Penn State relies on the importance of family.
University fans probably have some whiplash from the roller coaster they have been on in the last few years. New coaches, sanctions, and the departure of beloved players have hit fans where it hurts, but there is one thing that they can rely on, no matter the circumstances. They have the loyalty and dedication of a family from their football team.
Familial ties have always been strong amongst the Nittany Lions, and that’s probably head coach James Franklin’s favorite part of the job. He talks about family in every interview, every press conference appearance, and in every locker room meeting. Franklin’s love for his surrogate family originates from and drives his respect for the university, the players, the past coaches, and above all, the fans.
His excitement is contagious; he joked that he does “a back handspring out of bed every morning,” out of love for his job and passion for Nittany Lion football, but admitted he was anxious about taking on the Penn State coaching legacy.
“Penn State’s a place where we had the same coach for 100 years. We have tremendous respect for our history and our past, but I can’t be anybody but James Franklin.” He added later, “I think I’m probably very different in a lot of ways from the last two coaches that sat in this role.”
He made it clear that he has the utmost respect for the football community’s expectations of the job and that he wants to represent those ideals.
“I hope that we already have shown our respect and our pride of being here and how we’re going to do the job. If it hasn’t happened already, then I hope it’s happening over time, that we’re building and earning everybody’s trust and respect because this is a very, very important position in Penn State and in our community, and I know how much it means to everybody. You’ve got a coach and a coaching staff here that understands that, and is just as proud to be here and represent the community.”
But, as Franklin admitted, fitting in is never easy. Throw that on top of transferring to a new institution to work with a new staff and to coach a new team, and the job becomes even harder. Despite his immediate promise to “restore the roar” and bring glory back to Penn State by rebuilding the foundations of teamwork and loyalty, he still had to build that bond with them.
When asked about how he’s been fitting in with the new team, Franklin answered, “I think well. It’s different though.” He later added, “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”
The only part of the job that Franklin doesn’t like is letting the seniors move on from the brotherhood that they spent the last four years building because it means that the family has broken apart. That was the focus of this bowl game for Nittany Lions.
“The emotion really for us isn’t necessarily about the bowl, it’s just about our family being together. The 2014 football team will never be together again after this game; we’ve talked about that all week long. To me, that’s what’s special about bowl games, is being able to keep the family together for a few more months.”
Every football team is close, but the seniors for the Nittany Lions are exceptionally so. Their actions over the last four years have bonded them and elevated them to legend status among Penn State fans. Their post-win comments and tweets illuminate their respect for the team and pride in the university.
What a ride. Unbelievably thankful
— Sam Ficken (@sficken1) December 28, 2014
I play my last game for penn state today.. Been a long journey #blessed
— Adrian Amos (@SmashAmos_4) December 27, 2014
Thankful to be a part of such an awesome team! Proud of the way we fight no matter what the circumstances looks like! Been a great 5 years
— Ryan Keiser (@rkeiser23) December 28, 2014
Couldn’t be prouder of this team! #WeAre #PSU4LIFE
— Miles Dieffenbach (@Curiousjorge65) December 28, 2014
Although Franklin only had a year with the seniors, he made sure that his mark would be left on them and they would understand his brand of Penn State football, declaring, “Every single day we talk about trying to represent Penn State the right way.”
The gritty victory on Saturday pulled all of that together for the Lions. They fought back from a deficit, injuries, and depth problems to win a game that, officially, they weren’t supposed to play for two more years, and when it was all said and done, the players and coaches attributed their success and hard work to one thing.
Family.
Photo Credit: GoPSUSports.com
