Michigan x 9
Not entirely sure, but I think Franklin's focus this week is on.... Michigan? Maybe?
http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21054367/penn-state-coa…
October 18th, 2017 at 10:56 AM ^
There's a tweet in the article where he talks about his recruiting class being #3 ranked. I wonder if that's an NCAA violation? I know coaches aren't allowed to talk about individual commits until signing day, but it seems they also avoid general statements.
In any event, I hope our players aren't looking past Penn State, what with the Rutgers game circled in red on the schedule and all.*
*MichiganMondayed
October 18th, 2017 at 11:03 AM ^
I had seen that tweet earlier in the week so I didn't mention it in my post, but I hadn't considered the possibility of it being an NCAA violation. A much more interesting angle than my effort to instill a *tiny* bit of humor into an otherwise un-noteworthy clickbait story.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
In a perverse way, you kind of have to admire how Franklin is able to bring up his team's rank, his recruiting class' rank, the White Out, and last year's B1G championship, all while maintaining that he doesn't want to talk about those things. It's like some sort of weird humblebrag.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:03 AM ^
he totally doesn't notice the A&M thing
October 18th, 2017 at 11:18 AM ^
Made up the A&M talk. If someone wants him, he can hit Penn St up for more money. There is no way they let Franklin go now.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^
PSU is a good home for Franklin although he would do well anywhere he went.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:56 AM ^
They won't let him go. Whatever A&M offers him, PSU can match it. A&M is a lateral move at best right now. The only reasons I could see him leaving are:
1) NFL, should the league ever decide he's worthy
2) If he actually wanted to go to A&M, it may be because he thinks Saban is nearing retirement, and he can then step in, fill the power vacuum, and not have to deal with Harbaugh, Meyer and Dantonio every year. Right now, the SEC West is Saban and then everyone else. Devoid of truly good coaches. Whoever replaces Saban will never be as good as he is. But I doubt Franklin wants to deal with the politics down in Texas. Whatever they are at PSU, they're two or three-fold at A&M.
October 18th, 2017 at 1:34 PM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 11:09 AM ^
And I speak here from experience. Impressive work Franklin......Impressive work indeed.
October 18th, 2017 at 12:32 PM ^
but every time I read a tweet with his stupid #WeAre hash-tag, I want to respond
#ChildRapistEnablers
FUCK PENN STATE
October 18th, 2017 at 11:41 AM ^
so true. Its like when someone tells you im not trying to brag but.......All along your thinking well yes you are.
October 18th, 2017 at 12:11 PM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
I guess it is good to know that Harbaugh being in his head is........ accurate, I guess.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:07 AM ^
Or maybe I'm completely delusional. But the closer we get to this game, the more I think we might just kick their asses.
Sure, our offense sucks. But our defense might not let them score at all.
I'm really only worried about the ref's and penalties.
Michigan 17 - PSU 10
October 18th, 2017 at 11:10 AM ^
Get me all excited after saying "kick their asses" and then drop a 17-10 score line. Gotta come stronger than that.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
think we are going to destroy them to the tune of 11-9.
October 18th, 2017 at 1:06 PM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 11:24 AM ^
I think we win by 100 billion points
October 18th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
I'll take PSU and only 5 points instead of the 7 we're going to win by.
Sorry to say I'm not seeing it. I know this board does not want to admit it but Penn State is good. And we're completely one-dimensional and that's not good.
Playing at night
On the road
Against a very, very good team
With no passing game
Like I said....not seeing it.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^
I'm with you I'm not seeing a path to a win here. Too many things would have to go our way and Michigan never has been a "lucky" team. I think the inability by JOK to go through his progressions post snap is a known entity to teams. Without being able to throw PSU can load the run box almost all game and their defense does not suck.
Hoping & praying that I eat crow for breakfast on Sunday morning!
October 18th, 2017 at 12:08 PM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 11:36 AM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 11:40 AM ^
that their team is basically the same team we obliterated last year. Sure, we're not going to score anywhere near 49 points this year, but I think holding them to 10-20 points is within the capability of the defense.
Then again, holding MSU to 14 wasn't enough.
Good thing I never bet on sports.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:48 AM ^
are not the same team they were last year when we played them. And neither are we.
If we win this game it is going to be because we play really well and play a complete and disciplined game, not because Penn State is overrated. They may not be the #2 team in the country but they are really good and Barkley could be the best player in the country.
