What's up? Everybody's LeVar Arrington here coming to you with another exciting edition of Quite Franklin with coach James Franklin. That's right. We're gonna talk big win out of USC going into a bye week. We're gonna talk going into Madison, Wisconsin to play against the Badgers. We're gonna also finish up the show with a candid conversation and response about the mounting pressure of winning during the course of the season and not losing, not losing at all. How does coach Franklin handle the pressures of being successful in Happy Valley. We're going to tackle those questions right now and Quite Franklin, here we go. Buckle up, Hey, how you feel it? How's everything?

What's up? Everybody's LeVar Arrington here coming to you with another exciting edition of Quite Franklin with coach James Franklin. That's right. We're gonna talk big win out of USC going into a bye week. We're gonna talk going into Madison, Wisconsin to play against the Badgers. We're gonna also finish up the show with a candid conversation and response about the mounting pressure of winning during the course of the season and not losing, not losing at all. How does coach Franklin handle the pressures of being successful in Happy Valley. We're going to tackle those questions right now and Quite Franklin, here we go. Buckle up, Hey, how you feel it? How's everything?

Yeah?

Yeah?

Good? All right? Cause you saved that You either you were under the weather last time I talked to you or you it seemed like you might have been under the weather, but it could have been that like it might have been warrior mode. It might have been war mode and were going to the coliseum as gladiators to see what we got and see what we can do. What was your takeaway from that game? Because I didn't talk to you after that game, but that was such a I'll say this. I remember in ninety nine, my last year in school, we went to the Orange Bowl to play the Hurricanes, and it was a build up game. They were just coming off of probation. They were loaded, they had players all over the place, and we beat them in a thriller like it was SHAFEI got a pass from from KT and he beat Mike Rumf and Ad Reid to ice them. This was one of them games where it's like the emotions of it felt the same way I felt when I was a player playing in that game. It was like, why am I not panicking? I'm watching you guys and we are down big, But I didn't panic like I didn't feel like there was a panic. I felt like, some way, somehow, we are going to get back in this game, and we're going to find a way to win this game. There was some real tense moments. Is what's your takeaway from this game? Coach?

Good? All right? Cause you saved that You either you were under the weather last time I talked to you or you it seemed like you might have been under the weather, but it could have been that like it might have been warrior mode. It might have been war mode and were going to the coliseum as gladiators to see what we got and see what we can do. What was your takeaway from that game? Because I didn't talk to you after that game, but that was such a I'll say this. I remember in ninety nine, my last year in school, we went to the Orange Bowl to play the Hurricanes, and it was a build up game. They were just coming off of probation. They were loaded, they had players all over the place, and we beat them in a thriller like it was SHAFEI got a pass from from KT and he beat Mike Rumf and Ad Reid to ice them. This was one of them games where it's like the emotions of it felt the same way I felt when I was a player playing in that game. It was like, why am I not panicking? I'm watching you guys and we are down big, But I didn't panic like I didn't feel like there was a panic. I felt like, some way, somehow, we are going to get back in this game, and we're going to find a way to win this game. There was some real tense moments. Is what's your takeaway from this game? Coach?

Well, I think, first of all, I mean, right now, nobody wants to hear this because of the way their last three games have gone. But that is a talented team, that's a talented roster, and we're you know, at their place home field, advantage. I thought the environment was better than I thought it was going to be. Although I think there was a large number of Penn State fans there. Did think it was louder than I expected it to be in there. It was cool coming out of that tunnel and then seeing the you know, the torch and yeah, which I thought that was cool. But you know, I think to your point, I think you gotta find ways to win games like that. And I thought I thought Drew, although he really had the two interceptions, I I don't think Drew ever waivered. I thought his demeanor was great. I thought his confidence was great. I thought Julian Fleming coming up on those two fourth down stops was huge.

Well, I think, first of all, I mean, right now, nobody wants to hear this because of the way their last three games have gone. But that is a talented team, that's a talented roster, and we're you know, at their place home field, advantage. I thought the environment was better than I thought it was going to be. Although I think there was a large number of Penn State fans there. Did think it was louder than I expected it to be in there. It was cool coming out of that tunnel and then seeing the you know, the torch and yeah, which I thought that was cool. But you know, I think to your point, I think you gotta find ways to win games like that. And I thought I thought Drew, although he really had the two interceptions, I I don't think Drew ever waivered. I thought his demeanor was great. I thought his confidence was great. I thought Julian Fleming coming up on those two fourth down stops was huge.

