ALTOONA, Pa. -- James Franklin did something unusual at the end of his Tuesday press conference, after getting asked the normal litany of questions by the media.
Franklin usually ends his presser after the last question, but today there was something else he wanted to discuss, so he stayed around a few extra minutes to go over details of some things.
About the officiating in Saturday's game against Auburn.
There was one horrific mistake by the SEC officiating crew, costing Penn State a down in one situation, and several other highly controversial calls. They are all detailed here in our Takeaways from the game.
Here are my Tuesday Takeaways, leading off with Franklin's comments about the officiating.
1: Franklin addresses controversial calls by SEC crew
Earlier in his press conference, Franklin was asked about how he seems to be more fiery this season. He gave this as part of his response.
"I was fiery for a number of reasons last week because I felt like we were fighting more than Auburn," said the coach, clearly referencing the officiating.
When he was done answering questions, this is what Franklin had to say about those calls. Make sure to note how he said these things, because coaches have to be careful when they're discussing officiating, so as not to sound too critical and get fined.
"Just to kind of go over a couple things that that did come up in the game that I want to discuss, not from a critical standpoint, but I've done some of my own homework and making sure that we understood some of these things. I did want to kind of address how we interpreted some of these things that kind of happened during the game.
"The one was the intentional grounding penalty that led to the loss of downs, which I think was already addressed publicly with a statement (from the SEC). From the way I understand kind of reading the rulebook, talking to other people that study the game and interpret the game. You have to be under duress to get intentional grounding from the pocket. So, studied that one pretty closely, and that was an interesting call. But I think for you to get intentional grounding from the pocket, you have to be under duress. I didn't really feel like we were under duress in this situation.
"And just so you guys know that was an option route, so Sean wasn't throwing it away. We had a choice to go deep or short, and he thought the receiver was going to go deep. So I would have agreed with that call if we were in a situation where he was under duress. So that was one I just wanted to kind of talk about make sure we're all on the same page with some of these things.
"The other one, we ran a fake punt on fourth-and-1. In punting situations and kicking situations it is illegal to have the center covered in kicking situations. And looking at that play and studying that play and interpreting that play, I don't think you can cover the center on those plays. So, obviously without somebody over the center, I think we'd have been in a much more positive situation there.
"A couple other things that came up, there was another intentional grounding called, said that they left the pocket. Again, interpreting the rules and trying to learn from what happens in games and educate my staff and educate myself -- again not being critical, just making sure that we understand the situations -- I think the ball was snapped from just inside the hash and the quarterback threw the ball from the hash. So I would not interpret that as outside of the pocket.
"I guess the last one I would say is Brandon Smith got called for a hit out of bounds. ... I thought Brandon was trying to pull up and hold the player up. That one, I guess, could go either way. But again I think if you're trying to pull up on the sideline after running full speed, that's challenging."
Bo Nix, who got hit by Smith out of bounds, was asked Tuesday if there was a little bit of acting on his part in going down to help draw the penalty.
"Maybe just a little bit," Nix said, from the video below. He later added:
"I figured if I stayed up they definitely wouldn't have called it and it wouldn't have looked like anything. But sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do."
Auburn QB Bo Nix on the 4th quarter personal foul penalty he drew against Penn State. 🧐😉 @BoNix10 @KirkHerbstreit @ESPNCFB @jimdunaway @RyanBrownLive @TheLanceTaylor @_JHokanson @ITATJason @JayGTate pic.twitter.com/8ESQcJ9eyJ
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 20, 2021
"So I just want to make sure that that our staff is interpreting these things the right way. It's one thing to have a feeling during the game, about how a certain play plays out. It's another to go back and watch the tape and make sure that we understand the rules correctly and that we're teaching the rules correctly with our team.
"So I did want to address some of those because obviously it was a bunch of questions about that after the game. It was difficult for me to answer them after the game because I hadn't watched the tape, but after going to watch the tape and studying and asking a bunch of questions to a bunch of different people, not going to get into how the calls were ruled by the conference. But in terms of my interpretation the way I understand the rules and reading the rule book, again, I wanted to address those questions that were asked to me after the game."
2. Why did John Lovett miss the first two games?
Franklin was thrown off by a question from Nubyjas Wilborn of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who mentioned that the TV announcers said running back John Lovett didn't play in the first two games because of disciplinary reasons.
There had been no reason given publicly for Lovett's absence against Wisconsin and Ball State. The coaches just said he wasn't available.
Here's how things work with visiting TV crews. They meet with coaches and often learn some things off the record, just for background to help with their understanding of the team. And we have no idea what they are told, in what context and if it is meant for broadcast purposes.
Wilborn sent DK Pittsburgh Sports an audio clip that has Chris Fowler saying this about Lovett: "Disciplinary suspension kept him out the first couple of games."
Franklin was surprised to hear that even be brought up, and he did not confirm anything about why Lovett didn't play the first two games.
