As I was leaving the stadium yesterday.........

[BUCKSCOUNTYLION]

The countdown to Franklin being done is on......this is a Clay Helton situation. The shoe is just waiting to drop. Next bad loss to an inferior opponent is going to be it.

Every hot seat discussion is going to be on Franklin now until the ship is righted or he is gone.

 

[Harrisburg Dave]

Franklin leaves only if he decides to take another job.

 

[BUCKSCOUNTYLION]

Franklin leaves only if he decides to take another job.

I would have agreed with you until yesterday

 

[Harrisburg Dave]

I would have agreed with you until yesterday

I wish it were otherwise.

 

[Countrylion]

Franklin leaves only if he decides to take another job.

Franklin is gone if several big donors say they had enough.

 

[Cold Smoke]

For better or worse, PSU just does not operate that way. Franklin would have to tank this year and then also in 2022 before they began thinking about a replacement. And even then he might be safe through 2023

This is the same place that gave Paterno and his staff an extension in 2004: after winning 7 games in two years.

And look at some of the basketball coaches who were given 8+ years and did basically nothing

There is far more support for Franklin in the general fanbase than a clutch of whiners on a message board would ever know.

 

[Harrisburg Dave]

Franklin is gone if several big donors say they had enough.

This is not LSU or A&M. Who is going to come up with the money to buy him out? It’s just not going to happen.

 

[91Joe95]

Franklin is gone if several big donors say they had enough.

There are no big donors for the football program. The bot has seen to that.

 

[Wallace Breen]

For better or worse, PSU just does not operate that way. Franklin would have to tank this year and then also in 2022 before they began thinking about a replacement. And even then he might be safe through 2023

This is the same place that gave Paterno and his staff an extension in 2004: after winning 7 games in two years.

And look at some of the basketball coaches who were given 8+ years and did basically nothing

The counter to that is James Franklin makes more than Joe's entire staff did. Status quo has changed. He was on the hottest seat in American in 2015/2016 until Sandy saved his job by forcing him to fire Donovan.

 

[GregInPitt]

For better or worse, PSU just does not operate that way. Franklin would have to tank this year and then also in 2022 before they began thinking about a replacement. And even then he might be safe through 2023

This is the same place that gave Paterno and his staff an extension in 2004: after winning 7 games in two years.

And look at some of the basketball coaches who were given 8+ years and did basically nothing

I'm with you until you bring in basketball. Basketball doesn't make much money on attendance, and attendance at BB has never really been over the top.

But if PSU sucks the rest of this season and comes out weak next season, and suddenly there are only 65-75K in attendance at a white out, Franklin will be history. His weak, politically correct excuses won't cut it if the team's revenue take a big dip.

 

[fastlax16]

This is the same place that gave Paterno and his staff an extension in 2004: after winning 7 games in two years.

Same place in name only. No one who gave Paterno that deal 15 years ago is here.

 

[psupride1997]

Exactly. This ain’t 2004. This was a defining, historically bad loss by Franklin.

I do think there is a good chance PSU loses out this season. That would make two losing seasons in a row and a 9-12 record over two years. The seat will at least be hot at that point.

 

[Ian]

Yesterday was an embarrassment to the school in front of PSUs top alumni and donors. That’s homecoming. You’d be pretty impressed with the crowd in the suites. If you are going make demands you better show the power people you are serious. That did not happen in fact it was quite the opposite and to say the optics were bad is an understatement.

If you think that no one noticed then I can tell you some pretty important people did. Franklin is on the clock and if any of the next 5 games play out in a similar fashion they will not hesitate in pulling the trigger on the highest paid employee in the Commonwealth. It’s called accountability. Last yrs debacle was explained away by CoVid. Not this year.

 

[PennStateTurf2002]

The only way James Franklin isn’t the head coach at PSU is if he leaves in his own. I actually don’t even know how legit any of that USC / LSU rumors are. I think these are just flirting by Franklin’s agent and the schools to push PSU into paying to keep him. It has worked before and they went for it again when PsU started 5-0 but these last 2 games ripped the carpet under James and Agents feet. There is no way PSU and Sandy will be backed into a corner here, she will call his bluff and if he walks, she will replace him. However there is no way she tells him to walk, the ball will always be in James Franklin’s court.

