Former Miami HC Manny Diaz Named Penn State Defensive Coordinator
Dec 11, 2021
Miami head coach Manny Diaz encourages his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Duke, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Following his firing this week as the head football coach at the University of Miami, Penn State announced Saturday that Manny Diaz has been hired as the Nittany Lions' new defensive coordinator.
Diaz said the following regarding his arrival at Penn State, per the school's official athletics website:
"My family and I are so excited to come to Happy Valley and join the Penn State family. The opportunity to lead Linebacker U is an honor and I will work every day to uphold that tradition. Penn State's defense has been among the nation's best, both historically and under Coach [James] Franklin. I will continue to pursue excellence with our defensive unit on a daily basis. I can't wait to get on the field with this talented group, to get to know them, and to ultimately develop them as football players, students and young men. Penn State's fans are the best in the country, and I look forward to seeing them this fall in Beaver Stadium!"
Diaz spent the previous three seasons as the head coach at Miami, but he was fired Monday just as Miami came to terms with former Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal to become its new head coach.
The 47-year-old Diaz spent the past six seasons with Miami, including the past three as head coach. Overall, he posted a 21-15 record and led the Hurricanes to a bowl game each time.
After going 6-7 in 2019, Miami improved to 8-3 last season and was ranked as high as No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Miami began this season ranked No. 14, but it was unable to maintain the momentum gained last season and finished the regular season with a 7-5 mark.
Prior to becoming the head coach at Miami, Diaz was the Hurricanes' defensive coordinator from 2016-18. He also has extensive experience as a DC at Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Texas and Louisiana Tech.
Diaz will join the coaching staff of a Penn State team that was ranked as high as No. 4 this season but ultimately disappointed and finished the regular season 7-5.
Defense wasn't the issue for the Nittany Lions, though, as they ranked seventh in the nation, allowing just 16.8 points per game.
Diaz will serve as the replacement for Brent Pry, who was PSU's DC from 2016-21 before being named head coach at Virginia Tech last month.
Kenneth Walker III, No. 12 Michigan State Hold off Jahan Dotson, Penn State 30-27
Nov 27, 2021
Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III, right, slips out of bounds on a run against Penn State's Kalen King (4) and Ji'Ayir Brown (16) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Coming off two losses in their previous three games, the Michigan State Spartans got back on track in Saturday's regular-season finale with a 30-27victory over Penn State at Spartan Stadium.
Michigan State entered November looking like a potential College Football Playoff contender with an 8-0 record. Things took a sharp turn with a loss to Purdue on Nov. 6, and the bottom dropped out with last week's 56-7 defeat against Ohio State.
The Nittany Lions entered this week also trying to right the ship after a rough stretch. They have lost five of their last seven games after a 5-0 start. The previous four losses came by a total of 18 points.
Snowy weather certainly played a role in the game, especially for Penn State. The Nittany Lions were held to 61 rushing yards on 26 attempts. Kicker Jordan Stout missed his only field-goal attempt and one of his three extra-point opportunities.
Meanwhile, Kenneth Walker III had no problems finding openings in the snow. The Spartans running back finished with 138 rushing yards and one touchdown on 30 carries.
Both quarterbacks, though, had success throwing the ball. Penn State's Sean Clifford racked up 313 yards and three touchdowns. Michigan State's Payton Thorne finished with 268 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Thorne's 20-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Reed on 4th-and-15 with 5:10 remaining was the difference in the game.
Penn State did get a late score from Parker Washington to cut the deficit to three points, but Spartans recovered the onside kick to end the game.
Kenneth Walker III (MSU): 30 carries, 138 yards, TD
Jayden Reed (MSU): 6 receptions, 89 yards, TD
Sean Clifford (PSU): 23-of-34, 313 yards, 3 TD
Jahan Dotson (PSU): 8 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TD
Keyvone Lee (PSU): 15 carries, 79 yards
Walker Boosts Heisman Resume in Spartans' Win
There's an argument that Walker was the Heisman favorite coming into Saturday's slate of games. The junior entered this week with 1,597 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns in 11 games.
To no one's surprise, Michigan State fed the ball to its star running back early in the game. He carried the ball four times out of eight plays on the team's first possession, including a touchdown from two yards out.
After Penn State pinned the Spartans at their own one-yard line following a punt, Walker gave the offense plenty of breathing room with a 35-yard run on first down. He followed that up with a 15-yard scamper on the next play.
