1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: This is Quite Franklin with LeVar Errington. Each week, Man 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,480 Speaker 1: State head coach James Franklin and Penn State legend LeVar 3 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: Arrington will discuss game strategy and other insights on Penn 4 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,639 Speaker 1: State football. Quite Franklin with LeVar and Arrington. It's not. 5 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 2: What's up, everybody. This is an exciting edition of Quite 6 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 2: Franklin with coach James Franklin and myself, your host, Lebar Arrington. 7 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 2: It is a bowl game special. Appreciate having you on coach. 8 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 2: Been an amazing year of tremendous ups, couple tremendous downs, 9 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 2: but nonetheless we're here ten and two Peach Bowl Atlanta, 10 00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 2: ol Miss. So let's first start by how is your Christmas? 11 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 3: Man? 12 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 2: Merry Christmas to you and your family. How was the 13 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 2: Christmas for you? Guys? 14 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 3: I appreciate it. Merry Christmas to you as well. 15 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 2: Appreciate it. 16 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 3: It was good, you know. I not this sounds strange, 17 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 3: but for college football coaches and specifically my family, we're 18 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 3: used to spending Christmas you know, at a hotel. So 19 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 3: my wife packs the tree and the presence and we 20 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 3: literally do Christmas you know here at the hotel. So 21 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,119 Speaker 3: our kids are used to it. We had a great 22 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 3: Christmas morning. We practiced the day before, we had meetings 23 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 3: and walked through on Christmas later in the afternoon. But 24 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 3: it's been it's been great. And the Peach Bowl and 25 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 3: Chick fil A and the Marriott Marquee where we're staying, 26 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 3: everybody's been awesome to us. So we've had we've had 27 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 3: a great experience so far. 28 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 2: That's awesome And that's dope. I mean, that's family is everything, 29 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 2: and being able to do that is super, super cool. 30 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: So appreciate that you guys have had the opportunity to 31 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 2: do the family thing. You guys are practicing and like 32 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 2: you mentioned, you guys are in Atlanta. First thing I 33 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 2: wanted to to hit you with was just the year reflection, 34 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 2: Like I mentioned, a whole lot of ups, a few downs, 35 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 2: But what has been your reflections thus far hitting into 36 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 2: the bowl game, but knowing that the regular season was 37 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 2: what it was? What did? What? What conclusions? What What 38 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: is James Franklin thinking about as he looks at your 39 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 2: body of work from this this season? Pass? 40 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think I think first of all, consistency in 41 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 3: college football is hard to do. You know, we have 42 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 3: been one of the more consistent programs, especially if you 43 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 3: exclude the COVID year, we've been one of the most 44 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 3: consistent programs in the country. So that that's kind of 45 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 3: the starting point for us. We had to go and 46 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 3: go out and do what we were supposed to do, 47 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 3: and we did that. We won ten games, played really 48 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 3: well on offense, defense, and special teams. But the reality 49 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 3: is there there's two games that we got to find 50 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 3: a way to win, and one is Michigan and and 51 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 3: the other one's Ohio State. And you know, if you 52 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 3: kind of look at us in Michigan, we've been kind 53 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 3: of similar in some of those ways over the last 54 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 3: five to six years, uh, fighting like crazy to get 55 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:27,640 Speaker 3: over the hump. Michigan has found a way to do 56 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 3: it the last two years. We obviously did it before them. 57 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:32,839 Speaker 3: We were the only other team to win a Big 58 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 3: Ten championship before they. They won it in my time 59 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 3: here at Penn State. And that's what we got to do. 60 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 3: That's that's the next step. That's where losing Manny Diez 61 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 3: was a was a significant loss, and we're happy for 62 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 3: him and Duke. I think it's gonna be a really 63 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 3: good situation for both parties. Uh, But being able to 64 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 3: go out and get Tom Allen and then be able 65 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 3: to get We're calling him coach k Andy Kotolnecki because 66 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 3: his name can can be difficult for some to say. 67 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 3: But those were important hires because I think we played 68 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 3: really good offense for most of the year, but we 69 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 3: had two games where we did not play championship level offense. Defensively, 70 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 3: we pretty much played championship level defense all year long, 71 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 3: and I thought on special teams the second half of 72 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 3: the year we played championship level special teams. So the 73 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 