Its rich that BGJ talks about loyalty to PSU and how he turned down USC and LSU - but fails to mention he weaselled more money out PSU every time.
FC: New James Franklin article in The Athletic.
- Thread starter Midnighter
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Last season, a season where the experts here insist that PSU went "all in" and gave Franklin "everything he asked for" there was at least a 9 million dollar difference in NIL funding. Now I hate to confuse people here with the facts. The gap has widened. PSU simply doesn't have the 2 difference makers on both sides of the ball and in a close game ....it's going to continue to be that way. If PSU wants to shop at Dollar General, nothing will change.
Yes, Franklin didn't win the "big game." This season PSU has 3 games. The rest are "teams without a pulse." Not my characterization, but rather the description assigned by the BWICAC to dismiss Franklin's wins. So, by their own definition, PSU must beat the 9 teams without a pulse and then compete in 3 games vs. teams that will all likely have 3 losses this season.
I'm stocked with popcorn. Are we defining these 3 as big games? Better beat all the teams without a pulse. Haha
Those who worked with him in the past were very candid about their opinion that he wasn't equipped to handle this sort of search and should have engaged a search firm.
And they were probably correct. I don’t think his background at Temple and BC prepared him for this magnitude of AD responsibility.
Its the scope of the stadium project that is fair debate. Safety yes. Just how much of the money is going for the average fan's improved experience and what percentage is going for luxury boxes etc? A 400 million project with some of the donor money instead going to NIL? Remember, when challenged, Kraft insisted there would be no issue with NIL funding.
the fact that he wanted Matt Rhule says he wasn't ready
I wonder if Cael finds him useful or annoying? I used to think it was good to see him sitting front row, near the coaches, at all the wrestling matches, but I also wonder if they view him as a stage 4 clinger?
Franklin never had enough, always wanted more. He admitted he was on equal footing last year. We all read the article. That’s my answer. It’s right from Franklin.
Don’t forget who the lead recruiter for Ohio was at that time. He, jay, was a huge issue.
On paper, it was probably the most talented PSU team, across the board, in a long while. Where they weren’t on equal footing….coaching and leadership (both in coaching and on the roster). It was that simple. Find a way to win the Oregon game and the season has a whole different feel and probably outcome. I’m not saying they win the national championship, but at least playoff level success.
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Franklin acknowledged that it was the first time a real effort was made to catch up. PSU isn't anywhere near the big boys. Doe anyone here do any research?
On3's top 15 NIL collectives in college sports - On3 anyone see PSU
The beginning of the dark years started when nepotism crept into the program. He was made the recruiting coordinator for a time prior to the dark years which was mind boggling.
They looked unprepared and uninterested for 3 quarters. Unfathomable, given the environment and build up to that game. Even at that, though, I think you go for two late, to take the lead, rather than settle for the PAT, tie, and OT. PSU had, somehow, grabbed momentum. Ride it. Go with the feel of the game and your team. I liked James when he was here. I thought he was a great ambassador for the school, put PSU back in the conversation on the national stage, recruited well and churned out NFL talent. He definitely lacked a feel for the game while it was playing out though and it hindered the team.
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but it was bs- what did you expect him to say-"tOSU has superior resources and more money to buy players than we do"?
he said what he was supposed to say- you chose to buy it because it sounded good
and Kraft said Campbell would have more resources.....so that means CMC is equal with Ohio State? LOL
JMO but Franklins issue wasn’t what he spent on NIL or portal recruits it was his less than ideal picks as OC, DC and the god awful run at Wr coaches. We had the on field talent to do much better. I also believe that Franklin gave up after the Oregon game because nothing can explain the UCLA debacle.
Please show me the coach who says, I have enough of everything, please don't give us more. LOL
+1. Did we recruit anyone from Ohio for like 5 years? Well we might have tried but I don’t think we signed any.
