No departing message from Franklin?

Bvillebaron

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2004
2,575
2,589
113
I think “harassed his family” is colorful language. Were some fans idiots? Probably. It happens in every fan base. If you can’t take it, stay home.

the University made his family generationally wealthy. Go cry me a river. Such a hard life.
No you go cry yourself a river. People bitching about Franklin not leaving a warm and fuzzy exit message are the problem here. Who gives a royal rat’s you know what.
 

Bvillebaron

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2004
2,575
2,589
113
You kidding me??? He went on probably the biggest platform he could go on (College Game Day), and was not only MORE than gracious, but gave us FAR more credit than we deserved. You could tell he genuinely loved the place, as did his daughters. I was amazed how well he put lipstick on the pig that was Penn State and it’s pathetic fan base.

You could tell he really wanted to win a National Championship here, and thought he was close to doing it. He almost regretfully said he guessed he would just have to do it somewhere else.

if you didn’t get from that interview that he and his girls really wanted to stay at Penn State and loved it here, you were beyond deaf.
Yeah but never try to confuse the haters with facts.
 

Bvillebaron

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2004
2,575
2,589
113
Several good comments on this thread offering sober takes on what might be going on in Franklin's head.

It's tough to not feel bitter when you get fired from a job, regardless of the circumstances.

That said, there's overwhelming evidence that Franklin's best possible scenario (according to Franklin, himself) turned out to be an illusion, and that success under his very specific approach to football has a ceiling. It is odd to think that any truly legitimate program would consider hiring him given his track record against good opponents, his willingness to play favorites over talent, his questionable ability to recruit and develop players at key positions, his stubborn refusal to adopt a pass-first offense, inability to hold onto narrow leads late in games, etc. etc...

To me, he's a guy that a mediocre program should be looking at so that he can maybe elevate their status somewhat.

The thing is, Franklin's overarching strategy seems to be to simply spend your way to victory, and in order for that to work, you have to have a lot of pieces supporting that approach. I can't imagine he's gonna go to VaTech (or whatever) and say, "Look, I need you to drop $100 million on football," and they're gonna smack themselves in the forehead and shout, "So, THAT'S what we've been doing wrong!" and instantly rubber stamp his request.
But not to worry my friend. We can all expect multiple Big Ten and National Championships are in the immediate offing.
 
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Bvillebaron

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2004
2,575
2,589
113
Petty look from Franklin. Wake up for him will be if he ends up at a place without the infrastructure to hide his poor decision making year after year.
You mean like the time I challenged the board to tell me what poor decisions caused the loss to Michigan a few years ago when a TE ranked rumbled something like 60 yards for a go ahead TD late in the game and never heard a peep from anyone. My personal favorite was the clown reporter who blamed Franklin’s “poor decision” in a snow game a few years back when he punted instead of going for it on 4th and short from his side of the field early in the game and the special teams downed it on the 1/2 yard line. The genius claimed that “lousy” decision “led” to MSU going 99 1/2 yards to go up 14-0. Franklin has made some poor game management decisions over the years just like every other coach and his decision to go for it on 4th and short right after Allar got hurt on his side of the field down one point with almost 4 minutes to play and having all 3 timeouts and the 2 minute time out was one of the dumbest decisions I have seen (and may have been the final straw in his firing) but his decision making was not always the reason for some of the losses.
 

Bvillebaron

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2004
2,575
2,589
113
He should have thanked the fans and the school. It has to be done, no question about it. Its standard protocol, no matter what the circumstances. Its the professional thing to do. He didn't follow the standard professional protocol. That says something about him.
And issuing a press release and thanking the fired coach for his service and simply saying it was time to move on rather than saying he was fired for not winning Big and National Championships is standard AD protocol and speaks volumes about Kraft.
 

Bvillebaron

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2004
2,575
2,589
113
Tengwall has been tough but fair with his Franklin criticisms. Although over the past month it does seem like he and some other former players have a strong dislike for Franklin.
Would that be the numerous players who have and continue to tank the season by refusing to show up to play?
 

taryn

Sophomore
Nov 1, 2020
106
101
43
In 2025 speak , Franklin was engaged in quiet quitting . A message board with retorts wouldn’t be a reason to leave a $8 million plus job . He was checked out .

In 2025 speak , Franklin was engaged in quiet quitting . A message board with retorts wouldn’t be a reason to leave a $8 million plus job . He was checked out .
Begging to be fired so not to be on the field for the rath of the paying fans. He got off the hook TOO easy,smiling to the bank when he left ,leaving us to endure this failures!
 