 

[delcoLion]

Yesterday was an embarrassment to the school in front of PSUs top alumni and donors. That’s homecoming. You’d be pretty impressed with the crowd in the suites. If you are going make demands you better show the power people you are serious. That did not happen in fact it was quite the opposite and to say the optics were bad is an understatement.

If you think that no one noticed then I can tell you some pretty important people did. Franklin is on the clock and if any of the next 5 games play out in a similar fashion they will not hesitate in pulling the trigger on the highest paid employee in the Commonwealth. It’s called accountability. Last yrs debacle was explained away by CoVid. Not this year.

Yesterday was an embarrassment to the school in front of PSUs top alumni and donors. That’s homecoming. You’d be pretty impressed with the crowd in the suites. If you are going make demands you better show the power people you are serious. That did not happen in fact it was quite the opposite and to say the optics were bad is an understatement.

If you think that no one noticed then I can tell you some pretty important people did. Franklin is on the clock and if any of the next 5 games play out in a similar fashion they will not hesitate in pulling the trigger on the highest paid employee in the Commonwealth. It’s called accountability. Last yrs debacle was explained away by CoVid. Not this year.

I have no reason to doubt what you say but if true, the last 5 games will be something else. An injured QB, ineffective OL, an injured DL going up against 3 top 10 ranked teams in consecutive weeks?!? Yikes. To all the fans who like challenges, well, there you go.

 

[Wallace Breen]

Sure, but Joe coached until he was 85 and stopped caring about his salary at least 15 years before that. So good luck finding that again.

That doesn't change the fact that Franklin was on the hot seat after two years and could be on the seat very shortly given how much he makes and how much he whines about resources (aka, money).

 

[Wallace Breen]

Maybe but the PSU decision making seems to always reduce to bean counting. If football brings in more than it spends they won’t feel any rush to change coaches (which is expensive in itself)

I fully concur, but, if you play the long game, cutting ties sooner rather than later end up being cheaper than riding out the storm. I have long held that the coach that gets us to the playoffs will be Franklin's successor.

 

[GOLDBANGER]

There is far more support for Franklin in the general fanbase than a clutch of whiners on a message board would ever know.

I've been a defender of Franklin for years, he lost me after that dumpster fire. I think BO'B is available!!

 

[acg116]

I fully concur, but, if you play the long game, cutting ties sooner rather than later end up being cheaper than riding out the storm. I have long held that the coach that gets us to the playoffs will be Franklin's successor.

Or we just turn into Nebraska. I’m resigned to never making the playoffs under franklin. I’m also sure that it could be much much worse. I kind of wish he would just either blow chunks or make the playoffs, instead he’s kind of muddling through. We’re basically Wisconsin but on the tough side of the conference.

 

[Art]

Well, there is this little matter of a $28mm+ buyout. Athletic Department is already in a reasonably deep financial hole. But if the powers that be want to do a thorough housecleaning, they should start with Ms. Excellence.

 

[MacNit07]

For better or worse, PSU just does not operate that way. Franklin would have to tank this year and then also in 2022 before they began thinking about a replacement. And even then he might be safe through 2023

This is the same place that gave Paterno and his staff an extension in 2004: after winning 7 games in two years.

And look at some of the basketball coaches who were given 8+ years and did basically nothing

Uh…I think Joe has built up a little more political capital and winning record than that.

 

[MacNit07]

The five years leading up to ‘04 were pathetic. Who knows what card he pulled during that negotiation. I fully believe that Spanier went into a meeting intending to get Joe to retire and left with Joe getting an extension. It was wild back then compared to now

Yep…but to Joe’s credit he did turn things around…that said, he stated past his “expiration date.”

 

[BW Lion]

Well, there is this little matter of a $28mm+ buyout. Athletic Department is already in a reasonably deep financial hole. But if the powers that be want to do a thorough housecleaning, they should start with Ms. Excellence.

Need to find a way to fire him with cause to get out from under the buyout burden.

 

[Art]

Need to find a way to fire him with cause to get out from under the buyout burden.

Not gonna happen, certainly not with the amoeba who run PSU.

 

[91Joe95]

Not gonna happen, certainly not with the amoeba who run PSU.

Amoebae, there's way more than one.

