Radio host Mike Francesa of WFAN is known for his classic battles and rants with callers — an element of his show that helped separate it from the rest. But Francesa’s show on Monday had a Penn State theme after the host caught word of James Franklin’s decision to ice Georgia State’s kicker toward the end of regulation on Saturday in a blowout, and took exception to both the decision and Franklin’s subsequent response.

The caller who brought up the subject suggested that Georgia State’s special teams coach attempted to disguise a field goal by “lining up to shake hands” before running his team out to attempt a field goal. That, as we know, was not the case. Georgia State made it fairly obvious that it wanted to try and get on the board with a field goal.

“What would’ve happened? Give me a break!” Francesa exclaimed. “What would’ve happened if he got a penalty? What would’ve happened in a 56-0 game?!”

Francesa’s rant got even more heated after he caught wind of Franklin’s explanation of the decision after the game.

“You knew they were trying to kick a field goal,” Francesa said. “That’s a bunch of garbage. Give me a break… You iced the kicker and you got killed for it, be honest.”

For context, here’s what Franklin said to the media when asked about the alleged icing:

“Really that had nothing to do with it,” Franklin said. “It had to do with we had our fourth team on the field and
we don’t have a fourth team field goal block, or really even know how to get lined up with the mix
and matched guys we had in there so we called a timeout to get the second team field goal
block in.”

“There’s no way they were strolling across the sideline ready to shake hands, and then running his field goal unit out in the game…” Francesa said. “He either iced the kicker or he didn’t, why can’t I get a straight answer?”

Well Mike, you’d be surprised to know that the media didn’t either after the game.

Francesa proceeded to lay into Franklin for his decision to attribute what appeared to happen with a personnel miscommunication. “And he got some grief, so he came up with some lame excuse that the alums could sell somebody,” Francesa said. “Anybody watching can tell you this is complete nonsense. If they couldn’t line up, or they didn’t line up, that’s one thing. They lined up!!”

“I hope he was proud at himself for getting that 56-0,” Francesa said as he neared a commercial break. “I hope he was real proud of himself on the coaches show — show it a few times! Lot of class, coach. Lot of class.”

Francesa couldn’t even make it to the next segment before airing his frustrations again. “Boy that really ticked me off, that 56-0. And then he lies about it! No class, absolutely no class. Yankee baseball is next.”

Here’s a link to the full segment — we fully suggest listening to it in its entirety.