Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1201503
"Obviously, whenever you can meet and exceed expectations, that's a good thing, especially at a place like Penn State where the expectations and stan- dards are so high," he said. "We've got a lot of work to do in a lot of di*erent areas, but I think most people would agree that the program is headed in the right direction. We're developing well. We're game-planning well. We're re- cruiting well. And really, at this point in where we are as a program, you've got to do it all at a very, very high level. "I'm going to enjoy this win tonight, but I do think this game, and this win and these young players who are going to be returning are going to give us a lot of momentum going into next season, which we're going to need." Franklin has been working to create a culture in which maximum e*ort is ex- pected at all times. The comments and attitudes from within Penn State's locker room following the Cotton Bowl re)ected that mindset. The Nittany Lions aren't simply hoping for future success. They're determined to achieve it. "Everybody said we were going to have a down year this year," Menet said. "If you all want to call it a down year, you can, that's how high our standards are around here. The standard keeps rising every single year, every single game, every single practice. "That's just the type of program that we have, and that's the type of culture Coach Franklin has created around here, and I think it's really great. Guys are just constantly wanting to get better because they know whatever they did the last day, the last week, is not acceptable anymore. You always have to be improv- ing." With their previous successes serving to reduce the margin of error even fur- ther, the Nittany Lions are poised to do exactly that. ■ 111 E. Beaver Ave s State College, PA 16801 www.The-Phyrst.com 814.234.4406 137 Elmwood St. s State College, PA 16801 www.HappyValleyBeer.com Wood-fire Grill 12 Beers on Tap 200 Year Old Barn 821 Cricklewood Dr. s Toftrees, State College www.AmericanAleHouse.net 814.237.9701 s Piano Bar s Sommelier 814.238.1406 814.234.7700 s 1611 Atherton St. s State College 814.941.7788 s Plank Rd. Exit s Altoona www.ChampsSportsGrill.net s Best Game Bar s Large Groups Welcome c lc e W We s p u o r G e g r a L s a e B m a st G e B s S n S h 1 A 1 6 1 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 me co r a l l C S r G s rt o p S s p m a h C . www s t i x . E d k R n a l P s 8 8 7 7 1. 4 9 . 4 1 8 S s . t n S o t r e h t 1 A 1 6 1 s 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 t e n . l l i r na o o t l A e g e l l o C e at t S POINTED UP Under Franklin's leadership, the Nittany Lions have compiled the fifth-best winning percentage in the Power Five confer- ences over the past four seasons. Photo by Steve Manuel