Emotional Franklin salutes Penn State's seniors

PASADENA, Calif. - Penn State coach James Franklin became emotional Monday after his team's 52-49 loss to Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl when he began talking about his seniors and what they meant to the program.

Franklin's voice broke as he talked about what the senior class went through, particularly the Nittany Lions' fifth-year seniors who were part of the team when NCAA sanctions were imposed in July 2012 in connection with the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

"They've done an unbelievable job representing Penn State the right way," Franklin said. "We are going to be indebted to this senior class for a very, very long time."

Franklin then looked at strong safety Malik Golden, a fifth-year senior who sat beside him in the interview room, and said, "Thank you Malik for all you have done."

Golden later admitted the loss hurt badly.

"This is the first time I've ever cried after a loss in college," he said.

Two important defensive players, one for each team, suffered third-quarter injuries that knocked them out of the game.

Senior linebacker Brandon Bell, who starred at Oakcrest High School in South Jersey, was hurt at the end of his third-quarter interception that led to Penn State's third touchdown. Bell, whose injury was not disclosed, was taken directly to the locker room.

Southern California cornerback Adoree' Jackson, the Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation's outstanding defensive back, suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury as he returned a kickoff following Penn State's final touchdown in the third quarter.

Sophomore Saquon Barkley set a Penn State bowl rushing record with 194 yards in 25 carries, breaking the old mark of 186 yards that was set by former Frankford High star Blair Thomas in the 1989 Holiday Bowl.

Junior wide receiver Chris Godwin established program records for most receptions (nine) and most receiving yards (187) in a bowl game. The previous marks were eight catches by Andrew Quarless in the 2010 Capital One Bowl, and 154 yards by David Daniels in the 1990 Blockbuster Bowl.

Quarterback Trace McSorley tied a school bowl record for most touchdown passes in a game with four, a record shared by Tony Sacca, Wally Richardson and Christian Hackenberg.

The excellent pass protection given to Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold combined with the team's speedy receivers to hurt the Penn State defense, which yielded several season-high yardage totals.

The Trojans rolled up 575 yards of total offense, 33 first downs, 453 yards passing and 88 plays. During the season, Michigan had 515 total offense yards, Minnesota recorded 31 first downs and Indiana threw for 344 yards, all against the Nittany Lions. The 88 plays tied the season high for regulation also set by Michigan State.

"You've got to give their [offensive line] credit," Franklin said. "We have really had a lot of success this year getting pressure to people's quarterbacks and getting sacks. We had a hard time getting to them, and with their skill on the perimeter and with the talent they have at quarterback, that's going to cause you problems and challenges."

Penn State, which had 39 sacks for the season coming into the game, went sackless for the third time this season.

Matt Boermeester, the Rose Bowl hero with his 46-yard field goal on the final play, said he wasn't worried about his team getting any closer in the waning seconds and giving him an easier kick.

"I wasn't concerned about the distance," he said. "I knew I was going to get an opportunity to kick that field goal. So wherever it was at, I was kicking it. That's what my thoughts were."

Boermeester, a redshirt junior, also kicked field goals of 22 and 44 yards. He missed on tries of 51 and 49 yards.