Kenneth Walker never misses a hole when it’s there. Vision and burst is unreal.
Michigan State drove 99 yards on nine plays to take a 14-0 lead with six minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Just when it looked like a blowout was on the horizon, the Spartans' unreliable defense allowed Penn State to get back in the game. Then, Daequan Hardy picked off Thorne and took the ball to the house to put the Nittany Lions up 20-17 in the third quarter.
Mel Tucker went back to the ground game on the ensuing possession to get the Spartans back on top. Walker once again started the drive with a big play, gaining 27 yards to get the ball in Penn State territory.
After the Nittany Lions defense kept Walker out of the end zone on back-to-back runs near the goal line, Thorne called his own number on 3rd-and-goal from the one for the score.
Clinging to a 23-20 lead late in the fourth quarter, Tucker's decision to go for it on 4th-and-15 from Penn State's 20-yard line rather than attempting a field goal in the driving snow turned out to be the difference.
Thorne just threw a jump ball to Reed, who was facing single coverage in the end zone. The Spartans wide receiver came down with it to extend the lead to 10 with 5:10 to play.
Walker certainly wasn't the only Spartans player creating big plays in this game, but he was the center of everything they did. They ran 77 total plays on offense, with Walker carrying the ball 30 times.
The Heisman Trophy race is far from settled, especially with Ohio State losing and Alabama struggling against Auburn on Saturday. Walker's resume this season is as strong as any of the top contenders. His 138-yard performance in poor weather conditions could be enough to catapult him to the top of the ballot.
Key Mistakes Doom Penn State's Upset Hopes
In a year that's been defined by missed opportunities and crucial mistakes in big moments, it's only fitting that Penn State would make several errors in the regular-season finale.
The issues began on the Nittany Lions' first offensive possession when Keyvone Lee was stopped short of the sticks on 3rd-and-2. James Franklin elected to punt the ball away from his own 47-yard line rather than go for it on 4th-and-1.
It seemed like a wise decision since Penn State downed the ball at the Spartans' one-yard line, but the defense gave up 99 yards on nine plays to go down by two touchdowns.
Penn State did respond with a 68-yard scoring drive of its own, capped off by Jahan Dotson's 27-yard touchdown reception from Sean Clifford.
Advice: Stay for the sweet replays of Jahan Dotson's latest TD. 💯
Each of the next three drives by both teams ended in punts before Penn State was able to get in the end zone again to tie the score. Dotson once again made the big play with a 30-yard catch for his second touchdown of the game.
Hardy's pick-six in the third quarter could have turned the game in the Nittany Lions' favor. They took their first lead at that point, but a missed extra point kept the score at 20-17.
The missed extra point was the second missed opportunity of the game for Penn State. Jordan Stout missed a 27-yard field goal right before halftime that would have tied the score at 17.
After Michigan State went back on top 23-20, Penn State was faced with a 4th-and-1 from the Spartans' 16-yard line. Franklin chose to go for it rather than have Stout attempt a 33-yard field goal.
Keyvone Lee was stopped short of the first-down marker, giving Michigan State possession early in the fourth quarter.
Penn State's defense did force a punt, but the offense again made a blunder when Lee fumbled the ball away. Drew Beesley recovered to help set up the decisive touchdown for the Spartans.
The reason Penn State's season fell apart is because of miscues and turnovers. The defense gave up a 44-yard touchdown to Nico Ragaini midway through the fourth quarter in a 23-20 loss to Iowa.
Illinois held Penn State to 18 points in a game that featured nine overtimes. The offense had to settle for a field goal in the red zone after forcing a fourth-quarter turnover against Michigan. That allowed the Wolverines to drive 75 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in a 21-17 win.
Saturday's loss was a perfect microcosm of everything that has gone wrong for Franklin's squad down the stretch in 2021.
What's Next?
Penn State and Michigan State will learn which bowl game they will play in after the CFP field is announced on Dec. 5.
This article will be updated to
provide more information on this story as it becomes available.
James Franklin Signs New 10-Year Penn State Contract Worth $8.5M Annually
Nov 23, 2021
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions watches the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on November 06, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Penn State head football coach James
Franklin has signed a new 10-year contract to
remain with the Nittany Lions after being rumored as a candidate for the
LSU and USC coaching vacancies.
Stewart Mandel of The Athletic shared the details of Franklin's new deal:
James Franklin's new deal is 10 years at $8.5M per year.
