Penn State Nittany Lions College Football Postgame Quote, 01/02/2023

Coach, they were going to get you one way or the other. How did you try to escape that right there? 

JAMES FRANKLIN: I’m just happy for our guys. To come out here and play that team, got so much respect for Utah and Coach Whittingham out here on the road, it’s basically a home game for them, and our guys played their tails off. I’m just so proud of them, offense, defense and special teams. 

You guys turned up the pressure in the second half, regardless who was in at quarterback. How did that change the course of that game? 

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yeah, you’re exactly right. That was the difference in the second half. We were able to get pressure on the quarterback, which we weren’t able to do through not only just four down but also bringing pressure.

Sean Clifford has been such a stalwart for you. What did you say to him in that hug as he ends his career with a terrific performance? 

JAMES FRANKLIN: I’m just happy for him. He’s kind of seen it all in his Penn State career, and at Penn State it’s important not how we just do it on the football field but in the classroom and in the community, and he’s done it with utmost class the entire time. That’s what college football is about, and that’s what Penn State is about.