Franklin's Press Conference

[jbenedict]

"I would like to open up with a statement, something that I was thinking about laying in bed last night, that I wanted to put out there. The football that I know, and love, brings people together and embraces differences. Black, white, brown, Catholic, Jewish, or Muslim, rich or poor, rural or urban, Republican or Democrat, long hair, short hair or no hair, they’re all in the locker room together."

"Teams all over the country are the purest form of humanity we have. We don’t judge. We embrace differences. We love, grow, and support each other. We’re a family. Penn State brings people together unlike few things on this planet. Fans throughout our region, from all different parts of our state, they are hugging and singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ together [at games]. This is my football. Ultimately, this is the definition and embodiment of what ‘We Are’ is all about.” I Love it. NicEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

“Jonathan Sutherland is one of the most respected players in our program and is what our program is all about. He’s a captain, dean’s list student, student, intelligent, and committed, and has two of the most supportive parents. I would be so blessed if my daughters married someone with his characteristics one day.”

 

[GreggK]

I agree. What gives us a right to make presumptions about people who don't have the benefit of your experience. But somehow this one is different? Why? Because Peterson is an old white guy from Western PA and therefore, he must be a racist. Golly gee, I wonder who taught us that false narrative!

Look, all I'm saying is don't be guilty of doing what you claim to be against, and that's prejudice. Better to kick this Peterson guy off campus for 'penning' a personal letter to a student athlete over his appearance! Who in their right mind does that.

Lastly, I'm thinking Johnathan's dad has already asked Peterson to meet him at Gate A.

I thank you.

I dunno, I was born in Johnstown. It wasn’t that he had a problem with appearance etc. It was the very specific problem he thought was disgusting about a deans list student. You really have to perform linguistic tricks not to see the racism in this.

 

[UncleLar]

Great point. We have a lot of outspoken/smart young men on this team that feel compelled to use social media as a microphone at times, probably not different than all other kids their age, but you have to think about the repercussions and which battles to engage. Its a fine line, I'd feel like a total jerk suggesting that a player like Shelton be muted by a coach about a social justice or racist issue he feels strong about, but at the same time, it's brutal reading this story on news outlets today. Also, Franklin has to take time out of preparing for the game to address this stuff. I know I know, social justice concerns and racism trump football and the national perspective of the university, but does this have to be put out on social media? I get it, a lot of this stems from advancing public discourse, marginalized people now have a voice via social media and thats probably a good thing. This bozo has a voice too, but he sent it in a personal letter. I think John and antonio, as smart as they are, would have been better served, and spared the university some public backlash(which seems a monthly thing these days), if they used their more intelligent minds to write this guy a letter educating him about the world and pointing out where he was offensive and ignorant.

If you look at it from a bigger picture, i.e. outside of what it means to the PSU football team, then Shelton did the absolutely right thing. What Petersen wrote was wrong. The more often incidents like this are brought into the public eye, the more likely it is that people will begin to understand.

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

"I would like to open up with a statement, something that I was thinking about laying in bed last night, that I wanted to put out there. The football that I know, and love, brings people together and embraces differences. Black, white, brown, Catholic, Jewish, or Muslim, rich or poor, rural or urban, Republican or Democrat, long hair, short hair or no hair, they’re all in the locker room together."

"Teams all over the country are the purest form of humanity we have. We don’t judge. We embrace differences. We love, grow, and support each other. We’re a family. Penn State brings people together unlike few things on this planet. Fans throughout our region, from all different parts of our state, they are hugging and singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ together [at games]. This is my football. Ultimately, this is the definition and embodiment of what ‘We Are’ is all about.”

“Jonathan Sutherland is one of the most respected players in our program and is what our program is all about. He’s a captain, dean’s list student, student, intelligent, and committed, and has two of the most supportive parents. I would be so blessed if my daughters married someone with his characteristics one day.”

So Ro.... stick to your fantasies.... lol

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

I dunno, I was born in Johnstown. It wasn’t that he had a problem with appearance etc. It was the very specific problem he thought was disgusting about a deans list student. You really have to perform linguistic tricks not to see the racism in this.

Cosmo? Pay not attention.... waste not a thought... or emotion.

 

[bvillebaron]

He is not going anywhere.

Of course he isn’t. Too much invested in what he is building. There are cement heads everywhere.

