Up next in 10
Penn State football: James Franklin speaks after Fiesta Bowl, CFP Quarterfinal victory
Jan 7, 2025
Penn State football James Franklin, safety Zakee Wheatley, and tight end Tyler Warren address the media following the Nittany Lions' Fiesta Bowl win over Boise State.
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Frankl so first of all like always I
0:02
want to thank especially the the Penn
0:04
State media that that come out and
0:06
follow us all the time and cover Penn
0:08
State football we appreciate you I want
0:10
to thank the
0:11
fans it's a long season um and our fans
0:16
the support that we get how they travel
0:18
is phenomenal obviously also good being
0:21
on the west coast and maybe some of our
0:22
fans that don't normally get a chance to
0:24
see us live so that that's special I
0:27
want to give Boise a ton of credit uh I
0:31
think that's a really really good
0:32
football team they've been winning there
0:34
for a long time coach Daniels done a
0:36
done a phenomenal job um and obviously
0:40
you know could go on and on about their
0:41
players we talked a lot these guys were
0:43
sick of me talking about their running
0:45
back Ashton jinty ton of respect for him
0:48
and what he's done in his entire career
0:50
special uh but at the end of the day we
0:54
played a complete Game offense defense
0:57
and special teams complimentary football
1:00
um did some did some special things
1:03
tonight so I'm just proud of our guys we
1:04
talked in the beginning of the Season
1:06
about um our guys having these type of
1:09
moments and these type of experiences
1:11
and these type of opportunities so love
1:14
the fact that that these guys were able
1:15
to find a win against a really good
1:18
opponent here and these two guys
1:20
obviously leading the way uh just a
1:22
couple things I'll say and then I'll
1:24
then I'll open up the questions but 13
1:26
wins first time in program history um um
1:30
KRON Allen and Nick Singleton both
1:32
surpassing a th000 yards in the same
1:34
season first time we've ever had uh
1:37
2,000 yard rushers in the same season
1:39
since joining the Big
1:41
10 and then 34 wins over the last three
1:44
years we're very very proud of that
1:47
consistency is hard to do and and our
1:49
guys have done a great job at it the
1:51
maturity that they've shown has been
1:53
impressive so8 no in Fiesta bowls Penn
1:56
State loves the Fiesta Bowl we'll come
1:59
we every year so appreciate it and open
2:03
up the questions we'll start here in
2:05
front row
2:09
Center coach you mentioned your running
2:11
backs can you just explain uh how they
2:13
were able to do what they did today and
2:16
um what do you think of their overall
2:18
effort well a couple things I mean right
2:21
everybody wants to talk about the
2:22
running backs but what one of the things
2:24
we talk about all the time is game of
2:26
football starts up front always has
2:28
always will
2:30
uh I thought our D line was disruptive
2:32
today and was a major factor in the game
2:34
I thought our o line was able to control
2:36
the line of scrimmage and we talk about
2:38
o line o line tight ends obviously the
2:42
running backs you know that's KRON KRON
2:45
you know KRON breaks tackles he runs
2:48
people over he is a physical physical
2:51
back uh and then Nick obviously if you
2:54
get incase he's got a chance to go 80 at
2:57
any minute so they're a really good
2:59
compliment backs they've been playing
3:01
together for a long
3:02
time um and when we're able to get the
3:05
outside Zone going like we were able to
3:06
do today kind of opens everything else
3:09
up and gets people running sideline to
3:10
sideline which creates creases but um
3:14
I'm just I'm happy you know Nick was
3:16
trying to you know was grinding and out
3:17
grinding and out wasn't having as much
3:20
success then all a sudden you know he
3:21
was able to break the big one which was
3:23
huge so you love to see that happen and
3:25
then like I said kron's just a Workforce
3:28
so it starts up front with the o line
3:30
they don't get enough credit um but but
3:33
it's great to see those two backs have
3:35
success right here on the end front row
3:38
hi James um how would you describe your
3:41
approach to dealing with their running
3:43
back and what do you think you did that
3:45
worked to sort of Corral him I mean he
3:48
got 100 yards but sort of Corral well I
3:52
think we did Corral yeah not sort of I
3:55
think I think we did Correll I mean um
3:58
you know they they got some yards there
4:00
at the end and um I think defensively I
4:04
think our team was sick of me talking
4:06
