(OT) Penn State Football - James Franklin no longer

[harrisburghusker]

I know I'm in the minority here, but Kraft screwed up on this and he's not going to hire anyone who's an upgrade over Franklin on paper.

[phillychuck]

Screwed up by not firing him earlier you mean, right?

[bigegypt0417]

that's really the only answer...James Franklin is a good coach and probably recruiter but frankly his record againat the teams he needed to beat is horrible. You have to go back to what? 2016? For a win against an elite team?

And most of those losses were at home.

The writing was on the wall for Franklin for two years...if not for a couple of playoff wins against inferior teams he wouldn't have been the coach this year.

[zambonir]

His predecessor screwed up by giving him that contract during the lowest point of his coaching tenure. Nobody could have seriously thought he should be fired after what last year's team accomplished, followed by the return of all those players. But that also raised the guillotine. And sometimes you do just have to make a change.

I suspect if Kraft screwed up it was because he thought he was going to hire Rhule, not realizing that the unflattering on-paper comparison would overshadow the sentiment of hiring a hometown boy and Paterno player. And Cignetti might have been his back-up plan. The financial parity of this era caught him unaware. Even if it's also what enabled them to eat the buyout. I don't think they would have done that at any point in past seasons even if last year's team hadn't made the playoff.

In the end it's fine if they can only hire someone exactly has good as Franklin was when he was at Vandy. But it would be better to hire someone exactly as good as Cignetti was when he was at James Madison. To hire someone who has actually won or played for a championship is a much shorter list, with many people on it flawed.

[bigegypt0417]

This article is basically worthless but I do get the point that Riley is at a good program but unless you're in the national championship conversation, LA doesn't care about USC.If he was to be available and had any interest in PSU, I'd give him what he wants.

Paul Finebaum says Lincoln Riley 'could be in play' for this coaching carousel:...

[zambonir]

I don't really understand why Riley is that appealing a candidate though. Because Franklin's offense never lived up to its potential/was good enough? There's so much more to the job. And Riley was 4-5 in the Big 10 just last year and only won seven games last year and the year before.

He won at Oklahoma but that was still on the back of what Bob Stoops and a great athletic director and committed administration built (and in a league where the only other big program was a mess that entire time). The same is basically true of Ryan Day (who was closer than Franklin to getting fired a year ago). That is still the real rub. When schools cycle through 2-3 coaches in five-six years it's not because they got the coaching hire wrong, it's because the coaches wasn't the problem.

The other question is how much does region matter? The sport is so national now, but I think you probably still need a guy with some history and connections in OH/PA or at least Florida.

[bigegypt0417]

i guess i'd say his success with QB's is part of my bias?

I've always been a fan of his offense but he's also had some terrible defenses as the head coach.

[zambonir]

Indeed he has. The knock on almost every Mike Leach family tree - or heck, Big 12 and Pac 12 - coach - over the years, with occasional exceptions. .

[DougLindsay]

I'm sure the donors made the call.

[bigegypt0417]

I wonder if it would be different for Riley if he came and kept Knowles to run the defense and recruit it.

PSU has always been able to recruit defense...it would be nice to have a coach who can run an offense.

I keep going back and forth.

[zambonir]

Oklahoma had and has a good coordinator, Alex Grinch was the guy who really changed their rep on that side of the ball.

Any coach should try to keep Knowles if they can (whereas almost any offensive-minded coach is probably going to cut Kotielnecki loose regardless).

Obviously if Riley could produce even one QB like his run of three Heisman-winners plus Hurts, that would be worth it, and in the portal era, entirely possible versus the geography-based recruiting traditions. But if USC doesn't give him a new deal, I would think he's be more interested in the SEC where he could still coach and recruit against Texas and Oklahoma.

[flyers19rw]

Riley is going nowhere. He’s due $10.1M per for the next six years. He has the #1 recruiting class for ‘26. Why would he leave LA for any other school? Makes no sense.

