UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- James Franklin is a creature of habit, one whose every waking moment is seemingly planned out. From his Sunday morning routine of getting donuts with his daughters, to the game planning that goes on behind closed doors every day of the week in the Lasch Football Building, it's all part of his routine.
Don't expect any detail of that to change this week despite Saturday afternoon's matchup with Pitt. While Pat Narduzzi took the same approach he did last season by not allowing his players to speak with the media making sure his voice is the program's only one this week, Franklin for the second straight year of this four-year agreement between the in-state teams won't change any details in the lead up to Saturday.
It's not to downplay the importance of the game, Franklin said, but rather because he can't and won't stray from his philosophy of making each week's game the most important one.
"Last week the Akron game was the most important game in the universe for us. This week, the Pitt game is the most important game in the universe. It's the only thing that exists for us," Franklin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. "I don't want people to take what I'm saying the wrong way. This is the Super Bowl for us because it's the game that we play Saturday. Last week our Super Bowl was Akron. So I think when I say these things, people act like I'm trying to say that the Pitt game is not a big game. It's a huge game. It is the most important game that we have on our schedule. Last week, that was the most important game that we had on our schedule. Next week, we'll talk about next week. But that's just how we're going to approach it. Always have, always will. It's not going to change."
Franklin harped on the value of having a routine for all involved, from himself, his coaching staff and players, all the way down to the media who know what the routine is every week. Franklin's father was in the Air Force and the head coach mentioned standard operating procedure and the familiarity and comfort that comes with routine is one he wants his players to have each and every week.
He added that he wants his players to "fall back on their training" regardless of who they play.
"I guess what I don't understand is are we supposed to prepare harder this week than we did last week?" Franklin said. "I mean, if we didn't play well, and I said, well, yeah, we didn't prepare as hard this week because we've got this game next week that's a big game, I don't get it. I never makes sense to me, and people get frustrated with it and all that kind of stuff. But we are going to control the things that we can control."
During Franklin's 45-minute session with the media he was asked what fans think about this game and deflected the question, rather pointing the reporter to Twitter. During Penn State's coaches caravan the past few springs Franklin was introduced to fans from all throughout the state and when the bus rolled into Pittsburgh the talk about this game was always brought up.
"I kind of hear a lot in a lot of different places," he said. "I hear things on Twitter. I hear things when I take my girls Sunday morning for donuts. I think I told you guys the one year on the caravan, I was actually using the toilet and someone came and tapped me on the shoulder and had some advice and wanted me to sign a football. But if you want to find out what our fans think -- that's where social media helps. You can ask them directly. I'm not going to try to speak for anybody else. I can tell you what the game means to us if you want me to go through all that again."
MONROE AVAILABLE?
While the season opener saw many second and third-string players get on the field, safety Ayron Monroe was not one of them. Monroe competed for the starting job with Troy Apke who won, but Monroe dressed for the Akron game, went through warmups but the No. 2 safety didn't play.
I asked Franklin if Monroe will be available this week and he said "correct." So, read into that however you want, but since Monroe warmed up in all likelihood he was healthy and therefore there was another reason why he didn't play. Franklin didn't elaborate.
WHY DID BARKLEY RETURN A KICK?
Franklin was asked after Saturday's game about keeping his starters in as long as he did and he said it's because he didn't feel comfortable with the 35-point lead the Lions had. So, will Barkley, the Lions' do-it-all Heisman hopeful running back be deep again to return a kick?
"We had it scheduled that he was going to return the first kick of the game. That's what we had decided to do," Franklin said. Penn State won the coin toss and deferred. "We didn't get a first kick of the game until the second half. I know everybody keeps talking about that they felt like the game was in hand. Well, if anybody watched college football this weekend, I don't know if you necessarily could say that. I'm very comfortable with that, and we'll continue to do that."
So, look for more of Barkley back on kick returns while Miles Sanders, listed atop the depth chart at kick returner, will also continue working back there too, Franklin said.
JUST FOR KICKS?
Tyler Davis will continue handling both kickoffs and field goals, Franklin said. Redshirt freshman Alex Barbir kicked off twice, but Franklin said like many redshirt freshmen he wants to get Barbir reps when he can depending on the game situation.
Franklin highlighted Davis' hang time and kick location, but acknowledged that there is still room for improvement, notably he'd like to see more "pop" and distance.
"We'd like for that ball to land three, four yards deep in the end zone and outside the numbers, and he didn't consistently get it three, four yards deep in the end zone, but his hang time was really good," Franklin said. "His location was really good in terms of outside the numbers."
MOVING UP
Penn State moved from No. 6 to No. 4 in both of this week's AP Poll and the Amway Coaches Poll. With Florida State losing to Alabama and USC not dominating Western Michigan, coupled with the Lions' strong opener, Penn State claimed the fourth spot. In the AP Poll, it's Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson ranked ahead of the Nittany Lions. Still, these two polls mean very little once the College Football Playoff rankings come out beginning on Halloween.
This weekend I hope Penn State put up 60 on Pitt, seriously hate Pitt more than Temple and I tore my ACL twice against them.
— Nyeem Wartman (@NyeemWartman) September 5, 2017