Johnathan Franklin appeared calm and composed as he took questions outside UCLA's locker room Friday night.
However, the fifth-year senior running back acknowledged that tears had been flowing after the No. 17 Bruins lost to No. 8 Stanford, 27-24, in the Pac-12 Conference championship game at Stanford Stadium.
The defeat meant the humble Franklin and fellow seniors would not finish their careers with an appearance in the Rose Bowl.
"It's been a long time since I cried after a game," he said. "It hurts. But there's a lesson in everything. All I can do is look forward and grow and give praises to God."
Last Saturday in Pasadena, Stanford held Franklin to 65 yards in an 18-point victory over the Bruins.
On Friday, the former Dorsey High star rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries, and broke the UCLA single-season rushing record of 1,571 yards set by Karim Abdul-Jabbar in 1995. Franklin has rushed for 1,700 yards and 13 touchdowns.
"If you give that guy an inch, he's going to take a mile," Stanford Coach David Shaw said. "And he took a couple miles on us."
Franklin scored on a 51-yard run in the first quarter and a 20-yard run in the third. He also set up a touchdown run by quarterback Brett Hundley as the Bruins overcame a 17-14 halftime deficit to take a 24-17 lead late in the third quarter.
UCLA Coach Jim Mora said no major adjustments were required in the days leading up to the game to spring Franklin.
