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PSU Head Coach Reacts to NCAA’s Decision

UNIVERSITY PARK — Just one day after the NCAA lifted sanctions against Penn State University’s football program, head coach James Franklin and some ...
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UNIVERSITY PARK -- Just one day after the NCAA lifted sanctions against Penn State University's football program, head coach James Franklin and some of his players spoke to the media during the weekly news conference at Beaver Stadium.

"We're not bowl eligible. We have an opportunity to go to a bowl game. We need to make sure we can take care of our business this week, which is Rutgers," Franklin said.

According to the NCAA, Penn State could play in a bowl game this season and the university's football scholarships will be fully restored next year. The NCAA issued the sanctions in 2012 in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal.

"It's part of the healing and it's part of us moving forward," Franklin said.

Players, including former Wyoming Valley West star Geno Lewis agree. Lewis was at Penn State when the sanctions first hit.

"It was a hard situation at first. Nobody really knew what was going on or how people were going to react. But we knew we needed to stay together and nobody could break us apart," Lewis said.

"Going out there and wearing the blue and white, regardless, I had pride throughout my body. That never changed and that never will change," Angelo Mangiro said.

Many Penn State students say they couldn't agree more. Many stopped by The Family Clothesline to buy brand new "We're Back" t-shirts.

"Everybody's just so lifted and so happy. It's a really big deal for the school," Josh Castro said.

"Now we can come together as a community and people finally see what Penn State is all about. What ever happened is not connected to the students. It's not connected to the football players, it's not connected to our love for Penn State," Alexandra Otero said.

Coach Franklin stressed that while he and the team are happy with the NCAA's decision, they are taking it one day and one game at a time. That next step is this weekend's game against Rutgers.

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