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg first reported Tuesday
that Franklin's situation is "expected to be settled very soon" as the idea of rebuilding the Tigers' or Trojans' roster wasn't "overly
appealing" for the 49-year-old Pennsylvania native.
In October, Franklin addressed the
LSU and USC speculation by pointing to his past actions of staying at
Penn State amid rumors of a potential move:
I think I have shown my loyalty
to this team, to this program, to this community. I think I've been
pretty consistent with that. There's times that you're put in
challenging situations, and I just always want to be able, when I say
something, it's done, and it's in stone. And when you're talking
about the future, that can be challenging at times.
So I am fiercely loyal to Penn
State. I am fiercely loyal, most importantly, to these players and
the staff. But there's a lot of moving parts with all of these
things.
Franklin, who signed a six-year
contract extension worth up to $38.2 million in 2019, took
over the Nittany Lions in 2014. It marked his second head
coaching stint following three years at Vanderbilt.
The 2016 winner of the Woody Hayes
Trophy as college football's top coach has guided Penn State to a
67-32 record across eight seasons, but the team's bowl record over
that span is 3-3, and it's posted a mediocre 11-9 mark since the start
of the 2020 campaign.
Last week, 247Sports' Cooper Petagna
reported it was possible Franklin and Penn State were "kind of
heading for a mutual departure" with the coach having
potentially "maxed it out" in terms of what he could do with the
resources available.
While the Nittany Lions' 7-4 record
this season doesn't jump off the page, three of their four losses
came against teams ranked in the Top Six at the time of the
meeting, and the other was a nine-overtime defeat to Illinois. They wrap up the regular season with another tough test
against No. 7 Michigan State on the road Saturday.
While they weren't among the
nation's elite, they only had one bad loss and scored two
wins over ranked opponents in Wisconsin and Auburn. Add in the
nation's fifth-ranked recruiting class for 2022 (via 247Sports), and
there's reason for optimism.
Rittenberg previously noted Franklin was set to sign an "enhanced contract," but doing so amid
rumors is nothing new in the coaching world, and it doesn't eliminate the possibility of a move in the future if a high-profile job were to become available.
Former Raiders, Penn State FB Steve Smith Dies of ALS at Age 57
Nov 21, 2021
9 SEP 1993: LOS ANGELES FULLBACK STVE SMITH CARRIES THE FOOTBALL DURING THE RAIDERS 24-7 VICTORY 0VER THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn/ALLSPORT
Steve Smith, a former Penn State fullback who also played seven seasons with the NFL's Raiders, has died from Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 57.
"The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of Steve Smith, who valiantly battled Lou Gehrig's Disease for two decades," the Raiders said in a statement Saturday. "Steve and his wife Chie are an inspiration, smiling every day while always working for a cure for ALS. The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with Chie, their children Dante and Jazmin, and their grandson Little Steve."
Smith was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis about 20 years ago. He was unable to walk or talk in recent years and communicated, in part, with a computer system.
The Raiders selected Smith in the third round of the 1987 NFL draft out of Penn State, where he helped the Nittany Lions win their last national championship during the 1986 season.
Smith served as the Raiders' lead blocker for much of his career, blocking for stars such as Bo Jackson, one of the best two-sport athletes of all time. Jackson told the York Daily Record in December of 2019 that he frequently visited with Smith:
"He laid his body on the line for me hundreds of times," Jackson said. "I'm just glad God let him stay around as long as he has so I can go see him. ... I want to do my part to make sure he's not forgotten."
Smith ran for 1,627 yards and nine touchdowns on 429 carries and caught 131 passes for 1,250 yards and 13 touchdowns in his NFL career. In addition to the Raiders, he played two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring after the 1995 campaign.
Penn State's James Franklin Reportedly Says He's 'Not Going Anywhere' Amid USC Rumors
Nov 19, 2021
STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on during the first half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Beaver Stadium on November 13, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Amid rumors about his future with Penn State football, Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin said he is "not going anywhere" while speaking at the State College Quarterback Club on Wednesday, per Neil Rudel of the Altoona Mirror.
Recent reports have linked Franklin to USC as the school looks to replace Clay Helton, who was fired in September.
Franklin has been head coach of the Nittany Lions since 2014. He also coached the Vanderbilt Commodores from 2011-13. The 49-year-old is 66-32 at Penn State and has one Big Ten title, a win in the Fiesta Bowl and Cotton Bowl.