After some drops early on, like he could have he could have packed his tent and rolled out, but that was a character like that show care.

After some drops early on, like he could have he could have packed his tent and rolled out, but that was a character like that show care.

Jay Reid always comes through with it with a play. So to me, that was one of those games where you know, we made it more difficult than it needed to be, but against a talented roster, we were still able to put them away. And then I think the other thing that showed up in that game that we hadn't really seen is the kicking game. To have a field goal kicker, you know, make those type of kicks in that type of moment. I think that's going to pay pay a lot of dividends for US moving forward. So big win. And then as you know, just you know, there was a ton of recruits there in a part of the country that may open up to us as well. You know, obviously we got a couple commits you know from California right now, some high end guys. But then when you win that type of game in that environment with a bunch of recruits at the game, that's going to help as well. So a lot of different reasons why I think that was a really good and important win for US.

Jay Reid always comes through with it with a play. So to me, that was one of those games where you know, we made it more difficult than it needed to be, but against a talented roster, we were still able to put them away. And then I think the other thing that showed up in that game that we hadn't really seen is the kicking game. To have a field goal kicker, you know, make those type of kicks in that type of moment. I think that's going to pay pay a lot of dividends for US moving forward. So big win. And then as you know, just you know, there was a ton of recruits there in a part of the country that may open up to us as well. You know, obviously we got a couple commits you know from California right now, some high end guys. But then when you win that type of game in that environment with a bunch of recruits at the game, that's going to help as well. So a lot of different reasons why I think that was a really good and important win for US.

Coach, you guys have the one and O mentality, that's the approach one and oh one and O two part question here, how do you take momentum, if at all, from a game like that, Because I feel like you build momentum on the fact that one you're undefeated and then two to win a game with those circumstances that you just mentioned, that's big and that could be a momentum builder. But when you're a one to no mentality team, how do you take that into the next game? Like, what's the balance if any on that, and then when you have a bye week, how does that how do you if you're taking that momentum, how do you write that momentum through a bye week into the to the next opponent.

Coach, you guys have the one and O mentality, that's the approach one and oh one and O two part question here, how do you take momentum, if at all, from a game like that, Because I feel like you build momentum on the fact that one you're undefeated and then two to win a game with those circumstances that you just mentioned, that's big and that could be a momentum builder. But when you're a one to no mentality team, how do you take that into the next game? Like, what's the balance if any on that, and then when you have a bye week, how does that how do you if you're taking that momentum, how do you write that momentum through a bye week into the to the next opponent.

Well, it's our belief and my belief that I think the confidence comes from winning those type of games in those type of environments.

Well, it's our belief and my belief that I think the confidence comes from winning those type of games in those type of environments.

So that's happening.

So that's happening.

And then as you know, it's not like I can shut down the families and the friends and the people on campus and the media, and a lot of these guys are getting padded on the back. So I think the confidence happens without us having to feel like we got to build on it. What I'm trying to do is try to control the things that we can control and keep them focused on just getting better, Like we just got to get better this week. You know the Nick Saban whole rat poison thing, Like when you feel like you've arrived and you got there, then that's why you that's where you end up getting your ass beat. So it's like the confidence I think will naturally just come from having success. What I'm trying to do is tune all the rest of the stuff out and keep the team just focused on getting better, because if we just get better individually as offense, defense, special teams, and then as a team, if we just continue to get better as the season goes on, then we're going to be difficult to deal with. But the minute we feel like, ah, we've kind of arrived and we got this figured out. In our conference, Wisconsin's just won the last three games and is playing their best football right now. Our conference is good enough that if you don't have your stuff buttoned up and you ain't laser focused on the task at hand and getting better, then you're gonna get humbled quickly. So I just do everything in my power to try to keep us focused on those things and keep it narrow focused on just getting better.

