Penn State could have avoided odd scene at James Franklin press conference [opinion]

Penn State’s athletic director, Sandy Barbour, has spoken out about the headlines from Franklin’s press conference and the issues

Following another frustrating loss to start the 2022 season, Penn State coach James Franklin held what was an odd press conference. It was full of tangents that left many scratching their heads. In the end, more attention was paid to Franklin’s demeanor than the actual takeaways from the game. Athletic director Sandy Barbour later released a statement saying “the university, President Neeli Bendapudi, and I fully support Coach Franklin and the job he is doing to lead our football program.” This was an attempt to quiet the noise, but instead, it made the situation worse.

Barbour didn’t need to release such a statement, and to do so only added more fuel to the fire. Statements like this typically follow a situation where a coach is on the hot seat. The fact that Barbour felt the need to put this out there could be a sign that she is concerned about Franklin’s job security.

What Franklin said–and didn’t say about his team

Franklin’s press conference was full of non-answers and tangents. He talked about everything from his players’ effort to the team’s culture. But he never really addressed the most important question: What’s wrong with this team?

Franklin’s press conference was also notable for what he didn’t say. He didn’t offer any concrete solutions to the team’s problems. He didn’t take any accountability for the team’s poor performance. And he didn’t show any sense of urgency about the team’s need to improve.

At one point, he was asked what he thought about Miami’s program under former Penn State assistant Mario Cristobal. Franklin gave a long-winded answer about Miami’s history and tradition. He even mentioned that he had coached with Cristobal at Alabama. But he never really answered the question.

The future of Franklin at Penn State

Franklin is now 11-11 in his last 22 games. That’s not good enough for a program like Penn State. The Nittany Lions have a rich tradition and a passionate fan base. They expect to be competing for championships.

Franklin has been given a lot of time to turn things around. But so far, he hasn’t been able to do it. The Nittany Lions are now 0-3 this season, and they have been outscored by a combined score of 118-24.

If Franklin can’t turn things around soon, he could be on the hot seat. The Nittany Lions have a tough schedule coming up, and they can’t afford to lose many more games.

Conclusion

Franklin’s press conference was a disaster. He didn’t answer the questions that fans wanted to hear, and he didn’t offer any solutions to the team’s problems. Barbour’s statement of support only made things worse. It’s clear that Franklin is on the hot seat, and he needs to turn things around soon.