Kraft needs to grow a sack and make a statement

[Nits1989]

Those were all either laterals for more money or steps up IMO

FWIW, a media article addressed this exact issue and compared it to John Calipari going from Kentucky to Arkansas.

Calipari's Wiki page says this:

2019–24​

In April 2019, Calipari agreed to a "lifetime" contract with Kentucky, centered on a 10-year coaching extension, and a lifetime paid ambassadorship when he retires.[28]

Following a first round upset loss to the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Calipari announced he would be leaving Kentucky, but did not immediately announce plans to retire or accept another job.[29]

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

FWIW, a media article addressed this exact issue and compared it to John Calipari going from Kentucky to Arkansas.

Great comparison, thank you. Keep hope alive!

I can see CJF going to Arkansas or Auburn. Either school would be thrilled with 9-3 seasons

 

[Nits1989]

Great comparison, thank you. Keep hope alive!

I can see CJF going to Arkansas or Auburn. Either school would be thrilled with 9-3 seasons

Thanks, but I didn't come up with it. Just posting what another person wrote.

If PSU wants to move on, and that's a big if, CJF could play hardball, but does he really want to? He's only in his early 50s. Does he really want the lasting ugliness if this thing goes that way? Who wants to live that way? Its way too much pressure. Calipari walked away on better terms than digging in and fixing for a fight.

 

[MacNit]

Thanks, but I didn't come up with it. Just posting what another person wrote.

If PSU wants to move on, and that's a big if, CJF could play hardball, but does he really want to? He's only in his early 50s. Does he really want the lasting ugliness if this thing goes that way? Who wants to live that way? Its way too much pressure. Calipari walked away on better terms than digging in and fixing for a fight.

Minds will rapidly change as $ hemorrhages. Hotels are available at mid-week pricing, seats are in sale for $15, suites for $75 FOR HOMECOMING. This could spiral out of control a lot faster than folks want to admit/believe. Probably only a victory @ O$U can stem the tide.

 

[Midnighter]

 

[WaffleShopper]

I could be wrong but I thought I spotted a couple plays last week that were not “like gold”.

Gotta feel great if you’re Denmark or Howard to hear the coach basically say it would be a waste to put you in the game.

 

[Nits1989]

Joe Starkey: If Penn State doesn’t win out, James Franklin must go no matter the cost

If you’re a self-proclaimed “great” college football program and you rarely win the biggest games, you better win every single one of...

www.post-gazette.com

Contains interesting information about details of buyout clauses.

 

[Catch1lion]

 

[RolexKong]

Joe Starkey: If Penn State doesn’t win out, James Franklin must go no matter the cost

If you’re a self-proclaimed “great” college football program and you rarely win the biggest games, you better win every single one of...

www.post-gazette.com

Contains interesting information about details of buyout clauses.

Information not in the article: Franklin has the same agent as Jimbo Fisher.

 

[PSUFTG]

Information not in the article: Franklin has the same agent as Jimbo Fisher.

Just about every big time college football coach has the same agent - FWIW

A bit dated, and not complete, but just some of his clients:

Nick Saban
Kirby Smart
State Sarkisian
Kalen Deboer
Lane Kiffin
(At one time - maybe still does - he had all but 3 of the SEC coaches)

Jimmy Franklin
Dan Lanning
Dabo Swinney
Mike Norvell

I don't think he has Ryan Day (that's the only big name coach OTTOMH that I don't think he has)

That is probably the #1 reason for the grotesque escalation of college football coach salaries over the last several years - porcine Jimmy Sexton playing footsies with all the ADs.

 

[RolexKong]

Just about every big time college football coach has the same agent - FWIW

A bit dated, and not complete, but just some of his clients:

Nick Saban
Kirby Smart
State Sarkisian
Kalen Deboer
Lane Kiffin
(At one time - maybe still does - he had all but 3 of the SEC coaches)

Jimmy Franklin
Dan Lanning
Dabo Swinney
Mike Norvell

I don't think he has Ryan Day (that's the only big name coach OTTOMH that I don't think he has)

That is probably the #1 reason for the grotesque escalation of college football coach salaries over the last several years - porcine Jimmy Sexton playing footsies with all the ADs.

