The Current AD Conundrum

NorthernStatePSU said:

Penn State has a stadium sized money problem if it wants to get rid of James Franklin, and I’d put any thoughts of a buyout coming in the near future out of your mind accordingly. Pat Kraft made the decision to go all in on football, this coach, this quarterback during the offseason. James Franklin coming off the national semifinal was given the home run coordinator he desired. He was given a solid, though not best in class, NIL purse. He has full control over everything in this program except for one area…the renovation of Beaver Stadium. There is a lot of money being directed to and tied up in that stadium. Costs associated with it are high and any money that could be tapped for a buyout is already tied up in this stadium. Interest rates are high, materials costs have increased (tariffs not helping), and while the stadium is on time, it is not fully in budget despite comments to the contrary. The one or two people who can pay are not the type of people who like to throw money to make a negative statement. Neither likes to waste money and neither wants to do it. What we’re left with is a very leveraged athletic department paying for a stadium and betting on this team…and that bet failing in spectacular fashion. I think James has lost this fanbase and that makes the jobs of major gifts a lot harder. Both in excellence fund building and in stadium fundraising. Have been told they have a few major gifts in their pocket they’ve been holding out on, I’d expect those to be announced to calm the masses. But don’t waste the keystrokes on the possibility of a spectacular or bombastic display of an AD saying enough is enough. We can’t afford it. Also Landon Tengwall is an absolute clown, as is PSU barstool for advocating to harm the program. We’re stuck with James for now, gonna have to hope he changes his ways. The only way he’s out is if there’s a mutual separation at the end of the season and that’s gonna require James saying he doesn’t wanna do this here anymore.

NorthernStatePSU said:

Penn State has a stadium sized money problem if it wants to get rid of James Franklin, and I’d put any thoughts of a buyout coming in the near future out of your mind accordingly. Pat Kraft made the decision to go all in on football, this coach, this quarterback during the offseason. James Franklin coming off the national semifinal was given the home run coordinator he desired. He was given a solid, though not best in class, NIL purse. He has full control over everything in this program except for one area…the renovation of Beaver Stadium. There is a lot of money being directed to and tied up in that stadium. Costs associated with it are high and any money that could be tapped for a buyout is already tied up in this stadium. Interest rates are high, materials costs have increased (tariffs not helping), and while the stadium is on time, it is not fully in budget despite comments to the contrary. The one or two people who can pay are not the type of people who like to throw money to make a negative statement. Neither likes to waste money and neither wants to do it. What we’re left with is a very leveraged athletic department paying for a stadium and betting on this team…and that bet failing in spectacular fashion. I think James has lost this fanbase and that makes the jobs of major gifts a lot harder. Both in excellence fund building and in stadium fundraising. Have been told they have a few major gifts in their pocket they’ve been holding out on, I’d expect those to be announced to calm the masses. But don’t waste the keystrokes on the possibility of a spectacular or bombastic display of an AD saying enough is enough. We can’t afford it. Also Landon Tengwall is an absolute clown, as is PSU barstool for advocating to harm the program. We’re stuck with James for now, gonna have to hope he changes his ways. The only way he’s out is if there’s a mutual separation at the end of the season and that’s gonna require James saying he doesn’t wanna do this here anymore.

NorthernStatePSU said:

Penn State has a stadium sized money problem if it wants to get rid of James Franklin, and I’d put any thoughts of a buyout coming in the near future out of your mind accordingly. Pat Kraft made the decision to go all in on football, this coach, this quarterback during the offseason. James Franklin coming off the national semifinal was given the home run coordinator he desired. He was given a solid, though not best in class, NIL purse. He has full control over everything in this program except for one area…the renovation of Beaver Stadium. There is a lot of money being directed to and tied up in that stadium. Costs associated with it are high and any money that could be tapped for a buyout is already tied up in this stadium. Interest rates are high, materials costs have increased (tariffs not helping), and while the stadium is on time, it is not fully in budget despite comments to the contrary. The one or two people who can pay are not the type of people who like to throw money to make a negative statement. Neither likes to waste money and neither wants to do it. What we’re left with is a very leveraged athletic department paying for a stadium and betting on this team…and that bet failing in spectacular fashion. I think James has lost this fanbase and that makes the jobs of major gifts a lot harder. Both in excellence fund building and in stadium fundraising. Have been told they have a few major gifts in their pocket they’ve been holding out on, I’d expect those to be announced to calm the masses. But don’t waste the keystrokes on the possibility of a spectacular or bombastic display of an AD saying enough is enough. We can’t afford it. Also Landon Tengwall is an absolute clown, as is PSU barstool for advocating to harm the program. We’re stuck with James for now, gonna have to hope he changes his ways. The only way he’s out is if there’s a mutual separation at the end of the season and that’s gonna require James saying he doesn’t wanna do this here anymore.

psuhv610 said:

Maybe just wishful thinking but I really do think there’s a possibility James is ready to walk away from PSU. His body language is miserable. He looks checked out mentally. Everyone in town hates him. The year that was supposed to be “the year” has been nothing short of an epic fail, and he’s a national laughingstock. There comes a point where the money ain’t worth it for your mental health. James is still a good man who deserves to be happy and I think he needs to seek that happiness elsewhere, whether it’s a fresh start at a different school (I think taking the Calipari path at a school like Arkansas could be great for him) or a cushy media job that allows him more time with his family.

