked with team, it can be a differentiator and super power if you can compartmentalize. The days before they get into game week, trying to sit down and meet with as many guys as they can about their futures, NFL decisions, future at Penn State, NIL, all these different things because they most important thing they can do is retain roster for the future. You do that two days ago, and then need to put that on the back burner because now you’re in game week. It’s hard for him at 52 years old now. Asking 18 year old kids to do it, and their families.
The programs that are able to do that are the most successful at this time of the year because calendar does not support that. They’re in conflict of one another. Trying to get guys to understand it. Talking to leadership council and leaders about that. If you’re struggling doing that, come into the office and have a man to man conversation about that. Talk it out and address it and be as transparent and authentic about it as possible. The last two weeks, have done a good job managing it and will have to continue that because it’s easier said than done.
Omari Evans
01/04/2025 11:44:23 AMHe was a HS quarterback with a super power, could run run. Omari has a superpower. But he’s starting to learn and embrace all the other things that come with it. He made a great catch on the sideline and when he hit the ground didn’t finish it, but it still scares people and he’s going to make those plays. He’s blocking, being physical, making plays vertically. Using him the right way and his confidence is soaring. The scary part is, doesn’t think Omari is anywhere close to where he can be. Going to keep getting better. Same way about Trey, Liam, and other WR in that room. That’s exciting. Talked a lot in preseason about that question at that position and felt like they’ve had the talent in that room that needed to be developed and run with, and they have.
Will give Julian credit, because coming into that room, he’s brought maturity and competition in. Sometimes you go to the portal to fill a hole. Others to create more competition. And bring out the personality of the room. He’s done that. His work ethic second to none. That has shown up as well and helped the room. It’s exciting because adding more pieces to that room, but foundation finally at the place they can win at the highest level and only going to get better. Those guys have more games this season and in the future, and will see a bunch of draft choices coming out of that room. Some surprises this year as well. Not talked about enough the development of that room. Credit to the kids and coaches. But also thinks that’s harder said than done. Tuning out the outside noise, putting team first, and they’ve done a great job. Proud and happy for them.
Kaytron Allen run called back
01/04/2025 11:40:15 AMHe is playing his tail off right now. Everyone recognizes that. A ton of conversations about Mr. Jeanty, and deservedly so. He’d earned that conversation. But would make the conversation they have the best duo in all of college football. Obviously about to play a team with some good backs, too. Kaytron is just so physical. Can run you over and stay on his feet.
Typically on Sundays, shows the team all the big plays in the game and try to identify not just the obvious common football fan and they just watch Kaytron. You point out the reason for it to be successful. Showed it, even though it was called back, because it was such an important and special run and they deserved their flowers. He’s running great. Traut and Howle deserve a ton of credit as well. Andy a ton of credit. Players deserve credit. They’re playing so well and consistent and physical. Like they’ve talked about, run game travels.
At this point in the season, running it. And same time, Omari Evans running over your head. Warren coming down with contested catches and making big plays, that’s challenging. Drew picking up first downs with his feet.
Development of WR room not talked about enough. That has turned into a strength. Felt like Trey could have had those years the past couple but has had injuries. Liam, Julian catches against USC, not here without them. Not gaudy numbers, but how Julian is blocking. Where are explosives coming from? Receivers owning all responsibility of being true receivers. Their run game blocking and things like that are disgusting. NFL people watch that. Real football people know what to look for. Marques Hagans and WR in that room have done good job making plays at critical times.
Omari play on the sideline big last week. Just thinks that’s been probably there haven’t been enough stories written about that because there sure were enough about the opposite. Huge part of season and development. At a time in college football and society when that’s hard to do because every WR wants 1,000 yards and 80 catches, but those guys a big reason they’ve won the games they’ve won. Without it, those RBs aren’t doing what they have. It’s had a huge impact.
Beaver Stadium
01/04/2025 11:34:29 AMIt’s a great thing. Pat has done a really good job with facilities and moving the needle. Not just football. EALR came out great. Indoor for soccer, that’s going to be great. Pat has done a really good job, him and Vinnie moving the needle for all 31 sports, which is hard to do. When you don’t do facilities every year, you can fall behind and it becomes a massive problem.
There was a lot of anxiety about this stadium. It’s going to create challenges in short term but in long term in everyone’s best interest. Will create a lot of amenities they need. You’re not just competing with other sports. You’re competing with TV. This is well needed and at a place that doesn’t love change, it’s also scary. But in the long term, a win for everyone.