3: reality is for us to go where we want to go, 74 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 3: we got to be able to do it in all 75 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 3: three units all season long, which is hard to do. 76 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 3: That's why there's only a handful of programs that have 77 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 3: been able to do it on a consistent basis. And 78 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 3: you know, you played in the NFL and you watch 79 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 3: the NFL, it's the same thing. It's hard for organizations 80 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 3: and programs to do it on a consistent basis, and 81 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:48,359 Speaker 3: that's what we're aspiring to do. 82 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 2: I think that's pretty awesome. Listen, there's always going to 83 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 2: be criticisms one way or another. You go undefeed it 84 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 2: and you still could run the risk of being in 85 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 2: a situation where you don't even make it into the playoffs. 86 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 2: I mean, I had no idea or understanding of how 87 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 2: a team wins the Big Ten. But a team that 88 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 2: didn't even win the Big Ten goes into the playoffs 89 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: and they weren't even the champion of their conference. That 90 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 2: confused me. Back when we won the Big Ten. Law 91 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 2: and behold, Florida State shows us that you can be 92 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 2: in a Power five conference, go undefeated, win your conference, 93 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 2: and still not get into the dance. So for what 94 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: it's worth, you know, a lot of people feel like 95 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 2: I've made excuses for you, or you know, I've been 96 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 2: a homer or whatever it may have been. But just 97 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: being an analyst and being being what I consider to 98 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 2: be I mean, I'm called an expert at what I do. 99 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 2: I mean I accept that because I got I think 100 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 2: I'm pretty good at how I break stuff down. I 101 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 2: can't see how there is not a feeling of excitement 102 00:05:56,080 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: and a feeling of appreciation once you have an opportunity 103 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 2: unity to take in and digest what our season was. 104 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 2: And while one hundred those two games that you mentioned 105 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: are super important to know that we're that close because 106 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 2: there are so many teams. I said, you know, they 107 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 2: were calling for for Day's Day's job after he lost 108 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:25,239 Speaker 2: to Michigan. You know, everybody wants to call for jobs 109 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 2: the moment somebody comes up short and I said, wow, 110 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 2: he came up short one time, James Franklin came up 111 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 2: short twice. Everybody wants to justify it and validate it 112 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: by saying, well, but those are the two. Now, those 113 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 2: are only the two because they don't lose anybody else. 114 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: Look around you look at who who some of these 115 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 2: teams are losing to, and put that into the proper perspective. 116 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 2: So for me and my reflection of the season, sure 117 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 2: we lost two games that we always want to win. 118 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 2: But in the grand scheme of things, do I want 119 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 2: to trend up or do I want to trend down? 120 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 2: Two years in a row losing two games. To me, 121 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 2: that's the right trend if you ask me. But that's 122 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 2: just me being sensical coach, you know, I just like 123 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 2: being sensible about what it is that that takes place 124 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 2: and it goes from there. 125 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 3: But I digress. Let's be honest, there's one program and 126 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 3: one coach every year that doesn't get criticism. It's the 127 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 3: one that wins the national championship. Everybody else true in 128 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 3: some level of criticism. 129 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: Amen. Amen, you're right, And the better your team does, 130 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 2: the harsher thos criticisms get because you spoil your fan 131 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 2: base and they start believing that you're gonna win every 132 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 2: single game. I mean, look at what happened in Colorado, right, 133 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 2: everybody thought they were going to play for a national title, right, 134 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:43,679 Speaker 2: and then what happens? I mean, and I thought Dion 135 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 2: had an amazing year, Coach Prime had an amazing year, 136 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 2: and I'm proud of my former teammate. But at the 137 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 2: end of the day, I mean, Penn State could have 138 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: fell off the rails. You guys could have started losing 139 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 2: games after you guys, you know, had a tough one 140 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 2: against Ohio State. Yeah, I went right back to business 141 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 2: and y'all improved, and I think that that was what 142 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 2: was most important. And speaking of improving and most important, 143 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 2: you talked about coaches, you got two new two coordinators 144 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 2: coming in. Are they coaching in this game? Are they 145 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 2: helping with this game? I don't