Penn State is 6-4 this season. The Nittany Lions got out to a 5-0 start before losing to Iowa, Illinois and Ohio State. They defeated Maryland after those three straight defeats but lost to Michigan on Saturday.
Franklin has addressed his future with Penn State several times this season, most recently during his weekly press conference Tuesday, via 247Sports:
"We've been in the same situation before, and we've had really strong seasons. I think you're also in a situation, obviously, this year where we've lost some games that we had a chance to win and our record looks a little bit different. So I get people are trying to connect the dots. All the things that I'm able to control, I'm controlling. But I get it. I understand the business. I understand people's concerns.
"Again, I would just say, looking at my my track record over my time here — eight years — my actions and my behaviors. I think have been consistent since I've been here."
In addition to USC, Franklin has been linked to LSU. The Tigers are parting ways with head coach Ed Orgeron at the end of the 2021 season. Lincoln Riley and Jimbo Fisher have also been linked to the LSU job, among others.
No. 6 Michigan Holds Off Penn State for Narrow Win
Nov 13, 2021
Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara (12) passes while being pressured by Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie (17) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
For the first time since 2018, Michigan is off to a 9-1 start after escaping Beaver Stadium with a 21-17 victory over Penn State.
The Wolverines have rebounded well since their loss to Michigan State two weeks ago, with another win following last week's easy home victory over Indiana. They came into this game on the fringes of the College Football Playoff at No. 6 in the CFP rankings.
Penn State has given Jim Harbaugh's squad problems recently. The Nittany Lions won the previous two meetings against their Big Ten rivals, including a 27-17 victory last year.
Since starting the season 5-0, Penn State has lost four of its past five games. Three of those losses have come against teams ranked in the Top 10 of the Associated Press poll at the time (Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan).
Erick All was the hero with a 47-yard touchdown catch with 3:29 remaining to help put Michigan up by four points. That came after Penn State scored 11 points in the span of 100 seconds to take the lead.
Hassan Haskins carried the ball a career-high 31 times in the win. He broke the 150-yard barrier for the second consecutive game.
Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford struggled to find a rhythm against the Wolverines defense. He only completed 23 of 43 attempts for 205 yards and one touchdown. The Nittany Lions were held to 2.6 yards per carry on 42 rushing attempts.
The Wolverines' style of play tends to stand out in contrast to those of other top programs. Harbaugh still depends on the running game and defense to do most of the work, with McNamara making smart, efficient throws.
This is how Harbaugh's best teams have won games dating back to his time with the San Francisco 49ers.
For three quarters, this game followed that script perfectly. Haskins finished with over 100 rushing yards for the fourth time in the past five games. He was, by far, Michigan's go-to player on offense.
At one point in the third quarter, Haskins had more than 10 times as many touches as anyone else on the team.
Hassan Haskins has 21 touches (17 carries, 4 catches) vs Penn State today.
No other Michigan player has more than two touches.
The defense held Penn State to six points going into the fourth quarter.
Things looked like they would fall apart for the Wolverines late, though. Penn State put together a 53-yard drive that took 15 plays to get a touchdown and two-point conversion that tied the score at 14.
Michigan's ensuing drive ended with a turnover when McNamara fumbled on a sack by Arnold Ebiketie, who recovered the ball at the Wolverines' 16-yard line.
Penn State took the lead on Jordan Stout's 31-yard field goal with 5:55 left to play. Things looked bleak for Michigan. The offense gained a total of 36 yards on three drives after Roman Wilson's touchdown on the first possession of the second half.
Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis played things safe with five consecutive runs by Haskins. They finally got a big play when All found an opening after a quick pass from McNamara.
Erick All (@eallindi83) wanted it all, and he got it all. 🙌
As has been the case virtually all season, Michigan's defense came through in a crucial moment. The unit forced a turnover on downs when Clifford threw an incompletion with pressure bearing down on him on a 4th-and-2 play with 2:52 remaining.
Penn State still had all three timeouts, so there was still work to do. Haskins iced the win five plays later with a 12-yard run on 2nd-and-7 for a first down that allowed Michigan to burn the rest of the clock.
This wasn't a highlight-reel win for a Wolverines team trying to make its case to the playoff selection committee.
There's still work for Michigan to do over the final two weeks of the regular season. But a conference road victory against a quality opponent late in the season is an impressive statement.
