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Nittany Notebook (10-6): Could Franklin be candidate with Texans?; PSU still won’t allow fans

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Welcome to our daily Nittany Notebook. This post will be updated frequently throughout the day with news, notes and sometimes entertaining info. So be sure to check back often to stay on top of everything that’s going on with Penn State football and athletics, plus other sports of interest in central PA.

Update: 8:20 p.m.

Update: 4 p.m.

**This one is … umm … interesting.

The folks at this very well respected site have James Franklin as one of the potential candidates for head coach of the Houston Texans, replacing Bill O’Brien.

It’s hard to see that happening, since Franklin seems perfectly suited for the college game. Still, it would be an incredible sequence of events if Franklin were to follow in O’Brien’s footsteps again, as he did at Penn State.

Check out the story to see why Football Scoop thinks Franklin would fit in Houston.

 

Update: 2:35 p.m.

**Hey, who doesn’t get a kick out of some “Fletch” humor?

**The Steelers will be selling tickets for games now that Gov. Wolf has raised the fan limit.

**Some good points in this piece.

Update: 11:30 a.m.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision Tuesday to allow more fans to attend sporting events in PA will not mean that Penn State will be allowing the general public to attend football games this season.

As detailed below, Gov. Wolf’s new policy will allow for up to 7,500 fans to attend sporting events in large outdoor stadiums.

But the Big Ten’s overriding policy that fans will not be allowed into any league football games this fall still remains in effect.

Penn State released this statement:

“We are aware the governor has updated his guidance on large gatherings related to sporting events. This updated directive on stadium capacity will most directly allow families of our football student-athletes and essential staff involved in the game day operation to be present this fall. We are pleased to be able to accommodate those closest to our football program and enable them to cheer on their family members. The Big Ten’s guidelines of families only will not permit us to welcome additional fans to Beaver Stadium in 2020.”

There is one way fans can be represented at Beaver Stadium this season.

Update: 10:35 a.m.

Pennsylvania sporting events will be allowed to have fans based on a tiered system, it was announced this morning by Gov. Tom Wolf.

Here’s the breakdown for what will be allowed at outdoor and indoor events:

So, the maximum number of fans allowed at an outdoor sporting event will be capped at 7,500.

As it stands, the Big Ten has announced that it will not allow the general public to attend any football games this season. If that were to change, then Penn State could have up to 7,500 fans in the seats at Beaver Stadium under these current guidelines.

The Steelers, Eagles and Pitt will be able to have fans under this new policy, up to 7,500 for a game.

College basketball season is a month and a half away. Under these guidelines, a maximum of 3,750 people would be allowed at the Bryce Jordan Center, if PSU does allow fans inside this winter.

Update: 8:45 a.m.

**Big news is coming this morning as PA Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to announce at 10 a.m. that a limited number of fans will be allowed at sporting events in the state. The number will depend on the size of the stadium.

However, whether or not Penn State games will allow fans may not come down to Wolf’s decision at all, but instead continue to be a decision made only by the Big Ten. The conference previously determined that no fans would be allowed at any league games this season.

Beaver Stadium has a capacity of 107,000. If Wolf says something like 10-20 percent capacity, and the Big Ten allows it, that could mean 10,000-20,000 fans for PSU games.

Then again, the Big Ten could stick with its original determination and not allow any fans at games, regardless of local state decisions. That would mean, then, that Pitt could have fans at games at Heinz Field, but Penn State could not.

That may not go over well with PSU fans.

Vote in my poll.

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