Day's agent is Trace Armstrong, who was Franklin's agent before Sexton.

 

[PSUSignore]

Putting him on notice publicly? That would be a fantastic way to discourage future coaches from wanting to come to PSU. If he says anything it's going to be a vote of confidence and support for Franklin which is exactly what most of you don't want, so be careful what you ask for.

 

[PSUSignore]

Great comparison, thank you. Keep hope alive!

I can see CJF going to Arkansas or Auburn. Either school would be thrilled with 9-3 seasons

...for a while. Then the expectations shift once you do it consistently. See PSU fans in 2025, lol. PSU was never a natty or bust team either, until recently. Franklin has become a victim of his own success.

 

[PSUForever]

Putting him on notice publicly? That would be a fantastic way to discourage future coaches from wanting to come to PSU. If he says anything it's going to be a vote of confidence and support for Franklin which is exactly what most of you don't want, so be careful what you ask for.

If he loses one more there won't be a vote of confidence. Hopefully that triggers getting his butt out of town.

 

[Erial_Lion]

If he loses one more there won't be a vote of confidence. Hopefully that triggers getting his butt out of town.

The thinking that a 9-3 season on the heels of a semifinal run with a ~50 million buyout means that he’d get fired is seriously laughable. Or that he’ll just walk away from it all due to some mean tweets from a small part of the fanbase, and bypass that generational wealth.

 

[BriantheLion]

Good post, it's always been a house of cards with Franklin. I think Kraft needs to take the power back somehow, someone has to defend this University for a change. Even Sandy had the balls to say publicly that Penn State should never be blown out after our huge loss to Michigan in 2016(?). To CJF's credit, he sure did turn that season around. I'd like for Kraft to publicly or privately suggest that the loss was simply unacceptable and can't happen. That the program has dedicated far too many resources to be losing the types of games we did this week. He doesn't need to give provide a vote of confidence or fire James this second, but CJF needs to be made aware that it is simple unacceptable.

Something else to consider....in this world of constantly soliciting money, seat licenses, donations, NIL etc. I wonder if the AD does indeed have a duty to make a statement to his shareholders(season ticket holders). I'm not saying he does, but if this is Pro ball now, you have to keep the donors pacified.

Maybe he has called all our big donors privately

 

[Bvillebaron]

He needs to fire him. Talk is cheap. Time for action.

Who died and made you boss?

 

[Bvillebaron]

Kraft will do what he has to do behind the scenes...but no reason to do anything but support your coaches publicly. Saying something like "I don’t give a damn about worrying current recruits" is extremely short sighted. And what would saying "I want Kraft to let it be known the football program is under review" mean exactly...he's the AD, and every one of his programs is always under his review.

Why should Kraft say publicly the program is under review? To placate the dim witted Franklin haters?

 

[Bvillebaron]

1. We've lost football games before and survived. We'll survive now too.
2. I would not expect any changes during the season, unless...
3. Keep an eye on a couple of key recruits. Start losing guys like Spell and things could get weird fast.

Meanwhile, it is football. The ball bounces the other way sometimes.

Shalom.

The ball bounces in your favor more frequently when the players stop crying in their beer after a tough OT loss and actually show up to play against an over matched opponent.

 

[Bvillebaron]

I get the frustration from a fan standpoint. It does leave fans wondering if the athletic department is on the ball with the situation or continuing the head in the sand approach of Sandy Barbour.

That said, Kraft would address any issues internally. Anything he says publicly would go into overdrive in the media and start speculation. If he criticizes Franklin the stories of a rift in the department start up. If he releases a statement of support, it’s the dreaded “vote of confidence” which usually leads to a firing weeks later. Both of those are detrimental to the program in the long term.

Kraft really is in a bad spot. The program is in a bad situation thanks to an incompetent prior AD, (and reportedly prior BOT chair).

Nationally, Franklin and the program are held in very low regard with respect to winning any meaningful games. The narrative is either Franklin could be fired soon or PSU is stuck with Franklin for several more years for financial reasons….and then he’ll be fired. Neither are good for recruiting.

