Blue White Illustrated

GOOD TO THE LAST DROP James Franklin's punt-fielding challenge was stressful but rewarding he proposal was not one to be taken seriously. Penn State's James Franklin began his midweek post-practice press confer- ence by offering an opportunity to the media: Any interested reporters were welcome to go down to the field at half- time of the Blue-White Game and catch a punt. Issued in a tone that elicited memories of grade school teachers fed up with stu- dents who had talked too much during class, the invitation was, in my mind at least, clearly born of spite. Go ahead, hotshot, you teach the lesson. As someone who seeks to avoid any and all forms of unnecessary embarrass- ment, I immediately recoiled. This was just the sort of example- making moment from which I had spent my en- tire life steering clear. Fewer than 72 hours later, I found myself standing on that field with my fellow media members. When my turn came, I let a booming, sidewinding punt slip through my fingertips and fall to the turf. And not a day has passed since then in which I haven't wished for another crack at it. So what changed? My resistance began to soften shortly after Franklin issued his challenge. I was lingering with a colleague at the other end of Penn State's outdoor practice field following the scrum, snapping a few pictures of players while chatting with team personnel when the head coach himself popped into the circle to say hello. As we had been warned, the challenge was not a joke. Penn State had already drawn up legal waivers to be signed by participants, and Franklin was determined to bring the idea to fruition. "So are you going to do it?" he asked excitedly. "Absolutely not," I said. And my colleague? The same. "Come on! Are you kidding me? I had higher expectations for you guys. This is a real disappointment," Franklin said. His up-to-no-good grin beamed for the duration of the conversation, but the dismissal was a welcome relief. Crisis averted. The reality would quickly change the next day as my phone buzzed with in- coming texts and calls. I hadn't men- tioned any of this to anyone, but Franklin's dare had made news nation- ally. In a group text with three of my closest friends, the challenges poured in. "Are you suiting up for the Blue-White Game, Nate?" JUDGMENT CALL T THROWING DOWN THE GAUNTLET Franklin enlisted media members to field punts dur- ing halftime of the Blue-White Game. Photo by Nate Bauer

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