What Penn State's James Franklin said during his weekly press conference
Penn State needs a win.
Unfortunately for Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin, so does Nebraska.
The Nittany Lions and Cornhuskers will meet Saturday, Nov. 14 in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, in a game that will feature a matchup of two teams desperate for a win. Both teams have failed to gain a tally in the win-column in 2020, and both are dealing with issues at the quarterback position.
Being without a win in their first three games is unfamiliar territory for the Nittany Lions, marking the first time since 2001, and only the fourth time in 80 years it has happened. With expectations high entering the season, and a top-10 start in the national rankings, Franklin is left looking for answers.
Franklin met with the media via a Zoom press conference on Tuesday and discussed his team’s performance in the first three games, and previewed some of the preparations for Saturday’s game against Nebraska.
Here’s what Franklin had to say on Tuesday at his weekly press conference.
James Franklin's Tuesday news conference is underway: "I understand there are going to be tough questions throughout this press conference and that's fair. … Right now we're being tested."
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 10, 2020
Franklin: "You have to be very careful in times like this because you guys ask fair, tough questions but how I respond I want to make sure isn't divisive." Says he's going to start with love.
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 10, 2020
"There's been a lot of factors in 2020. A lot of factors. If you're not careful than those factors can become distractions." Franklin said he has not done a great job of managing his family living in Florida this season. "I've not done a great job of that."
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 10, 2020
Franklin says they need to keep investing in backup QB Will Levis and finding ways to use him. Says they need him to be involved. "We need to do that and I think you'll see that moving forward. Not just this week but this season."
Why not try that down 35-7? (I don't know)
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 10, 2020
James Franklin says he has not done a great job of managing his family not being home. His family is away in Florida this season for the pandemic.
"They're my fuel. I go home, they're able to pour into me. I've not done a great job with that. At the end of the day, I have to."
— Elton Hayes (@EHDC12) November 10, 2020
The theme of the presser today: "I think it's a fair question."
Franklin reiterates he's going to lead by love in good times and bad times. "Leadership 101 is consistency."— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 10, 2020
Franklin recommends everyone watch the Adam Taliaferro special tonight to "get away from your frustrations with other things right now"
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 10, 2020
Franklin on the defensive line: "I think Jayson Oweh is a really good example. This past week he graded out really well for us…Don't get me wrong we want more sacks and he wants more sacks, but I also think it's important we show the guys that as well."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 10, 2020
Franklin said he "could've mixed in" Will Levis a little bit more at quarterback on Saturday.
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 10, 2020
Franklin on the secondary: "What you gotta do is get people on the ground. We've done a pretty good job of limiting explosive plays, but we weren't able to do that on Saturday."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 10, 2020
Franklin on the running back's struggles: "When you lose Journey Brown before the season starts… and then the first drive of the opening game we lose Noah Cain. For me to say that doesn't have a factor in this, it does."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 10, 2020
Franklin: "I know our approach hasn't changed. I'm being tested right now and we're being tested… I can't come in and talk about 'the culture has led to all of our success,' and then when we have challenge not say that that's part of it. It is."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 10, 2020
