Rose Bowl: James Franklin Media Day Recap

“In some ways it’s hard to ignore”, Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead said Thursday afternoon following practice at the StubHub Center.

So it probably frustrates conference officials more than a little bit that its best team today (USC) is playing in the Rose Bowl while Washington actually plays Alabama in a College Football playoff semifinal game.

Farmer grew up around L.A., so he became the go-to guy, like one evening this week in Santa Monica’s shopping and restaurant district.

“We couldn’t keep up with it, it was going fast, the phones were ringing and we sold out within a day”, said JZ Tours owner John Zelinski. “We were rolling deep, it was stressful for him”. “The key to our turnaround I think was just trust in each other”. “But Koa’s a pretty mature kid”.

Now, just about the wildest ride possible will hit a breakthrough moment for him Monday afternoon.

A sophomore, Barkley had a spectacular freshman season in 2015 but didn’t get much attention for it due to Penn State’s struggles.

As for the Trojans, the Rose Bowl is familiar territory.

A position he wasn’t even playing in September. “I showed up a month after the Rose Bowl“. After taking calls from several programs – Purdue and CT reportedly among them – Moorhead reiterated Thursday that he plans to be Penn State’s offensive coordinator in 2017.

Two short sentences from Penn State, two more starters that will need to be replaced. Since taking over the starting job during the Utah loss, Darnold has completed more than 60 percent of his passes in every game he’s played.

Wide Receiver Saeed Blacknall and Linebacker Manny Bowen will not suit up for the Nittany Lions against USC on Monday. He won the hearts and souls of the local fans when his team upset mighty Ohio State.

“He’s a very physical running back”. Now it is time to get down to business, and practice for the reason they are there.

At receiver, Blacknall previously missed four games early in the season with a finger injury, so the Lions have dealt with his absence before.

“He gets out of trouble”, Pry said. “When the opportunity came, he’s ready”.

“I think people just step up in the moment”.

“He’s very well liked on the team”. If it doesn’t, USC will get star receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster involved, which no defensive coordinator ever wants. Running back Ronald Jones will look to provide that advantage.

It’s a scenario family and friends are relishing, too.

If the two teams weren’t similar enough in player personnel, they are both led by young head coaches in Clay Helton (USC) and James Franklin (Penn State); coincidentally, both coaches are 44 years of age. Being able to play in a Rose Bowl is spectacular. He expects an enormous support contingent, including cousins, uncles and aunts and high school friends.

“He looks like a savvy guy”, Bell said. “I’m excited for him”. I knew where I wanted to be. Garrett Sickels contributes two sacks, and Evan Schwan comes up with another late in the game to help close out the victory. They then put together an eight-game win streak, and although they did not win the Pac 12’s South Division, they still managed to finish ahead of Colorado in the final CFP Rankings to earn the bid.

If you’re still waiting to grab that Rose Bowl attire, time is running out.

“It’s awesome to play the boys from back home”.

I have said this before, but I will repeat it.

“This is a game and a bowl that players and coaches grow up dreaming about”, Penn State Coach John Franklin told ESPN after the selection was made, despite some disappointment that his team was not in the National Championship picture.