Nice read on Miles: http://triblive.com/sports/college/pennstate/9872038-74/penn-sanders-state
A few key quotes you all may enjoy:
“I just fell in love with the place,” he said. “A lot of atmosphere, the education's great, the fan base. I got along with the coaching staff real well.”
This expectedly caused problems for Pitt coaches and more than a few fans. Coaches like to protect their backyard, especially from those lurking nearby. The assumption also lurks that a kid practically is required to stay home, more so if he's really good. Some stick around, but “I had to figure out what school is best for me,” Sanders said. “Not every player's hometown school is best for them.”
Marlene Sanders is not among those drawn to Oakland and Pitt's diverse, urban campus. And, “everything is everywhere,” as she puts it, meaning a stadium on the North Shore, a practice facility on the South Side, “a campus at the Cathedral (of Learning) and a dorm on the top of a hill,” she said. “It seemed like it was too much trouble back and forth.
“The (Penn State) fan base is great compared to some of the other schools' fans don't turn out for, especially in the city of Pittsburgh.”
His mother was concerned, too. She “went to the top,” that is, Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour, who, she said, cited Franklin's contract (currently worth $4.2 million per year and expiring in 2019) to help reassure her “he's not going anywhere.”
Much of the recruiting process was “stressful,” “time-consuming” and sometimes “creepy and unprofessional,” Marlene Sanders said, with some coaches insisting Franklin would leave Penn State, one way or another, and generally tossing out “rumors and stuff.” She said she frequently heard that “running backs don't come out of Penn State,” referring to a notable lack of NFL success lately.
Marlene said she opened a Twitter account about two months ago. It was, she said, “the worst experience ever.”
A few key quotes you all may enjoy:
“I just fell in love with the place,” he said. “A lot of atmosphere, the education's great, the fan base. I got along with the coaching staff real well.”
This expectedly caused problems for Pitt coaches and more than a few fans. Coaches like to protect their backyard, especially from those lurking nearby. The assumption also lurks that a kid practically is required to stay home, more so if he's really good. Some stick around, but “I had to figure out what school is best for me,” Sanders said. “Not every player's hometown school is best for them.”
Marlene Sanders is not among those drawn to Oakland and Pitt's diverse, urban campus. And, “everything is everywhere,” as she puts it, meaning a stadium on the North Shore, a practice facility on the South Side, “a campus at the Cathedral (of Learning) and a dorm on the top of a hill,” she said. “It seemed like it was too much trouble back and forth.
“The (Penn State) fan base is great compared to some of the other schools' fans don't turn out for, especially in the city of Pittsburgh.”
His mother was concerned, too. She “went to the top,” that is, Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour, who, she said, cited Franklin's contract (currently worth $4.2 million per year and expiring in 2019) to help reassure her “he's not going anywhere.”
Much of the recruiting process was “stressful,” “time-consuming” and sometimes “creepy and unprofessional,” Marlene Sanders said, with some coaches insisting Franklin would leave Penn State, one way or another, and generally tossing out “rumors and stuff.” She said she frequently heard that “running backs don't come out of Penn State,” referring to a notable lack of NFL success lately.
Marlene said she opened a Twitter account about two months ago. It was, she said, “the worst experience ever.”