And then as you know, it's not like I can shut down the families and the friends and the people on campus and the media, and a lot of these guys are getting padded on the back. So I think the confidence happens without us having to feel like we got to build on it. What I'm trying to do is try to control the things that we can control and keep them focused on just getting better, Like we just got to get better this week. You know the Nick Saban whole rat poison thing, Like when you feel like you've arrived and you got there, then that's why you that's where you end up getting your ass beat. So it's like the confidence I think will naturally just come from having success. What I'm trying to do is tune all the rest of the stuff out and keep the team just focused on getting better, because if we just get better individually as offense, defense, special teams, and then as a team, if we just continue to get better as the season goes on, then we're going to be difficult to deal with. But the minute we feel like, ah, we've kind of arrived and we got this figured out. In our conference, Wisconsin's just won the last three games and is playing their best football right now. Our conference is good enough that if you don't have your stuff buttoned up and you ain't laser focused on the task at hand and getting better, then you're gonna get humbled quickly. So I just do everything in my power to try to keep us focused on those things and keep it narrow focused on just getting better.

You mentioned Wisconsin Madison is always hard to play in. It's just a it's a can't Randall is just one of them places. It's just hard to play in that environment. I enjoyed it, but it just seems like it's just one of them places people say it's hard to play in and they are playing good football right now. Coach, So, does do you feel like there was an experience in terms of we know we can go on the road and win in a hostile environment coming off of a win as fresh as the USC when and how does that play into going against that? As you mentioned a team that's doing well, it's a Big ten team, and it's one of those teams that they I mean, they generally are the ones that represent the other side have historically represented the other side of it. Outside of well, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State, it's like those three and then it's Wisconsin or Iowa over here. Right, So this is like the way I look at it. We're playing a top top, a top tier team. Do you feel like that that the size of the weight of this game? Do you feel like you guys are embracing that, like understand the magnitude of going to Madison and winning a game in Camp Randall.

You mentioned Wisconsin Madison is always hard to play in. It's just a it's a can't Randall is just one of them places. It's just hard to play in that environment. I enjoyed it, but it just seems like it's just one of them places people say it's hard to play in and they are playing good football right now. Coach, So, does do you feel like there was an experience in terms of we know we can go on the road and win in a hostile environment coming off of a win as fresh as the USC when and how does that play into going against that? As you mentioned a team that's doing well, it's a Big ten team, and it's one of those teams that they I mean, they generally are the ones that represent the other side have historically represented the other side of it. Outside of well, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State, it's like those three and then it's Wisconsin or Iowa over here. Right, So this is like the way I look at it. We're playing a top top, a top tier team. Do you feel like that that the size of the weight of this game? Do you feel like you guys are embracing that, like understand the magnitude of going to Madison and winning a game in Camp Randall.

What's your record at Camp Randall, oh to one? Yeah, it's it's a tough place to play.

What's your record at Camp Randall, oh to one? Yeah, it's it's a tough place to play.

To you and one versus Wisconsin. But to the point, we lost to them in Wisconsin. All our losses when I was in school generally took place when we played them there. Michigan State lost there. You know, we lost Michigan everywhere, but we lost Ohio State beat Ohio State twice at home but lost to them in Ohio State. So it's hard to play on the road.

To you and one versus Wisconsin. But to the point, we lost to them in Wisconsin. All our losses when I was in school generally took place when we played them there. Michigan State lost there. You know, we lost Michigan everywhere, but we lost Ohio State beat Ohio State twice at home but lost to them in Ohio State. So it's hard to play on the road.

Yeah, And I didn't know, and that's why I was asking. I think me and you have talked a bunch about like, you know, when when people talk about the past, it comes off sometimes where you guys never.

Yeah, And I didn't know, and that's why I was asking. I think me and you have talked a bunch about like, you know, when when people talk about the past, it comes off sometimes where you guys never.

Like we did better than y'all.

Like we did better than y'all.

Yeah, our last national title was in the eighties, coach, So your team, your team, my team, our team the eighties.

Yeah, our last national title was in the eighties, coach, So your team, your team, my team, our team the eighties.

