Vandy's Franklin to PSU
According to my twitter feed, Bruce Feldman says that James Franklin is leaving Vanderbilt for Penn State.
Franklin has been the top choice for a day or so http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2014/01/penn_state_and_james_franklin.html, and according to CBS Sports' Feldman it's a done deal:
I for one think that while the B1G East just got a lot tougher, if the B1G wants to be a real power football conference, this is the way to do it. I'll trade Bielema to the SEC for Meyer, Nussmeier and Franklin any day. I have to think these recent hires will really help the Big Ten's image and even make our football teams better.
January 9th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
I think this is a really good hire by PSU. With little in terms of sanctions looming over them, they could become a player in the Big Ten much faster than most of us thought when the sanctions were handed down.
January 9th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
Strong hire. Has PA roots and a strong resume. BIG is looking up.
January 9th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
I wonder if PSU fans are excited about this guy.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^
are pretty happy with it.
http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/1/9/5291916/bruce-feldman-franklin…
January 9th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
Vandy fans are not happy about this. He has given them their first real success in a very long time.
January 9th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^
you win at a place like Vandy, the fans should expect their coach to be poached by a bigger name. They've probably been bracing for this for a long time.
January 9th, 2014 at 1:35 PM ^
my Narduzzi to Vandy wish?
January 9th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 11:58 AM ^
Even though it likely makes M's life much more difficult. Good news
January 9th, 2014 at 1:02 PM ^
Well Franklin may be and continue to be a great coach but that doesn't mean he'll do any better with PSU than BOB had been or would have. PSU certainly didn't want BOB to leave.
Still - good hire.
January 9th, 2014 at 11:58 AM ^
Twitter yesterday.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^
makes it hard to keep secrets!
January 9th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
The Big Ten East is getting more stacked by the minute, it seems. This is a pretty good move for Penn State and a step upwards - I would say - for James Franklin. I wonder how the Terrapins feel about this....actually, no, I don't - he can do whatever to Maryland now and they would likely deserve it.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
Tough act to follow. I thought O'Brien did a great job.
Seems like a good hire though.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^
I lived in Nashville, so I know how amazing it is for anyone to win much of anything at Vandy.... but outside of being excitable and a little brash, I don't see much. Something about him screams: "Five years of eight and four." I don't know why, because I like him as a coach and thought that Tennessee should have tried a little harder to get him.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^
Spending that money and FINALLY pulling in a few more big names. Pretty huge for PSU to steal possibly the up-and-coming HC in the country from the SEC and for us to steal one of the best OCs in the SEC.
Big moves for the conference. Happy to see us all making a splash.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:14 PM ^
His style just doesn't feel PSU at ALL. He's animated and intense and wears everything on his sleeve.
That said, he's a great coach and it's great for the B1G to get great coaches like they have had in MBB.
Maryland is also on the up with Edsall if they could ever stay healthy. The East could be a very tough division in 2 years.
I wonder how this affects Hackenberg.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:14 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 1:12 PM ^
I agree. With the santions still very much a factor they were lucky that he took the job. The PA roots must be strong.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 1:37 PM ^
would go a long way.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
Still, this is a good hire. The man is a proven winner, and him being here only helps the B1G. Hopefully he can get Hackenberg to stay. I hate that kid but he's damn good and I want him in our conference.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^
Franklin should have been the heir to the job at Maryland when the Fridge's days were numbered. Not only is he a dynamic coach, but he is a great recruiter and has contacts in the DC, MD and VA regions.
Penn State has a couple more years of pain to endure, but ultimatley, Franklin could be a real force.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:26 PM ^
He's a good coach, but I think the PSU job may be a poisoned chalice.
January 9th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
Could be a hard sell to the JoPa crusty types, but they should quiet down anyway.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
So the B1G and SEC traded Bielema for Franklin? I say that we won that trade.
January 9th, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 1:14 PM ^
There's not much comparison there. It's a better job in every important aspect. At the very least, it's a better stepping stone.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
They are actively prosecuting several former players. The players were thrown off the team and out of the university as soon as word came out. Franklin is supposed to be a witness, but there has not been any accusations made against him. The case has gotten very ugly with lawyers withdrawing, etc.
Really a shame that Franklin is leving. Excellent academic school with an absolutely gorgeous campus in a good southern city. If the program were to keep developing, it could be a great destination for players who want to take advantage of the academics that Vandy offers, a la Northwestern.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:57 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 12:40 PM ^
Don't forget Anderson in the West and Ferentz getting back to being a thorn in everyone's side. Plus, Fitzgerald could potentially turn that ship back around to where it was last year.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:53 PM ^
While I didn't do the research and breakdown the numbers, I have picked up enough while South- including y'all occassionally.
Franklin is liked and respected by the kids, coaches them up fairly well and does decent recruiting considering being a small fish in a big conference pond.
He has had the advantage of playing no-bodies for several years. He's won (iirc) 3 out of 39 games in the past several years against teams with winning records. This year he caught Tenn in a Rich-Rod-esque burning tire mess, Florida was also on a very down year but he did pull off a win against Georgia this year. Ole Miss their rival has been a pushover until just recently. This is a perfect year for him to jump ship. Ole Miss is continuing to improve, Butch Jones has found some crazy obscure loop holes and working the recruiting system like never before and Florida will improve.
He went to the school of D'anTonio (emphasis for no reason) rivalries telling UT "This is OUR state" (they've won the last 2 years and lost SEVERAL before that) along with trash talking players who commit to a rival school instead of Vandy.
I hope he's able to pull it off at PSU. The people who know more than this average arm-chair football fan must know something, his name did come up for TX, the Redskins and the Browns (?).
January 9th, 2014 at 1:12 PM ^
This seems to be a mistake for Franklin. Too many factions at PSU to deal with and he was king at Vandy.. just my opinion he could have held out for a better gig.
Sucks for Vandy. Thats a great school. I used to live down there. Every time they taste some rare "success" at football...it never lasts long.
January 9th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^
Amazing the good fortune that Penn State has had when it comes to coaches willing to come following the sanctions hammer. Franklin is very good, but O'Brien set the bar as high as he could have been expected. It'll be interesting to see how the first year or two go, because the depth will still be lacking for a while. If Franklin makes it through that first bit OK, he'll be set.
January 9th, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^