Aggressive philosophy
01/04/2025 11:32:19 AMHave done these things back at Vanderbilt. Some years more than others because you’re better running, short yardage, offensive line. When they got here, had three or five OL in the program, so wouldn’t say that was their strength. You gotta play to your strengths and sometimes your strength is punting and good defense. Bob Shoop had done a really good job. A little bit more depth and talent on that side of the ball. You gotta do what gives you the best advantage based on the team you have. But in terms of their DNA, would like to be aggressive and historically, if you just look at numbers it may or may not say that, but could be because of a couple of years based on strengths.
Max Granville
01/04/2025 11:29:58 AMWhen they lost Abdul, he’s the next guy for that role in third down packages. Really excited about him. Highly productive in HS as 3-4 OLB. Dropping into coverage, getting after the passer. Have thrived with those things. Chop. Micah Parsons. In recruiting, people try to use use 3-4 or 4-3 as argument why to go somewhere or else. Chop was a 4-3 DE, Micah has played DE and LB in NFL. Was DE that last year when they lost him was going to do a ton of things with him. Oweh. Looked at Max as a guy like that who could do a lot of different things within D structure. More things guys can do dropping into coverage and doing different things, then have the size and physicality to hold up in the run. Max is 250 pounds right now and looks great. He’s another one of those guys. Harvey is another one they’re excited about. Malachi. Continue to recruit them because they’re so valuable impacting the game and giving headaches. Able to play him significant amount this year while saving redshirt. Managed it the right way. Guys they look back at now as fourth and fifth year seniors that burned redshirt. They all think they want to play and then at end of the year wish they didn’t. Never know with injuries and things like that.
Andy Kotelnicki, managing his creativeness and balancing it
01/04/2025 11:26:51 AMManage it the same way he’s managed it. As an OC or DC, may say to Tom Allen, let’s make them earn it on third and long. Trying to decide to go after them or coverage. If they’re discussing it, that’s where he may jump in and agree with Dex and go after it or earn it.
Same thing on offense where there are times they haven’t taken a shot in a while and need to loosen them up and be aggressive. Or at midfield and have two downs on third down to go for it. It’s more things like that, governing the big picture. We need to run the ball here, milk the clock, run the ball and manage clock as much as possible.
The creativity, they want. That’s why he’s here. The explosive plays are tied to creative plays. It’s funny though, ran the toss where Ty Warren tossed to Drew and tried to take a shot down the field, and everyone thought that was a bad decision because it didn’t work. When it works, everyone things it’s a great decision. If the play at USC, everyone would have said they tried to get too cute.
Want this to be part of their identity. Thinks it creates a lot more headaches for DC trying to prepare for this. It’s about execution. Need to rep it enough where guys know what to do. It’s not always going to play out the way it did in practice. Have you repped it enough where if the first look isn’t open, you have an answer? Throwing ball away? Outlet? Back to line of scrimmage?
Want the creativity and explosive plays. Biggest difference in the offense. Big reason he’s here. But those are tied to creativity and all the things you have to prepare for during the week. It’s either pushing Tom and Stig and Andy to be more aggressive when they need to, or times to be more conservative. Have discussions during the week, sees things in practice and gives feedback. But wants to call the game aggressively in all three phases, and creatively.
Abdul Carter
01/04/2025 11:21:30 AMHis attitude and mentality is really good. We’ll see. He’s taking the right approach and mentality and it’s going to come down to how he feels and how much practice he gets in the week. At this point, don’t think there is anything stopping him from playing. But will come down to how is he able to play? We’ll see. But his mentality is great. Big smile on his face. Excited about this week. But too early to say at this stage. Doesn’t normally talk about these a whole lot. Important piece and story line. Abdul going about things the right way and we’ll see how it plays out.
Nick Singleton
01/04/2025 11:20:53 AMAt the time, had a guy on their team in Jan Johnson from Governor Mifflin. Similar to Dom DeLuca’s path. Had good relationship with the school, with coaches. Both had the same trainer as well, Garage Strength, they do a phenomenal job. Really good athlete. Weren’t sure what he was gonna be. Just knew he was too big, fast, strong. When Pry was here, every good athlete was a linebacker in his mind.
Early on, thought they were in a good place. Then he went on some visits and almost lost him. Able to get him back. Great senior year. Then showed up here ready to contribute. A lot of guys say they want to play as freshmen, but he approached it that way. Awesome mom and dad.
One of the best in-house meals ever. Traut killed the oxtail. Great relationship with mom and dad and brother.