 

[fastlax16]

So Ro.... stick to your fantasies.... lol

what?

 

[interrobang]

What's just as bad as this out of touch old man sending a letter to complain about hair is the extreme over reaction by some in the media. The term "racism" is so overused and trite that when there's real racism, it gets overshadowed

 

[LaJolla Lion]

What's just as bad as this out of touch old man sending a letter to complain about hair is the extreme over reaction by some in the media. The term "racism" is so overused and trite that when there's real racism, it gets overshadowed

True, but defending stupid comments doesn't help the cause either. I mean saying the kid had ugly dreadlocks and needed a mirror was such a bright move....we need to some point the finger at others here.

 

[demlion]

What's just as bad as this out of touch old man sending a letter to complain about hair is the extreme over reaction by some in the media. The term "racism" is so overused and trite that when there's real racism, it gets overshadowed

Thanks, but I will gladly give that concern over to those who are his targets. It's not up to me.

 

[bison13]

What's Sutherlands address so I can thank him for being a much better representative of psu than that Peterson asshole...

 

[danvillenit]

Eating dinner at a restaurant tonight and the letter issue seemed to be playing a majority of the time I was watching ESPN. I couldn’t get the sound but this Peterson ahole has got us in the news big time

 

[TheBumble]

They probably shouldn't play the game saturday... we need time to heal from this vicious racist attack.

 

[RickinDayton]

Excellent statement and you know those are his genuine feelings. Thankful James Franklin is PSU's head coach.

Let me add to my original post that I am offended that Coach Franklin did not include Baptist and Protestants in his statement (LOL).

 

[PSU Dave]

"I would like to open up with a statement, something that I was thinking about laying in bed last night, that I wanted to put out there. The football that I know, and love, brings people together and embraces differences. Black, white, brown, Catholic, Jewish, or Muslim, rich or poor, rural or urban, Republican or Democrat, long hair, short hair or no hair, they’re all in the locker room together."

"Teams all over the country are the purest form of humanity we have. We don’t judge. We embrace differences. We love, grow, and support each other. We’re a family. Penn State brings people together unlike few things on this planet. Fans throughout our region, from all different parts of our state, they are hugging and singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ together [at games]. This is my football. Ultimately, this is the definition and embodiment of what ‘We Are’ is all about.”

“Jonathan Sutherland is one of the most respected players in our program and is what our program is all about. He’s a captain, dean’s list student, student, intelligent, and committed, and has two of the most supportive parents. I would be so blessed if my daughters married someone with his characteristics one day.”

 

[canuckhal]

Wait. So Franklin isn't a used car salesman after all?

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

what?

From an earlier thread.........

 

[fastlax16]

From an earlier thread.........

Are complete sentences difficult for you?

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

Are complete sentences difficult for you?

Nope. Just waste few words on jackasses.

 

[fastlax16]

Nope. Just waste few words on jackasses.

Save them for the letters of admiration you're sending to Dave from Johnstown.

 

[massimoManca II]

I agree. What gives us a right to make presumptions about people who don't have the benefit of your experience. But somehow this one is different? Why? Because Peterson is an old white guy from Western PA and therefore, he must be a racist. Golly gee, I wonder who taught us that false narrative!

Look, all I'm saying is don't be guilty of doing what you claim to be against, and that's prejudice. Better to kick this Peterson guy off campus for 'penning' a personal letter to a student athlete over his appearance! Who in their right mind does that.

Lastly, I'm thinking Johnathan's dad has already asked Peterson to meet him at Gate A.

I thank you.

Boo phockin hoo!

BREAKING NEWS: Petersen’s words are more than just quackin’-like-a-duck...

Sorry we hurt you by making the presumption about Petersen based on the content of his writings/his beliefs... this specific old white guy western Pennsylvanian made some seriously thick-skulled remarks - remarks that may have been tolerated/ not uncommon back when America was great...

portraying old white guys like yourself (and me) as victims does little other than induce eyerolls

Now you want to kick him off campus? Aren’t you one of those who ham-handedly bemoan the educated “elite” for creating college environments that stifle free speech?

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

Let me add to my original post that I am offended that Coach Franklin did not include Baptist and Protestants in his statement (LOL).

You do know that Baptists are Protestants, right?