James Franklin and Penn State were perfect for each other.
Franklin was exactly what Penn State needed in 2014 when they brought him to Happy Valley to navigate through the sanction era. In some ways, he is a modern day version of Joe Paterno with his focus on developing the man and graduate his players.
He was the perfect face for the university as well, did the right things and promoted the hell out of Penn State and himself.
And then, much like a decade-long engagement where no big ring was handed out and disappointment at every major life event, the marriage turned sour.
There were 104 wins, only Paterno lies ahead of him on the list, but taking sole second place from Rip Engle came with three shots, all disappointments and all microcosms of Franklin’s red flags throughout his tenure.
Of course, the standard loss to a top-10 reared its ugly head and his 4-21 record against those types of teams is a key point in what turned out to be an insanely toxic relationship.
Then troubles against inferior opponents after a bad loss came back at the worst time with a loss against UCLA with not one or two interim coaches, but three.
Those issues were only to be doubled down upon a week later at Beaver Stadium in what could possibly be considered the most toxic atmosphere ever at that stadium and ultimately resulted in a 22-21 loss to Northwestern.
As the ‘Fire Franklin’ chants grew louder and soured to the point of ‘F*** James Franklin’ it became ever clear a divorce was imminent.
It was ever prevalent on the despondent face of Franklin as he walked off the field for the last time at Penn State that it was the end. It was also very prevalent on the face of athletic director Pat Kraft enough was enough.
Kraft lauded Franklin’s accomplishments during his tenure when he spoke Monday and deservedly so a lot of good and great things happened in the nearly 12 years under Franklin, but the issue was never truly getting to elite.
Penn State never took that next step. It’s been consistently been elite at being one play, drive or game away from reaching that level, but failed miserably in doing so.
Just 10 months ago Franklin and Penn State were a successful two-minute drive away from a date for the National Championship.
Now, Franklin is unemployed and appearing as a panelist on College Gameday and not a head coach of a team playing. The Nittany Lions are well on their way on a quest to find THE guy to take them to the elite promised land of National Championships, a place Franklin was unable to take them.
Kraft is noticeably aggressive and eager to fill his fingers with more championship rings. It comes as no surprise he was willing to dismiss Franklin after a season mired in disappointment despite the success of Franklin as a whole.
The game is win now and although 10-12 wins a year looks great, not reaching the status of an elite program is something that seemingly Kraft wanted no part in.
Their marriage has come to a halting end and ‘shocked’ Franklin as he said on College Game Day, it was necessary for the progression of the program.
At the end it was filled with arrogance, ego and greed. Couple that with poor performances in all six games of the season and it’s why Kraft couldn’t wait a day longer to make the decision and understandably so.
In the future, Franklin will be and should be honored for his contributions with the program. But now is not that time. It was time for this divorce and like most toxic relationships that end, both parties desperately need their space and they’re finally getting it.