That's right. So it's just interesting perspective to me. And then I think the other reason I bring that up is it's not just on the road. It's on the road at night, and they're gonna be drinking beer, eating cheese curds and brats, and they're gonna be ready to go. I think to your point though, I think it does help us going on the road to West Virginia to open this season, and although West Virginia's had their struggles right now, atmosphere, they were coming off a nine win season. They were confident as heck and it was gonna be a tough environment. Then go into USC and being able to do so those experiences I think help. Also the last time we went to Wisconsin, it wasn't a night game, but we had some success and we got some guys on our team that were part of that. The big Jakwan brisker play to end the game in the two minute drive down in the end zone. So I think those things help. But at the end of the day, it's gonna be about what we do Saturday night, and again, we better be We better have our eyes dotted, our te's crossed, and we better be buttoned up and ready to go because they will be. And after the way they've played the last three games, they're a confident football team. We're playing.

That's right. So it's just interesting perspective to me. And then I think the other reason I bring that up is it's not just on the road. It's on the road at night, and they're gonna be drinking beer, eating cheese curds and brats, and they're gonna be ready to go. I think to your point though, I think it does help us going on the road to West Virginia to open this season, and although West Virginia's had their struggles right now, atmosphere, they were coming off a nine win season. They were confident as heck and it was gonna be a tough environment. Then go into USC and being able to do so those experiences I think help. Also the last time we went to Wisconsin, it wasn't a night game, but we had some success and we got some guys on our team that were part of that. The big Jakwan brisker play to end the game in the two minute drive down in the end zone. So I think those things help. But at the end of the day, it's gonna be about what we do Saturday night, and again, we better be We better have our eyes dotted, our te's crossed, and we better be buttoned up and ready to go because they will be. And after the way they've played the last three games, they're a confident football team. We're playing.

What is the health of the team right now? You feel good where you guys are at? Confident and the experience of the guys that are in here. You mentioned a few that played there the last time you guys went. How's the health of the team and how you feel about where guys are at. Yeah.

What is the health of the team right now? You feel good where you guys are at? Confident and the experience of the guys that are in here. You mentioned a few that played there the last time you guys went. How's the health of the team and how you feel about where guys are at. Yeah.

I think early on as the season started, in training camp and things like that, we had a decent amount of injuries. And I think since then, knock on wood, we've been in a better place. And then I think last week during the bye week, I think our structure allowed us to get healthy and recover and then the other thing we did is like, okay, who are the Vets and the Vets that have played a ton of football at their career at Penn State and this season, Okay, we got this modified plan, but then we also need to modify these guys like sal Wormley's been playing here since you played here, Like you know, we can we can cut his reps down, Ty Warren, we can cut his reps down. Like so, let's fish strategic within the team as well to make sure coming out of us by week we are fresher and we do feel really good and got a chance to go play well and play fast and play aggressive and play confident and can't Randall.

I think early on as the season started, in training camp and things like that, we had a decent amount of injuries. And I think since then, knock on wood, we've been in a better place. And then I think last week during the bye week, I think our structure allowed us to get healthy and recover and then the other thing we did is like, okay, who are the Vets and the Vets that have played a ton of football at their career at Penn State and this season, Okay, we got this modified plan, but then we also need to modify these guys like sal Wormley's been playing here since you played here, Like you know, we can we can cut his reps down, Ty Warren, we can cut his reps down. Like so, let's fish strategic within the team as well to make sure coming out of us by week we are fresher and we do feel really good and got a chance to go play well and play fast and play aggressive and play confident and can't Randall.

