Live updates: Penn State coach James Franklin postgame

Penn State head coach James Franklin is taking questions from reporters following his Nittany Lions’ 28-13 win at Wisconsin on Saturday. With the win, his Nittany Lions improved to 7-0 with a coveted showdown with Ohio State at Beaver Stadium up next.

Blue White Illustrated is providing live updates from his postgame press conference, here:

Live updates: Penn State coach James Franklin postgame press conference

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Post-press conference statement

Apologizes for Wednesday and how he handled it. Difficult situation. Gotta own that he did not do a good job of that. Reporters have a job to do and questions have to be asked. The university put out a statement and reality is, there’s not a whole lot more he can say other than that statement. It’s an ongoing legal situations. And it’s challenging. Challenging on everyone. End of the day, didn’t do a good job of handling that situation and representing the program the right way. Apologizing for that. Trying to get better like everyone else in a difficult situation. And that’s a big reason for it. Because it’s a challenging situation.

Questions in the room

Singleton as a pass catcher: Area he has improved the most at Penn State. Tough one-handed catch. He’s a matchup problem. People play man coverage and him on a LB is challenging. Can use him in that role even more and expand on it. But that’s big for them and Nick in his development as well.

Playing with a lead after pick-six: Not about the lead as much as momentum. It’s a real thing and that was a big play in the game to swing the momentum. Able to really take control of the game after that, specifically on offense and defense.

Beau running opening for Nick and Kaytron: Inside zone would open up a little more in games late last year. His threat is different than Drew on the back side. It opens seams. Even playing without the ball. You come off the fake and burst out of it and it holds DE, OLB, safeties, and opens avenue for bigger runs.

Drew being on the sideline: Drew is a leader and although not having the role you imagined having, was needed. How he carried himself, conducted himself, dealt with teammates, helped Beau was critical. Couldn’t do it without him. Talked about that in the locker room before going out.

Beau doing it in a game: That’s significant for his development, for team’s development. Talk about college football and amount of games they’re playing, depth is really important. Not only are you doing CFP expanded but doing it in portal era. Those conflict each other. That development of roster and having character guys is more important than ever and more challenging than ever.

Beau: Talented kid. Some are different from Drew. Important as staff and OC to be committed to call the game differently and that’s easier said than done. Enough diversity in scheme to play to strength. That’s what he tries to do as a reminder of calling the game now based on Beau’s strengths. Thought they did that. Beau is a character kid, character family, great HS program, universally respected in locker room by teammates and coaches. Not surprised he could manufacture yards and points when needed the most.

Could Drew Allar have gone back in: Not gonna get into a lot of medical stuff. Wouldn’t describe it that way. It was, would he be mobile enough to run the offense the way they needed. Drew told him he couldn’t go. Asked him to be very honest with him and he didn’t feel like he could move well enough to go. At end of the half, even throwing was challenging.

Opening statement

Opening statement: Gutsy win on the road against a team that is trending positively. Tough environment. Gutsy win. Lost starting QB, DE, OT. Next man up, no excuses. Thought it was a culture win. 

You look at Beau Pribula and a ton of guys, an unselfish team and unselfish players. Pribula in a QB battle waiting for his number to be called, and capitalizes and took advantage. Offensive coaches did a good job changing how they called the play. And Jay Reed interception was a game changing play. Proud of the guys.

Sometimes, too close to it as coaches and fans and want all wins to be pretty. That was one of the prettiest and ugliest wins they’ve had. You have to find ways to win throughout a season and guys found a way to do that.

Look at the turnover battle, tied there. Won explosives. Third downs won. Did not win sacks. Starting field position early in the game was the difference. Their punter was good and playing field position, kept starting deep in territory. Just proud of the guys and significant stats that stick out.

Knew going into this game, two most important stats aside from explosive plays and turnovers were winning rushing and third down battle. Didn’t in first half, second half it swung, and that’s when game changed.