ATLANTA — Along the East Coast and in Pennsylvania in particular, there are very few more hotly contested debates than Sheetz vs. Wawa, and this includes the Penn State football program.
Throughout bowl week, Penn State players and coaches were asked their feelings about the gas station/restaurant/fast food debate which culminated in James Franklin being asked for his vote Friday morning.
“You’re putting me in a tough spot,” Franklin said in a joint presser with Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin. “For everybody in here that maybe doesn’t cover Penn State closely, we’re in central Pennsylvania, so right in the middle of the Eagles and the Steelers. I grew up just outside of Philadelphia so I’m a Wawa guy, but now I live in central Pennsylvania, and it’s Sheetz.”
Though, Franklin did mention his allegiance can be bought, especially if it’s an NIL deal for his players and he’s still fond of Sheetz despite it not being his favorite.
“I have really learned to appreciate Sheetz being in central Pennsylvania, and I’m willing to negotiate if Sheetz or Wawa would like to work with our players moving forward with some NIL opportunities. I’m willing to negotiate,” he said.
Fret not, Franklin will still be available to coach Saturday despite Kiffin joking otherwise.
“If they don’t respond to his negotiations the way he wants, he’s not going to coach the game tomorrow,” Kiffin quipped.
Should Sheetz or Wawa elect to go the NIL route, they will have a solid head start for who to call first:
Sheetz: Ty Howle, Drew Allar, Theo Johnson
Wawa: James Franklin, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Caeden Wallace