about them and I thought I think we got
4:09
the point across about the respect that
4:11
we have for that young man and the type
4:12
of running back he is and even today
4:15
like I think our defense would say they
4:17
have a ton of respect for him and how
4:19
many tackles he was able to break how
4:21
strong he is and the contact balance
4:23
he's an impressive guy but we're we're
4:25
pretty good on defense that our D line
4:28
did a really good job of being
4:29
disruptive and getting in the back field
4:32
and then I thought we did a really good
4:33
job ganging tackle there was a few times
4:35
where we didn't rap like we should have
4:38
but for the most part you know our
4:41
defense played like that and it was
4:43
numbers in the Box obviously being able
4:45
to play Man coverage also helps with
4:48
that because you're able to drop a
4:49
safety down there and get an extra man
4:50
to add numbers um but really good back
4:54
we made him earn it today and um I you
4:57
know I think the other thing that our
4:59
guys about is you know the records that
5:01
he had a chance of breaking today too so
5:03
know it was a it was a highly motivated
5:07
group St here in the front row James ke
5:11
Tyler congratulations on uh on getting
5:13
to the semi-final round James I I know
5:15
I'm G ask you this question I I know how
5:17
you might answer it but I also have a
5:19
question for all you guys James is there
5:21
anything you can shed any light on
5:22
regarding ABD Carter I know he couldn't
5:25
finish the game looked like he was
5:26
favoring uh his left arm or his left
5:28
shoulder he tell something about that
5:30
for the players James you guys have been
5:32
tested away from Beaver Stadium a lot of
5:35
times in the regular season on the road
5:37
winning tough games and this game got
5:40
chaotic how much did those experience
5:42
maybe help you kind of not get rattle
5:45
because you've been in a lot of these
5:46
situations throughout the year yeah with
5:49
Abdul um I don't know a whole lot um you
5:53
know we'll get that checked out and and
5:55
see and obviously um number one the the
5:59
safe and Health and Welfare of our guys
6:02
is priority number one but then you know
6:05
I know Abdul will want to play next week
6:07
and he'll do everything in his power to
6:09
play next week if he's able to and we'll
6:11
we'll find out more I don't have a whole
6:13
lot more information than that um and
6:16
then in terms of being tested yeah I
6:19
think you know I think the Big 10 I
6:22
think you guys have heard me say this a
6:24
lot know I I've been a head coach in the
6:26
SEC I've been a head coach in the Big 10
6:28
I got tremendous respect for both
6:31
conferences um and I think I have a
6:33
perspective that most people don't have
6:36
right um but I think the Big 10 has
6:40
prepared our guys you know we open a
6:42
season at West
6:43
Virginia um you know had a tough Big 10
6:47
season had to overcome adversity and
6:50
challenges from the top to the bottom of
6:52
the conference and I think those things
6:55
are valuable I think you know when
6:57
you're playing in arguably the two best
6:59
conferences in all of college football
7:03
um it It prepares you for games like
7:05
this I I think I think Boise is a really
7:07
good football team I got a ton of
7:10
respect for them and how they go about
7:11
their business it's been that way for a
7:13
long time um so I think these guys will
7:17
tell you we were not taking them lightly
7:19
I know they got off the plane with those
7:20
shirts count us out we were not counting
7:23
those guys out you know they had our
7:25
attention I think that showed up today
7:27
but I think we talk about them majority
7:30
of our football team I think that shows
7:32
up when things don't go well our guys
7:34
they don't panic the coaches Don't Panic
7:37
you know we learn from it and then we we
7:39
get on to the next play and you when
7:41
you're playing really good teams at this
7:43
point of the Season they're going to
7:44
make plays they're going to do some good
7:45
things and you just got to you just got
7:47
to weather to storm and battle back four
7:50
throw on the
7:52
right following up on what you just said
7:54
about the Big 10 don't know if you're
7:56
watching the bows earlier today but um
7:58
had a good Big 10 had a good day now you
8:00
guys and either Ohio state of Oregon
8:02
will be in the semis how important is it
8:04
for the conference when your teams have
8:06
postseason success like this um in terms
8:10
of everybody's kind of perception
8:11
reputation of the Big 10 yeah I mean
8:15
obviously we we want to represent the
8:17