Special Teams Mistakes Doom Penn State's Upset Bid
There are certain ways in which Penn State very much mirrors Michigan. Both teams are carried by strong defenses that help put the offense in more favorable positions to get points.
The Nittany Lions' passing attack has been stronger overall than that of the Wolverines. A lack of consistency on that side of the ball, though, has been their undoing during this recent rough patch.
They needed nine overtimes just to score 18 points in that infamous game against Illinois three weeks ago. Clifford rebounded the following week against Ohio State with 361 yards, but his interception early in the fourth quarter set up a Buckeyes field goal to put them up 30-24.
Saturday was a poor effort by Clifford. The senior averaged just 4.8 yards per attempt. He did make two big throws on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter. The first one was a touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson, followed by a two-point conversion to Tyler Warren.
Ultimately, though, Franklin and Penn State will think back on the mistakes and missed opportunities on special teams.
After driving deep into Michigan territory late in the first quarter, Penn State lined up for a field goal from the 2-yard line. Franklin opted to call for a fake, having Rafael Checa toss the ball to Jordan Stout, hoping to catch the Wolverines off guard.
The play blew up in spectacular fashion for the Nittany Lions.
Midway through the third quarter, Stout missed a 43-yard field goal to keep the score at 14-6.
For all of the struggles that Penn State's offense had during the game, two blunders on special teams cost the team at least six points in a 21-17 loss.
The Nittany Lions' four losses this season have come by a total of 18 points. This suggests the team is good enough to compete with anybody, but the handful of key plays that will often decide games aren't going in their favor.
On Saturday, Penn State turned out to be its own worst enemy. Next week's game against Rutgers is an opportunity for the team to get back on track.
What's Next?
Michigan will play its final road game of the regular season at Maryland next Saturday. Penn State will wrap up its home schedule against Rutgers the same day.
TreVeyon Henderson, No. 5 Ohio State Beat Sean Clifford, No. 20 Penn State 33-24
Oct 31, 2021
Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson runs the ball against Penn State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
No. 5 Ohio State football defeated No. 20 Penn State 33-24 on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
OSU running back TreVeyon Henderson paced the Buckeyes offense with 28 carries for 152 rushing yards and a touchdown that gave the Buckeyes a 26-17 third-quarter lead.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud found seven different receivers en route to completing 22-of-34 passes for 305 yards and one touchdown. Chris Olave caught that score for 38 yards.
Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson starred for the Nittany Lions, with 11 catches, 127 yards and a two-yard touchdown run that helped tie the game at 17 in the third quarter.
OSU (7-1, 5-0 Big Ten) has now won six straight games. Penn State (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) has dropped three straight, including a nine-overtime 20-18 loss to Illinois.
Notable Performances
Penn State QB Sean Clifford: 35-of-52, 361 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Penn State WR Jahan Dotson: 11 catches, 127 receiving yards; 2-yard TD run
Penn State WR Parker Washington: 9 catches, 108 receiving yards
Ohio State WR Chris Olave: 3 catches, 44 yards, 1 TD
High-Powered, Talented OSU Offense Shines Again
Ohio State has averaged 47.25 points per game, and its lowest scoring output was 28 points in a Sept. 11 loss to Oregon.
Since then, the Buckeyes have crushed their opponents to the tune of a 217-point differential.
OSU met some resistance on Saturday against a tough PSU defense, but the Buckeyes were simply too strong for the Nittany Lions in front of their raucous home crowd.
Stroud and Olave put OSU into the lead after they connected on a 38-yard downfield shot for six and a 9-7 edge:
An efficient passing game (9.0 yards per attempt for Stroud) worked in sync with the running game, which featured an explosive 68-yard run from Henderson to set up his own one-yard score for a 26-17 edge in the third quarter:
The redshirt freshman is firmly planted in the Heisman conversation as he tries to guide the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff appearance.
Meanwhile, as Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors tweeted, Henderson has 15 touchdowns, including at least one in each game he's played.
It was a remarkable effort for the running back, who started the game with 20 yards on 14 carries. He finished strong, though, and even gave credit to PSU for their effort:
TreVeyon Henderson says "that defense, that's a great defense. One of the best defenses we've played all year. But I needed that to prove to myself that I'm tough."
Ultimately, PSU's defense hung tough for much of the game, but OSU's talented attack prevailed.
Penn State Fights Hard; Missed Opportunities at End
It's never easy for any team to go into Colombus and beat the Buckeyes, but PSU found itself down just 27-24 with 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter following a Keyvone Lee one-yard scoring rush.
