Franklin presser

[Jerry]

Talk about awkward…..

Honestly, it strikes me as almost funny how he comes back to the podium a couple times with "Hi, guys!"

It's totally standard practice for the coach to not be at liberty to comment on what is obviously an ongoing criminal investigation.

It appears that the school decided to accentuate that point by having Franklin step away from the podium so some flunky could give the obvious canned answer to the media jackals.

As for the case itself, it's unfortunate that two guys chose to ruin their lives that way...and doubly unfortunate for the alleged victim...but the university handled the whole thing swiftly...and correctly.

Wisconsin...Wisconsin...Wisconsin.

 

[ryoder1]

Absolutely.

What is there to say? These two adults went off and, allegedly, drugged and raped a woman. Hundreds of kids come through the program and graduate. The school gives them every opportunity with millions in resources to become young men. A few don't. The quicker the program moves on the better.

The last thing Franklin wants to do is start to attempt to answer questions about this. He would be just going down a never ending rabbit hole. The media would never stop and then start twisting his answers and drawing false conclusions. Also if he made any comments it would get plastered all over ESPN, etc and volleyed about by every talking head coast to coast. Horrible PR. It is a legal matter. The two accused are no longer affiliated with the Penn State football program nor the university.

 

[ryoder1]

He backed away into a corner both times, yes or no?
The Unviersity did read a statement, something he's fully capable of doing or saying "please refer to the statement, next question"
They asked 2 questions--that's reasonable--the second one was literally about when they knew it would impact their playing time this year--good smart questions.

Again, did Franklin back away from the table to a corner and had someone else speak? That's going to be the takeaway--fair or not

He walked away to the side off camera. "Cowering in the corner". LOL. C'mon man. That is the take everyone will have? Really that is what you think. I can just hear on Sportscenter as they report about this and say "when asked about the situation, coach James Franklin went and cowered in the corner".

The media can ask anything they want. That is their job. I don't have a problem with that. Why don't they ask him..."Coach, you get paid almost $10 million a year, do you think with that salary you should beat Ohio State more than once every ten years?" LOL.

 

[ram2020]

In fine with the head coach not addressing it, sometimes Franklin can be too literal and thin skinned, the walking off the podium seemed sort of petulant and insensitive. He could have simply said "i won't discuss ongoing legal matters" and optics would have been fine. Him shuffling off just looks unprofessional to me. Just my .02

 

[Lionsfan1000]

The only thing I dislike is Franklin stepping away and having someone else read it--that's a real bad look

Exactly. All he needed to do was refer to the official statement. No need for further comment. He just made the story about him and his perceived inability to comment on alleged rape. Bad PR advice.

 

[jjw165]

Subliminally, he did. And in a more effective manner.

Subliminally, he said “If you idiots want to waste my time and everyone else’s time by asking stupid questions that have already been addressed in plain English by someone in authority over me, have at it. You can listen to the statement read over and over and over for a full ten minutes if you want and then I’m out of here. I have work to do.”

Now THAT would have been even more awkward.

 

[DELion]

Who asked the question?

What info was the media expecting to gain by asking about this situation?

I understand the irritation over not getting quality info on KJ Winston's injury/return possibility or even the UCLA week "Singleton was absent" stuff, but what did the media think they were going to get by asking about 2 players who were dismissed from the team 10 or 11 weeks ago?

Wouldn't this have been better suited for the court house steps after their hearing?

Audrey Snyder asked the second question, then tried to hype the fact that Franklin did not answer on her Twitter account. They didn't expect to get any info. They just want to stir up controversy. Yellow "journalism."

 

[bvillebaron]

Bad look but I suspect it was done to protect Franklin legally and to prevent him from having to possibly testify later because of something he might say when addressing the subject. This was as much or more of a University issue as much as a football issue.

Protect Franklin “legally”. From what? Geez.

 

[bvillebaron]

Yeah, this is the biggest problem

No the biggest problem is grandstanding media who don ‘t understand what no means.

 

[ryoder1]

Exactly. All he needed to do was refer to the official statement. No need for further comment. He just made the story about him and his perceived inability to comment on alleged rape. Bad PR advice.

Ok, I can see that. It does seem overly orchestrated and unnecessary. I agree he should have just said no comment but someone probably told him to do it that way. Bad advice. He did not "cower in the corner", though, as Lando suggests.

