Penn State-Maryland differences are evident; James Franklin's sideline pushups explained: What they're saying

No. 14 Penn State smoked Maryland from start to finish in a decisive 30-0 triumph on Satuday at Beaver Stadium. The Lions jumped on the Terrapins early and never looked back en route to their eighth win of the season and second consecutive victory.

“The program is definitely just on the surprise,” guard Saleem Wormely said. We’re all getting our minds right. We have our standard, we have our goal. Our cultures are correct. We just come together better as a unit as a whole team. Everybody believes in each other, playing great, complimentary football, offense, defense, special teams. So we all just know we got trust in each other.”

Added lineman Hunter Nourzad:

“I think the older guys in the room that have been here for a long time, along with the coaches have done a great job transitioning the culture to one that has found the success we have. I think the culture that the people who have been in this room for three-four years have instilled is really beneficial, and that’s where our success is coming from.”

Here’s what else is being said about the Lions following the win.

The difference between Penn State and Maryland is clear

PennLive columnist David Jones chose this angle for his postgame piece. Before the game, Maryland coach Mike Locksley said he told his team that this wasn’t and isn’t a rivalry game. That’s because the Terps haven’t had much success against the Nittany Lions. And their longstanding traditions, or rather a lack there of on one side of the matchup, is part of the reason why.

“When November rolls around, football is difficult in every way,” Jones writes. “You’re beat up and fatigued, you hurt, the hits sting more in the cold, the losses hurt more because of their impact. When the championship is out of reach, it can be a major drag. Man, you need a reason to care in November.

“Maybe that’s the real difference between Penn State and Maryland. The Nittany Lions’ oars are constantly eased by flowing with the current of those who give a damn. And the Terrapins’ are constantly fighting the same force in opposite, struggling upstream against questions of why they should. On Saturday, the Lions could see the reasons right there in front of them.”

Read the full story here.

James Franklin’s sideline pushups, explained

Mark Wogenrich of SI focused on James Franklin’s in-game sideline pushups. If you somehow missed it, the leader of the Lions dropped to the ground and did 15 pushups in response to receiving a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Franklin said after the game that he wasn’t yelling at the officials but rather his players. And, quarterback Sean Clifford said that he was the player in question.

“Leading 21-0 in the second quarter, Penn State was gifted an extended possession when Maryland committed a roughing-the-punter penalty against the Lions’ Barney Amor,” Wogenrich writes. “Two plays later, however, Clifford threw an incomplete pass behind tight end Brenton Strange that could have gone for big yardage. Strange was being covered by a cornerback with no deep safety. Instead, it was incomplete.

“Evidently, that set off Franklin, who proceeded to get Penn State’s second unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty of the half. The series ultimately led to a 50-yard Jake Pinegar field goal and a 24-0 Penn State lead.”

Added Franklin:

“I had my first unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty in 12 years as a head coach and I was embarrassed by it, so I did my pushups. Everybody’s held accountable. I think [the officials] thought I was yelling at the official, [but] I wasn’t. I was yelling at our players. But either way, I got an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty.”

Read the full story here.

Sean Clifford is at peace with how fans feel about him

This is how Ben Jones of Statecollege.com attacked his postgame story on a day when Clifford set the program’s all-time passing yards mark but also had bouts of inconsistent play, which is the norm.

“All the same, on a human level there is undoubtedly an emotional challenge that comes with being Sean Clifford. He knows, years into his career, that as Senior Day comes and goes he will not hear the cheers that his predecessor, Trace McSorley, did,” Jones writes. “Clifford’s name will be called, he will run out of the tunnel and the cheers will be as much a product of polite appreciation as they will be for his unofficial goodbye to the program. Put out to pasture at a stadium surrounded by them.

“Sean Clifford, now Penn State’s all-time leading passer with 10,023 career yards following Saturday’s win, has been relegated to politely appreciated by some fans and outright despised by others. Clifford was not what they wanted, and years of seeing that has eroded away the pretending this is not the case. To make peace with that takes more grace than many might have, to know that you are disliked by some and to put on a smile anyway. It’s no small feat.”

Read the full story here.

The Penn State defensive line shined

That is what BWI publisher Sean Fitz focused on in part in his first impressions piece.

“In the Big Ten, comfortable wins aren’t to be expected every week, even if the last two weeks seemed surprisingly easy,” Fitz writes. “It was a weird day in college football across the country and the Nittany Lions once again took care of business and avoided any potential letdowns. 

“Again it was the front four that spearheaded the Nittany Lions’ domination. Maryland quarterback Tualia Tagovailoa was in Diaz’s crosshairs from the first snap. Penn State often rushed with just four and didn’t give time for Tagovailoa to move off of his first read. The first sack came on third down at the hands of freshman Zane Durant. The Nittany Lions finished with seven on the day and nine tackles for loss. Whether it was Adisa Isaac or the vengeful Chop Robinson, Penn State’s defensive ends were on the front foot all night along and attacking at will. Robinson led the way with two sacks before leaving late with an injury, Isaac had one and Amin Vanover added a final blow in the third quarter. The defensive line was able to eat for the duration on Saturday.”

Read the full story here.