There are being “legitimate conversations” had about James Franklin and his future with Penn State, per a report by Pete Nakos of On3Sports that Nittany Sports Now can confirm.
This comes on the heels of two of the most embarrassing losses in program history happening in back to back weeks.
First, Penn State lost to 0-4 UCLA, a loss bad enough to drop it from No. 7 to out of the top 25.
Then, Penn State lost to Northwestern, and in doing so, became the first program in more than 30 years to lose consecutive games as 20+-point favorites.
Fans have wanted Franklin fired for years, but they’ve always been the vocal minority.
At this point, it’s hard to argue that there aren’t more Penn State fans who want Franklin out than don’t.
WHAT NAKOS WROTE
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
Nakos didn’t go into too deep detail about Franklin specifically, since this was part of an article detailing other programs with decisions to make at head coach.
But here’s what he did have to write.
“In 12 seasons in Happy Valley, James Franklin has won the games he was supposed to. Losing the top-10 matchups has become a major piece of his resume. Yet losing to teams typically at the bottom of the Big Ten was never a characteristic until the last two weeks. With the losses to UCLA and Northwestern, Penn State has yet to beat a Power Four team this season and is 3-3 on the season. With a $48 million buyout on Dec. 1, sources have told On3 that there are legitimate conversations being held about Franklin’s future with the Nittany Lions. Franklin could also leave Penn State and look for a new job. It’s tough to see what a future together for Franklin and the Nittany Lions would look like.”
DOES HE STILL WANT THE JOB?
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
After the Northwestern loss, Franklin was asked, straight up, if he still wants to be at Penn State.
When he didn’t answer that question, he was then asked if he feels being at Penn State is the best thing for his career.
Here’s his response to both questions.
“Yeah, for me, it’s always been about our players, and those guys are hurting right now. And the fans are frustrated, and I totally get it. We have great fans here. We get unbelievable support. I understand their frustration. Trust me. We’re as frustrated as anybody, the guys in the locker room. But to me, ultimately, it’s about the guys. It’s about the guys in the locker room, and they’re hurting in there, and I’d do anything I could to take that hurt away from them. But like I told them, we got to stick together. We got to tune out all the noise, and we got to get to work.
“That’s the only answer— is get to work. We’ve had some adversity in the past, not like this, and we’re going to get to work. I love those kids. I am committed to those players in that locker room, and I’ve been that way for 12 years. I’ve been that way for 15 years of my head coaching career, and I’ve been that way for 30 years. That won’t change. It’s always been about the players for me; that won’t ever change. That’s what it’s all about for me. So, my commitment is to the guys in that locker room and all the guys that have been in that locker room in the past. So that’s where my commitment is.”
And the follow-up.
“Yeah, again, I take full responsibility for what happened tonight,” he said. “I take full responsibility for what’s happened this season, and I’m committed to the guys in that locker room.”
Notice how he didn’t use the words “Penn State” once in either response.
With or without James Franklin, Penn State will take on Iowa Saturday at 7:30 on Peacock.