 

[bvillebaron]

It literally just broke what happened--I think two attempts to get them to speak about it is reasonable. Even if it's a "refer to the statement" answer that's their job.
Hopefully, this blows over and doesn't become a story because of how we handled it--we have a tendency to make non stories into major stories.

No two attempts is not reasonable after getting notice before the interview that neither Franklin nor PSU would comment further; being reminded of that position when that is the first question asked and then asking it a second time after Franklin asks if there are any Wisconsin questions.

 

[bvillebaron]

It appeared scripted. It didn’t give me the vibe that he decided he would walk off stage. It appeared to me that JF was told exactly what to do if a question was asked and he did exactly as told.

Did I miss something or did Franklin leave after the reporters were told he would not comment and they asked the same damn question after he asked if there were any Wisconsin questions?

 

[bvillebaron]

When you’re told he won’t take questions and you ask anyway AND THEN COMPLAIN that he didn’t take questions, you’re just an a$$.

👍👍👍

 

[NC2017]

Is it true journalism majors have the collective IQ of a kumquat?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...EQFnoECBcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0Yv0Mu59Y_VE2RguTL9kcR​

 

[Jerry]

In fine with the head coach not addressing it, sometimes Franklin can be too literal and thin skinned, the walking off the podium seemed sort of petulant and insensitive. He could have simply said "i won't discuss ongoing legal matters" and optics would have been fine. Him shuffling off just looks unprofessional to me. Just my .02

Personally, I agree there was no need to go to the theatrics of shuffling out the flunky to give the obvious and necessary canned answer. Franklin could have delivered it himself.

However, I also think the entire issue is a nothingburger. Nobody cares. Even the reporters don't care. They just have to make a pretense of caring in order to preserve their reputations as jerks.

 

[JWB389]

Did I miss something or did Franklin leave after the reporters were told he would not comment and they asked the same damn question after he asked if there were any Wisconsin questions?

He didn’t leave. He just stepped away from the mic.

 

[LandoComando]

No two attempts is not reasonable after getting notice before the interview that neither Franklin nor PSU would comment further; being reminded of that position when that is the first question asked and then asking it a second time after Franklin asks if there are any Wisconsin questions.

100% reasonable...at most schools it would have continued well past 2

 

[LandoComando]

He walked away to the side off camera. "Cowering in the corner". LOL. C'mon man. That is the take everyone will have? Really that is what you think. I can just hear on Sportscenter as they report about this and say "when asked about the situation, coach James Franklin went and cowered in the corner".

The media can ask anything they want. That is their job. I don't have a problem with that. Why don't they ask him..."Coach, you get paid almost $10 million a year, do you think with that salary you should beat Ohio State more than once every ten years?" LOL.

Yes he was cowering in the corner of thr stage likely due to a directive he was given. That's going to be the takeaway of most. A head coach shouldn't need someone else to control the reporters for him or refer to a statement

This isn't about James. This is about our media relations being incompetent and making him appear weak.

 

[GregInPitt]

Can we stop calling it a "big game"? We're a TD favorite on the road against an unranked team who's without their starting QB
If Kirby Smart did this you and others would be flipping out.
I don't think it's a big deal but they absolutely should ask these questions.

You can call it what you want, "big game" or otherwise.

I'll call it what I want, and as there are only 12 regular season games I look at every game as a "big game". Especially against teams that have the ability to win a "big game" behind their home crowd.

Everyone has their own opinions, which makes the use of "we" inappropriate.

You believe they should ask questions that take up time and prevent actual football questions from being made and answered during the limited time of a Franklin PC. I and lots of other don't. Again, "we" is not real accurate here either.

 

[Obliviax]

Protect Franklin “legally”. From what? Geez.

Saying the wrong thing. Lawyers will do anything to set up a case. That’s why nobody talks

 

[LandoComando]

You can call it what you want, "big game" or otherwise.

I'll call it what I want, and as there are only 12 regular season games I look at every game as a "big game". Especially against teams that have the ability to win a "big game" behind their home crowd.

Everyone has their own opinions, which makes the use of "we" inappropriate.

You believe they should ask questions that take up time and prevent actual football questions from being made and answered during the limited time of a Franklin PC. I and lots of other don't. Again, "we" is not real accurate here either.