Beaverman72 said:

I was thinking the same thing. Arkansas or a media role could be good for him. Hopefully he comes to a similar conclusion. He’s done a lot of good, but this is it.

hohmadw1978 said:

Well stated @NorthernStatePSU. I posted this in another thread, but I was told at the whiteout game by Zakee Wheatley's father that there is a lot of tension in the locker room and there are several parents very upset (I overheard one at the Oregon game) with their lack of playing time and letting Coach Franklin know it. Team focus is shot as a result.

Beaverman72 said:

I was thinking the same thing. Arkansas or a media role could be good for him. Hopefully he comes to a similar conclusion. He’s done a lot of good, but this is it.

NorthernStatePSU said:

Penn State has a stadium sized money problem if it wants to get rid of James Franklin, and I’d put any thoughts of a buyout coming in the near future out of your mind accordingly. Pat Kraft made the decision to go all in on football, this coach, this quarterback during the offseason. James Franklin coming off the national semifinal was given the home run coordinator he desired. He was given a solid, though not best in class, NIL purse. He has full control over everything in this program except for one area…the renovation of Beaver Stadium. There is a lot of money being directed to and tied up in that stadium. Costs associated with it are high and any money that could be tapped for a buyout is already tied up in this stadium. Interest rates are high, materials costs have increased (tariffs not helping), and while the stadium is on time, it is not fully in budget despite comments to the contrary. The one or two people who can pay are not the type of people who like to throw money to make a negative statement. Neither likes to waste money and neither wants to do it. What we’re left with is a very leveraged athletic department paying for a stadium and betting on this team…and that bet failing in spectacular fashion. I think James has lost this fanbase and that makes the jobs of major gifts a lot harder. Both in excellence fund building and in stadium fundraising. Have been told they have a few major gifts in their pocket they’ve been holding out on, I’d expect those to be announced to calm the masses. But don’t waste the keystrokes on the possibility of a spectacular or bombastic display of an AD saying enough is enough. We can’t afford it. Also Landon Tengwall is an absolute clown, as is PSU barstool for advocating to harm the program. We’re stuck with James for now, gonna have to hope he changes his ways. The only way he’s out is if there’s a mutual separation at the end of the season and that’s gonna require James saying he doesn’t wanna do this here anymore.

NorthernStatePSU said:

I fully believe this team has a culture and leadership problem. That starts with James.

Taycro said:

RE Tengwall: Someone on here said he was cut off from the program, is this true? It always seemed like he had an axe to grind with his reporting, although I couldnt just tell if that was typical "negative reporting drives clicks" or something personal

Psuproud said:

The problem with Franklin leaving for another job is he will be an incredibly hard sale for an AD to the programs biggest donors.

ThePennsyOracle said:

What did Tengwall do or say? I don’t listen to/pay attention to the guy and have no idea

psuhv610 said:

It feels obvious that James’s strengths in the coaching world are in program building and recruiting. He would be better off at a program that yearns to be successful but doesn’t necessarily have hopes of a National Championship.

psuhv610 said:

A school like Arkansas should be over the moon if a guy like James was willing to come through the door. They’ve won 9 games once since 2011. I agree that a school like Florida with actual championship aspirations would probably have minimal interest in him.

NorthernStatePSU said:

He’s a shock jock at this point and last night basically told Penn State fans to not support NIL here. Which would effectively kill this program and any coach who’d have interest in it. He’s not a friend to Penn State.

Psuproud said:

The school maybe over the moon but I am not sure the fanbase would be and that would put a lot of pressure on the AD if doesn't quickly work.

nittanyfan333 said:

I said this in another thread. He is an emotional coach, not a game day X’s and O’s game management style of coach. That is fine in the lower FBS ranks and at the FCS level where expectations are significantly lower. And I would argue that was exactly what this program needed post sanction years. But we are beyond that now, and the expectations are through the roof. once he moved up to this level of competition, he has been ill prepared to actually coach and manage games. The sample size is more than big enough to prove that out.

Psuproud said:

The problem with Franklin leaving for another job is he will be an incredibly hard sale for an AD to the programs biggest donors.