Penn State coach James Franklin bowl media day: Updates

Penn State head coach James Franklin is holding his bowl media day press conference live from Beaver Stadium on Friday.

Watch at this link.

Follow our live updates from his press conference, here:

Live Updates: Penn State head coach James Franklin press conference

(Press conference is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. Posts will be updated in reverse chronological order. That’s it for James Franklin. Press conference ended at noon.)

Questions in the room

On QBs: You prefer to have more than three, but when your starter is a sophomore or less, it’s a hard sell in the transfer portal. Sometimes you can convince an older player that just wants to be part of a big time program and special experience to come as a senior, veteran backup. Sometimes you can find that, but more often than not, the guys you want want to go somewhere and play and compete. You may start a true freshman with five quarterbacks on your roster, but when season ends things will change.

Had conversations about signing two QBs in this class. Try not to box selves in when talking to recruits and parents. Always say one more just to try to explain flexibility and things happening on roster you don’t expect. Easy to address that on the front end as much as you can.

Early road wins: All wins are important. That’s where the 1-0 mentality counts. Can guarantee, if you lose to someone you’re not supposed to lose to, it has a significant impact. They’re all important. Try to emphasize that as best as they can.

And then reinforce and show guys you can’t take it for granted.

On lack of opt outs: This is who they’ve been. Hadn’t had an opt out until last year. Leadership of captains this year is a big part of it. That was a big conversation before the season of their expectations and standards, and his. 

And in his mind, how they’ve built it at Penn State, there is no reason to opt out. Will be flexible with guys. Wants them to be as successful as possible. And will work with their guys. So no reason to opt out. And that goes back to communication with players and parents.

Remembers back with Saquon and his family for the Fiesta Bowl. People were advising him to opt out. Looks at this season getting back to who they are. And the last two years, and last year, was probably an outlier.

On significance of this season: Nationally you feel it more when you’re traveling and talking to old school football coaches. 

For him personally, this is who they’ve been. The last two years, and knows everyone dealt with COVID but COVID affected them. So this has been his expectation and players expectations. 

Feels it out on the road recruiting. High school coaches respect not only the record but how the team has played. Hear that from other coaches.

Pace of things right now: The question is what’s changed to make it like this. The thing that’s magnified it is the earlier signing period. They just changed it, so doesn’t see them changing it again. But the earlier signing period has become the signing period for most people.

Thing he’s most concerned about is number of guys going into the portal and how that is impacting high school students. 

It’s interesting. Everyone focuses on the high profile, elite recruits, and it usually works out for those guys. But there are a ton of others he worries could be left in some tough spots. 

The reason it feels this way is because signing day got moved up. He was in SEC when discussion first happened. It was, have early signing day, but not change anything else. But then visits changed, and everything else.

But once they changed it, it created all these other things.

Transfer portal window: A lot of things that happened that the NCAA comes up with, in theory, makes sense. But as always, doesn’t know there’s enough conversation going on with the practitioners. In theory it makes sense.

In terms of transfer process, you can have all conversations you want before, and when it hits, it’s different. The pace at which things happen to athletics and football, it’s just a very different pace. Literally, you could get a phone call from a kid on the fence, and at midnight, he’s ready to jump, and you better have the answer. 

Things happen fast. Still working through those things and a lot of different moving parts.

On Pat Kraft: Energy with him, and Dr. Bendapudi, their energy is infectious. She crushed speech at the team banquet last weekend. Pat’s the same way. They love what they do. You never know when you take a new job. Both are very happy at Penn State. Pat’s been great. 

James and Kevin Threlkel have to change approach in meetings because they go to them with things they think they need to do, and put on sales hat to do it, and they don’t need to do that. Just need to talk about what’s going on, why it’s important, and they see it the same way. That’s not just with football. Has been with all things.

He is passionate about Penn State and all sports. He’ll have a strong voice. Vocal with Big Ten. It’s been really good. He was out at LaVar’s induction as well. 

Vinnie has been good as well. He works specifically with football. Embedded is a really good word for it. 

Was a little worried about him on the sideline, but that hasn’t been an issue.

On Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace:

Right now, planning for Olu and Caedan to be available. That could change. They’ll see how it goes. Won’t rush either of them back. All based on medical staff and where the guys think they are physically and mentally. Also Keyvone. Expecting to have all three of them.

“We’ll see how it plays out.”

Balance of time right now: Next class will become priority after this signing day. But, balance is the key word. You’re running in 1,000 different directions. Making sure guys finish strong academically. Doing everything they can for bowl prep. God forbid you buy a Christmas present. Staff flying all over country and safe. And finishing in recruiting. Not enough hours in the day. 

Last week was a grind because LaVar was inducted into Hall of Fame, which was awesome. What wasn’t awesome were flight times three days in a row early morning to get all over the country.

Flew with Dabo Swinney to get to Florida when his plane broke down. It’s a crazy time and has gotten crazier with everything going on in college football.

Opening statement

Bunch of guys that can hurt you a bunch of ways. They’re multiple enough to give you issues.

On defense, they’ve led there. Very consistent, very disruptive. Linebacker 21, DE 81, DT 58, Safety 11, LB 20, LB 3. They have some really good players. Big, physical, tough, and disruptive.

On special teams, PR stands out with an unusual body type for a punt returner. 

Would love to be able to speak more about Utah, but has been tied up with recruiting and program development at practice where they haven’t really focused on opponent more. Practicing tonight. Off tomorrow for graduation.

Literally just got back into town and has been everywhere over the past two weeks so it’s great to be here. 

Has known Kyle Whittingham for a long time. Ton of respect for him. He’s been at Utah for almost 30 years. Overlapped when James was at Idaho State. 

He’s a true football guy. When you watch them, that’s what a true team is supposed to look like. They’re tough and physical. Can win games in a lot of different ways. Bunch of respect for them.