know how the rules 146 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 2: work with that, And what's the approach coach to going 147 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 2: into the bowl game against Old Miss? I know Lane. 148 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 2: I know him pretty well from when he was out here. 149 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 2: He's a pretty interesting dude, does well with getting guys 150 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 2: to want to play for him and is pretty brilliant 151 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 2: and how he calls offenses. How do you approach what's 152 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,199 Speaker 2: going on in the bowl game in bold season when 153 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 2: you have guys that opt out, I mean, obviously, uh, 154 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 2: the most notable one for us is Chop Robinson won't 155 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 2: be playing. Uh. But knowing that you lost Manny Diaz, 156 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 2: you replaced your offensive coordinator, and now you have both 157 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 2: positions filled going into the bowl game, the transfer portal, 158 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 2: all those different things, how do you navigate that? What's 159 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:03,079 Speaker 2: the approach? 160 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 3: So we're handling it with the coaches the same way 161 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 3: we did when we hired Manny. So they are here 162 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 3: to watch everything, to get to know the program, to 163 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,599 Speaker 3: understand the culture, to build relationships with the staff, to 164 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 3: build relationships with the players. But they're not coaching on defense, 165 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 3: Jay excuse me, on defense, Anthony Poindexter and Rob Smith, 166 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 3: those guys will be will be calling the defense and 167 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 3: running the defense's co coordinators and then offense. The same 168 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:34,959 Speaker 3: thing we did for the last two games of the year. 169 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 3: In Jaywan Sider and Ty Howe. So we did this 170 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 3: with Manny Diaz, we did this I think with Joe 171 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 3: moorehead as well. There's a lot of value. They're able 172 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 3: to come take everything in then literally as soon as 173 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 3: the Bowl game ends, they're able to hit the ground 174 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 3: running because they understand how we operate. They've seen our strengths, 175 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 3: they've seen our weaknesses. 176 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 2: So I think there's a. 177 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 3: Ton of value in them being here, but not necessarily 178 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 3: coaching the game. It's not like you could change the system, 179 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 3: and it's not like they could learn the system in 180 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 3: a week to two weeks. So I think this is 181 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 3: the better model moving. 182 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 2: Forward, makes sense, makes sense as far as opt outs 183 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 2: or transfer portal, maybe it hasn't really impacted you guys. 184 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 2: I mean, you guys did get an opportunity to figure 185 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 2: out what type of team you could be without Shot 186 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 2: when he sustained the head injury and was out for 187 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 2: a couple games. So what's your take on personnel wise 188 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 2: going into the Bowl season. Yeah, I guess I'm a 189 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 2: big believer in our relationships with the players that there 190 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 2: really is no reason to opt out. 191 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:44,319 Speaker 3: And what I mean by that is there should be 192 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 3: a conversation all the way back to Sa Kwon Barkley, 193 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 3: sit down, have a conversation whether you're going to play 194 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 3: in the game or not. You don't need to opt out. 195 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 3: That's a conversation between me and you, your parents, your agent. 196 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 3: Let's come up with a plan. You could play no plays. 197 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 3: You could play the first play. You could play half 198 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 3: the reps you normally play. You could play the first 199 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 3: half like. We could work something out where it makes 200 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 3: sense for every single one, so there's no reason to 201 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 3: opt out. You can finish the season with your teammates. 202 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 3: I'm not gonna I'm not gonna pressure any player to 203 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 3: take on any more risk than they think they need 204 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 3: to with their future. But I also think, LeVar, what's 205 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 3: not talked about enough is the guys that are third 206 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 3: four fifths, six seven three agent type guys that playing 207 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 3: a team like Ole Miss could increase their value. You 208 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 3: play in this type of game and you go off 209 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:48,559 Speaker 3: as a as a receiver for one hundred and fifty 210 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:52,079 Speaker 3: yards and two touchdowns, you may improve your draft stock. 211 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 3: As a corner you get two interceptions, or as a 212 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 3: defensive lineman two sacks against a team like Ole Miss, 213 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 3: you can you can improve of your draft stocks. So 214 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 3: to me, there's a way for us to work through 215 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 3: this where everybody's comfortable and no reason for an opt out. 216 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 3: We've done a pretty good job of that over my career. 