Breaking: Penn State’s key man Opens Up About Locker Room Disruption Before Notre Dame Game
In the aftermath of Penn State’s narrow 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, quarterback Drew Allar has candidly addressed a pivotal interception that significantly influenced the game’s outcome. With the score tied and less than a minute remaining, Allar’s pass was intercepted by Notre Dame’s Christian Gray, setting up the Fighting Irish’s game-winning field goal.
Reflecting on the play, Allar explained that his initial reads were covered, leading to a hurried decision. “I was going through my progression and got to the backside, and honestly, I was just trying to dirt it at [Omari Evans’] feet,” Allar stated postgame. “I should have just thrown it away when I felt the first two progressions weren’t open, just because of the situation we were in.”
Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki emphasized that the loss shouldn’t rest solely on Allar’s shoulders. “When planes crash, there’s a bunch of little things that go wrong, and that’s what happened on that play,” Kotelnicki remarked. “I know he’s gonna beat himself up over it. He shouldn’t have to, but that’s what it is.”
Head coach James Franklin echoed this sentiment, expressing pride in the team’s overall performance throughout the season. “As you can imagine, there’s a thousand different emotions going on and feelings, but as the head coach, I’ve got to put on the right face for the guys in the locker room for what … ,” Franklin said. “The sun will come up tomorrow, … .”
Despite the disappointing end, Allar remains committed to learning from the experience. “We didn’t win the game, so it wasn’t good enough,” he admitted. “I mean, I think it’s plain and simple, so I’ll learn from it. Just do everything in my power to get out and get better from it and just grow from it.”
The Nittany Lions concluded their season with an impressive 11-1 regular-season record, with their sole loss coming against Ohio State. Franklin’s tenure at Penn State has been marked by consistent competitiveness, though challenges remain in securing victories against top-tier opponents. The team now looks ahead to building on this season’s successes and addressing areas for improvement as they prepare for the next campaign.
