Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/916653
As far as James Franklin is concerned, it's a compliment when other college football programs try to hire away your assistant coaches. If that's the case, Penn State has been getting a lot of bouquets thrown its way lately. A:er Mississippi State hired of- fensive coordinator Joe Moorhead as its head coach in late Novem- ber, Louisiana- Lafayette began showing interest in defensive coordinator Brent Pry. The Ragin' Cajuns had dismissed Mark Hudspeth in early December fol- lowing a 5-7 8nish this past season, and they had a history with Pry. He had served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the school from 2002 to 2006 before moving on to Mem- phis and later Georgia Southern and eventually reconnecting at Vanderbilt with Franklin, whom he had known from their days at East Stroudsburg. Sports Illlustrated had reported on Dec. 14 that Pry was the favorite to land the job at the Sun Belt Conference school. But Pry said the following day that he wouldn't be heading down South. "I'm staying at Penn State," he said. "Looking forward to the bowl game." He con8rmed that there was "mutual interest" between the two parties, but the Altoona, Pa., native said that he and his family are happy with his current po- sition at Penn State. Pry has been a member of Franklin's sta9 since serving as co-defensive coor- dinator at Vanderbilt from 2011 to 2013. When Franklin was hired by Penn State in January 2014, Pry joined him as line- backers coach and spent two seasons in that position before being promoted to defensive coordinator following the de- parture of Bob Shoop. "I've been in the business 25, 26 years," Pry said. "I've been hired and 8red a bunch of times. My father was a coach for 45 years, and same with him. You roll with it. You multitask. You're recruiting and you're talking to folks. It's just kind of the profession, so [this week] was good. It was busy. It was productive. I think it's always good; having interac- tion and dialogue and conversations with the people is healthy. It was a good week. James is a great resource. Even though he hasn't slowed down a step, since we're out there on the road to- gether, you still get a lot of chances to talk, and there is a lot to learn. He's a great resource." Franklin said he considers Pry not just a work colleague but one of his best friends. That rapport was one of the fac- tors that persuaded Pry to stay with the Nittany Lions. "The way he embraces my family and looks a:er my family, that doesn't hap- pen at a lot of places in this profession, unfortunately," Pry said. "I know for myself, Rick [Rahne] and for [Sean Spencer], that loyalty and the way he embraces family is very important. It's not like you're attaching yourself to a guy who is going in the wrong direction. We recognize how talented he is and that there are big things ahead for James." ■ F O O T B A L L Pry to continue as Nittany Lions' defensive coordinator PRY F O O T B A L L N O T E S BOWEN OUT OF ACTION James Franklin announced Dec. 15 that junior linebacker Manny Bowen will miss the Fiesta Bowl. Bowen has been suspended for undis- closed reasons since late in the regular season. He did not play in the Nittany Lions' 8nal three games but still 8nished his season with 51 tackles and currently ranks 8:h on the team. Franklin de- clined to say whether Bowen will return to the team next season. TWO PLAYERS TO TRANSFER Running back Andre Robinson and place kicker Alex Barbir have been released from their scholarships and are no longer with the Nittany Lions. Robinson, a resident of Mechanics- burg, Pa., carried nine times for 55 yards and one touchdown during the regular season but did not receive a carry a:er the Northwestern game. During the 2016 season, he carried 29 times for 141 yards and 8ve scores. Barbir, of Cumming, Ga., has been with the Nittany Lions for two years on scholarship, redshirting during the 2016 season before making his debut this past fall. He handled six kicko9s during the regular season, appearing in games against Akron, Georgia State and Mary- land. ALLEN IN SENIOR BOWL Senior safety Marcus Allen has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, which will take place Jan. 27 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mo- bile, Ala. A four-year starter, Allen wrapped up his 8nal regular season at Penn State by claiming 8rst-team All- Big Ten honors from the conference's coaches. It was the third All-Conference nod of his career, and it followed a senior season in which he 8nished second on the team with 65 total tackles. He also recorded his 8rst career interception in the Lions' win against Georgia State and notched Penn State's 8rst safety since 2010 in a victory against Pittsburgh. Allen will be joined in Mobile by fellow Penn State defensive back Christian Campbell. Also, former Nittany Lion tight end Adam Breneman will take part in the game. A:er giving up football due to a series of injuries, Breneman trans- ferred to Massachusetts and resumed his playing career. He started 11 games for the Minutemen this past season, 8nish- ing with 64 receptions for 764 yards and four touchdowns. ■