217 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 3: But it's something that I think as coaches, you're going 218 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 3: to have to be flexible because the nature of college 219 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 3: football has changed and you better embrace the new model. 220 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 2: I love what you're saying because it makes so much sense. 221 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 2: And then the dovetails into my last question for you, 222 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,439 Speaker 2: and speaking on that, you know a lot of these 223 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,319 Speaker 2: opt outs and a lot of these transfer portal situations 224 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 2: are really driven and based upon how much guys are 225 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 2: getting paid and what their paycheck is looking like, and 226 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 2: what their value looks like, and whether for good or 227 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:49,959 Speaker 2: for bad, whether for realistic or unrealistic. These these athletes 228 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 2: are being sold the bill of goods on in IL 229 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 2: and IL money and what comes along with that. Where 230 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 2: are you at with that? Obviously we're in the transfer 231 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 2: portal time, We're in the transfer portal portal era. How 232 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 2: are you navigating that? And I would add to that 233 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 2: from your perspective, a lot of people have heard you 234 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 2: calling for assistance and urging the fan base and the 235 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 2: community for exsistence. I would I would add to that, 236 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 2: which I hope I'm trying to do a great job 237 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 2: of bringing to the table, is there needs to be 238 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 2: such a more assertive effort of educating our community and 239 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 2: our fan base on why NIL is such a vital 240 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 2: part the support, I should say, and the understanding of 241 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 2: NIL as a fan, as somebody that's within the community, 242 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 2: how important that is. What where are you at with that? 243 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 2: How how are you thinking of it? Because as soon 244 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 2: as that Bowl game is over, I mean, it has 245 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:03,319 Speaker 2: to be full throttle into understanding the realities of people 246 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 2: are going to try to poach your players and in 247 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 2: terms of getting your you know, having the signing day 248 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 2: which you can touch on that as well, but being 249 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 2: able to get the type of recruits that you know, 250 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 2: a strong recruiter can get or any school at that 251 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 2: will be able to get. Everything has all been altered 252 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 2: by what NIL has brought to the table. And you 253 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 2: mentioned that new day and age. So now you know 254 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 2: where you say, hey, give me your son, mom and 255 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: dad will make them a man by the time you 256 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 2: get them back. You know, it seems like loyalty and 257 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 2: legacies are are dying. A slow, hard death right now. 258 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 2: And it also seems like the substance of who a 259 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 2: coach is as a man and as a person is 260 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 2: kind of following in the same suit, because money seems 261 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 2: to be a major driving force where you at on 262 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 2: it right now. 263 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 3: Well, I think you've heard me say this before. Commitment 264 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 3: must match expectations, and that's with everything. The commitment level 265 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 3: must match the expectations, and at most places that's not 266 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 3: the case. I remember when I first got to Penn State, 267 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 3: I was pounding the table for facilities. We're way behind 268 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 3: in facilities, and that was a battle, and we've been 269 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 3: able to kind of get that done over ten years. 270 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 3: It probably took a little bit longer than it probably 271 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 3: should have, but either way, we've been able to get 272 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 3: it done well. Now the new battle is getting everybody 273 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 3: to embrace and understand the importance of nil and to 274 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 3: be honest with the LeVar, it really isn't a hard 275 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 3: concept to figure out. What's hard is it's just a 276 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 3: very different way of looking at college athletics, and I 277 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 3: understand people have a hard time with that, but the 278 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 3: reality is the teams that we are competing against, they're 279 00:15:58,560 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 3: tough to beat. 280 00:15:59,320 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 2: In general. 281 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 3: So like, for example, I always have to tell coaches 282 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 3: that we hire, you have to be careful. They all think, oh, well, 283 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 3: I get the logo on my shirt, it's going. 284 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 2: To be easy. 285 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 3: No, you're just recruiting against different people. Now, when you're 286 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 3: at Penn State, every kid we recruit against, it's Notre Dame, 287 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 3: it's Ohio State, it's Michigan, it's Alabama, it's Clemson, it's 288 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 3: the who's who. 289 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 2: So it is a battle. 