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S E P T E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 7 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M 12 N A T E B A U E R | N B A U E R @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M The Nittany Lions are not biting on the Heisman talk that is swirling around Saquon Barkley. It's going to be a strange dance through the rest of the season, because Penn State has a website, put together by the marketing department, aimed at advancing Barkley's Heisman chances. When asked about the halfback pass that Barkley completed to DaeSean Hamilton and the implications in play- calling to set up a Heisman highlight reel, coach James Franklin wasn't bit- ing. "We are big believers that with group and team success comes individual suc- cess," Franklin said. Barkley echoed the sentiment. "The kickoff return, I was excited to start the game off right," he said. "The passing touchdown, I was completely nervous because you can ask my team- mates, that play didn't go too well in practice. I've got to thank [offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead] for trusting me to make that pass and DaeSean for making the catch and finding a way to get into the end zone. I feel like I've said it so many times, but I don't care about the Heisman award. Obviously, I care about it because I'm a competitor and I want to be the best and I would love try to win it, but that's not my focus." O-LINE INCONSISTENCYFranklin was also asked about a possible rotation be- tween Will Fries and Chasz Wright at right tackle. To paraphrase, he said that the bumps and bruises of college foot- ball are simply a reality that you have to deal with, and the team will be better off for it as a result with Fries gaining some valuable experience. Clearly, though, Penn State's offensive line has some issues right now due to injuries. Additionally, Andrew Nelson was not in uniform for the game a?er leaving the Iowa game early due to what appeared to be an injury. He also did not appear at the team's midweek partially opened practice. "I think you'd always like to settle on one group and one guy, but the game of football doesn't work like that," Franklin said. "You're going to have bumps, you're going to have bruises, and it's a next-man-in mentality. The next guy has got to go in and do a really good job. I think long term, it's going to help us, but I think you'd love to go all season with the same five starters on the offensive line. I have heard of some teams that have done that. I've never been a part of it in my 23 years where you have the same five offensive line- men play all year long. So we're just going to keep developing those guys and keep getting them ready." The Nittany Lions allowed five sacks and 11 tackles for loss during the game. And that sack number could have been higher. GESICKI INJUREDNo one asked Franklin about Mike Gesicki a?er the game, as the head coach has consis- tently refused to comment on injuries, but clearly he went down in the second quarter and wasn't seen again in the game. He finished with three receptions for 19 yards. Gesicki did not appear on the sideline in the second half, either. He appeared to suffer an injury to his midsection, possibly a rib issue. Barkley scored on the game's first play, taking the opening kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown. It was his first- ever kick-return TD. Photo by Steve Manuel G A M E N O T E B O O K PSU downplays Heisman chatter building around Barkley

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