Jan. 1, 2016
James Franklin
HEAD COACH, PENN STATE
Opening statement
I want to take a minute real quick and thank the City of Jacksonville, everybody's been great. I want to thank the TaxSlayer Bowl, we've had a great experience in the hotel, for the families and the kids, have been unbelievable, the pool, the beach, the events, everything's been first class, we want to thank you for that, guys, for providing a great experience. I'm real proud of our team and our players, how they've handled it all. We talked to them about doing the things necessary to give us a chance to be successful, how they've been in meetings, how they've been in practice, really being present and really being focused and then when it's time to go enjoy yourself, go enjoy yourself, and they've been very mature and the leadership of the young men that are on the podium right now is a big part of that, the leadership's been excellent and those things are very, very important, how you handle all of those things off of the field to allow yourself to be successful in the game is very, very important and our guys handle extremely well. Now it's about playing the game, which I know our guys are ready to do and excited about and then it comes back to like what it always does is execution of the game plan, execution of fundamentals and techniques and playing with passion and excited for the 2015 Penn State football family to be together for one last game because it's going to change come Sunday and we'll never be the same again, so our guys have done a really good job of handling all of those things. Thank you to the TaxSlayer Bowl, thank you to our players and administration for how they've handled everything in a first class manner and excited about playing a tremendous program like the University of Georgia on Saturday.
On how the bowl game can help show the program's progression
I think obviously taking a step from last year is really, really important, ending the season on a real positive note against a historic program I think is really important on a national stage in the TaxSlayer Bowl, and then sending out these seniors the right way, (the seniors) that have been through more than any other seniors probably in the history of college football, I think it's very important. You guys (the media) know we take every game as if it's the Super Bowl, with that type of approach and intensity, but I don't think there's any doubt for probably fifteen different reasons why this game is important for this season and these seniors, but also for the direction of our program.
On his experience with Georgia while he was coaching at Vanderbilt
Obviously, in history, experience counts, it really does, so the fact that we have familiarity with their staff and with their team, with the conference I do think helps, but at the end of the day, it's back to what Christian (Hackenberg) talked about, it's about watching the film, it's about studying the tendencies, it's about studying what their strengths and weaknesses are and how you're going to attack them. I think it's a very, very talented team, defensively they're number one in pass defense in the country, and they always have a talented tailback that you have to deal with. They go out and sign a six-star tailback every single year that has the ability to make big plays for them and their system plays to that. We're going to be prepared for it. I think the staff's history with the program helps a little bit, but at the end of the day this is a player's game and it's going to be our players going out and having the leadership and the execution against their players and coaches obviously will have a role in it, but at the end of the day this is a player's game and I know our guys are really, really motivated and excited to go out and play and play this game well.
PENN STATE PLAYER QUOTES
JUNIOR QUARTERBACK Christian Hackenberg
On if the transition of coaching staffs has any effect on the team
In relation to us, Coach (Ricky) Rahne (Passing game Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach) has been involved with the offensive game planning, working with quarterbacks ever since I've been here, so I think for him it's been a pretty flawless transition and for us, it's just a guy we know really well and a guy who we work with every day as unit just calling plays, so it's a different voice, but a lot of the same messages and we understand what we have to do and it's been a very smooth transition.
On the Georgia defense
I think they're obviously very talented, have a ton of respect for what they have done; I think they have some great players up front. One of the most fundamentally sound groups that I've ever seen on tape, so I think up front, (Georgia is) very similar to the Ohio States and Michigan States that we've seen, big, long, can run, very physical, so I think it's going to be a great challenge for us and we're really excited about it as an offense. It's really going to push us. Again, ton of respect for what they do. I think we're excited about it." (On if the outcome of the game will affect the decision he makes on whether he will go pro or stay for his senior season) "I'm not really focused on that right now. Again, focused on Georgia right now, that's been my focus, and enjoying everything that comes with this trip, comes with this team, and just taking it one day at a time.
