What is it going to take to save James Franklin's job?

[michigangoblue999]

With the Pitt loss, the possibility of an 8-win season is now off the table. Will 7 wins give him another year? Probably. What about 6 or less? Will the used car salesman be able to reel in a top 25 class if he only wins 5 games?

He's in an interesting position politically, too. He's got the old-school Paterno worshipers that he needs to please, and the move-on contingent comprised of current students, the administration, and a smattering of rational alumni. He's walking a tightrope. I am interested in seeing his response to the big Paterno celebration this weekend. So far, he's been politically correct about it.

Should be an interesting season in Happy Valley.

 

[anon_sg4bgyiuileo1]

He actually was asked about the upcoming JoePa stuff and basically said it was none of his business and he was just concerned with coaching the team.

Smart fella.

 

[CancunLive]

With the Pitt loss, the possibility of an 8-win season is now off the table. Will 7 wins give him another year? Probably. What about 6 or less? Will the used car salesman be able to reel in a top 25 class if he only wins 5 games?

He's in an interesting position politically, too. He's got the old-school Paterno worshipers that he needs to please, and the move-on contingent comprised of current students, the administration, and a smattering of rational alumni. He's walking a tightrope. I am interested in seeing his response to the big Paterno celebration this weekend. So far, he's been politically correct about it.

Should be an interesting season in Happy Valley.

He gone.

He's got a couple of recruits that would good in M&B.

 

[Reality Man]

I see Franklin sort of like Bob Davies on some level. He really shouldn't have gotten the job based on his short term success at Vanderbilt. Probably no different than Hoke (getting job) but clearly not as incompetent.

Franklin reminds me of a guy who should be coaching at Purdue. Guy is competent but not a tier 1 coach. There are so so many things that make up a high end coach. Disciplinarian. Recruiter. Media Savvy. Game day strategy. Teacher, etc. You get the point.

I would rather have Franklin than RR because Franklin at least runs a program that can succeed in the Big Ten style wise. That isn't saying much. He won't burn the program down like RR but will keep PSU's head above water but just floating around the middle for the majority of years.

I don't love or hate PSU like some people. I'd rather PSU be successful than MSU but don't want them to be a juggernaut. If it were up to me I would sign Franklin to a 10 year contract. Here is the best coach comparison I can make to UM. Franklin is sort of the John Beilein of PSU. Not style wise but will get PSU to bowl games but always be a notch down from the powers.


RM

 

[michnittlion]

I see Franklin sort of like Bob Davies on some level. He really shouldn't have gotten the job based on his short term success at Vanderbilt. Probably no different than Hoke (getting job) but clearly not as incompetent.

Franklin reminds me of a guy who should be coaching at Purdue. Guy is competent but not a tier 1 coach. There are so so many things that make up a high end coach. Disciplinarian. Recruiter. Media Savvy. Game day strategy. Teacher, etc. You get the point.

I would rather have Franklin than RR because Franklin at least runs a program that can succeed in the Big Ten style wise. That isn't saying much. He won't burn the program down like RR but will keep PSU's head above water but just floating around the middle for the majority of years.

I don't love or hate PSU like some people. I'd rather PSU be successful than MSU but don't want them to be a juggernaut. If it were up to me I would sign Franklin to a 10 year contract. Here is the best coach comparison I can make to UM. Franklin is sort of the John Beilein of PSU. Not style wise but will get PSU to bowl games but always be a notch down from the powers.


RM

Franklin was definitely a credible hire back in 2014. He wasn't really at the Brady Hoke (5 losing seasons among 8 at Ball State and San Diego State) or Bob Davie (never a Head Coach before Notre Dame) levels.

I get it ---- Florida, Georgia and Tennessee were not elite powerhouses in 2013. But Franklin still led Vanderbilt to victories over all 3 in 2013! If one can do that at Vanderbilt, they are doing something right.

Penn State football is sort of "wandering around the desert" right now. Which is fine. I sort of view Bill O'Brien as the coach who got PSU through the beginning of the shit-storm. Franklin is the coach who will get PSU through the middle to end of the shit-storm. PSU football will likely remain decent under Franklin but I'm not betting on reaching the "so-called promised land" either.

 

[Reality Man]

Now O'Brien was good. That guy was Harbaugh. Too bad you couldn't switch the hires....wishful thinking.

O'Brien was BIG time. Why do you think he bailed? If the sanctions had been eliminated before he left...would that have made a difference. I can't recall but can you imagine Dantonio, Harbaugh, Meyer and O'Brien in the same division. Holy Moly.