Just another example of a local kid that has thrived here. Crushing it academically. Great in the community. He’s a man of few words, but he’s a substance guy and that’s what Penn State is about. He’s a Penn State guy.
Him and family are deciding what to do. Ton of conversations there. He’s been awesome. Him and Kaytron have developed a really good relationship. Great friends on and off the field. Complementary pieces. Obviously would love to have him back and if he decides to come out, will fight like heck to make sure he gets drafted as high as possible.
Nick has been a leader. Big fan of Nick and mom and dad and Governor Mifflin and how he’s handled his whole Penn State career. If it was just about Penn State, would be greedy and want him back, but wants what’s best for him. More time than not, it’s what’s best for everyone.
Inspiration and impact with Marcus Freeman on other black coaches
01/04/2025 11:14:45 AMIt’s interesting. Remembers, and wanted to go back and jot notes, but it makes him think of when Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith played in 2007 Super Bowl. First with any black coach in Super Bowl, let alone two. Thought about how significant that was in the profession and for young coaches in the profession to see guys in that role. Was the OC at Kansas State at the time working for AA coach, Ron Prince. And there was a lot of talk at the time about whether it would impact earned opportunities for AA at that time.
Six out of 127 schools at that time head coaches. There were conversations about how will this impact. Since then, there are 16 coaches now out of 134. Some people will say it’s not huge increase, but it is an increase. Does this increase opportunities for guys to get in front of ADs? For search firms? He hopes so. End of day, you want opportunity earned through work and actions. Will see. Takes a lot of pride in it. Had some conversations in the past that he tried to keep private at one time, but honored to play against Marcus, against Notre Dame, and to represent Penn State. To say it’s not important and significant to him would not be accurate.
All that’s great, but end of day, have to find a way to beat a team that is well coached. At this point in the season, you have to be doing all things well to get to this point. Recruit well, develop, hire, support from administration that they do now at a significant level with Pat Kraft and Neeli Bendapudi, and Kleppinger. Have that. It’s pretty cool. Have to be ready to go.
Yesterday was Sunday, today Monday so off day. A little bit ahead. Had a longer preparation period last week. You’d think it would be the same for each one, but this a little shorter. But taking advantage.
Marcus Freeman
01/04/2025 11:09:14 AMTon of respect. Has followed his career.
They are built similar to Penn State. Turnover numbers, explosive play defense, the middle eight. They’re built in a lot of ways like Penn State in terms of emphasizing the stats that matter. Great job of not beating themselves, which is important in college football, playing to strengths. QB production jumps out. Runner and big body guy. Legit RBs. Massive OL.
Defensively, knows Al for a long time. Doing a great job with their defense. Very sound, very aggressive, very disruptive. Do a really good job on the back half. Blitz packages are challenging. Things as DC, time in NFL, attacking QB do a really good job.
Offensively, also a really good job of playing to their strengths. Running the ball, QB run, keeping you honest with pass.
ST coordinator, a lot of love last week. But they’ve done it all year. One of best in the country. Well rounded team. You don’t get to this point without being good in all three phases. A ton of respect for what they’ve seen on film. Excited for the opportunity.
Opening statement
01/04/2025 11:06:10 AMFirst thing to say is, have 14 players that they recruited that have come early. First time they’ve done this. Basically here, taking everything in, not contributing a whole lot, but watching meetings and in practice. Those guys have done a really good job of being respectful to the veterans and a positive contribution. Have a few guys from Florida that have never seen snow in their lives. Have significant snow right now. Literally they’re looking out there and not only have they never seen snow, but definitely not this much. Will pay dividends for them and Penn State down the road. They’ll be way ahead when they get to spring practice.
Thoughts and prayers and support to the families and victims of the tragedy in New Orleans. Terrible. Sad in so many ways.
Hate to just jump into the next topic after that. Expecting a large crowd in Miami. Under the circumstances last week, when you’re playing SMU at home and filling 107,000k seat stadium with all of your own fans, that was impressive. Great home environment and then on short notice for the fans to travel again, support was awesome. Boise credit too. Energy in there was really good. Now here again. This is the challenge of the playoff. Fans are special and expecting a huge crowd in Miami. Challenge everyone to wear white. Probably more hoodies than t-shirts based on weather support. But need that place rocking.
Did not submit the availability report in the Boise game, reason why is CFP it’s not a requirement. The week before, SMU did not do one and Penn State did. So until it’s a consistent mandate across college football, won’t do one when they don’t. That was reason behind that.