SENIOR DEFENSIVE TACKLE Anthony Zettel
On the Georgia offensive line
They have a big, physical offensive line; got a lot of talent, savvy guys. Going against Michigan State and Ohio State, they're very similar with what they bring. Obviously, a lot of them are highly recruited guys who have a lot of talent, skill up there, and just for scheme, they really run it well with how their running back goes off the zone powers. It's going to be a good challenge for our defensive line, we've got everybody back healthy, so we're up for the challenge and we're excited for tomorrow.
On being with the defense and the team one last time
Being with the guys again for one last game, this 2015 defense, team, coaches, everything, is special in itself. You put in so much time throughout offseason, throughout the years with these guys and become brothers, family and going through adversity, so one last time with this team is something special.
JUNIOR LINEBACKER Von Walker
On the bowl experience
Last year after the Pinstripe Bowl, we kind of got a taste in our mouth of how a win felt, that bowl win, and leading into this year, we want that same feeling wining at the end of the season, same feeling as last year.
REDSHIRT SENIOR CENTER/GUARD Angelo Mangiro
On the progress of the program after the coaching transition last season
The development of the guys in the locker room, physically strong and growing emotionally as a team and as individuals. There's no question about it, from when Coach (James Franklin) got here to now that there's been a tremendous amount of growth and there's reason to look forward to this game tomorrow and finishing up a win and for seniors, going out as winner because you don't know, for most of those guys, if you're going to play in a game again, so going out as winners would be big for us.
BRYAN MCCLENDON
GEORGIA INTERIM HEAD COACH
Opening statement
We're extremely excited about being here. I can't continue to thank TaxSlayer for the opportunity that you've given the University of Georgia and these guys to play another football game. A little bit about this week, I think our guys have really taken in and enjoyed Jacksonville. The weather has been great outside today. We were talking on the way over, just saying that today was the first real day that we had any type of rain, even back in Athens, and I heard we left some bad weather back there, so we're kind of excited about getting down here getting to the good weather we've got down here. We've had good practices. I've said it before, this is one of the few times where you can actually start a game week and end a game week on a Sunday and a Saturday like we've been able to do. My whole years of coaching, every year we've gone to a bowl, we've had to mix and match and just try to patchwork some practices in there and gain a little time, but we really didn't have to do that this time, so even a far as the preparation goes from a `Monday practice' could be a Monday practice, a `Tuesday practice' could be a Tuesday practice, so on and so forth going on through the weeks, so that's what we did. We've had a very good of practice down here. The one thing that we wanted to make sure that we focused on was taking advantage of each day, understanding the importance of each day, and I think these guys have been the epitome of that. Very, very, very proud of these guys and look forward to going out there and leading those guys into battle tomorrow.
On if former Georgia and now Miami head coach Mark Richt has given him any advice during the bowl preparation
A few different things. A lot of it was really wanting an understanding of why, on a scheduling standpoint, why we did some of the things that we did just because I always had the thought of maybe we could do something and just wanting to compare and contrast ideas and why we've done certain things and the biggest thing is he always has been and will be a great soundboard of advice. A guy that's done it so successfully for as long as he's done it is a guy that you can always lean on for advice, so just different things of that aspect.
On what he remembers of Penn State head coach James Franklin's time at Vanderbilt
I think he's a heck of a coach. I've said this before, I think heights and everything that he did at Vanderbilt was really second to none. The one thing that you know, every team, every ball club that he's coached, they're going to be very well coached, they're not going to beat themselves, they're going to be where they're supposed to be, they're going to be very sound fundamentally, they're going to block and tackle well, and you're going to have to beat them, like I said, they're not going to beat themselves. When you couple that with a quarterback that they're talking about as a very high draft pick, a Lombardi award winner, and they've got a 1,000 yard rusher, I think everybody here knows I've seen a bunch of good running backs over the days and (Penn State freshman running back Saquon Barkley) is a good one. You put all of those things together and you've got a team that's going to be hard to beat. You've got a very, very, very good challenge ahead of you that I think everybody's got to be ready for tomorrow and that's what I expect, that's what I expect from him, that's what I expect from a team that he's coached just like you said, just like it was when he was at Vanderbilt.
