Franklin “Had to Go…” Here’s Why We Needed Him to Stay

Steelers1

Senior
Sep 29, 2025
215
488
63
Cignetti
Deboer
Whittingham
Fritz
Sitake
Kiffin (yeah he’s a douche but still better)
Dabo is about even but one could make a good argument he’s better
not to nit pick but I had Cignetti already. All the other names you listed were not CLEAR upgrades. Whittingham??? Downgrade Deboer - If you thought James was bad, he cant win anything at Alabama, Sitake---- would he have clearly worked out better here in central PA?? Dabo at one time was better, but hiring today, he's not in the same league as James. So I'll stick with my thought that there were about 5 clear upgrades, none of whom we had a chance at getting. Then there was another 5 or so (none of which would come here) that you listed, that would be arguably the same as JF. After that they are were all downgrades. We are seeing this play out in real time.
 

LafayetteBear

Heisman
Nov 30, 2009
35,178
10,639
113
Franklin is the better coach. He is a much better recruiter. Dipchit fans thought recruiting was a wash and anyone could recruit at psu. Talent will go down next year. Psu is in trouble.


You keep Franklin til you have a better coach and there are only about 10. After that you would have to hire an unknown who has a small chance of being better.
"There are only about 10?" I beg to differ. Virginia Tech lost to Cal. Let that one sink in for a moment. Beyond that, when has Franklin ever shown that he can make in game adjustments? When has he ever shown that he can win a big game?

I would readily agree with you if you said that Matt Campbell has not shown us much yet. But I still entertain the hope that he WILL do so. He deserves at least one full recruiting season to show what he can do. (Franklin had multiple seasons to show what he could do.) IMHO, he needs to recruit a quality quarterback and some athletic lineman on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
 
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Marshall2323

All-American
Aug 7, 2024
5,665
5,741
113
"There are only about 10?" I beg to differ. Virginia Tech lost to Cal. Let that one sink in for a moment. Beyond that, when has Franklin ever shown that he can make in game adjustments? When has he ever shown that he can win a big game?

I would readily agree with you if you said that Matt Campbell has not shown us much yet. But I still entertain the hope that he WILL do so. He deserves at least one full recruiting season to show what he can do. (Franklin to multiple seasons to show what he could do.) IMHO, he needs to recruit a quality quarterback and some athletic lineman on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
How's that recruiting coming along? On Rivals #23 in the nation and 8th in the Big Ten.
Now we can "entertain the hope" that Franklin will recruit well at VT (he's already recruiting better than PSU) and he's already got 2 more wins than VT had last year. Crying about Franklin is all PSU fans have left because there is no hope for the next 3 years. Even winning out leaves PSu with a disappointing season with this Big12 type schedule. Before PSU complains about winning a big game, perhaps they should hire a coach who can win some games? Like 10.11 or13 in one season?
PSU fans had better hope Brain Kelly doesn't take the Maryland job.Kelly has a relationship with Underarmour.
 
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Rocco3

Junior
Mar 25, 2022
295
326
63
Franklin Fanboy chimes in right on que - some things are guaranteed in Life death and taxes and Marshall ripping on PSU and it's fans and kissing BGJ's azz.
People devoid of common sense and lacking in observational skills are blind to what Joe and his staff had going on.

Thanks to the Moronic people at the top who were filled with hate while being completely devoid of any common sense railroaded and ruined any chance at a peaceful transfer of power to the next great PS head coach. They actually doomed the program to mediocrity.

There is absolutely no way a BGJ type hire would have ever happened here had it not been for the Framing of JoePa. There has been a succession of bad hires that were made out of desperation and made by people who were not qualified to make such a hire but desperate to do so.

Even the guy who hired Franklin had a chip on his shoulder and was grinding his ax in the process.

The end result of all of that cluster -uck is what you're getting today. The real problem is systemic and generational. People tend to hire people like themselves. The failure at the top continues. It's inbreeding and self-sustaining which makes the program bogged down and mired nose deep in failure while currently continuing its downward trajectory.

If a MC can eventually get this turned around it's going to take years.

Winning out the remaining schedule would be a big step in the right direction. What are the real odds of that happening?
 

olelion

Senior
Jun 10, 2001
2,756
942
113
This is THE nadir of this program. Much deeper than the early 2000s. There is an entire recruiting class missing and bench depth is nothing but practice fodder. Campbell may have his flaws but the condition of the program is beyond him. The damage of the botched search is immeasurable. A successful recruiting class won't get them far. Elite transfers are needed and it will show us all if Matt Campbell can "sell the program". I fear that any lingering luster from recent success has faded substantially and it could be a lengthy downturn. I hope I'm wrong
 

saturdaysarebetter

All-Conference
Jun 19, 2018
1,051
1,509
131
"There are only about 10?" I beg to differ. Virginia Tech lost to Cal. Let that one sink in for a moment. Beyond that, when has Franklin ever shown that he can make in game adjustments? When has he ever shown that he can win a big game?

