Penn State coach identifies toughest part of job

PENN STATE coach James Franklin said yesterday that he and the Nittany Lions' offensive coaches have been calling plays that allow them to "manage some of our issues."

The Lions, as a result, are managing to get by.

They have won four straight since losing their season opener to Temple, though last Saturday's lackluster, 20-14 victory over Army - a four-touchdown underdog - left Franklin lecturing the media, and dealing with a fan's "colorful" tweet, as he called it.

During his regular weekly news conference, he said "the hardest part" of his job is this: "How do you go out and get people really excited about the season, about the team, about the future, without setting up false expectations?"

Franklin is trying to manage such things as well, as his team prepares for its homecoming game Saturday against 4-1 Indiana, a noon start on ESPN2.

As was the case last season, Franklin's first, the Lions have struggled offensively. They are no better than 88th among the nation's 127 FBS schools in scoring, rushing, passing or total yardage.

Against the Black Knights, a team that had been yielding 418 yards a game, PSU was outgained, 293-264, and outrushed 261-108. And the outcome was in doubt until Lions middle linebacker Jason Cabinda sacked Army quarterback A.J. Schurr for a 10-yard loss on fourth-and-5 from the Penn State 43 with 1:21 left.

Franklin was asked at the tail end of his postgame rehash about the team's struggles, especially in light of the fact that the Lions had been such a heavy favorite, and he launched into a 1-minute, 30-second speech. He was not so much angry as insistent, not so much irate as impassioned.

"Do we need to get better?" he asked at one point. "Yes. But you (media) guys can ask me every question in the book and try to get me to be negative. I'm not going to do it. Not going to do it."

And later, he added, "We won today. We're 1-0 (for the week). We're 1-0. And we're going to do everything in our power to be 1-0 next week, and I'm going to come in here and I'm going to be positive. I'm going to be positive. I'm not going to go down that (negative) road with anybody. Love our players. Love our coaches. Love our media. Love everybody. Love 'em."

He reiterated his point yesterday.

"I understand the issues," he said. "I see the things that everybody else sees. I know we've got to get better, but coming in here and talking about those negative things or what I would call 'throwing people under the bus,' I'm not going to do it."

The offensive line continues to struggle, and last week the Lions were without their top rusher, freshman tailback Saquon Barkley, because of an ankle injury. (Franklin said yesterday only that he is "hopeful" Barkley is available against the Hoosiers.)

In light of all that, PSU continues to play conservatively, and lean on a defense that is again the strength of the team. The Lions are second in the nation, with 21 sacks, eight of those by Malvern Prep's Carl Nassib, whom Franklin called "odd" - but in a good way, because of "how driven and how motivated and how intense and how focused he always is."

Another mainstay is tackle Anthony Zettel, who yesterday addressed reporters for the first time since the death from cancer on Sept. 25 of his father Terry, at age 46. Anthony played in the game against San Diego State the next day, then spoke at the memorial service for his dad that Sunday in his native Michigan - a service attended by Franklin, defensive line coach Sean Spencer and a group of players.

"I couldn't have any better support from my teammates and my coaches and then my best friends and . . . the community in general," Zettel said. "I've gotten thousands of letters."

Franklin received a far less supportive missive via Twitter over the weekend, from a fan. The coach would not reveal the specifics, but said he responded by writing, "If you can explain to me how that would make the situation we're in better, I'm happy to do it."

And, Franklin added: "I get a response, 'Coach you're exactly right. I was emotional. I was angry. I let my emotions get the best of me. We are . . . You have our support,' blah, blah, blah."

Toughest part of the job. And James Franklin, like his team, is managing to get by.