The 2014 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by first year head-coach James Franklin and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. It was a member of the Big Ten Conference and played in the newly organized East Division. Penn State was ineligible to play in a bowl game due to NCAA sanctions imposed in wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. However, on September 8, 2014, the NCAA announced that Penn State would again be eligible for post-season games, effective immediately. Penn State had a 7–6 overall record for the season with a 2–6 conference mark, placing sixth in the Big Ten East Division. The Nittany Lions concluded the season with a victory in the Pinstripe Bowl over Boston College.
Schedule
Personnel Roster
Coaching staff Position Name Year Alma materHead coach James Franklin2014East Stroudsburg (1994)Defensive coordinator/SafetiesBob Shoop2014Yale (1988)Offensive coordinator/tight endsJohn Donovan2014Johns Hopkins (1997) Linebackers/assistant head coachBrent Pry2014 Buffalo (1993)Running backs/Special teams coordinatorCharles Huff2014Hampton (2005)Quarterbacks/Passing Game CoordinatorRicky Rahne2014Cornell (2002)Wide receivers/offensive Recruiting coordinatorJosh Gattis2014Wake Forest (2006)Cornerbacks/defensive Recruiting coordinatorTerry Smith2014Penn State (1991) Offensive line/Run Game Coordinator Herb Hand2014 Hamilton College (1990) Defensive lineSean Spencer2014Clarion (1995) Strength and Conditioning Dwight Galt 2014 Maryland (1981) Graduate Assistant Tyler Bowen 2014 Maryland (2010) Graduate Assistant Bobby Snopek 2014 Penn State (2013) Graduate Assistant Steven Williams 2014 Harvard University (2008) Graduate Assistant Will Windham 2014 Mississippi State University (2007)
Depth chart Penn State's opening week depth chart:
Sanctions reduction The NCAA announced on Monday, September 8, two days after Penn State beat Akron, that effective immediately, Penn State's ban from postseason play levied in wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal would be terminated, and that by the 2015 season, it would have its full complement of scholarships. The decision came in response to a recommendation from former United States Senator George Mitchell, Penn State's athletic integrity monitor, who concluded Penn State's current players should not be held responsible for organizational misgivings of the past. Ultimately, the NCAA's executive committee concurred, and eliminated the sanctions. Former Penn State assistant coach Jay Paterno – son of Joe Paterno, Penn State's coach for decades – lambasted the NCAA, opining that "the truth of the matter," is that the NCAA is utilizing the report from Senator Mitchell "as cover to reduce the sanctions that were never warranted in the first place." Coach James Franklin commented,
Game summaries Vs. UCF (Croke Park Classic)
Note: Though the game was held at a neutral site, Penn State wore white uniforms and was considered the away team.
When the two teams met in the preceding season, UCF downed Penn State 34–31. However, both teams experienced significant changes since the game, most notably for UCF, the loss of their quarterback Blake Bortles, who chose to forgo his final season of college football and enter the 2014 NFL draft. Consequently, UCF had to find a new quarterback, and auditioned several candidates before ultimately settling on Peter DiNovo, a redshirt freshman. Aside from the coaching change in which James Franklin replaced Bill O'Brien, perhaps Penn State's biggest on-field change was the improvement of their defensive secondary, which was a major contributing factor to their loss in 2013, but was expected to be a strength in the 2014 matchup. In regards to predicting the outcome of the game, ESPN analyst Lee Corso made headlines when he predicted UCF would "wax" Penn State. Three of four panelists from the Big Ten Network predicted Penn State would emerge victorious, while a panel of college football writers from ESPN were split on who the victor would be, with three selecting Penn State and two selecting UCF.
The game kicked off at 1:31 p.m. local time in Dublin, and Sam Ficken booted it deep for the Nittany Lions. UCF went three-and-out on their first possession, while Penn State, aided by a running into the kicker penalty on fourth down to keep the drive alive, scored a touchdown via a one-yard Zach Zwinak rush on theirs. UCF started their ensuing drive in field goal range thanks to a 68-yard kickoff return, but failed to capitalize, ultimately turning the ball over on downs at the goal line. Penn State's subsequent drive ended when Christian Hackenberg threw an interception. In the second quarter, UCF scored for the first time when their star kicker Shawn Moffitt made a 36-yard field goal, which made the score 7–3. Penn State responded, though, executing a 15-play, 72-yard drive that took 6:06 and culminated with a 22-yard field goal from Ficken after Penn State could not score a touchdown deep in the red zone. Neither team scored for the remainder of the first half. The teams exchanged punts to begin the second half, but on Penn State's second drive, they managed a field goal from Ficken after five plays netted them 43 yards (including a 38-yard pass from Hackenberg to DaeSean Hamilton). UCF responded on their ensuing drive when Justin Holman – UCF's backup quarterback who entered after starter Peter DiNovo was benched by coach George O'Leary – rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to make the score 13–10 Penn State. The Nittany Lions wasted little time to re-extend their lead, taking only three plays to drive 72 yards for a touchdown, scoring via a 79-yard pass from Hackenberg to Geno Lewis making the score 20–10 near the end of the third quarter. UCF struck right back early in the fourth quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Holman to Josh Reese that put the Knights back within three. The next three drives – two for Penn State and one for UCF – ended in turnovers (an interception and lost fumble respectively for Penn State, and a lost fumble for UCF). After UCF punted on the ensuing drive following Penn State's fumble, Penn State embarked on a 10-play, 58-yard drive that culminated with a 24-yard field goal for Ficken, his third of the game, which made the score 23–17 with 3:30 to play. However, UCF subsequently marched down the field and scored on a 6-yard run by Holman that put them ahead by one with 1:13 remaining. Penn State ultimately emerged victorious, though, executing a drive that included a fourth down conversion, and ended with Ficken's fourth field goal of the day, a 36-yard kick as time expired, giving Penn State the 26–24 victory in their season opener.
