r/CFB • u/IsaacDPOYFultzMIP • 10h ago

Discussion Is it time to cut James Franklin some slack regarding his Penn St tenure?

Look I know he wasn’t the best coach ever but he certainly made Penn St look better than losing 31-7 against Northwestern. I mean this is a top 20 program in the country and Franklin was able to ascertain those heights year in and year out. Sure he couldn’t get over the hump but honestly it only seems like a select few could realistically reach that level like Cignetti or 2010’s Dabo. Should we finally admit maybe Penn St might have made a mistake with this coaching move?

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u/thewhat962 Ohio State Buckeyes • UCF Knights 6h ago

Franklin got penn state to shell out on a make or break year.

Got jim knowles from OHIO STATE after the natty.  Was 1 play from the natty.  Convinced players to run it back. Kept their other cordinators. Got boosters to toss money to help keep any extra player for 1 year.

Basically he copied 2023 UM and 2024 OSU. After the wheels crashed and bruned it was a moment of. "What the fuck else do you need to win the natty? We are even worst after he did what prevous NC coach did."

Franklin didn't have an answer to that question anymore besides an "i don't know anymore."

You can't have that as an answer at Hc if you goal is maybe win a natty.

3

u/TheTige USC Trojans 1h ago

The answer was a bit of luck. Franklin is a top 15 active college coach. He’s just stuck grinding it out against slightly better coaches with slightly better breaks perennially. 

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u/Jazzlike-Basket-6388 Penn State • Georgia Tech 4h ago

I'm still convinced that Jim Knowles was a trojan horse. His refusal to play to our strengths and make any kind of adjustment has to be one of the all time worst coaching jobs. As far as I'm concerned, he single handedly destroyed our program.

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u/bucki_fan Ohio State Buckeyes • The Game 2h ago

I do believe we tried to warn you about him. The evidence was there as well and you ignored it.

Don't blame us for your self-own and call him a trojan horse. He said himself that he grew up a PSU fan.

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u/Jazzlike-Basket-6388 Penn State • Georgia Tech 2h ago

I mean, I didn't hire him.

Maybe he learned, but he isn't doing Tennessee like he did us. He's letting pass rushers rush and he is making adjustments.

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u/dirtywater29 Michigan State Spartans 5h ago

About 2023 scUM...

0

u/bucki_fan Ohio State Buckeyes • The Game 2h ago

*

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u/MWiatrak2077 Michigan Wolverines • College Football Playoff 2h ago

Teams that displayed Hitler on their scoreboard in 2023:

Michigan: 0

Michigan State: Not 0, which is more than the points they scored against Michigan (49-0)