Big
8:18
10 and that's important to us but
8:21
ultimately I'm working about Penn State
8:23
like I'm worried about Tyler war and
8:26
zachie and Penn State the guys in that
8:30
I want them to have an unbelievable
8:32
college experience and I want them to go
8:34
on and have a chance to reach their
8:36
dreams like that's my focus I got
8:39
respect for being co coaching the SEC
8:41
because I've been there um take a lot of
8:44
pride in and represent the Big 10 but
8:48
ultimately I'm worried about these guys
8:51
the guys in that locker room our our
8:54
fans the
8:55
Letterman Pat craft my boss NE B boy my
9:00
boss boss um David kleer my boss boss
9:04
boss he's the chair of the board um and
9:08
then sometimes it feels like you know
9:10
all the media and people on blocks I
9:12
feel like I work for them sometimes too
9:14
but um I just I I I don't spend a whole
9:18
lot of time on that I'm I'm focused on
9:21
our
9:22
guys you the second to the last row on
9:24
the left hey coach congrats the way and
9:26
happy New Year by the way just wanted to
9:29
reach out and ask you about some of the
9:30
throws that Drew Aller today I feel like
9:32
they were NFL throws some of these balls
9:34
were going really high in the air coming
9:36
down right to the receivers Red Basket
9:38
talk about his confidence though playing
9:40
games like this letting it R and I feel
9:42
like I've seen a different kid we've saw
9:44
the last couple years seems like his
9:46
confidence really taking the next step
9:48
yeah they they get better right I last
9:51
year was the first year starting and one
9:53
a bunch of games and did some really
9:55
good things his touchdown to
9:56
interception ratio is phenomenal
9:59
um obviously when when this guy gets
10:02
turnovers and puts the ball back in the
10:04
offense's hand and this guy four times a
10:07
KN you can just Chuck it up to him and
10:09
he's going to come down with it um but
10:12
Drew makes big time throws he's a big
10:14
bodied kid he's able to make plays with
10:17
his feet which I think has been a huge
10:19
part of his development and our
10:21
offense's growth um but you know Drew
10:26
Drew's had a phenomenal college career I
10:28
think it's only going to get better and
10:31
we're going to need that you know but
10:32
yeah makes big time throws obviously we
10:34
started out the game on fire and then we
10:36
made things more difficult than it
10:37
needed to be with penalties and things
10:39
like that you know there was a ton of
10:41
penalties in this game really for both
10:43
teams so um we made it a little bit
10:46
harder than it needed to be but you guys
10:49
you guys should ask these two guys
10:50
questions um because they're what it's
10:52
all about second
10:54
person um Tyler and Zaki next week we
10:57
are 16th game of the season go into the
10:59
recovery process makeing sure you guys
11:01
are both healthy and ready for you know
11:02
what's been a day long season for you
11:04
too uh I'd say you know obviously we've
11:07
had processes all through the season so
11:09
kind of going off those we do have more
11:10
time you know being out of school and
11:12
not having the extra stuff to worry
11:13
about it's really it's just taking that
11:14
extra time and instead of going home and
11:16
maybe spending 30 more minutes doing
11:18
something to make your body feel better
11:19
but I mean everybody everybody's at this
11:21
point and everybody's going to be
11:21
hurting so it's not really a an excuse
11:23
or something you can lean on and say
11:25
it's say it's an issue so you just got
11:26
to handle it and make sure it's it's not
11:28
an issue in the game
11:30
pretty much what totle said I just say
11:31
just using the resources we have in the
11:33
facility um but keep homeing on your
11:36
routine and just yeah stretching and
11:38
doing what you have to
11:41
do go to the very back here on the left
11:44
coach could you just share your early
11:46
thoughts about getting to Face Georgia
11:48
or Notre D and just what you think about
11:50
both of those programs yeah I appreciate
11:54
the question I love your accent um but
11:58
honestly just I want to enjoy this Boise
12:02
win and this Fiesta Bowl win for a
12:06
couple hours
12:08
um you know have we decided where we're
12:11
going tonight for New Year's Eve we
12:13
decided yet we talk about it after this
12:15
okay but we're just we're going to we're
12:17
going to enjoy the new year we're going
12:20
to enjoy this win for a couple hours and
12:23
then obviously you know we we'll start
12:26
to get a little bit of a a head start on
12:28
on these teams but but obviously two