Lion84

Senior
Oct 7, 2021
623
895
93
I think “harassed his family” is colorful language. Were some fans idiots? Probably. It happens in every fan base. If you can’t take it, stay home.

the University made his family generationally wealthy. Go cry me a river. Such a hard life.
Agreed - this “our fans” BS is getting old - a few fans at the stadium and in message boards - big deal and happens everywhere. He was well paid and had good years but how long can we go with - well we almost won the big one. These FranklinBots are getting old.
But not to worry my friend. We can all expect multiple Big Ten and National Championships are in the immediate offing.
the odds of that are about the same with or without Franklin - I’d rather take my chances on a mew coach.
 

Texas Lion

Sophomore
Aug 10, 2018
145
191
43
JF is a baby. Always has been. I remember game one this year him freaking out with 20 seconds left cause the refs did something with the clock. He did that **** all the time.
 

Corner Room Breakfast

All-Conference
Oct 27, 2021
1,485
2,016
113
The only fans I've seen were a few loud mouths at the tunnel (probably students), like the Kelce
cell phone incident. I, like many fans supported James, hoping he would win the big game or get
to the NC, it didn't happen, I'll move on no bitterness.

I will say this before every game the media said Big Game James, even when we played Nevada,
FIU, etc. The press would say yeah he will these, but let's wait and see. He also got mocked for
playing SMU and Boise in the playoffs, again by the media, like PS had a choice in the matter.

So now the blame is on the PSU fans and admin. for Franklin's firing, let's stop already. There are
other reasons behind this , that the media and fans don't really know. Just like the next HC, no
one has any idea, but i'll support him and the team no matter what.
 

istlion

All-Conference
Nov 8, 2024
2,101
4,091
113
I know he is polarizing and there are several thread disparaging him, I dont mean to do that here. I just read Brian Kelly's departing message to the LSU community, how much it meant to his family and so on. Napier did the same thing. I know these "thank you" notes have become trivial....like when recruits send these sappy decommitment messages, but does anyone find it odd that we've seen nothing from Franklin? He ran to college gameday, but nothing to the fans and school. Of course he had his detractors, like all fired coaches, but....nothing?
I'm just glad his final game was at home so the students could boo him one last time.
 

leinbacker

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
2,387
3,814
113
Are we going to erase James Franklin and pretend he never existed, like we did the last head coach Penn State fired midseason?
 
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donaldfair71

All-Conference
Jul 4, 2005
902
1,014
93
James seems to me like someone who is going to be bitter for a long time. He had very thin skin. I remember after 2016 he would occasionally bring up the “fire franklin” chants as a way of sticking it to people. What he did was indicate that it really bothered him and it was easily resurrected when things went south again
He once tried to run into the stands when a fan didn’t cuss, didn’t call him a name. Just said “love you but that’s a terrible call”
 

donaldfair71

All-Conference
Jul 4, 2005
902
1,014
93
Yeah “dead to me“ would be my thoughts. Moms would be on the warpath if some d bag threw a can at one of her boys and I’m talking about climbing into the stands type action
Door was always there with essentially no buyout on his end.
Maybe the next coach won’t be a hostage to such a terrible existence.
 
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Moogy

All-Conference
Jul 28, 2017
3,790
2,608
113
JF is a baby. Always has been. I remember game one this year him freaking out with 20 seconds left cause the refs did something with the clock. He did that **** all the time.
Franklin is VERY subdued compared to most other coaches, especially when it comes to dealing with refs. The majority of coaches don't stop crying to the refs about anything and everything from the last note of the Anthem until they leave the stadium.
 

Moogy

All-Conference
Jul 28, 2017
3,790
2,608
113
Petty look from Franklin. Wake up for him will be if he ends up at a place without the infrastructure to hide his poor decision making year after year.
Exactly. I'm so fed up with him, I want to see him end up at a place like Vandy ... he'd never be successful there!
 

Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
3,465
3,846
113
Petty look from Franklin. Wake up for him will be if he ends up at a place without the infrastructure to hide his poor decision making year after year.
I hope he goes somewhere and wins a NC as I’m sure everyone else on here does too. I mean we have to cheer for anyone that leaves our program and goes somewhere else.
 

barry j fenchak

Sophomore
May 11, 2016
266
162
43
Several good comments on this thread offering sober takes on what might be going on in Franklin's head.

It's tough to not feel bitter when you get fired from a job, regardless of the circumstances.

