Head coach James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions were projected to be one of the top teams in the nation at the start of the season. To start the year, it looked like the experts were right. The Nittany Lions won their first three games of the year in dominant fashion over lesser opponents. Then, in a game against the No. 3-ranked Oregon Ducks, they lost a close game in overtime.
However, the team’s perception changed on Saturday when it lost 42-37 to UCLA. There are even fans calling for long-time head coach James Franklin to be fired. On Tuesday, analyst Josh Pate discussed how he does not think Franklin is going anywhere.
“Here’s what I don’t think you’ll see, at least in the next year. I don’t think you’ll see a breaking news headline reporting, ‘James Franklin has been fired’ the classical way, because that requires a buyout that is tens and tens and tens and tens and tens of millions of dollars, and I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Josh Pate said (Timestamp 0:45).
“It’s almost 100% in James Franklin’s court right now. It doesn’t matter if 100% of the fan sentiment is the same. I’m on the blue and white illustrated message boards just like you guys. I hear what they’re saying. I am well aware of how terrible it is up there right now. But it doesn’t matter if 100% of us look at it and say, ‘Oh, he’s got to go.’ Or, ‘Oh, there’s got to be a big change.’ They’re not hitting the dump button, first off, cuz it’s an expensive button to hit. And secondly, you don’t know how he feels. It would be up to James Franklin.”
James Franklin Will Likely Get More Leeway Than Other Head Coaches
Josh Pate spoke about how he thinks James Franklin is not going anywhere. He also discussed how he thinks Franklin will be involved in the decision if the Nittany Lions ever decide to get a new head coach. Part of the reason for that is Franklin’s long tenure with the Nittany Lions.
Franklin has been the head coach of the Nittany Lions since 2014, leading them to several strong seasons, including three straight 10+ win seasons before this year. As a result, Pate believes the team will not fire him outright like other programs might with shorter tenured coaches.
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