290 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 3: So what our alumni have to understand and what our 291 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 3: donors have to understand, what our lettermen have to understand, 292 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 3: is when you're competing against another school like Penn State, 293 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 3: that has great history, that has great tradition, that has 294 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 3: great facilities, that has a great academic reputation, all these things, 295 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 3: and now this school's offering X and this school's offering 296 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 3: why when it comes to nil, if the history and 297 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 3: the academics and the environment in the stadium are similar, 298 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 3: most players are going to go with the better an 299 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:04,120 Speaker 3: il offer. That is the reality of it. So, if 300 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 3: we want to compete on Saturdays, and if we want 301 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 3: to compete academically, and we want to compete when it 302 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 3: comes to recruiting, classes and everything else that equates to 303 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 3: wins and losses in national championships. Then you've got to 304 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 3: embrace this too, or your commitment level doesn't match your expectations. 305 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 3: And the power we have at Penn State is we 306 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 3: have seven hundred and fifty thousand living alumni, one of 307 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 3: the biggest alumni bases in the world. And one of 308 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 3: the best ways to support Penn State is supporting Penn 309 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 3: State football because there's nothing that gets the message out 310 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 3: about how great Penn State is as a university than 311 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 3: what football does. Bowl games, championships. You look at winning 312 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 3: a national championship, playing in a national championship, what that 313 00:17:56,160 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 3: does when you talk about applications to the universe, giving 314 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 3: to the university, all these things go hand in hands. 315 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 3: So if you want to support Penn State as a whole, 316 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 3: support Penn State football and our nil and our collectives 317 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,439 Speaker 3: because it's going to have a profound impact on more 318 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 3: than just football. 319 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 2: Mm hmm, well, coach, it's been real. I wish you 320 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 2: all the luck in the world. I am coming in town. 321 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 2: We will be there, uh and we will see you guys. 322 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 2: Wish you all the best. Happy New Year to you 323 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 2: and the guys and to the family, and good luck 324 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 2: man we are. I mean, it's been it's been a 325 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 2: wild ride. It's been a crazy ride. It's been amazing. 326 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 2: But I think the one thing I hope for us 327 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 2: to have gotten accomplished in doing this weekly show is 328 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 2: to really really open open the door or shine shine 329 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 2: the light on the fact of you know, the details 330 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 2: of what we talk about and and what that represents 331 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:59,479 Speaker 2: to to your commitment and also to everyone that that 332 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:03,880 Speaker 2: is in your corner their commitment to what they want 333 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 2: Penn State to be. You know, that has been so 334 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 2: important to me for well the duration of time of 335 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 2: me being a Niitney Lion. And I tell you what, 336 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,919 Speaker 2: I would be the main one endorsing the idea and 337 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:21,199 Speaker 2: the belief that you represent. You have shown for some 338 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 2: people that may not know the details of who you 339 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 2: are and what you represent. I know for a fact, 340 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:31,920 Speaker 2: living here in southern California that your name was one 341 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 2: of the main names for the USC job and that 342 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 2: that was possibly I mean, the things I was hearing 343 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:42,199 Speaker 2: here living here that if you aren't the man that 344 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 2: you are, that I would have probably been able to 345 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 2: come visit you at USC's campus and we would have 346 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,679 Speaker 2: been able to hang out in person, and I wouldn't 347 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 2: have had any hard feelings towards it, because it might 348 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 2: have been a situation where they gave you an opportunity 349 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 2: that you couldn't pass up. But nonetheless, you've always been 350 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 2: solid for Penn State. Like from day one, since I've 351 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 2: known you, you've always rode for Penn State. You have really, 352 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 2: in my estimation, have proven that you are a true 353 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 2: pen Stater or man, and for that, I've always been supportive. 354 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:16,280 Speaker 2: People always wonder why I'm so passionate about, you, know, 355 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 2: supporting what you do, what I've seen your body work 356 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:22,160 Speaker 2: and what you've accomplished. But I also see where you're 357 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 2: trying to take our university. And I'll tell you, I 358 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 2: am more than proud that you have been the man 359 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 2: that you've been to our community.