It makes sense that James Franklin, the former head coach-in-waiting who served as an assistant at Maryland, would not be a huge fan of the Terrapins.
Despite having only one minute remaining in the game and the ability to run time out with a 38-7 lead, Franklin ordered his second- and third-string offense to go down the field and score in Penn State’s landslide victory over Maryland on Saturday. With two seconds remaining, backup quarterback Beau Pribula snapped the ball and hit freshman receiver Tyseer Denmark in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown.
Before the sides lined up for an extra-point try, Maryland coach Mike Locksley and his players began to stroll toward middle as Penn State won 44–7. Locksley and Franklin shared a heated embrace as officials left the field as well. After some shouting between the coaches, Maryland linebacker Kellan Wyatt dragged Locksley away.
When asked about his response to the late score after the game, Locksley simply stated, “I don’t have a reaction.” Locksley started off sarcastically before letting loose as he was pressed further for what the midfield conversation entailed.
Locksley replied, “I wanted to know about his family, Christmas cards, address, clothes, and other things.” What it was was bullshit. The game is respected by me. I hold James and his program in high regard. It was crap, in my opinion.
Franklin is known for scoring goals in the closing minutes of games, and other coaches, like as Neal Brown of West Virginia, have voiced similar complaints to Locksley’s. However, the Penn State coach offered a passionate defense of his decision to try to score more points in the closing minutes of the game.
James Franklin’s passionate sentiments on scoring a touchdown with four seconds remaining are as follows: The 3s and 4s get to play football when they enter the game. I’m okay with it.1K6oYSBP5y https://t.co/j4y6gniBwHpic.twitter.com
I understand. We throw a touchdown at the end of the game. I understand. But I will state a few things: Putting the threes and fours in the game is my responsibility, Franklin stated. However, they get to play football when the threes and fours enter the game. Football is something those men deserve to play.
Against Penn State’s reserve defense, which was composed entirely of freshmen, Maryland put quarterback MJ Morris and the other starting players on the field on the drive prior to Penn State’s final score. Morris threw an interception to safety Dejuan Lane after leading a fast-paced drive down to the Penn State 44-yard line.
The game contains your ones. You wanted to score. “We want to score,” Franklin continued. You’re playing Cover Zero on top of it. Play Cover 2 if you don’t want to [permit a score]. I’m okay with it, then.
With the game’s over/under betting line set at 50.5, some people like to suggest that the final result was important. The game crossed that threshold thanks to Denmark’s touchdown.
Jokes aside, Franklin offered a rational explanation to support his passionate rebuttal.Because of the Bruins’ last-second touchdown and two-point convert, which made the score appear much closer than it actually was, Penn State had previously been made fun of by national critics for their struggles against UCLA. Franklin was determined not to allow that to occur once more.
Additionally, there has been a shift in college football. He said, “We want to play as long as we can, qualify for the playoffs, and have the best seed possible.” The point differential is important, as is scoring as many points [as you can]. That’s all that matters. And it’s really not my concern if you don’t understand that.
W 1-0. I don’t mind at all. If someone isn’t, that’s their issue.
Penn State has virtually guaranteed its place in the College Football Playoffs after finishing the regular season 11-1 for the first time under Franklin and for the first time since 2008. A home playoff and a first-round bye are still options for the No. 4 Nittany Lions, who are currently on their way to the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis next week after a shocking loss to unranked Michigan.
Additionally, Penn State and Maryland are still in love. The Terrapins’ attempts to make this game into a rivalry have been completely crushed by Penn State’s 11-2 record since the Terps joined the Big Ten, and the Nittany Lions don’t have a real opponent in the conference.
We have no competitors. However, it seemed like that kind of game. After the game, Penn State safety Jaylen Reed stated, “That’s the kind of environment we always have against Maryland.” They did all the “you are, we are” things whenever they won.
Naturally, Reed was referring to the aftermath of Maryland’s victory over Penn State in the coronavirus-plagued 2020 season, which ended with a score of 35-19. Penn State’s famous We Are chant was parodied by the Terps social media staff in a tweet that read SAD VALLEY and featured a picture of a Maryland player standing in Beaver Stadium with the words WE ARE, YOU WERE.
Additionally, Terps captains declined to shake hands with Penn State captains before to the 2014 Maryland victory.
Apparently, this week’s brief bulletin board content made use of such items. When Franklin calls for his third-stringers to score late, he surely doesn’t overlook those factors either.
We don’t discuss it. However, we maybe brought it up once or twice when someone disrespects the program, Reed said. But since we’re just interested in winning the game, we stop talking about it.
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Max Ralph
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