James Franklin wasn’t on the unemployment line for lengthy. The previous Penn State head coach agreed to turn into the top coach of Virginia Tech
on Monday, a lot to the chagrin of Arkansas followers.
As comfortable as Penn State followers have been to eliminate him, Arkansas followers weren’t comfortable when Franklin rightly selected to be the Virginia Tech head coach. It makes a ton of sense. We outlined the explanations earlier than. Franklin ought to recruit properly in that space; the ACC is there for the taking, and regardless of all of the criticism of his document, Franklin is a constant winner.
Did James Franklin fail at Penn State?
Outdoors of his first season at Vanderbilt and the COVID season in 2020, Franklin has by no means had a dropping season. He additionally by no means received a nationwide championship, however that results in a much bigger query. Did Franklin fail at Penn State, or have been the expectations unrealistic?
Penn State has all of the sources to compete for championships. However Franklin did that. He received a Large Ten title in 2016, reached the convention title sport in 2024 and was a play away from making the nationwide championship sport final season.
You could possibly spend a very long time on Franklin’s achievements at Penn State. He received plenty of video games and a few notable bowl video games, too. The sentiment that Franklin would not get Penn State excessive is comprehensible. Michigan and Clemson followers felt the identical method till Jim Harbaugh and Dabo Swinney delivered, respectively.
Did Franklin want extra time? The brand new Virginia Tech head coach had loads. He simply did not win sufficient when it mattered. The factor is, will the subsequent man?
Lane Kiffin is not strolling by means of that door. In reality, in relation to LSU, Florida and Penn State, the Nittany Lions aren’t even a consideration, which tells you one thing all by itself.
Penn State is not a top-five job. Heck, it may not even be within the high 10. Simply within the Large Ten alone, Ohio State, Oregon and Michigan are higher jobs.
The Nittany Lions have at all times been behind Michigan and Ohio State within the Large Ten. And there is a motive Oregon acquired Dan Lanning, and why he wasn’t even on Penn State’s checklist. You would be a idiot to go away Oregon for Penn State. So, a month after firing Franklin, Penn State feels no nearer to hiring a head coach.
Penn State remains to be trying to find its subsequent head coach
Eli Drinkwitz, the Missouri head coach, has been related to the Nittany Lions, together with Brian Hartline. Frankly, that is perhaps the most effective of an uninspiring group. Not less than it would not embrace Matt Rhule, who re-signed with Nebraska to take his title out of the combo.
Nebraska is a good reference level, although. The Huskers fired Frank Solich and Bo Pelini, every after nine-win seasons. Guess what? Nebraska hasn’t sniffed a convention championship since.
That does not imply Penn State will undergo the identical destiny. Nevertheless, with out a surefire improve (there is not one even in rivalry for the job), firing Franklin was a danger.
Penn State was a top-10 program. There isn’t any assure it would keep there, and if Franklin wins with the Hokies like he has received all over the place else, it is not laborious to examine a state of affairs of remorse.