12:30
great programs one a bunch of games
12:33
history tradition Talent coaching you
12:37
know at this point in the season you're
12:38
going to play really good people and and
12:40
we're excited about that opportunity but
12:43
tonight we just we want to enjoy this
12:45
for a couple hours because there'll be
12:46
plenty of time and hours uh to get
12:49
focused on those next opponents yes sir
12:52
y the uh ever since you got to Penn
12:54
State you've kind of been viewed as as a
12:56
playmaker whether it's in practice
12:58
you're kind of always around the ball
13:00
showed up again uh tonight with a couple
13:03
of turnovers could you just talk about
13:05
maybe how you you kind of always does
13:07
the ball find you or do you find the
13:09
ball for one
13:11
yes how how do how talk about your turn
13:15
offers tonight that you you were able to
13:16
create I know KOB really helped you out
13:17
I think on the fumble and what what did
13:19
you think was the key for the defense to
13:23
you you guys made the running back work
13:25
for his yards he had he needed I think
13:27
over 30 carries to get over the 100 yard
13:28
mark and he just wasn't really as
13:31
impactful as he' been in about the other
13:33
game us I like first I to start off with
13:37
um Shan out Kobe King who forced the
13:40
fumble to allow me to get that and then
13:41
also J Reed on that same play I caught
13:44
the pick I think it was like third and
13:45
20 he pretty much told me he go to the
13:47
Post let me take the down tight end go
13:49
ahead to RAM and do what you do and that
13:51
same very play that happen so that just
13:53
shows you how teamwork and trusting each
13:54
other how things can U play out and in
13:57
terms of the r the record in 130 yards I
14:00
mean that was a big motivation we knew
14:01
who was going against today we knew that
14:03
we need to all let a hats of the ball
14:04
every single play cuz any play you can
14:06
break one and we did that the whole game
14:07
and we had to
14:09
do the guy's a turnover machine and when
14:13
you're able to recruit guys out of high
14:15
school that come from great high school
14:17
programs Kyle Schmidt who played for me
14:20
at the University of Maryland he's done
14:22
a phenomenal job he's one of the best
14:23
High School coaches in America it's fall
14:25
in high school Zach you played wide
14:28
receiver as well as defensive back
14:31
probably could play wide receiver at
14:32
Penn State and when you get guys like
14:34
that that have got so many different
14:37
skills speed range athleticism
14:40
confidence he started out a corner I
14:42
think that helps him very confident in
14:45
covering people he's very confident in
14:47
attacking the ball um he's just a
14:50
talented talented guy he's gotten
14:52
significantly better every single year
14:55
every single I don't think he's talked
14:56
about enough on a national scale this
14:58
guy
15:00
everybody's talking about and and
15:01
deservedly so but we we need to get more
15:04
people talking about this gentleman
15:06
right here go toward the back on the
15:08
right hey James how's it going good how
15:10
are you I'm good good to see you um
15:13
there are a lot of ways to motivate
15:14
how's mom's relish um it's it's good
15:17
it's tasty it's going to confuse a lot
15:19
of people um there are a lot of ways to
15:22
motivate a lot of ways the message you
15:24
have to pick one and years ago you
15:26
picked one and0 why is that and what do
15:30
you do right to get cl to of
15:32
this yeah so you know obviously I I
15:36
wouldn't say it's overly unique but I
15:40
just I'm a big believer in being
15:43
present uh I don't I think you know one
15:46
of the things I just got on the guys in
15:47
the locker
15:49
room you know a bunch of guys are on
15:51
their phones and I get that that's this
15:53
generation now Twitter
15:56
Instagram what whatever it may be I get
15:59
it but what I do know is PJ muster Jesse
16:06
Letta and um all the guys that were on
16:10
the sideline kind of supporting our guys
16:14
um they would die to be back in our
16:16
locker room room room and I just think
16:19
being present is such an important
16:22
quality for all of us right and um kind
16:27
of that's what one and0 is all about
16:29
right whether it's the game whether it
16:33
is the exam or the class um and even for
16:37
myself like sitting with my wife and
16:40
kids and my phone's going off pushing
16:42
the phone away and being present like I
16:45
know I got to be better about that like
16:48
um it's just an important trait and
16:51
quality that I think you have to have
16:54