October 18th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 12:12 PM ^
times I don't understand this train of thought though. Don't we want their ranking to be legitimate so that if we beat them it is a really big win?
October 18th, 2017 at 12:17 PM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 2:22 PM ^
I mean, a win is a win. It's irrelevant where PSU is ranked at this stage in the game. PSU is the best team they've played this year, but I don't think the difference between them and, say, MSU or Florida, is as much as you'd expect for the #2 team in the country.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 11:17 AM ^
Who cares how 7 goes up for Michigan - just that 7's keep going up...
October 18th, 2017 at 12:16 PM ^
That's still only 10 points. If history is any guide, after that McSorley fumble, the offense will gets two negative plays, picks up 7 yards on 3rd down and then kick a field goal.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
all hinges on whether O'Korn can be passable or not. Penn State is not the best team ever, but they are considerably better than a team like Indiana all over the field and have a good defense and secondary. If he can be merely serviceable, like a decent Power 5 QB, we should win given our defense. But if O'Korn cannot make some fairly basic reads and keep the offense on the field it could get ugly.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:55 AM ^
14-20 for 200 yards 2TD, 0 INT
We should win with that stat line for him in this game *any* day.
October 18th, 2017 at 12:01 PM ^
was thinking more like 11-18 for 115 yards with 0 TDs and 1 interception. But I like yours better so let's go with that.
October 18th, 2017 at 1:09 PM ^
This seems very accurate to me.
October 18th, 2017 at 12:03 PM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 1:23 PM ^
Jesus man here in Cleveland a QB with that stat line would get a bronze statue created between Paul & Jim Brown.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:15 AM ^
orrrrr maybe you just really don't want a lemon up your ass. I think we get this game too, though. Fuck Penn St
October 18th, 2017 at 11:38 AM ^
If O'Korn plays at a serviceable level (Purdue-esque) and the defense maintains the status quo, I give us roughly a 50/50 shot. No matter how well the team plays, PSU still has home field advantage, and they have arguably the best player on the field playing for them. He'll likely make a play or two at some point. He's just that good.
If O'Korn plays like he did against MSU, we may be toast by halftime. The defense will show up, but they will only be able to hold Barkley back for so long. If they're on the field too long, you can take to the bank that he's going to break off some ridiculous 75 yard scamper for a TD. And the floodgates will open from there.
October 18th, 2017 at 12:00 PM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 12:26 PM ^
during white outs, though.
October 18th, 2017 at 1:52 PM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
He should be saying this and he probably is actually focused on this game. There's no reason to give Michigan the Pitt treatment. Everyone realizes we're not Akron.
But I'm also ready to believe that *everyone* (his players, media folks, James Franklin, the attractive wives/girlfriends of PSU's coaching staff) chalked the Michigan game as a win and OSU's game is the true battle royale with cheese.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:19 AM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 12:46 PM ^
October 18th, 2017 at 11:23 AM ^
Franklin, who grew up in Pennsylvania, went on to say he and his family are enjoying life in State College. He told reporters he's lost 10 pounds recently, goes on regular walks and is eating healthy. Don't ask about the recipe for his green breakfast smoothies, though. That sounds like a distraction.
OK, so win or lose on Saturday, someone needs to ask about the smoothies at either the pre- or post-game presser. There is so much material for hours of "distractions".
October 18th, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^
Penn State Nation is going to be carpet bombed by Michigan fans with that clip FOR-E-VER.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^
If they've marked Michigan as a win and are, indeed, waiting for OSU... Well, that will be thier mistake. There is no doubt in my mind that Jim MF'ing Harbaugh has this game circled to prove a point. Maybe that point will just be the period at the end of a sentence, but I think it will be an exclamation point. I don't think it will take too much luck for Michigan to win this game, but it will require some bad luck to lose it.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:30 AM ^
After getting no lube plugged by JH last year I don't think Franklin has us down as an automatic win. If I'm him I'm really worried about a repeat performance by the Michigan defense.
October 18th, 2017 at 11:33 AM ^
Are coming into the game Saturday a little arrogant/overconfident fresh off their #2 ranking. And we come in with a chip on our shoulder, solely focused on executing how we can and should. The defense will be challenged but I give our defense the edge. I still want to believe that the coaching staff will give O'Korn a way to be successful. Our RBs will be heavily challenged and may not find a lot of success but I think they can do some damage.
This may be coming from 40+ years as a diehard but I can't help myself. Michigan pulls this one out 16-13.
GO BLUE!!!