GLENDALE, Ariz. — Football coaches, perhaps more than their counterparts in other sports, are huge proponents of structure, routine and consistent messaging.
Since the early days of his time in Happy Valley, Penn State’s James Franklin has adhered to the philosophy of 1-0.
Yes, it’s a cliché. One day at a time, one play at a time, one game at a time — a mantra heard across the sports world almost daily.
Franklin’s players have bought into it wholeheartedly, pushing the program to new heights and further away from a scandal that threatened to pull the program under.
“I wouldn’t say it’s overly unique, but I’m a big believer in being present,” Franklin said Tuesday night after Penn State’s Fiesta Bowl victory. “For a lot of our guys, it’s helpful when things are going crazy, they’re being pulled in a thousand directions, and you can take a deep breath and focus on, whether it’s 1-0 or our core values.”