Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1030409
P E N N S T A T E F O O T B A L L >> few months ago, James Franklin began talking about the importance of "sweeping the sheds." It was an inscrutable refer- ence. Who knew that the Penn State football team even had sheds, much less that they needed sweeping? Were there state-of-the-art sheds in the Facilities Master Plan? As it turned out, the phrase was from a book called "Legacy" about New Zealand's national rugby team. Known as the All Blacks, the team has a long history of overachieve- ment. Despite coming from a coun- try with a population of only about 4.5 million, they have not only en- joyed success at the sport's highest level but have sustained it for decades, winning 77 percent of their matches and compiling winning records against all of their interna- tional opponents. In "Legacy," much of that success is attributed to the team's culture of ac- countability. No job is too small for anyone, which means that even the star players do the little things, like making sure the locker room is clean. The veterans' attention to detail fil- ters down to the younger, less-expe- rienced players, who then adopt the same approach, thus perpetuating the culture. It's a mindset that has allowed the All Blacks to win three Rugby World Cups in the past 31 years. And it's a model for what Franklin wants to see at Penn State. Heading into the 2018 season, Franklin said he was seeing that mindset at work. "It proba- bly sounds like a lit- tle thing," he explained, "but our players' locker room is as clean as it's ever been. I think that's a tremendous example of disci- pline and leadership on our team. I think we're in a good place." Franklin isn't the first American coach to recognize that a gleaming locker room is a sign of a healthy program. When John Wooden was BEGINNERS' PLUCK A The youthful Nittany Lions may find themselves in more shootouts like their opener, but their future looks bright, thanks in part to a culture that empowers everyone, young and old alike, to do their part WINNING POINTS Miles Sanders bursts into the end zone in overtime for what would turn out to be the deci- sive touchdown against Ap- palachian State. The Lions had surrendered a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter before rally- ing to win their opener. Photo by Patrick Mansell