That score capped off Penn State's third touchdown drive of 75 yards or more.
Clifford found Brenton Strange for a five-yard pass to cap a 13-play, 89-yard drive for a 6-0 lead:
Lee's score ended another 75-yard drive, and PSU was down just a field goal entering the fourth.
It was a remarkable effort from the offense, especially since OSU defensive lineman Jerron Cage scored on a 57-yard scoop-and-score in the second quarter:
However, PSU couldn't take advantage of multiple opportunities down the stretch.
Cameron Brown intercepted a Clifford pass with PSU driving down 27-24 with 11:15 left. The Nittany Lions held OSU to a field goal, but the PSU offense then went three-and-out on a drive that saw a 70-yard John Lovett touchdown called back for illegal touching.
OSU then moved the ball in chunks down the field before a Noah Ruggles 26-yard field goal. A PSU drive in response ended with a missed field goal, all but ending the game.
It's undoubtedly been a disappointing stretch for PSU, especially after a 20-18 nine-OT loss to a previously 2-5 Illinois team at home one week ago. However, the Nittany Lions played hard on Saturday evening in a tough environment before OSU pulled away down the stretch.
What's Next?
Both teams will hit the road for Big Ten matchups Saturday.
Penn State will visit Maryland in College Park's Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Ohio State will take on Nebraska in Lincoln's Memorial Stadium.
PSU's James Franklin on Claims of Faked Injuries vs. Iowa: 'We Don't Coach It'
Oct 13, 2021
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 9: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium on October 9, 2021 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
Penn State head coach James Franklin is firing back at Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz.
After Ferentz defended Iowa fans for booing injured Penn State players during the Hawkeyes' Week 6 win over the Nittany Lions, Franklin is not happy with the implication that his players were faking their injuries. He expressed his displeasure Wednesday in a prepared statement.
"We don’t coach it, we don’t teach it. … 70 percent of these guys were out for the rest of the game," he told reporters.
Franklin announced Wednesday that senior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher is out for the remainder of the season. Mustipher left the game against the Hawkeyes after the first drive and was seen using crutches while he stood on the sidelines.
The Nittany Lions also lost starting quarterback Sean Clifford after he suffered an apparent arm injury in the second quarter. He emerged from the locker room after halftime without his uniform on and a wrap on his right arm. Franklin said Wednesday there's no update on Clifford's status.
Ferentz told reporters Tuesday that he felt bad for the players who suffered legitimate injuries, but he indicated that he believed some players went down to stop the momentum of the Hawkeyes offense. In his defense of fans who booed the injured players, Ferentz said they "aren't stupid" and "they smelled a rat."
Franklin disputed those claims because he said Iowa doesn't run a high-tempo offense where faking injuries would be a necessary strategy. He took particular issue with the lack of regard for the players' health.
"Put yourselves in the shoes of a parent," he said. "Your son is down on the field for an injury, and the stadium is booing them."
"I just told you PJ Mustipher is done for the year and we're booing," he added. "Is that good for college football?"
Penn State will have extra time to heal up as the Nittany Lions are off this week and will return Oct. 23 against Illinois.
No. 3 Iowa Beats No. 4 Penn State 23-20 After Sean Clifford Leaves with Injury
Oct 9, 2021
Iowa wide receiver Charlie Jones (16) celebrates his touchdown with receiver Keagan Johnson (6) and tight end Sam LaPorta (84) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Iowa now has the inside track in the Big Ten to the College Football Playoff following a massive 23-20 victory over No. 4 Penn State on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Spencer Petras hit a wide-open Nico Ragaini for a 44-yard touchdown pass with 6:26 left in the game to give Iowa its first lead since the opening frame.
With his team backed up on its own 8-yard line, James Franklin opted to go for it on fourth down. Ta'Quan Roberson threw his second interception with 2:13 remaining to effectively doom the Nittany Lions to a defeat.
Penn State was rolling along in the second quarter up 17-3. Then Sean Clifford exited with an undisclosed injury after going 15-of-25 for 146 yards and two interceptions. Despite playing less than a full half, he finished as the team's leading rusher (36 yards).
Clifford's injury turned the contest into a war of attrition as the two teams combined for 592 yards.
With the win, the No. 3 Hawkeyes are now one of three unbeaten teams left in the conference alongside No. 9 Michigan and No. 11 Michigan State.
