Tuesday Noteworthy Quotes: Penn State vs. Indiana
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.– Penn State (4-2, 1-2) travels to Indiana (4-3, 1-3) for a Big Ten matchup at 3:30 p.m. (ET), which can be seen on ABC. Here's what we learned from Tuesday's media availability.
1. In a locker room full of leaders, the message following the Michigan State loss was simple; stick together. "The big message was: we're going to win together and we're going to lose together," Koa Farmer stated. "If we stick together, which we're going to stick together, I think our season will be just fine."
Added head coach James Franklin: "I think that's the biggest thing that we have to do. We have to make sure that we're sticking together," Franklin said. "We're staying positive and we're focusing on the things that we can control and get those things fixed and get better at them."
2. New Jersey native Fred Hansard is out for the season. "I won't get into the specifics of it, but Fred will be done for the season. He had to undergo a surgery and will be done for the season," James Franklin stated. "I know all the guys and the families and the coaches and his parents are very, very supportive of Fred, but he will be unavailable for the rest of the season."
3. Details. When looking back at Michigan State, head coach James Franklin wasn't shy about the Nittany Lions six penalties, third down conversion rate on offense and lack of production through the air. "We need to be more detailed. Being as detailed as we possibly can in meetings, that we're holding everybody accountable to that standard every single day at practice and that the older guys are helping the young guys mature as much as they possibly can," Franklin said. "We need to protect a little bit longer. We're not giving up a whole lot of sacks, partly with Trace, how mobile he is."
Koa Farmer added: "Being more attentive and not just being out there going through the motions. When we're on the field together, we have to communicate and just get it done."
4. Indiana head coach Tom Allen isn't afraid to turn up the pressure defensively. This is a defensive unit that has scored 48 point off of 14 takeaways in 2018. "I think the big thing with them is turnovers and disruption. They do a lot of different things on tape," Franklin stated. "They are a four-down defensive front. They play robber coverage. They pressure a decent amount, 46 percent overall. We are impressed with No. 99 defensive end Allen Stallings, linebacker No. 42 Marcelino Ball and strong safety No. 9, Jonathan Crawford."
5. Respect dual-threat quarterback Peyton Ramsey. Penn State is no stranger to the redshirt-sophomore who has made noise around college football this season. "Guy that stands out: the quarterback, Peyton Ramsey is doing a nice job," Franklin said. "A kid from Cincinnati, Ohio. A 68 percent completion ratio and is really distributing the ball around well."
Added Koa Farmer: "He's a very respectable quarterback. He's a dual-threat quarterback and ultimately, we just have to contain him."