James Franklin focused on film, not investigation surrounding Michigan, Jim Harbaugh
This weekend, Penn State is taking on Michigan in an incredibly important Big Ten game. However, going into that game, Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin is facing questions about Michigan and Jim Harbaugh amid the NCAA investigation into sign-stealing within that program.
Franklin is ready for those questions. However, as of now, he’s not interested in adding fuel to the fire. Instead, he’s more focused internally.
“I know these questions are gonna come this week,” James Franklin said. “I’m gonna focus on the things that we can control. We always have to have a plan and I think I’ve already kind of covered this and talked about this in terms of what we do and how we communicate to our players and how we communicate to our team during games. But I’m gonna leave it at that because less is more.”
The scandal at Michigan is over a staffer, Connor Stalions, buying tickets and working with others to scout opponents in person and record their sidelines. The idea is that they were there to steal signals. There are still a lot of questions to answer but there is pressure from Big Ten coaches on Commissioner Tony Petitti to punish the program sooner rather than later.
Because of that, there are rumors about Jim Harbaugh’s status for the game against Penn State. However, James Franklin isn’t focused on any of that.
“Your flashlight is still on. Will somebody help him? No. I was gonna try to use that to — didn’t work,” Franklin joked when asked about Harbaugh’s status.
“I’m focused on all the stuff I see on film. That’s what we’re focused on is all the stuff we see on film. Their players, their scheme. When I say, ‘see on film’ what we see on the coaches’ copy of the film, the stuff that’s going on between the sidelines. The 53 and a third. That’s what we’re focused on.”
Penn State opened as a touchdown underdog at home in the game against Michigan.
Paul Finebaum has ‘no confidence’ in Tony Petitti handling ‘severe’ punishment for Michigan
In the wake of the scandal at Michigan, a lot of people have called on the Big Ten offices to step in. However, analyst Paul Finebaum has no confidence in Tony Petitti to handle any kind of severe punishment for the school or Jim Harbaugh.
“They have nowhere to go. Tony Petiti is just playing this great. He’s having meetings with people. But, in the end, I have no confidence in doing anything as severe as you just laid out today,” Finebaum said.
“Knowing the Big Ten, they’ll probably let Michigan play Penn State this weekend and probably suspend Harbaugh for the Maryland game, which would be really unique. He’d be the only coach who’s ever been suspended twice in the same season.”