No hype needed for Penn State-Pitt game
James Franklin has experienced the Penn State-Pittsburgh rivalry from both ends of the state, with his time growing up in Langhorne and spending holidays and summers with his father's side of the family in Pittsburgh.
James Franklin has experienced the Penn State-Pittsburgh rivalry from both ends of the state, with his time growing up in Langhorne and spending holidays and summers with his father's side of the family in Pittsburgh.
Now as the head coach of the Nittany Lions, with a team of players who couldn't possibly remember the last meeting of the two teams in 2000, he is trying to make it as normal a week of practice and preparation as possible before his team enters a packed Heinz Field for Saturday's game.
It isn't going to be easy given all the noise. Fans and alumni have talked about the game the entire offseason. He said he has discussed the history of the 96-game series with his players, but he feels he doesn't have to say too much.
"I don't think we have to talk a whole lot because they understand, and they hear it all the time," Franklin said Tuesday at his weekly teleconference. "They have friends that play at Pitt. They have family members that went to Pitt. There's a lot of that, so I think it naturally just happens.
"I think you have to be very careful when you tell your players that this game is more important than another game. Then I think you have a tendency to come out and play inconsistent. Guys will be emotionally high one game and low the next. So keep our process the same, focus on the results of being successful and not things that are outside of your control."
He went on to say that he doesn't have to tell players how important a game like this is, similar to one against a ranked opponent or for a "whiteout" game.
"These things naturally happen without us emphasizing it," he said.
That's a different approach than that of Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi, who said Monday that his team's game against the Nittany Lions is different because of the history between the two schools. He said he wanted to make sure his players "embrace [the rivalry] and understand what it's all about."
"Our guys are excited about it, but I think everybody understands the significance of it," Franklin said. "We've been hearing about it all offseason. There's no doubt about that. But our approach is consistent week-in and week-out."
Cornerback Grant Haley has a perspective to which Franklin referred. His mother went to Penn State before going to medical school at Pitt, where she met his father.
"My dad is from Pittsburgh. His parents still live in Pittsburgh [as do] his brother and sister. I've never really grown up knowing about the game. But I knew it was a very big game for the state of Pennsylvania, and I'm just excited to be a part of it, be a part of regaining history, I guess you could say."
The two teams are coming off season-opening victories. Redshirt sophomore Trace McSorley threw two touchdown passes in his first career start to lift the Nittany Lions to a 33-13 win over Kent State. The Panthers defeated Villanova, 28-7, behind two touchdown runs from James Conner.
Franklin praised Conner, a cancer survivor who had been diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma last December.
"What a great story for college football. What a great story for the University of Pittsburgh," he said. "A tremendous young man, a tremendous example of college athletics and his passion for the game and his passion for his university. So awesome to see that."
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