Or you can go from a Solich (can do better) to a Pelini (can do better) to a Riley (can do better) to a Frost (can do better) to Rhule (not a great first two seasons and too early to tell about this season and beyond).
Yeah, maybe PSU can get someone else that would get us back to a NC, but I would say odds are similar record as Franklin or worse.
Good post and for the most part, I've taken this position. Sort of "the devil you know." If Franklin loses this game and Ohio State, I think it is a reasonable position to take the other side. Look, for a long time he couldn't win as an underdog because the program was not "all in, 365 days a year." He couldn't win the big one because the administration wouldn't pony up for top level coordinators and coaches. On record, I don't think he was wrong....I do remember losing coaches, good coaches, to lateral moves. That said, nobody can argue the investments being made to the program at this point. Knowles is the highest paid coordinator in the country, school is redoing beaver stadium, deals being cut all over with jersey brands, insurance companies, and so on. They paid up and brought back high level/experienced talent and in order to do so, flashed big coin. Considering the exodus of players leaving next year, and the relatively paltry 2026 recruiting status, we are probably 2-4 years away from being real NC threats again...Franklin will be in like year 20 at that point. I think its fair to say "if not now......when?" and if he loses to OSU and OU this year, he'll have deserved that no?
So back to your original point....Do you eliminate a guy that wins a lot of games knowing you risk winning less games if only, you MIGHT strike lightening in the bottle and marry a "lesser known" coach to the program and he can reach a ceiling never realized under Franklin? I'll even concede the probability stipulates he won't and worse, will underperform Franklin. Is that a risk the fans and administration are willing to take? If Franklin goes 0-2 this year, god forbid he loses to Indiana too(real chance).....I think I'd say Yes, time to try something knew. Hat tip to Franklin, has done a wonderful job, but he's basically Mike Tomlin(w/o a ring) at that point.....long term coach, good enough to keep the stands full, the cash flowing, deserves respect, but just couldn't get there and the potential downsides, and they are vast(think Fickell at Wisconsin), are worth it to me. Not that Franklin gets fired, but I do think Kraft and Franklin could be reasonable in at least beginning to formulate a next plan for both him and the program. Just my $.02.