Penn State's offense was key in the victory. Led by Hackenberg, who set a school record by throwing for 454 yards, the unit achieved 511 total yards, and were successful on 10 of 18 chances for third down conversions, improving upon an Achilles' heel from their 2013 season. The offensive line, which had four of its five members starting their first game, also had a strong performance, alleviating a concern for Penn State entering the game. Penn State employed an aggressive strategy that, despite at times being too convoluted for their own good, ultimately worked for them, according to one sportswriter. Two Penn State players earned additional recognition for their strong opening-week performances: place kicker Sam Ficken was named the Big Ten conference's special teams player of the week for making four of four field goal attempts including the game-winner at the end of regulation, and wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton was named the conference's co-freshman of the week for making 11 receptions for 165 yards, both of which broke Penn State freshman records.
Akron
A "rapidly improving program", Akron entered their first game of the season led by quarterback Kyle Pohl, who sought to continue positive development after a strong sophomore season, but would need a strong performance from his offensive line, which predominantly consisted of new starters. One key for Akron entering the game was containing Penn State's tenacious pass rush. The Nittany Lions sought to improve their running game, which managed only 54 yards in the first game. Frank Bodani of the York Daily Record gave Penn State the edge on offense, defense, special teams, and intangibles, but Akron the edge on coaching, ultimately predicting the Nittany Lions would emerge victorious. All four Big Ten Network panelists predicted Penn State would win, but writer Tom Dienhart did note that Penn State should not become complacent, as Akron would have nothing to lose.
Akron received the opening kickoff, and methodically moved down the field before their drive stalled in the red zone, at which point kicker Tom O'Leary missed a 31-yard field goal attempt. On Penn State's ensuing drive, they achieved one first down before Christian Hackenberg threw three consecutive incomplete passes, forcing a punt. Subsequently, Akron went three-and-out. Starting with solid field position, Penn State benefited from three plays exceeding 15 yards on the next drive, including a 22-yard touchdown pass from Hackenberg to Bill Belton, giving Penn State an early 7–0 lead. After Akron went three-and-out once again to close the first quarter, Penn State's first drive of the second quarter ended when Hackenberg threw an interception to Martel Durant of Akron. Akron failed to capitalize, and the two teams exchanged punts thrice to close the half. Penn State opened the second half by fumbling, giving Akron the ball in plus territory. Akron finally scored when Robert Stein connected on a 28-yard field goal attempt, which made the score 7–3. After the teams exchanged punts, Penn State embarked on a 10-play, 79-yard drive that encapsulated 5:26, and reached fruition when Hackenberg completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jesse James, giving Penn State an 11-point lead. Akron's next drive ended with another punt, and at the end of the third quarter, Penn State led 14–3. Penn State possessed the ball to start the fourth quarter, but their possession terminated when Hackenberg threw his second interception of the game, this time to Bre' Ford. Akron failed to even achieve a first down on their ensuing position, as they failed to convert a fourth down and one situation, being knocked back for a loss of two yards. Penn State managed to score in just two plays thereafter; Hackenberg threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to James, which gave Penn State an 18-point advantage. Akron executed 15 plays and gained 67 yards on their next drive, but could not score, turning the ball over, and thus giving Penn State the 21–3 victory.
Penn State's defense excelled in the victory; it managed to avoid surrendering big plays, and was tough in short yardage situations, two key factors as it stymied Akron's offense, which was effective in the short passing game, but ultimately struggled against the relentless, attacking defense of Penn State. Penn State's offense turned the ball over thrice, and was relatively erratic in the running game aside from Akeel Lynch, the third running back, who was the team's most consistent rusher through the first two weeks of the season. Punter Chris Gulla also received accolade for his strong performance, averaging 48.8 yards on five punts.
At Rutgers