The seeds of failure were planted in winter workouts, spring practice and fall camp. Franklin in accordance with the strength and conditioning staff decided that modifying workouts to compensate for a long season was prudent. On paper or in theory it makes sense. But you don't turn exceptional athletes on and off. After months of modified effort, the extra gear they reached for wasn't there. In addition, to young players, watching the highest compensated athletes lounge around while they labored didn't do much for team unity.
Coaches devise plans. When you get to the D1 P4 level it means you are one of the best 5 or 6 dozen at your craft in the world. It doesn't mean you are omnipotent and omniscient. Those are assets only possessed by the experts here.
I don't know- his winning percentage was .698. I'm not sure that "much better" was possible given what he inherited and the limitations of our resources.
The real question is what will the next ten years look like.
What are you talking about? He had been fired. Nothing stopped him from saying he wasn’t on equal footing. He said it because it was true in 2025. He always aired his dirty laundry publicly. He complained about facilities and staffing before NIL and paying players.
Oh look, it’s multiple personality disorder Marshall again.
Penn State is better off today because James Franklin coached here. He generated enthusiasm for the program after sanctions, and helped usher in necessary changes allow PSU to be nationally competitive, despite the big game losses.
Conversely, the Pennsylvania boy with a Penn State heart constantly flirted with other jobs to enrich himself. He had a deal through 2031 averaging 8.5m/yr. He became generationally wealthy during his 12 years at PSU. After PSU made the CFB semi-finals in what will likely be the easiest path in CFB history, he again tried to squeeze more out of the university, and then went above the AD's head when he said no. The reasons have been debated ad nauseam, but the 2025 team is arguably the most disappointing team in the history of college football. It was time for a break.
Franklin and apparently Steve Sarkisian feel that his firing was unjust and unprecedented. If Franklin were truly a top-10 coach, you'd expect AD's to be jumping at the opportunity to capitalize on PSU's mistake. Franklin was never a serious candidate for the UF job, let alone LSU. VT is a good opportunity for Franklin, but it's a rehab job - low expectations in a weak conference. His strength (recruiting) will enable him to stockpile more talent than everyone except Miami and Clemson. With the talent differential, he'll get them to 10 wins sooner than later. That being said, the odds of him becoming a studio analyst are greater than the odds of him ever running a blue blood program again.
Conversely, the Pennsylvania boy with a Penn State heart constantly flirted with other jobs to enrich himself. He had a deal through 2031 averaging 8.5m/yr. He became generationally wealthy during his 12 years at PSU. After PSU made the CFB semi-finals in what will likely be the easiest path in CFB history, he again tried to squeeze more out of the university, and then went above the AD's head when he said no. The reasons have been debated ad nauseam, but the 2025 team is arguably the most disappointing team in the history of college football. It was time for a break.
Franklin and apparently Steve Sarkisian feel that his firing was unjust and unprecedented. If Franklin were truly a top-10 coach, you'd expect AD's to be jumping at the opportunity to capitalize on PSU's mistake. Franklin was never a serious candidate for the UF job, let alone LSU. VT is a good opportunity for Franklin, but it's a rehab job - low expectations in a weak conference. His strength (recruiting) will enable him to stockpile more talent than everyone except Miami and Clemson. With the talent differential, he'll get them to 10 wins sooner than later. That being said, the odds of him becoming a studio analyst are greater than the odds of him ever running a blue blood program again.
The only thing they should be asking him is - How to lose games late in the 4th Quarter - and expert's opinion, by James Franklin
Is he also knickslyin69? Philsrearend ? BJmtnitwit? wastecoast24?
I still believe without the scandal Meyer would've coached here.
Perhaps you are right. We probably would have won a national title with him, but also realized what a scum human being he is.
If you believe he wanted Rhule--there's no evidence to that other than Rhule saying it to get a raise/extension
Pat McAfee (and others) said we spent "about as much" as Ohio State
This theory that we're somehow broke doesn't make any sense
Allar, Allen and Singleton didn't stay for free--they were paid extremely well