Early in the third quarter of Penn State’s 29-6 loss to Northwestern, Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg short-armed a third down pass to a wide open Bill Belton only yards from scoring.
The ball bounced once before making it to Belton who would pick up the ball, throw it into the ground, and head for the sideline.
The drama didn’t stop there though as both players would cross paths again near the benches with Belton shouting at Hackenberg while slapping him on the chest twice. Hackenberg would turn to walk away before snapping around to yell something back into Belton’s face only inches away before finally walking away down the sideline.
It made for good TV for those watching at home, but both Hackenberg and Belton would hit the field together for the next series and both players went about their business as if nothing happened.
And that’s what James Franklin wants to see. Sports are emotional and a team struggling to move the ball is bound to get frustrated. It’s simply players demanding more and more out their teammates. Holding them to a higher standard.
“Football is an emotional game played by passionate people,” Franklin said after the game, noting that he had not yet seen what unfolded. “To be honest with you, I’m okay with guys venting with their feelings and things like that as long as we move on from it and there are not issues from that point on. I scream and yell on the headset and other people scream. That’s part of it, as long as it doesn’t go from there. I’ll address it and we’ll move forward. The game is played with emotional and passionate people – they put a lot into it and they’re very prideful. Those things happen from time to time.”
Belton spiking the ball on the field may have been a questionable decision at best since venting your frustrations in front of 100,000+ isn’t the greatest way to handle things; but the confrontation on the sideline is ultimately two players getting worked up over what they both knew was an unforced error.
The senior running back was not available to the media after the game, but Hackenberg echoed his coach’s and likely his teammate’s sentiments as well.
“I think that that’s exactly what it was,” Hackenberg said of the emotions. “Bill and I expect the best out of each other and that’s why I love having him as a teammate and I think that’s just one of those things that’s fine and there is nothing being held against that. Again that’s just the emotions of the game and expecting the best out of each other.
“I think that shows the type of kids we have here. We hold each other to a higher standard, each and every guy, I think that was just an example of that.”
Franklin and Hackenberg aren’t the only ones who feel that way either. Each player available for post game interviews said that there is nobody above an emotional confrontation. Yelling at Hackenberg isn’t frowned upon anymore than Hackenberg giving it to his offensive line. It’s part of the game. Considering this is hardly a common occurrence there is even less to talk about.