Notable Performers
Ta'Quan Roberson, QB, Penn State: 7-of-21, 34 yards, two interceptions; 10 carries, 27 yards
KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR, Penn State: five receptions, 61 yards
Spencer Petras, QB, Iowa: 17-of-31, 195 yards, two touchdowns, one interception
Nico Ragaini, WR, Iowa: four receptions, 73 yards, one touchdown
Iowa Survives
Iowa entered the game averaging the 12th-fewest yards (320) in FBS. The Hawkeyes were also 63rd in offensive drive efficiency and 48th in offensive points per drive, according to Football Outsiders.
An opportunistic defense can carry a team a long way, but Iowa's inability to move the ball consistently is going to be a problem sooner or later. Just not on Saturday.
The offense wasn't capitalizing on the excellent field position it often had thanks to the defense.
#Iowa's defense hasn't been as dominant this half, but it provided the offense with three interceptions, which the offense converted into three points.
Petras didn't have much luck targeting wide receivers on shorter throws after Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry and the Nittany Lions coaching staff drew up a game plan to remove that option.
Penn State just moved Petras off the point on that 3rd down with a 2 man rush. Drop 9 and they were able to cover shallow crosses and have LBs under intermediate with safeties on top.
Because of that, life was almost more difficult for Iowa as it got closer and closer to the goal line. Midway through the fourth quarter, a 42-yard reception by Keagan Johnson set the Hawkeyes up with a 1st-and-goal from the Penn State 8-yard line. They had to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Caleb Shudak after Petras was sacked on third down.
Still, the Hawkeyes were only one big play away from taking control of the game because of how well its defense and special teams performed. Ragaini's pivotal catch was exactly that moment.
Clifford Injury Grounds Penn State Offense
Roberson had a shaky introduction to the game.
The redshirt sophomore fumbled his first snap, and Penn State was flagged for three straight false starts as it went three-and-out on his first possession. The Nittany Lions' next drive ended in an interception by Riley Moss on second down.
It didn't help that Hawkeyes punter Tory Taylor pinned the Nittany Lions deep into their own territory. Driving the length of the field would've been difficult enough with Clifford under center. The task became even more hard with Roberson.
Penn State has started drives at the 1-, 2- and 3-yard line today. Better chance of the Pirates winning 100 games in '22 than the Nittany Lions going 99 here with the way this offense has looked since Ta'Quan Roberson took over.
But Penn State was the equivalent of a weary boxer desperate to run out the clock late in a fight. The Nittany Lions were only able to dodge the knockout blow for so long.
Roberson was a 4-star recruit and the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in 247Sports' composite rankings for 2019. The New Jersey native isn't without talent, and Saturday's circumstances were less than ideal for his first meaningful snaps.
But Penn State could be in real trouble if Clifford's injury is bad enough to knock him out for multiple games.
What's Next?
Iowa hosts Purdue on Oct. 16 at 3:30 p.m. ET, while Penn State has a week off before welcoming Illinois to Happy Valley on Oct. 23.
Penn State QB Sean Clifford Won't Return vs. Iowa Because of Apparent Arm Injury
Oct 9, 2021
Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (14) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
No. 4 Penn State suffered a blow to its offense in the first half of Saturday's game against No. 3 Iowa.
Nittany Lions starting quarterback Sean Clifford emerged from halftime without his uniform on and a wrap on his right arm, ruling him out for the remainder of the game.
Penn State won't have Sean Clifford for the second half. He just came out of the tunnel with no uniform on and a wrapped right arm.
Penn State held a 17-10 lead over Iowa at halftime. Clifford threw for 146 yards and two interceptions and ran for 36 yards and a touchdown before exiting the game in the second quarter. He was under pressure from the Iowa defense throughout the first half.
Clifford entered Saturday's game ranked 23rd in the nation with 1,336 passing yards. He threw for a career-high 401 yards in the Nittany Lions' win over Villanova on Sept. 25. He's thrown 11 touchdowns with just three interceptions prior to Saturday.
Clifford was replaced at quarterback by sophomore Ta'Quan Roberson. Entering Saturday, Roberson saw action in two games this season and threw for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Without Clifford on the field, the Nittany Lions are without their best weapon. Penn State averages just 132.6 yards on the ground and relies on the passing game to balance its offensive attack. Veteran offensive players like junior running back Noah Cain and senior receiver Jahan Dotson will have to step up and help Roberson in Clifford's absence.
