It is difficult to watch the 2025 Nittany Lions on the field, but they have provided a valuable service. Because of them, James Franklin ran out of excuses.
James Franklin left behind a broken organization, some poor performers, and a bunch of talented individuals. He did not leave a Team.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) fired Trent Dilfer last Sunday. Dilfer left behind a Team with a very talented core of coaches. Yesterday, the UAB back-up QB was named as the starter just before the game due to an injury to the starter. In his first start ever, Ryder Burton went 20 of 27 for 251 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT. More importantly, for the first time this season, the UAB defense was able to stop the opponent's running game. In the end, the UAB players banded together, and unranked UAB took down #22 Memphis. They won as a Team.
Meanwhile, James Franklin went on Game Day and proclaimed that he would go win a national championship elsewhere. Why would any university hire him? He appears to be egotistical, selfish, and delusional.
He and Saban struck out yesterday. He said 'I get it' and 'I take full responsibility a multitude of times' in the weeks leading up to his timely or untimely demise. He said he had the 'best team and staff this year', he said go '1-0'. He said 'dominate the state'. He said get me X, Y and Z and I will get you a NC or maybe just the playoffs.
Then he takes a Game Day gig and he and Nick do that? Out of character for him to say what he really thinks, maybe unprofessional? Not 'measured'. But that is what Game Day wanted I guess.
I look at this team and I see a the highly compensated staff underperforming and gaps in recruiting.
I doubt he gets a job in the 'Show Me' state. I'd be surprised if somebody with more resources than PSU hires him and if he sells himself I doubt anyone will give him 4 years if he performs like this year. Those stats you reference are 'GLARING' and even given the benefit of the doubt and ignoring the early recovery years he stinks in big games and a major reason we hired him away from Vandy was we thought he competed with the big dogs and he was young, could recruit, was great selling the program...maybe he was the Anti-JoePa.
I saw the interview, and for the most part I though it was benign and expected. But one part got me... it's when Franklin listed his accomplishments at Penn State and uttered "we won a bunch of big games"
At that moment, I was 100000000% convinced Kraft made the right call. Franklin quite obviously still doesn't get it and never will. He still thinks he won "a bunch" of big games. With a mindset like that, he doesn't think he needs to change. He still thinks everything he was doing was right, and just needed to do it MORE.
James... you didn't win a bunch of big games, you lost almost every one of them. Your record in big games was awful. THAT is why you were fired.
Unless PSU contractually documented a definition of 'Success With Honor' he is delusional and doesn't get it.
I get it. It's all about James. Always was and probably always will be.