I'm gonna ask you this one and then I will be done because you made me think of something here, right so, because that was my last question, but I gotta ask eighty eighty six, eighty four eighty six something to that effect. That was our last national title. Like you said, you asked me my record at at Camp Randall, we lost there when I went there to play, do you because everybody sits there and they'll they'll qualify you and qualify you until they get the opportunity to try to disqualify you and discredit you. And I think it's one of the wildest things, ever, how unappreciative things get when if something doesn't go, you know, the way that it was supposed to go. And I think we all know what I'm talking about. Does the pressure mount on you, like for you personally, like where you're at with things, you have so much success and you find yourself in big game, you win the game, it would have been easy for people to write you off as a coach because that's what they try to do. If you had lost the USC, you pulled through USC, does it like for you, does that ever enter your mind? Like how do you handle, you know, moving through Cause that's something you just made me think about. Like it's curious to me that you're judged on a level of you can't lose a game, right, Like that's kind of it's kind of wild. The expectation is welcomed. I love the expectation of I think you're that good of a coach. But at the end of the day, the realities that surround being a coach is you take your wins and your your losses. But it doesn't seem like you get that type of leeway and knowing that, like, do you feel like the TC coach? Do you do you feel like do you feel like Denzel Washington at TC Williams you can't lose a game? Or do you look at it as like, you know, you take it game by game whatever? It is, Like, I'm just curious because they hold you to a we're at Alabama type deal, like like we've won one hundred different you know, national titles. We don't have any national titles in decades, so it's kind of like for you to be held to that standard is it's interesting because we haven't won anything, you know, so it's kind of like, how do you handle that? Because we do have a championship mentality, Penn State has a national title mentality. We just haven't won any So I don't know how that works. You're gonna have to teach us how that works. Coach. How does that fall on you?

I'm gonna ask you this one and then I will be done because you made me think of something here, right so, because that was my last question, but I gotta ask eighty eighty six, eighty four eighty six something to that effect. That was our last national title. Like you said, you asked me my record at at Camp Randall, we lost there when I went there to play, do you because everybody sits there and they'll they'll qualify you and qualify you until they get the opportunity to try to disqualify you and discredit you. And I think it's one of the wildest things, ever, how unappreciative things get when if something doesn't go, you know, the way that it was supposed to go. And I think we all know what I'm talking about. Does the pressure mount on you, like for you personally, like where you're at with things, you have so much success and you find yourself in big game, you win the game, it would have been easy for people to write you off as a coach because that's what they try to do. If you had lost the USC, you pulled through USC, does it like for you, does that ever enter your mind? Like how do you handle, you know, moving through Cause that's something you just made me think about. Like it's curious to me that you're judged on a level of you can't lose a game, right, Like that's kind of it's kind of wild. The expectation is welcomed. I love the expectation of I think you're that good of a coach. But at the end of the day, the realities that surround being a coach is you take your wins and your your losses. But it doesn't seem like you get that type of leeway and knowing that, like, do you feel like the TC coach? Do you do you feel like do you feel like Denzel Washington at TC Williams you can't lose a game? Or do you look at it as like, you know, you take it game by game whatever? It is, Like, I'm just curious because they hold you to a we're at Alabama type deal, like like we've won one hundred different you know, national titles. We don't have any national titles in decades, so it's kind of like for you to be held to that standard is it's interesting because we haven't won anything, you know, so it's kind of like, how do you handle that? Because we do have a championship mentality, Penn State has a national title mentality. We just haven't won any So I don't know how that works. You're gonna have to teach us how that works. Coach. How does that fall on you?

Well? What, I guess what I would say a couple things. Number One, I embrace and love that I came to a place that has these type of expectations. That's why I came here, right, I came here for that. So I embraced that one thousand percent and feel great about that. I also love and respect the fact that we have played well enough in my time at Penn State that we're back part of these conversations. And I take great pride in that that we've created the standard again at Penn State, that we're in these conversations that people are frustrated, you know that we're only winning ten and eleven games a year, like so I take great pride in that, and I think we've created that as well. We've created a high expectation at a place that already had high expectations. The other two things that I do that I think helped me is I watch college football and I study college football, and I see great programs that have not won as consistently as we have won. And I see great programs that have a struggle, that struggle doing what we've been able to do in our eleven years. And so I take a lot of pride in that. And then I also make sure that I try to compare apples to apples as much as I possibly can. So I compare what we have done to our history since joining the Big Ten, and I think I don't think a lot of people have really done that. Compare Big ten to big ten, and I think it's it would be eye opening for a lot of.

Well? What, I guess what I would say a couple things. Number One, I embrace and love that I came to a place that has these type of expectations. That's why I came here, right, I came here for that. So I embraced that one thousand percent and feel great about that. I also love and respect the fact that we have played well enough in my time at Penn State that we're back part of these conversations. And I take great pride in that that we've created the standard again at Penn State, that we're in these conversations that people are frustrated, you know that we're only winning ten and eleven games a year, like so I take great pride in that, and I think we've created that as well. We've created a high expectation at a place that already had high expectations. The other two things that I do that I think helped me is I watch college football and I study college football, and I see great programs that have not won as consistently as we have won. And I see great programs that have a struggle, that struggle doing what we've been able to do in our eleven years. And so I take a lot of pride in that. And then I also make sure that I try to compare apples to apples as much as I possibly can. So I compare what we have done to our history since joining the Big Ten, and I think I don't think a lot of people have really done that. Compare Big ten to big ten, and I think it's it would be eye opening for a lot of.

