With this message I’ve the expectations of a lightning rod staring down an approaching super cell thunderstorm but nonetheless, I’ve got to get it off my chest.
As a leader of young men Coach Franklin is ‘the bomb’! He is a master motivator and propagandist. What he said to the committee while on the dais was prescient. IMHO he knew we wouldn’t get into the Final Four but he said what had to be said. It lays the foundation for the bowl game and for next season. As Brady Hoke said post game (paraphrase) you don’t want to be playing Penn State now with that chip on its shoulder. Spot on! Secondly, I couldn’t help but notice how Coach Franklin got into TM’s ear before the MVP presentation. My gut instinct says it was to remind him of the gravity of the situation; that is, a two-time Heisman Trophy winner is about to present you a trophy! Trace responded well, if not in awe then with deference. Our kids are well-spoken. Our kids are well-mannered. Witness the “yes ma’ams” and “yes sirs” when in front of the microphone. It makes one proud and it reflects on our coach.
That said, once again Coach Franklin exposed himself as a questionable tactician. You don’t go for it on 4th down in that situation; not at the down and distance, not so early in the game, not with our punter and not when you lack momentum. The guys in the booth called it “desperation” (BTW, the same guys who were lauding Wisky’s secondary up until that point). But I think it was more a case of impatience. With Gesicki’s touchdown coach knew how to attack that defense, and from that point on he was chomping at the bit to do it. But such reckless abandon almost put the team in a hole from which it couldn’t dig out. Do that against USC and you won’t. Surely, the other sideline sees it as a chink in PSU’s armor. How many times have we heard ”you take what the defense gives you”? Things that make you go hmmm.
Lastly, not only did Rasheed Blacknall have a monster game but Desean Hamilton did, too. Opposing defensive coordinators must be wondering who they’re going to cover. I lost count of how many players had a reception. When Irving Charles steps up look out! If the run blocking ever matures then we might be unstoppable.
That is all. Thanks for playing.
As a leader of young men Coach Franklin is ‘the bomb’! He is a master motivator and propagandist. What he said to the committee while on the dais was prescient. IMHO he knew we wouldn’t get into the Final Four but he said what had to be said. It lays the foundation for the bowl game and for next season. As Brady Hoke said post game (paraphrase) you don’t want to be playing Penn State now with that chip on its shoulder. Spot on! Secondly, I couldn’t help but notice how Coach Franklin got into TM’s ear before the MVP presentation. My gut instinct says it was to remind him of the gravity of the situation; that is, a two-time Heisman Trophy winner is about to present you a trophy! Trace responded well, if not in awe then with deference. Our kids are well-spoken. Our kids are well-mannered. Witness the “yes ma’ams” and “yes sirs” when in front of the microphone. It makes one proud and it reflects on our coach.
That said, once again Coach Franklin exposed himself as a questionable tactician. You don’t go for it on 4th down in that situation; not at the down and distance, not so early in the game, not with our punter and not when you lack momentum. The guys in the booth called it “desperation” (BTW, the same guys who were lauding Wisky’s secondary up until that point). But I think it was more a case of impatience. With Gesicki’s touchdown coach knew how to attack that defense, and from that point on he was chomping at the bit to do it. But such reckless abandon almost put the team in a hole from which it couldn’t dig out. Do that against USC and you won’t. Surely, the other sideline sees it as a chink in PSU’s armor. How many times have we heard ”you take what the defense gives you”? Things that make you go hmmm.
Lastly, not only did Rasheed Blacknall have a monster game but Desean Hamilton did, too. Opposing defensive coordinators must be wondering who they’re going to cover. I lost count of how many players had a reception. When Irving Charles steps up look out! If the run blocking ever matures then we might be unstoppable.
That is all. Thanks for playing.
