It's official: James Franklin to PSU

Narduzzi to Vanderbilt. I can wish right? 

I think he's a good hire, but I'm not certain he's the home run everyone's talking like he is. He's had good recruiting classes at Vanderbilt, but he's been able to play the "come play in the SEC" card right in the middle of the SEC's dominance in terms of national perception. He very well might be a good recruiter at Penn State, but it's not like O'Brien or Paterno weren't pulling in very well-respected classes either.

He's also not been challenged real hard, as the SEC East has been awful lately. The best SEC win in his tenure is Georgia this year, and Ole Miss last year is his only other win against an SEC team that went to a bowl game. So it remains to be seen if he can win big games.

I don't expect him to fail, but he's also not as terrifying as Urban Meyer going to OSU was. He'll be tough to recruit against, especially in PA and along the east coast, but I honestly have no idea how it will be on the field (his teams were never great statistically at Vanderbilt, and we also have no idea how successful Nussmeier will be). He's been pretty average in FEI (45, 43, 45 the past 3 years), and is basically average on offense and defense (ranging from 35-75 in offense and defense FEI during the same time).

I kinda wanted to see Golden go there.  He's a Pa. guy.  I know many PSU fans wanted him originally over O'Brien.  I think he would be good for PSU and be a lifer there.  But, Franklin should do well there too, which I think is important for the conference and for UM.  I miss our rivalry games from the early/mid 2000s....not the close shitty games, but the close games between two top 10 teams.  PSU is a big name in the B1G and it's important they be successful for the conference to get respect...same with UM and Nebraska.

Yesterday, I read that Franklin requested facility upgrades at Vandy, and the $31 million cost is tied to his contract, although technically not a "buyout" clause. According to this (Link): "If Franklin was to leave Vanderbilt, the team that brings him on board would be forced to pay off the remainder of the project."

I assume Penn State and Franklin got out of that ridiculous agreement. Frankly, I'm surprised a coach would sign with those absurd terms included. Anyway, I'm glad to see him in the B1G.

Now, Purdue just needs to write Sumlin a blank check to get him back "home," and add some spark and stregth to the B1G West. Joking aside, I think most of the B1G West teams will continue to improve.

Did this guy really want Penn State over the NFL? That seems insane to me.

I hope he can live thru the sanctions.  To me that's the biggest handicap, especially when nobody there had anything to do with the original actions.  I would even propose to lift their scholarship ban, just block them from postseason play.

Once those years are over, then its going to be a better time recruiting...but those young players will have to develop.  So we are on like a 6 year "process" here to get back to theoretical full strength on parity with the other competitors in this division.

I don't have a feel for the Paterno-ism that's present in State College.  Obviously its there and I don't know how Franklin will fit with it.  Perhaps its as simple as the majority of the fanbase is used to a lot of win, just like one headquartered in Ann Arbor...I hope they have patience.

When we get to that 6 year mark I have some high aspirations for the B1G.  I think its going to be very competitive.  As many others have postulated and I repeat, conference strengths ebb and flow.  The opening of East Coast recruiting to the B1G might be just the ticket to improving overall strength in the conference, with the caveat that the traditional powers can tap in to a larger percentage of the available recruits than the local schools.........we will see.,