People because you've had a ton of success with your players. These players are our players, They're part of our community. They've become a part of our community because you've got them to come to Penn State. I don't think people realize how big that piece of it is in terms of the type the caliber of player that you're able to get to continuously come to Penn State. You're right, it did create the conversation because for a time there that was not that certainly was not a realistic conversation to have. If you were having it, you you weren't being realistic with yourself, you know, Coach, I appreciate that candid answer. That's really all I have for you this week, other than I wish you well, uh, you know, go get it in Madison. Don't don't don't let the game be too close when jump around comes on, is all I'd say. And uh, you know, let's let's let's let's make it happen. I see you on the other side.

People because you've had a ton of success with your players. These players are our players, They're part of our community. They've become a part of our community because you've got them to come to Penn State. I don't think people realize how big that piece of it is in terms of the type the caliber of player that you're able to get to continuously come to Penn State. You're right, it did create the conversation because for a time there that was not that certainly was not a realistic conversation to have. If you were having it, you you weren't being realistic with yourself, you know, Coach, I appreciate that candid answer. That's really all I have for you this week, other than I wish you well, uh, you know, go get it in Madison. Don't don't don't let the game be too close when jump around comes on, is all I'd say. And uh, you know, let's let's let's let's make it happen. I see you on the other side.

I will say that winn in l A was for you because I know walking around La it had been it had been a tough week.

I will say that winn in l A was for you because I know walking around La it had been it had been a tough week.

Man. Man, hey, look it went from it went because I was getting it bad the whole entire time. I'm getting it bad. It went from dang to y'all pay the rent ucla USC, we own Southern California. Y'all paid the lad lord the rent, and I get bragging rights for a whole entire year. So thank you very much for that. I do appreciate you giving me that because it was going to be very bad for me on the other side of it. But it's okay. I would have handled it. We would have been good. Sure. Thanks to Coach Franklin for the time, Thanks for the candid conversation and really showing some vulnerability and some openness to answering some some interesting questions. Some of these questions are never easy, but that's why me and Coach have them, because we're in a safe place. So thanks to the coach for answering. Thank you guys for watching. Make sure you check out Quite Franklin's with LeVar Orange and and the Coach Coach Franklin every week to catch it here go on just dirupt you PSU and you can always check us out on the inner Web. You also can go to our social media sites. Disrupt you PSU, and at King of the Mammals, that would be me. King of the Mammals, disrupt you, PSU. Make sure you check us out. Go to the Penn State sites. You know what it is, all right, all things Penn State, Penn State football, all those things all right. Until next time, I'm Leavar Arrington will check you out.

Man. Man, hey, look it went from it went because I was getting it bad the whole entire time. I'm getting it bad. It went from dang to y'all pay the rent ucla USC, we own Southern California. Y'all paid the lad lord the rent, and I get bragging rights for a whole entire year. So thank you very much for that. I do appreciate you giving me that because it was going to be very bad for me on the other side of it. But it's okay. I would have handled it. We would have been good. Sure. Thanks to Coach Franklin for the time, Thanks for the candid conversation and really showing some vulnerability and some openness to answering some some interesting questions. Some of these questions are never easy, but that's why me and Coach have them, because we're in a safe place. So thanks to the coach for answering. Thank you guys for watching. Make sure you check out Quite Franklin's with LeVar Orange and and the Coach Coach Franklin every week to catch it here go on just dirupt you PSU and you can always check us out on the inner Web. You also can go to our social media sites. Disrupt you PSU, and at King of the Mammals, that would be me. King of the Mammals, disrupt you, PSU. Make sure you check us out. Go to the Penn State sites. You know what it is, all right, all things Penn State, Penn State football, all those things all right. Until next time, I'm Leavar Arrington will check you out.