Franklin doesn't provide real answers to football questions either but if you think Kent State is a big game continue to be ridiculous.

 

[GSPMax]

You can call it what you want, "big game" or otherwise.

I'll call it what I want, and as there are only 12 regular season games I look at every game as a "big game". Especially against teams that have the ability to win a "big game" behind their home crowd.

Everyone has their own opinions, which makes the use of "we" inappropriate.

You believe they should ask questions that take up time and prevent actual football questions from being made and answered during the limited time of a Franklin PC. I and lots of other don't. Again, "we" is not real accurate here either.

Yes.

Every game is a big game in it's own way. Even Kent State.

 

[GregInPitt]

Franklin doesn't provide real answers to football questions either but if you think Kent State is a big game continue to be ridiculous.

Franklin does provide real answers to football questions, when the media can put together questions that deserve an answer.

Some games are bigger than others, but I do like Franklin's focus on being 1-0 each week no matter the opponent. And it's the nature of college football that there are upsets each week. PSU is not above getting upset. And when looking for "big games" a game on the road where PSU is favored by basically at TD would seem to be towards the high end of "big games" on the schedule. Not quite like USC, but it also the nature of college football that teams can have let downs after a "big game" win such as the win against USC. So continue to be ridiculous if you want......

 

[LandoComando]

Franklin does provide real answers to football questions, when the media can put together questions that deserve an answer.

Some games are bigger than others, but I do like Franklin's focus on being 1-0 each week no matter the opponent. And it's the nature of college football that there are upsets each week. PSU is not above getting upset. And when looking for "big games" a game on the road where PSU is favored by basically at TD would seem to be towards the high end of "big games" on the schedule. Not quite like USC, but it also the nature of college football that teams can have let downs after a "big game" win such as the win against USC. So continue to be ridiculous if you want......

When does he do that? And it's not an insult to him--most don't

Franklin's actions (which likely aren't his fault but dictated by others) results in this front page article on ESPN notice the multiple comments about "walked away"

Franklin refuses comment on PSU rape charges

Penn State coach James Franklin declined to answer questions after two of his former players were accused by police of raping a 17-year-old girl in July.

www.espn.com

 

[LandoComando]

Yes.

Every game is a big game in it's own way. Even Kent State.

It's honestly comical
Then no game is a big game

 

[voltz99]

Bring in Rhule

Rhule has 0 career wins vs the top 10. 0.0.

 

[eidolon21]

ESPN is Garbage $$$ money over Morality. They are "not so cheap" whores.

 

[voltz99]

Franklin should say nothing. If the reporters are free to question the local authorities whose actual job is to deal with the issue.

I would not mind PSU restricting press creds for the media who dont want to ask football related questions.

 

[Obliviax]

 

[psu00]

Franklin should say nothing. If the reporters are free to question the local authorities whose actual job is to deal with the issue.

I would not mind PSU restricting press creds for the media who dont want to ask football related questions.

Restricting press credentials would only come off as vengeful and spiral the story more IMO.

From now on he just has to answer ‘I can’t comment on that legal matter’. When they ask again, he just needs to calmly repeat that and ask if there are any questions he can answer? If none come then calmly say ‘ok, thanks for coming’ and end the press conference. Anything they yell out after, even if about the game, just ignore and walk away.

The next time they’ll stick to game questions because they need something to write a story on.

 

[mcpat]

PSU reads official statement about the former players. They then say CJF will have no comment. Jon asks anyway. PSU re-reads the official statement. They again say CJF will have no comment. Audrey asks follow-up anyway. She tweets video of it and writes that CJF will not answer their questions.. Gets criticized that it didn’t include the initial PSU statements. She then tweets the longer version. Jon writes an article with headline that CJF refuses to comment on charges. He tweets it out. National media picks up his headline.

Complete sh!tshow. What was the point Jon and Audrey? I don’t know Jon’s work very well, but I read Audrey’s a lot. And I listen to their podcast from time to time. Prob won’t anymore. Completely unnecessary. Report the official statement and that CJF had no comment. That’s all there should have been.

 

[GregInPitt]

Audrey Snyder asked the second question, then tried to hype the fact that Franklin did not answer on her Twitter account. They didn't expect to get any info. They just want to stir up controversy. Yellow "journalism."

Just shows that she really is a moron. Maybe she's bucking for a job at CNN....