 

[IANit]

For better or worse, PSU just does not operate that way. Franklin would have to tank this year and then also in 2022 before they began thinking about a replacement. And even then he might be safe through 2023

This is the same place that gave Paterno and his staff an extension in 2004: after winning 7 games in two years.

And look at some of the basketball coaches who were given 8+ years and did basically nothing

In my opinion when CJF fired Kirk Ciarrocca based on the pandemic season where he didn't even have a chance to install his offense Franklin opened himself up to similar treatment. Perform now or you're gone.

 

[91Joe95]

In my opinion when CJF fired Kirk Ciarrocca based on the pandemic season where he didn't even have a chance to install his offense Franklin opened himself up to similar treatment. Perform now or you're gone.

Yeah, that was a headscratcher and doing so did set the offense back this year.

 

[MacNit07]

Could be, and that's an interesting theory. Would love to know the full story of why that guy got fired after a truncated season, and why that season started off so badly.

Also, the Yurcich hire was way out of character for PSU. He has a resume that is better than most head coaches. PSU never hires assistants like that (with the possible exception of Galen Hall who treated it like a part-time retirement job).

Was Yurcich brought in as a 'coach-in-waiting'? An interesting thing to think about

Quite possibly…we could do worse!

 

[Art]

Amoebae, there's way more than one.

Yes, but the one reproduces quickly.

 

[84Lion]

The five years leading up to ‘04 were pathetic. Who knows what card he pulled during that negotiation. I fully believe that Spanier went into a meeting intending to get Joe to retire and left with Joe getting an extension. It was wild back then compared to now

Winning two MNCs, many undefeated seasons, and a conference championship will do that for ya. Not to mention a commitment to education as well as athletics.

 

[Countrylion]

This is not LSU or A&M. Who is going to come up with the money to buy him out? It’s just not going to happen.

Think what you want, but the World works the same way at PSU as every where else - just not as quickly

 

[Art]

Could be, and that's an interesting theory. Would love to know the full story of why that guy got fired after a truncated season, and why that season started off so badly.

Also, the Yurcich hire was way out of character for PSU. He has a resume that is better than most head coaches. PSU never hires assistants like that (with the possible exception of Galen Hall who treated it like a part-time retirement job).

Was Yurcich brought in as a 'coach-in-waiting'? An interesting thing to think about

Nope. the Yurcich hiring was entirely Franklin's doing. Ciarrocca was a mistake. Anyone who familiar with his history, other than a good season and a half at Minnehaha, knew that.

 

[Art]

Winning two MNCs, many undefeated seasons, and a conference championship will do that for ya. Not to mention a commitment to education as well as athletics.

Exactly. Spanier wanted Joe gone, Joe said "no", and Spanier left with his tail between his legs. Par for the course for The One Man Band.

 

[Psugo823]

Franklin is gone if several big donors say they had enough.

And they have had enough

 

[Art]

And they have had enough

Okay, so who are these "big donors?" Names, and they are out there.

 

[Art]

He was 10 years removed from an undefeated season or conference title, and the NCs were ancient history. Also a huge number of the players were majoring in recreation, parks and tourism. It was a very different Joe in 2004

Doesn't matter. Spanier didn't have the spine or enough support to fire Joe.

 

[Obliviax]

Don’t look now but Pitt has a better record and is rated higher than us

 

[Art]

Or Joe was the better bureaucratic infighter, and was a step ahead of Spanier. It was so different back then as compared to now.

Spanier was doomed when he went to Joe's house to have the meeting. You don't fire someone in his house.

Spanier thought he'd cajole Joe into leaving and had no Plan B when Joe refused to go. He was on his own and just didn't have the courage to fire Joe.

 

[91Joe95]

Winning two MNCs, many undefeated seasons, and a conference championship will do that for ya. Not to mention a commitment to education as well as athletics.

And being the best fundraiser, by far.

 

[RickinDayton]

I guess. But they would have to buy out Franklin and then the new coach will want more than Franklin makes and more for assistants, etc. I can’t see PSU doing that based on a couple of mediocre seasons. PSU undoubtedly considers 2016, 2017 and 2019 to be successful and in PSU world that buys you a lot of time

It depends on who the next HC is. Would Lance Leipold, Dave Clawson or Greg Schiano demand more than Franklin? How about Marcus Freeman? I don't think so.