GEORGIA PLAYER QUOTES
SENIOR OFFENSIVE TACKLE JOHN THEUS
On how good the Penn State front seven are, especially Lombardi award winner Carl Nassib
This is definitely going to be a challenge for me and the offensive line as a whole. It's a very good defensive front across the line, and then (Penn State senior defensive end Carl) Nassib is a great player, obviously he won the Lombardi. It's kind of a different player than I've faced, so he's long, a big guy, very talented, high motor and it's going to be a good challenge for me, I'm looking forward to it. I think the offensive line as a whole is looking forward to this challenge of the Penn State front seven.
On how much of the bowl experience is just having one last time with the players and coaches
This last week is kind of a last hurrah for us. To be down in Jacksonville, the TaxSlayer Bowl has done a great job with bowl events, so outside of the practice field, we spend a lot of time together with our seniors and the rest of our teammates and realize it's going to be awhile before we see each other again. So having this last week and this last game is special for all of us and we'll try to go out with a win.
SENIOR OUTSIDE LINEBACKER JORDAN JENKINS
On how to handle the Penn State offense
The running back (Saquon Barkley), he's a hell of a player. I watched one play yesterday in film where he dragged a guy about ten yards before almost getting a touchdown and that just goes to show everything about what he brings to the table. He's a big, physical guy, I think he's about 220 pounds, and the kid gets after it. It's going to be fun getting after a running back of his caliber because I personally like the guys who try and run through you because it's a game of willpower. (Penn State quarterback Christian) Hackenberg, he's a great quarterback. If you let him build his confidence up, I feel like he can definitely dominate the game.
SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER MALCOLM MITCHELL
On how he is enjoying the bowl experience with his fellow seniors
Yesterday I was seeing a couple of pictures from some the younger guys, part of the receiving group, we've got a lot of young guys in the group, and they sent me pictures throughout the week of practice with us out there having fun, laughing, dancing around while we work hard to prepare for the game. While I looked at the pictures, it was kind of a flashback throughout the season that this would be my last week with those guys having fun, out there practicing with them, so there are definitely moments that we'll forever cherish, these will be our last memories of being with UGA and its definitely been one to remember, we've had a great time this week preparing for the game, and just enjoying everything that this bowl game offers, so we definitely appreciate it and I believe every senior is loving every moment of it.
REDSHIRT SENIOR LONG SNAPPER NATHAN THEUS
On how he is enjoying the bowl experience with his fellow seniors
Those guys really summed it up well. We're all taking advantage of the opportunity to play one more time and stick together and to enjoy each other throughout this trip and throughout this experience. For me, I kind of get to sit back there in practice and watch a little bit more than guys like Malcolm (Mitchell) or John (Theus) or Jordan (Jenkins) or Jake (Ganus), so I get to see them and I kind of look at it as I'm kind of like the older brother watching all of those guys running around, having a good time. The energy and the attitude has been great and everyone has really enjoyed each other probably more than we ever have before and we're really enjoying this trip.
SENIOR LINEBACKER JAKE GANUS
On how he is enjoying the bowl experience with his fellow seniors
This is my first and only bowl, so I looked at it like every day trying to take advantage of every opportunity that I had, so it's been a blast for me with these seniors and I'm just thankful for my teammates and coaches for taking me in this year. We are just trying to make the most of everything and when we've faced some adversity, we've shown this year that we come out fighting even stronger. We've had a really good week of practice, even going back to Athens, so we're really looking forward to the game.
JUNIOR INSIDE LINEBACK RYNE RANKIN
On if he is treating this game like an audition for the Bulldogs' new head coach, Kirby Smart
I just go out there and try to be the best I can. I'm just focused on helping these seniors get their fortieth win.