 

[LandoComando]

View embedded media

That's why the approach was wrong. Makes him and us look bad as many of us said

 

[LandoComando]

PSU reads official statement about the former players. They then say CJF will have no comment. Jon asks anyway. PSU re-reads the official statement. They again say CJF will have no comment. Audrey asks follow-up anyway. She tweets video of it and writes that CJF will not answer their questions.. Gets criticized that it didn’t include the initial PSU statements. She then tweets the longer version. Jon writes an article with headline that CJF refuses to comment on charges. He tweets it out. National media picks up his headline.

Complete sh!tshow. What was the point Jon and Audrey? I don’t know Jon’s work very well, but I read Audrey’s a lot. And I listen to their podcast from time to time. Prob won’t anymore. Completely unnecessary. Report the official statement and that CJF had no comment. That’s all there should have been.

She's doing her job

 

[GregInPitt]

Did I miss something or did Franklin leave after the reporters were told he would not comment and they asked the same damn question after he asked if there were any Wisconsin questions?

The funny thing to me is that after the wasted time of the questions that the media knew wouldn't be answered, the rest of the PC only lasted around another 3 minutes. PSU typically allows the Wed post practice PC's to go at least 10 minutes. So the media actually thought that they would come and get a response or responses to the legal stuff for 10 minutes worth that they didn't think to bring actual football related questions like they typically do? Makes no sense. There were a couple other questions that went to 4 minutes total and then silence, so the PC was declared over. The other media there that didn't even ask about the legal stuff didn't have real football question either. Hard to understand.

Franklin was only doing what PSU legal staff told him to do.

 

[GregInPitt]

She's doing her job

Does anyone else here believe being an a$$ and pissing off Franklin and the PSU athletic dept is "doing her job" ?

She's more likely to be "out of a job" after acting like a moron.....

 

[ram2020]

Personally, I agree there was no need to go to the theatrics of shuffling out the flunky to give the obvious and necessary canned answer. Franklin could have delivered it himself.

However, I also think the entire issue is a nothingburger. Nobody cares. Even the reporters don't care. They just have to make a pretense of caring in order to preserve their reputations as jerks.

I don't disagree about the journalists, I do disagree that it's a "nothing burger." Its a feature story on ESPIN and has subjected PSU and Franklin to a ton of ridicule on social media. "Who cares what they think?" Fine if that the prevailing opinion here, but I don't share it. Franklin has had more that a few of these moments and it continues to feed the trolls. Just get up there, say the university dealt with this swiftly and he will not have any more comment on a pending legal matter. Its not complicated, but I'm certain we have the worst PR advisors in the country, it was fully on display during the Sandusky scandal and nothing has changed.

 

[LandoComando]

Does anyone else here believe being an a$$ and pissing off Franklin and the PSU athletic dept is "doing her job" ?

She's more likely to be "out of a job" after acting like a moron.....

She's allowed to ask a question and it was a fair question--when did they know? That should be asked and they can refer to the statement if they want
Thinking she should get fired for that is laughable but not surprising
It's okay to admit when Penn State's media relations staff handles things poorly--that's pretty much standard.

 

[Obliviax]

I don't disagree about the journalists, I do disagree that it's a "nothing burger." Its a feature story on ESPIN and has subjected PSU and Franklin to a ton of ridicule on social media. "Who cares what they think?" Fine if that the prevailing opinion here, but I don't share it. Franklin has had more that a few of these moments and it continues to feed the trolls. Just get up there, say the university dealt with this swiftly and he will not have any more comment on a pending legal matter. Its not complicated, but I'm certain we have the worst PR advisors in the country, it was fully on display during the Sandusky scandal and nothing has changed.

Right. If you talk, they parse every word and make a big deal out of your word usage. If you don't, they make a big deal that you don't talk.

I mean, if a coach came out and said "it is a bad situation. The kid has been accused of doing something off campus, apart from the team, and was dismissed." They will say the team was heartless and his lawyer will sue the school for not doing enough to help him and keep him out of trouble. If PSU says that they are doing everything they can to help him, the victim's family will sue.

You do what PSU did. You say we are aware of the situation and will have no further comment.

 

[LandoComando]

Again, if Franklin simply says, "We're unable to discuss that please refer to the statement" there's no story--there's a story because he wouldn't even speak. He walked to a corner both times refusing to say a word--that become a story