I would readily agree with you if you said that Matt Campbell has not shown us much yet. But I still entertain the hope that he WILL do so. He deserves at least one full recruiting season to show what he can do. (Franklin to multiple seasons to show what he could do.) IMHO, he needs to recruit a quality quarterback and some athletic lineman on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Would the fake punt in the Minnesota game which kept our playoff hopes alive be an in-game adjustment? Obviously, it would since you don't say ahead of time in game preparation, we're going to run the fake punt in the fourth quarter.
 

Rocco3

Junior
Mar 25, 2022
295
326
63
Would the fake punt in the Minnesota game which kept our playoff hopes alive be an in-game adjustment? Obviously, it would since you don't say ahead of time in game preparation, we're going to run the fake punt in the fourth quarter.
That play was always there and available every time they had to punt. The decision wasn't made by any coach but by the center who had that permission anytime he saw the right defensive alignment. So said Franklin.
 

o_PSUALREADYKNOW

Sophomore
Mar 9, 2022
131
156
43
Not many will read all that garbage!

FK BGJ.
I’m surprised you can read this at all. If you look back at what Franklin did and did for Penn State and still say “eff him…” then you’re a knuckle dragging cretin and your mother should have swallowed you. Go in the corner, try to rationalize how low your IQ is, and swallow deep every drop of Penn State Football because this is what See You Next Tuesday’s like YOU deserve. Voila!
 

o_PSUALREADYKNOW

Sophomore
Mar 9, 2022
131
156
43
You and several other fanboys have ensured that Franklin's tenure will not be forgotten soon. It is fun to watch you chase your tail in defending him. He got what he deserved when the fans turned on him. One thing to lose your job, another to be publicly humiliated and openly hated by thousands. Karma is a *****.
That’s the whole point-the fans had no right to turn on him and showed how silly and soiled they were. Even stupid. Kraft showed how he was even worse by listening to the brilliant fans.
 
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Marshall2323

All-American
Aug 7, 2024
5,665
5,741
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Would the fake punt in the Minnesota game which kept our playoff hopes alive be an in-game adjustment? Obviously, it would since you don't say ahead of time in game preparation, we're going to run the fake punt in the fourth quarter.
Campbell made an in game adjustment vs Wisky. PSU was up 17-0.
 

Marshall2323

All-American
Aug 7, 2024
5,665
5,741
113
I’m surprised you can read this at all. If you look back at what Franklin did and did for Penn State and still say “eff him…” then you’re a knuckle dragging cretin and your mother should have swallowed you. Go in the corner, try to rationalize how low your IQ is, and swallow deep every drop of Penn State Football because this is what See You Next Tuesday’s like YOU deserve. Voila!
They deserve the excellence at the highest level they are now getting.
 

Marshall2323

All-American
Aug 7, 2024
5,665
5,741
113
That’s the whole point-the fans had no right to turn on him and showed how silly and soiled they were. Even stupid. Kraft showed how he was even worse by listening to the brilliant fans.
Entitled and delusional fans. Read some of the posts here. Still delusional at 3-4.
 

NOYDB

Junior
Jan 21, 2012
205
266
47
I’m surprised you can read this at all. If you look back at what Franklin did and did for Penn State and still say “eff him…” then you’re a knuckle dragging cretin and your mother should have swallowed you. Go in the corner, try to rationalize how low your IQ is, and swallow deep every drop of Penn State Football because this is what See You Next Tuesday’s like YOU deserve. Voila!
Knuckle dragger?? damn racist pig
 

Pa$ky859

Junior
Jul 4, 2025
193
369
63
As someone who grew up in a family cheering for Kentucky Basketball & Penn State Football (due to mom & dad’s home states and living in both places), this reminds me an awful lot of UK’s split with John Calipari

Cal had worn out his welcome
His ego didn’t mesh well with the hardworking people of the state
Cal did win a title - but thought he was bigger than the program
The athletic director was terrible
The new hire probably wasn’t the right guy. Nice guy but probably not the one.

Let’s see how it plays out. Hope for the best
 
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May 11, 2016
359
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43
I'll play along. If we'd have kept Franklin, last year's record would have been worse and this year's would be the same.
Oh no, James had the program trending in the right direction. He just needed another 12 years to right the ship. LOL

He didn't want to be at PSU any longer, his NW post game presser gave solid evidence of that.
 
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