That said, there's overwhelming evidence that Franklin's best possible scenario (according to Franklin, himself) turned out to be an illusion, and that success under his very specific approach to football has a ceiling. It is odd to think that any truly legitimate program would consider hiring him given his track record against good opponents, his willingness to play favorites over talent, his questionable ability to recruit and develop players at key positions, his stubborn refusal to adopt a pass-first offense, inability to hold onto narrow leads late in games, etc. etc...

To me, he's a guy that a mediocre program should be looking at so that he can maybe elevate their status somewhat.

The thing is, Franklin's overarching strategy seems to be to simply spend your way to victory, and in order for that to work, you have to have a lot of pieces supporting that approach. I can't imagine he's gonna go to VaTech (or whatever) and say, "Look, I need you to drop $100 million on football," and they're gonna smack themselves in the forehead and shout, "So, THAT'S what we've been doing wrong!" and instantly rubber stamp his request.
Maybe there is hope for this fanbase.
 

J.E.B

All-Conference
Jul 8, 2001
2,114
3,044
113
James was always on his own agenda… he made a lot of money here but didn’t really give much back. Did he work with any charities in the immediate area? Not that I’m aware of.

Nothing particularly wrong with that but I’ve always been curious about a guy who’s been a high profile figure in this community for 12 yrs but was not engaged much with HV.

Him not making a statement is not surprising either because I don’t believe he thought he was on the hot seat. Even said he was shocked he got fired. He believes he was wronged.

But when your boss says no to an extension request and then you go around his back to ask the President… when he claims everything is aligned? You’re a pile of sheetz.

Honestly I won’t miss him. Wish him well but buyer beware. His “big year” will go down as one of the most colossal fails in all of sports. He just couldn’t win the big one. He has some rehab to do.

I cannot imagine a P5 alumni base celebrating his hiring.

You can’t live with a narcissist!
 

Nitt1300

Heisman
Nov 2, 2008
6,601
12,348
113
James was always on his own agenda… he made a lot of money here but didn’t really give much back. Did he work with any charities in the immediate area? Not that I’m aware of.
In an unexpected and inspiring act of generosity, James Franklin, head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team, has pledged to donate a staggering $8.5 million from his salary to benefit both Penn State University and The Kirby, a local nonprofit organization that supports underprivileged youth in State College and the surrounding areas. The announcement, made earlier this week, has sent shockwaves through both the collegiate football world and the local community.

BREAKING NEWS: James Franklin is Donating $8.5M from his salary to Penn State and The Kirby…
 

WaffleShopper

Senior
Sep 20, 2023
422
784
93
James was always on his own agenda… he made a lot of money here but didn’t really give much back. Did he work with any charities in the immediate area? Not that I’m aware of.
He made plenty of donations but I heard someone (Tengwall?) say that Franklin did not love State College and was not really involved with the local community as far as going to events and kissing babies.

That could also be coming from people who didn’t like him from the start because he was an “outsider” but it wouldn’t surprise me considering his thin skin and some of his reactions to fans.
 
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LionJim

Heisman
Oct 12, 2021
13,521
18,813
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In an unexpected and inspiring act of generosity, James Franklin, head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team, has pledged to donate a staggering $8.5 million from his salary to benefit both Penn State University and The Kirby, a local nonprofit organization that supports underprivileged youth in State College and the surrounding areas. The announcement, made earlier this week, has sent shockwaves through both the collegiate football world and the local community.

BREAKING NEWS: James Franklin is Donating $8.5M from his salary to Penn State and The Kirby…
Thanks for refuting the miser narrative.
 

J.E.B

All-Conference
Jul 8, 2001
2,114
3,044
113
In an unexpected and inspiring act of generosity, James Franklin, head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team, has pledged to donate a staggering $8.5 million from his salary to benefit both Penn State University and The Kirby, a local nonprofit organization that supports underprivileged youth in State College and the surrounding areas. The announcement, made earlier this week, has sent shockwaves through both the collegiate football world and the local community.

BREAKING NEWS: James Franklin is Donating $8.5M from his salary to Penn State and The Kirby…
I stand corrected although I’m not familiar with that charity and have been very involved in HV since 2018. If true, that’s outstanding of him and his family.
 
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Fred8811

Sophomore
Aug 27, 2006
219
128
43
Speeches should all be banned.
How anybody can listen to a politician, or read his fake book, is beyond me.
 

manatree

All-Conference
Oct 6, 2021
2,675
4,637
113
James was always on his own agenda… he made a lot of money here but didn’t really give much back. Did he work with any charities in the immediate area? Not that I’m aware of.

He was involved with THON and the Hershey Children’s hospital.