and I think it could be a differentiator
16:56
in today's society and specifically in
16:58
college footall
16:59
the fans all look at our schedule and
17:01
they want to talk about certain games
17:04
and we understand the importance of of
17:07
we understand the importance of certain
17:08
games I get it there's also a big part
17:11
of consistency in college football
17:14
there's teams that get a big win against
17:18
a certain opponent and then they lose to
17:19
somebody the next week they shouldn't do
17:21
and for the most part we haven't done
17:23
that and um I think our guys have
17:27
embraced it we have reinforced it over
17:30
and over and over again and as you know
17:33
I'm I'm a big believer in routine and
17:36
I'm a big believer in consistency and
17:38
consistency in message and I think for a
17:41
lot of our guys it's helpful when things
17:44
are going crazy they're being pulled a
17:46
thousand different directions and you
17:48
can take a deep breath and and focus on
17:50
you know whether it's one and0 or our
17:52
core values you know those types of
17:54
things I think are important we have
17:56
time for one more question for our
17:58
players
17:59
go here to the second row in the
18:04
center who is
18:09
it Tyler out of the out of the half you
18:11
guys came out a little bit slow but um
18:14
one Drew three that touchdown how much
18:15
did that build on your confidence for
18:18
really the rest of the game yeah I think
18:21
part of the problem when we first came
18:22
out was just the self self-inflicting
18:23
penalties we had some holding two two
18:26
big holding calls and two big runs that
18:27
kind of started in in a bad position but
18:30
I think that drive just getting it going
18:32
again and then getting six points is
18:33
really important and not not ending in a
18:35
field goal but really having the running
18:36
backs going like that all day was was
18:38
awesome for us as an offense and and I'm
18:40
I was really happy that that we broke
18:42
off that long with Nick I know after
18:44
kind of grounding pounding for a little
18:46
bit to see that was kind of you know
18:47
just just awesome to see and that was
18:49
kind of the my my happiest moment from
18:50
the game was probably when he broke that
18:52
off and just looking over at the
18:53
sidelines you Everybody
18:56
celebrate okay that will conclude the pr
18:58
confence for our players do we have any
19:00
more questions for Coach
19:05
Franklin all right we'll stay here front
19:07
row just the running game these guys
19:11
stay they they
19:19
can James just a running game down the
19:22
stretch you been able to lead on it
19:24
whenever you need it against really good
19:26
teams too not you know at the Oregon
19:27
game go your way against SMU in bad
19:31
weather being on the running game and
19:33
Drew did start hot but then there were
19:35
some up and down moments there to to be
19:38
able to rely on that you talked about
19:39
the offensive line blocking of the tight
19:41
ends and the way that KRON especially
19:42
ran tonight he he ran about as angry as
19:45
I've ever seen him
19:46
run how how important is that to the
19:50
success of this season but also just
19:51
moving forward because you've done it
19:53
against good teams yeah you know running
19:56
game and defense
19:58
travels you know that that that's going
20:01
to show up throughout a season that's
20:04
going to show up in bad weather that's
20:06
going to show up when you're trying to
20:08
run four minute like you know there at
20:10
the end of the game there was a lot of
20:12
time left and we kind of went four
20:14
minute we were snapping the ball under 4
20:16
seconds we're trying to take time off
20:18
the clock trying to keep our defense off
20:20
the field trying to keep their running
20:22
back off the field um so when you're
20:24
able to run the
20:26
ball it it it is a powerful thing at
20:29
this point of the season so uh you know
20:32
we want to be able to rely on that and
20:33
also set you up in your play action
20:35
passes as well makes them more explosive
20:38
so being able to run the ball and being
20:40
able to control the line of scrimmage
20:41
whether it's your offensive line or or
20:43
our or our defensive line is is critical
20:47
and it showed up tonight to your point
20:49
it's really kind of showed up all
20:51
season great that will conclude our
20:53
press conference tonight thank you to
20:56
Penn State congratulations and as a
20:58
verbo fiestable cfp quarterfinal
21:01
Champions thank you to our media and
21:03
happy New Year everyone thanks guys
#College Sports
#American Football