Pitt's Narduzzi defends Penn State's Franklin over controversy

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin (right) and Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi (left) Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Pitt's Pat Narduzzi defends Penn State's James Franklin over fake injury controversy

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/14/21

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin has found an unexpected ally in his war of words with coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes regarding accusations that Penn State players faked injuries in attempts to slow Iowa's offensive momentum during this past Saturday's game between the programs that the Hawkeyes won 23-20.

Franklin initially denied any wrongdoing and said such allegations made no sense because Iowa doesn't "run a tempo offense." Per Johnny McGonigal of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, coach Pat Narduzzi of the Pittsburgh Panthers, Penn State's most hated interstate rival, is siding with Franklin.

Pat Narduzzi: “Lot of talk about cramps and tempo this week. I don’t agree with James Franklin on a whole bunch, but James I’ve got your back. When you’re not playing a fast tempo offense, a team that huddles … that’s a bunch of baloney.” pic.twitter.com/yKCY3e54Uk
— Johnny McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 14, 2021

According to Heather Dinich of ESPN, Franklin again spoke about the supposed controversy on Wednesday.

"How does this strategy make sense against a huddle team?" Franklin explained. "People use this strategy to slow people down. Spread offenses, tempo offenses. They huddle. So that strategy did not make sense in this situation. In our six years of playing them, six years straight -- 4-2 with our record -- has that ever shown up? Has anyone seen that? In my eight years as a head coach, has anyone seen that? Has that shown up at Penn State? My 12 years as a head coach, has that shown up? It has not shown up."

This past February, the American Football Coaches Association asked the NCAA "to do something" about coaches having defensive players fake injuries to stop game clocks and slow offenses down. This past Saturday reminded everybody within the college football community this subject isn't disappearing anytime soon.

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