RM

 

[michigangoblue999]

O'Brien was BIG time. Why do you think he bailed? If the sanctions had been eliminated before he left...would that have made a difference. I can't recall but can you imagine Dantonio, Harbaugh, Meyer and O'Brien in the same division. Holy Moly.

RM

O'Brien hinted a couple times that the JoeBots were making his life miserable. He was a lot less diplomatic about it than Franklin has been. Any coach is going to have to tiptoe around the tattered legacy of Paterno.

 

[goblue31602]

Franklin was definitely a credible hire back in 2014. He wasn't really at the Brady Hoke (5 losing seasons among 8 at Ball State and San Diego State) or Bob Davie (never a Head Coach before Notre Dame) levels.

I get it ---- Florida, Georgia and Tennessee were not elite powerhouses in 2013. But Franklin still led Vanderbilt to victories over all 3 in 2013! If one can do that at Vanderbilt, they are doing something right.

Penn State football is sort of "wandering around the desert" right now. Which is fine. I sort of view Bill O'Brien as the coach who got PSU through the beginning of the shit-storm. Franklin is the coach who will get PSU through the middle to end of the shit-storm. PSU football will likely remain decent under Franklin but I'm not betting on reaching the "so-called promised land" either.

Those teams were a combined 17-20 in 2013. He basically had one solid year when the rest of the SEC was way down (and avoided Bama, LSU, and Auburn).

He has shown he's a poor situation manager in games, and his recruiting has been good, not great. He had all the playing time in the world to sell, and he's still just done an ok job. I don't think he lasts any more than 2 more seasons after this.

 

[michnittlion]

Those teams were a combined 17-20 in 2013. He basically had one solid year when the rest of the SEC was way down (and avoided Bama, LSU, and Auburn).

He has shown he's a poor situation manager in games, and his recruiting has been good, not great. He had all the playing time in the world to sell, and he's still just done an ok job. I don't think he lasts any more than 2 more seasons after this.

Most of that is true (Vandy was solid in both 2012 and 2013, finishing in the season-ending Top 25 both years, so not just 1 year) --- but everything I said was solely in the context of answering the question of "was Franklin a credible hire back in January 2014?" Your 2nd paragraph has nothing to do with answering that question.

I disagree with Reality Man's statement of comparing the hire to the hiring of Hoke or Davie.

 

[goblue31602]

Most of that is true (Vandy was solid in both 2012 and 2013, finishing in the season-ending Top 25 both years, so not just 1 year) --- but everything I said was solely in the context of answering the question of "was Franklin a credible hire back in January 2014?" Your 2nd paragraph has nothing to do with answering that question.

I disagree with Reality Man's statement of comparing the hire to the hiring of Hoke or Davie.

I mean, this is pretty common

 

[detroitjohn]

I see Franklin sort of like Bob Davies on some level. He really shouldn't have gotten the job based on his short term success at Vanderbilt. Probably no different than Hoke (getting job) but clearly not as incompetent.

Franklin reminds me of a guy who should be coaching at Purdue. Guy is competent but not a tier 1 coach. There are so so many things that make up a high end coach. Disciplinarian. Recruiter. Media Savvy. Game day strategy. Teacher, etc. You get the point.

I would rather have Franklin than RR because Franklin at least runs a program that can succeed in the Big Ten style wise. That isn't saying much. He won't burn the program down like RR but will keep PSU's head above water but just floating around the middle for the majority of years.

I don't love or hate PSU like some people. I'd rather PSU be successful than MSU but don't want them to be a juggernaut. If it were up to me I would sign Franklin to a 10 year contract. Here is the best coach comparison I can make to UM. Franklin is sort of the John Beilein of PSU. Not style wise but will get PSU to bowl games but always be a notch down from the powers.


RM

Nice comparison to that Bob Davie. Yes!

 

[wolverines74]

I don't think he gets let go if they are 7-5 with a bowl win like last yr. I can se him going if the administration can get a hold of NW's HC. He may have run out of time in Evanston, Ill. but can still recruit good academic kids and he would have a better foothold in the Great Lakes area then Franklin. GBGB"74

 

[michigangoblue999]

I disagree with Reality Man's statement of comparing the hire to the hiring of Hoke or Davie.

I don't even think RM got Bob's name right, so there you go.

 

[michigangoblue999]

I don't think he gets let go if they are 7-5 with a bowl win like last yr. I can se him going if the administration can get a hold of NW's HC. He may have run out of time in Evanston, Ill. but can still recruit good academic kids and he would have a better foothold in the Great Lakes area then Franklin. GBGB"74

No way Northwestern fires Pat Fitzgerald. That would be like Minnesota firing Ron Mason. Wait...