"I didn't know there was an announcement on TV like that, and I don't know where they would have got that from," Franklin said. "I'm glad you mentioned that. We're going to check to see if that was stated because no one has stated that to me; first time I'm hearing that. So yeah, I'm not sure to how to even address that because I don't know where that's coming from or what. But we're glad to have John playing. ... But I was not aware that that was said on TV."
Penn State did not include the question about Lovett or Franklin's response on its official transcript of the coach's press conference. The school obviously did not want that information out in public, but nevertheless, Fowler did say it on TV.
3. Franklin never lost confidence in Clifford
Sean Clifford completed 28-of-32 passes for 280 yards with two TDs and one interception. Franklin said he thought the quarterback should have been the Big Ten offensive player of the week.
When asked if he's seeing a new Sean Clifford, after the QB struggled last season, here is what Franklin said:
"I don't necessarily see it that way. Again, I've said this before, I mean, two years ago Sean won 11 games, we won the Cotton Bowl, New Year Six bowl game did some really good things. Coming into last year (he) was viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten and one of the top quarterbacks in the country. And my view of him never really changed.
"Obviously there's ups and downs and twists and turns in everybody's career. But this is the Sean Clifford that I've always expected and anticipated."
4. Franklin makes clear FCS teams are dangerous
This week's opponent is Villanova, and Franklin clearly wanted to make a point of mentioning publicly that FCS teams can be dangerous. He talked about Villanova's strong history -- winning a national title and beating Temple a few years ago -- then he went through a list of upsets from FCS teams.
"Then you just look at this year, and this is a long list, but I'm going to go through it. You look at this list: Tulsa losing to UC Davis; UNLV losing to Eastern Washington; Colorado State losing to South Dakota State; UConn losing to Holy Cross; Washington losing to Montana, ranked Washington losing to Montana; Vanderbilt to East Tennessee State; Ohio losing to Duquesne; Florida State losing to Jacksonville State; Texas State losing to UIW; Arizona losing to Northern Arizona this past weekend; FIU losing to Jackson State. Jackson State is having a heck of a year; New Mexico State losing to Tarleton State; Western Kentucky losing to Central Arkansas. And then even other games. You look at Central Michigan's win last week."
5. Franklin jokes he wasn't good enough to play at Villanova
He grew up not far from the school and was asked if he had any interest of going to the school.
"Actually the head coach at my high school the year I was coming into Neshaminy, Dick Bedesem, used to coach at Villanova. The athletic director at Villanova went to my high school for a number of years. There's just a lot of connections," Franklin said.
"Would I have liked to have been recruited by Villanova? Yes. Villanova gave me the stiff arm just like Penn State did. I wasn't good enough. Had a really good experience where I played and where I went. But yeah, I was interested in all those types of schools. But yeah, was not that type of player."
6. Sellout streak wanted
Penn State has 1,500 tickets left for this week's game, and Franklin mentioned once again that he would like to start a sellout streak at Beaver Stadium. he first brought it up two weeks ago.
"I talked about it a few weeks ago, starting a sellout streak here at Penn State," the coach said. "I think that would be very, very important for a number of reasons. I think that's pretty cool, and we're very appreciative of that."
7. Two former PSU stars off to great starts in NFL
The following tweet speaks for itself:
The highest-graded rookies this season are all on defense 👀 pic.twitter.com/zZVd4RaeOS
— PFF (@PFF) September 20, 2021
8. Penn State announces wrestling schedule
Alright, wrestling fans. I've been asked by a number of you if we will be including Penn State wrestling news in our updates. The answer is YES!
The school revealed its wrestling schedule today. This is from the school's press release:
The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team has announced its 2021-22 schedule. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s squad will compete at home seven times this season, including a return to the Bryce Jordan Center for the 2022 BJC Dual. All times are to be announced and changes may occur with the announcement of this year’s television schedule.
The Nittany Lions will open the 2021-22 season at the Journeyman Duals in York, Pa., on Saturday, Nov. 13. Penn State will battle both Oregon State and Sacred Heart in dual meets that day. Penn State’s home opener is set for Thursday, Nov. 18, when Army visits Rec Hall.
Penn State Wrestling // 2021-22 Schedule
(All Times TBA, subject to change with national television scheduling)
November
Sat. 13 Journeyman Duals, York, Pa.
Vs. Oregon State
Vs. Sacred Heart
Thur. 18 ARMY
December
Fri. 3 at Penn
Sun. 5 LEHIGH
Mon.-Tue. 20-21 Collegiate Wrestling Duals, Niceville, Fla.
January
Fri. 7 at Maryland*
Sun. 9 INDIANA*
Sun. 16 RUTGERS*
Fri. 21 at Michigan*
Sun. 23 at Michigan State*
Fri. 28 at Iowa*
February
Fri. 4 OHIO STATE (BJC)*
Sun. or Fri. 6 or 11 NEBRASKA* (B1G Network Flex Date)
Sun. 20 RIDER
March
Sat.-Sun. 5-6 2022 Big Ten Championships, Lincoln, Neb.
Thur.-Sat. 17-19 2022 NCAA Championships, Detroit, Mich.
* Big Ten dual – Home games in CAPS – All times TBA – Subject to change for television