They said 1985 was the last time a top 10 team lost to a winless 0-4 team. UCLA lost to Utah, UNLV, and was dominated by lowly New Mexico, (currently in 8th place in the Mountain West). There’s just no sugarcoating the worst college football loss in 40 years.

You must have missed ND losing to Northern Illinois and Michigan losing to Appy State.

 

[Bvillebaron]

It's a bad look and loss, but anyone thinking they are pulling the trigger after that loss are out of their minds. It's emotional drivel not based in reality. His buyout alone is a showstopper currently and after reaching the semi's last year they aren't going to jerk the knees before the end of the year unless things keep getting worse. It doesn't mean he has a never ending leash either, but he will be given a chance to right the ship somewhat. I think the playoffs are out of the equation, but what does the team do from here on out will determine the bigger picture IMO. This team bought into their own hype and played flat, emotionless, and totally lacked discipline in all 3 phases of the game....but mostly on the defensive side where we paid a DC more than anyone else to lay an egg.

This team has played the entire season reading their press clippings and buying into their own hype. Supposed to be the best OL in years and couldn’t dominate Nevada, Villanova and FIU. Weren’t prepared to respond after playing three cupcakes when Oregon punched them in the mouth until they fell down by 14. Instead of sucking it up and getting some mojo back by handling UCLA, too many players, especially on defense, failed to show up for the game.

 

[Thorndike2021]

The ball bounces in your favor more frequently when the players stop crying in their beer after a tough OT loss and actually show up to play against an over matched opponent.

Agreed. The team (and coaches!) were pouting, feeling sorry for themselves and expecting UCLA to just roll over. Meanwhile, that team had a whole new lease on life and slept in their own beds the night before. A perfect collision of poop and fan.

 

[KingLando]

Who died and made you boss?

Who made any of us?

 

[KingLando]

Why should Kraft say publicly the program is under review? To placate the dim witted Franklin haters?

At this point you like any credibility by trying to claim this is about "hating Franklin".
Penn State loaded up for him. Gave him the cash to bet the coaching staff he wanted.
Failing to beat Oregon or basically any legit Big Ten or SEC team is one thing. I actually felt okay with where we were after that loss. But you can't follow that up by losing to arguably the worst team in the Big Ten the way we did.
What are you even defending at this point? You reference ND losing to a MAC school but they won every other game they played. Had we beat Oregon losing to UCLA would have been frustrating though not fireable.
There's nothing left to defend. Facts are facts.

 

[KingLando]

This team has played the entire season reading their press clippings and buying into their own hype. Supposed to be the best OL in years and couldn’t dominate Nevada, Villanova and FIU. Weren’t prepared to respond after playing three cupcakes when Oregon punched them in the mouth until they fell down by 14. Instead of sucking it up and getting some mojo back by handling UCLA, too many players, especially on defense, failed to show up for the game.

And thats on the coach

 

[PSUForever]

The thinking that a 9-3 season on the heels of a semifinal run with a ~50 million buyout means that he’d get fired is seriously laughable. Or that he’ll just walk away from it all due to some mean tweets from a small part of the fanbase, and bypass that generational wealth.

Not fired but asked to leave. Yeah he doesn't have to but may because he doesn't have the support of the university.

 

[Psu00]

You must have missed ND losing to Northern Illinois and Michigan losing to Appy State.

No, I remember them. They were big upsets but it’s been 40 years since a top 10 team lost to an 0-4 team. Not even ND or Michigan managed that.

That UCLA team was dominated by lowly New Mexico 35-10. UNM is currently in 8th place in the Mountain West. They also lost to Utah 43-10, UNLV 30-23, and Northwestern 17-14.

IIRC, that App St team won their 3rd straight FCS national championship that year and was the first FCS team to receive votes in the AP poll at the end of the season.

 

[SleepyLion]

Who made any of us?

I made my wife the boss...
at least that is what she tells me.

 

[Catch1lion]

Well he did . Press conference Monday .

 

[KingLando]

Well he did . Press conference Monday .

At least a week too late--years too late in reality--but better late than never