[zambonir]

I mean, I agree, but Penn State would offer him several million more if you believe the speculation about Elko or Deboer (two guys who have even less reason to leave their current jobs). And supposedly he is not completely content there. There are several things about the job that are not as good as it could be (the market, the stadium, the travel, plus the AD is not the one who hired him). But if he really wanted out it would just as easily be for Florida or LSU. Some figured he might listen if Texas Tech called but that's not going to happen now (and it's otherwise a downgrade to be in the Big 12)

[bigegypt0417]

Penn State Football Head Coach Candidate Deep Dive: Brian Daboll

[zambonir]

We’ve heard Penn State is exploring a lot of options, including Georgia Tech’s Brent Key and James Madison’s Bob Chesney. Only two seasons removed from coaching at FCS Holy Cross, the 48-year-old Chesney is viewed inside the coaching world as someone with big upside.

There has been a lot of speculation about Penn State having interest in Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea, but at this point, that seems to be just that — speculation.

Industry sources have also said Penn State has vetted some top assistants, such as Oregon’s Will Stein and Ohio State’s Brian Hartline.

Another name to know is former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, who we hear has some strong supporters in Happy Valley. Fitzgerald was fired after an investigation found hazing in his program, but he recently settled a $130 million wrongful termination lawsuit with the school.

What we’re hearing on Lane Kiffin, Virginia Tech’s search and more entering...

[phillychuck]

Multiple of Daboll's kids attended or still attend Penn State.

I don’t think he would be a bad choice, actually. NFL pedigree would help in recruiting, and he is actually pretty innovative. Sideline explosions would be fun.

From AI:

Brian Daboll's best achievements as a coach and coordinator include winning five Super Bowl titles as an assistant with the New England Patriots, being named the 2022 NFL Coach of the Year for his work with the New York Giants, and developing quarterback Josh Allen into an MVP candidate with the Buffalo Bills.
Key highlights of his career:
With the Buffalo Bills (Offensive Coordinator, 2018–2021)
Quarterback Development: Daboll is largely credited with transforming Josh Allen from a raw prospect into one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks.
Offensive Resurgence: The Bills' offense became one of the most dynamic in the NFL under his guidance, ranking second in both yards and points per game in 2020.
Awards: He earned the Associated Press NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award for the 2020 season, a year the Bills won their first division title and playoff game since 1995 and reached the AFC Championship game.
Record-Setting Performance: His offense scored a touchdown on all seven offensive possessions (excluding final kneel-downs) in a 2021 Wild Card victory over the Patriots, an unprecedented playoff feat.
As New York Giants Head Coach (2022–2025)
AP NFL Coach of the Year: He was named the 2022 AP NFL Coach of the Year for leading the Giants to a five-win turnaround, their first winning season and playoff berth since 2016, and a playoff victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Immediate Culture Change: He implemented a new offensive philosophy and fostered a collaborative environment, leading to immediate improvement in the team's performance and an upset win in his head coaching debut via a crucial two-point conversion call.
Player Utilization: Daboll effectively used his best players, such as running back Saquon Barkley, in versatile roles across the offense.
Other Notable Roles
New England Patriots (Assistant Coach, multiple stints): Daboll was part of the coaching staff that won five Super Bowl titles (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, and LI) in various assistant roles.
University of Alabama (Offensive Coordinator, 2017): He served as the offensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide and helped them win the College Football Playoff National Championship in his lone season there.
New York Jets (Quarterbacks Coach): He coached quarterback Brett Favre to a Pro Bowl berth in 2008, where Favre achieved the second-highest completion percentage of his career.

[bigegypt0417]

Oof.. A&M getting drubbed by South Carolina...

30-3 at the half.

[zambonir]

It's a new world. Puts a lot more pressure on them against Texas but either way who knows. You lose a bye but maybe don't have to play in the conference championship.

Sources: Virginia Tech in early talks with Franklin

Texas A&M, coach Mike Elko finalizing lucrative new contract: Source

[bigegypt0417]

A&M already winning....

LOL

[zambonir]

South Carolina's just not very good but wow, what a poor second half.