web1_TTL120316inkmaster1.jpg

Friends, family discuss development of ‘Ink Master’ candidate Ryan Malarkey

web1_PHILHARMONIC1TLJPG-copy.cmyk_.jpg

YOUR VIEW: Take time to see Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic

<p>INDIANAPOLIS &#8212; Exhausted from little to no sleep over the weekend. Drained emotionally after a memorable Big Ten championship win. And yeah, probably a little disappointed to boot, though he wouldn&#8217;t say so.</p><p>Through all of that, James Franklin did manage to keep his sense of humor after Penn State missed the College Football Playoff by just one spot.</p><p>How, exactly, does Franklin and his coaching staff manage to pull off all of these dramatic second-half comebacks?</p><p>&#8220;We cut up the orange slices like Little League,&#8221; Franklin deadpanned on Sunday, a few hours after learning the Lions would be <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/top-stories/612825/penn-state-narrowly-misses-playoff-berth-will-head-to-the-rose-bowl" target="_blank">headed to the Rose Bowl to take on USC</a> &#8212; not exactly the worst consolation prize.</p><p>People would put stock in just about any reason after Saturday&#8217;s game. Penn State was down 28-7 late in the second against Wisconsin and trailed 28-14 at halftime, ultimately going on a 31-3 run against a stingy Badgers defense <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/612708/nittany-lions-claw-back-to-glory" target="_blank">to win the program&#8217;s fourth Big Ten title</a>.</p><p>It was the sixth time in 13 games this season that Penn State won after being tied or trailing at halftime.</p><p>&#8220;I think a lot of it is we&#8217;re a young team,&#8221; Franklin said. &#8220;I think depending on which metrics you use, we&#8217;re the sixth youngest team in college football. We only have five starting seniors, I think, on our team. One on offense, three on defense, and our long snapper.</p><p>&#8220;A lot of times we just had to get the guys in the locker room and settle them down and say, &#8216;Look, these are the things that we&#8217;re seeing, this is what we need to do to make the corrections,&#8217; and get the guys settled down as much as anything.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Wartman-White&#8217;s goodbye</strong></p><p>As expected, senior linebacker Nyeem Wartman-White will not be seeking a medical hardship waiver to play a sixth season.</p><p>The Valley View grad suffered his second major knee injury back in September and missed the majority of the last two seasons because of the ensuing surgeries and rehab.</p><p>&#8220;This 2016 year is one that will stick with me for the rest of my life,&#8221; Wartman-White wrote in an open letter. &#8220;I would love to keep the memories going, but unfortunately after talking to family and friends, I decided to pass on the option of a 6th year to work towards a childhood dream and declare for the 2017 NFL Draft.</p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know where my path will take me, but I do know I&#8217;m proud to say I came to Penn State in 2012 and watched amazing things happen through the years as the amazing people molded this place back to where we wanted to be.&#8221;</p><p>Though he has only been able to play in parts of four games over the last two seasons, Wartman-White has remained a favorite in the locker room and has worked to help the rest of the linebackers with film work during the week.</p><p>He wasn&#8217;t done on Saturday.</p><p>With Penn State trailing Wisconsin by two touchdowns at halftime, Wartman-White gave an emotional speech to the defense, one that was loud enough for the guys on offense to hear in their own meeting, according to McSorley.</p><p>&#8220;Nyeem just said that&#8217;s not how Penn State plays,&#8221; defensive end Garrett Sickels said. &#8220;Everyone agreed with that. We don&#8217;t give up 28 points. We haven&#8217;t done that in a long time. We knew we just had to go out there, everybody do their job and play the way we&#8217;re supposed to play.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_rose-logo2016124202125596.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_rose-logo2016124202125596.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_comebacks2016124202037962.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Penn State&#8217;s latest comeback was its biggest one yet, rallying from 21 down to beat Wisconsin on Saturday to win the Big Ten title. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_comebacks2016124202037962.jpg</photo1><caption1>Penn State&#8217;s latest comeback was its biggest one yet, rallying from 21 down to beat Wisconsin on Saturday to win the Big Ten title. </caption1><photoCredit1>Michael Conroy | AP photo </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Derek Levarse</p><p>dlevarse@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>ROSE BOWL</strong></p><p>Penn State vs. USC</p><p>5 p.m., Jan. 2, ESPN</p><p>Pasadena, Calif.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Derek Levarse at 570-991-6396 or on Twitter @TLdlevarse</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Penn State’s comeback streak continues in Big Ten title game