Blue White Illustrated

T H E M O N T H I N . . . Let's say James Franklin's third contract in a little less than six years is ap- proved on [Dec. 6] by the Penn State Board of Trustees. It will mark his Day No. 2,156 as a Penn State employee. And, according to his two contracts that Penn State has made public, Franklin has made a bit over $30 million in salary and bonuses since he arrived on campus. At the same time, Penn State football has grossed over a half-billion dollars. It's been a profitable run for all concerned. Along the way, Franklin has restored continued sustained success to the Nit- tany Lions, recruited at a high level, created positive national publicity and filled Beaver Stadium. MIKE POORMAN STATECOLLEGE.COM If Franklin is going to be graded on a Paterno scale, then the scale needs to be based in reality. A reality where Paterno was one of the most dominant coaches in the sport over a period of 15 or so years before fading into merely being a re- ally good one. The world in which Penn State was winning 11 and 12 games every single season for decades has simply never existed. Three-loss seasons are not a new norm. They're an old one that Franklin is making progress toward changing for the better. That is why the smart money at Penn State has given him a new contract to fend off suitors that reportedly included historical pow- ers Florida State and USC. University leadership agrees with the market about his value. PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE Memphis' incredible season culminates in its first New Year's Six bowl appear- ance. Coach Mike Norvell is Florida State-bound. ... Damonte Coxie and Mem- phis' big-play passing game will create some problems for Penn State's secondary, but the Lions have too much on offense with Sean Clifford, K.J. Ham- ler, Journey Brown, Pat Freiermuth and others. Penn State pulls away in the fourth quarter, setting up a potentially huge 2020 season. Prediction: Penn State 40, Memphis 31. ADAM RITTENBERG ESPN.COM We're excited about the Cotton Bowl. I think it's an unbelievable opportunity to be in a New Year's Six game. I have never been to the Cotton Bowl before. I'm looking forward to that opportunity. I'm looking forward to being in Dallas. I'm looking forward to being in Jerry's World [AT&T Stadium]. I'm looking forward to it all. I think it's going to be a tremendous opportunity for our fans, not only in Dallas and Texas specifically, but also across the country. It's going to be fantastic. As you know, there's always that percentage of fans who [will] have different opinions on social media, and they can be vocal. But I know the great majority of our fans couldn't be more excited about this opportunity. And I know our team feels the same way. JAMES FRANKLIN I trust my teammates to make the right plays, and I think that this is a total team, a real team. I don't think we're going to have many nights where guys are scoring 30, because we just have so many weapons. I think we're just going to have balanced nights like these, and that's going to help us get to the next level. LAMAR STEVENS following PSU's 76-69 win over No. 4 Maryland on Dec. 10 O P I N I O N S Q U O T E S second-leading receiver as a freshman, 9nishing with 26 catches for 368 yards. This year, heading into Penn State's Cotton Bowl matchup against Memphis, he is again second on the team with 41 catches for 468 yards. He has already tied the school record for most touch- down receptions by a tight end with 15 in his 9rst 25 games. Freiermuth, who has caught at least one pass in Penn State's past 24 games, was recently named a second-team All- Big Ten tight end by both the league's coaches and media. It was his second All-Conference honor, as he was an hon- orable mention choice as a freshman. One group that wasn't as impressed with his numbers this year was the se- lection committee for the John Mackey Award, which le; him out of its group of eight 9nalists. The snub caught a lot of people by surprise, given that Freier- muth is tied for fourth among Football Bowl Subdivision tight ends with seven touchdown catches and was named the Mackey Award's Tight End of the Week a;er both the Bu:alo and Michigan State games, in which he combined to catch 13 passes for 159 yards and 9ve scores. "I can't imagine there are eight tight ends in the country who people would choose ahead of Pat Freiermuth," Franklin said. "Could there be a couple? OK, I can live with that. But eight? No." Freiermuth was unfazed by the snub. "An award doesn't de9ne who I am," he said. But he did say he plans to win it next year. Also set to return to Penn State in 2020 are o:ensive linemen Michal Menet and Will Fries. A 24-game starter over the past two seasons and an honorable mention All- Big Ten choice at center this year, Menet echoed Freiermuth in his announcement, explaining that he's "not ready for my time with this football family to end yet." Fries, an honorable mention All-Big Ten tackle who has started 32 games the past three seasons, expained that "there are some goals that were set for me and this team which have not been achieved yet. We have more to accomplish and higher aspirations to strive toward." ■

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