James Franklin needs to be treated the same as Chuck Noll was

… his program need to show progression

I am saying this as a former college football coach: Everyone should give a coach four years in which to develop his team.

That is the case for James Franklin, who came into Happy Valley on a cloud but has never quote caught the fancy of the Penn State faithful.

Attitude was arrogant

Franklin's we're going "to dominate the state" was something that excited the Nittany Lion fans, particularly as he put together an outstanding recruiting class in his first venture in Pa.

That honeymoon ended very quickly, because of some of the reasons below.

Pitt fans, on the other hand, sensing vengeance, want to send Franklin's Nittany Lion team back down Route 22 toward Centre County with the Nittany Lions' proverbial tail between its legs.

Game coach vs. recruiting

The problem that Franklin has with Penn State fans has more to do with game coaching than anything else. He has not demonstrated the ability to adapt well in game situations, though some of that had to do with his offensive coordinator, who is long gone.

However, part of it has to do with Franklin himself. He has appeared to be out of the narrative of the game even though he was wearing a head set -- unlike Joe Paterno, who many times was out of the narrative without the head set.

So, improving as a game coach is the first goal for 2016.

Head coaching progression

Here is what coaches should accomplish. In the first year, show a little improvement; second year, more improvement; third year, you are now in charge; fourth year, it's all on you, man.

Here is Chuck Noll's progression:

1969: 1-13
1970: 5-9
1971: 6-8
1972: 11-3, 1-1 in NFL playoffs

If you take out the middle, that beginning to end is perfect for what I am saying. The middle for Noll showed the proper progression in year two, but not in year three.

Year three showed incremental progression, and the natives were somewhat restless, though the Rooneys were not.

Franklin's progression

Franklin inherited some good players, but the NCAA sanctions that reduced the PSU's scholarships because of the Jerry Sandusky case have taken a toll.

Here is where he is right now and should be in year four of this progression:

2014: 7-6
2015: 7-6
2016: ?
2017: 10-3?

His problem from year one to two was troubling to fans.

Difference

Noll's situation was very different because the Steelers at that point had experienced little success over 40 years. Art Rooney, Sr. knew that his money was made at the tracks, not with his football team, which were more like a hobby than anything else. [A hobby that is now worth close to a billion dollars]

As a result, the Steeler fans in the 1970s -- unlike those today who have been spoiled with success -- were much more patient than they are in the 21st Century.

As a result, Noll was able to weather the 6-8 season and then to go on like this:

1973:   10-4    0-1
1974:   10-3-1 3-0 Super Bowl champs
1975:   12-2    3-0 Super Bowl Champs

Of course, two more Super Bowl wins created what is now Steeler Nation.

There are some major differences between where Franklin is -- and logically should be -- and where Chuck Noll was in the 1970s.

First, there are not as many football teams in the NFL as there are in NCAA Div. I;

Second, players who are drafted may mature much more quickly that recruits right out of high school;

Third, Steeler fans were more patient that Franklin's fans will be in his third year;

Fourth, Penn State fans consider their team to be one that has been a perennial power, much like the late 1960s and in the 1970s and 1980s. Remember: Penn State has not won a national title in 30 years, a little factoid that its fans forget.

Fifth, much of Noll's success was contingent on one draft class that featured four players who are now in the NFL Hall of Fame. So, Chuck had a little luck, too.

Franklin needs a little luck too, though he will not receive quite as much as Chuck.

[Analogy: John Wooden would have been a very good college basketball coach without Lew Alcindor, later Kareem Abdul Jabbar, but he became a great coach with that recruit.]

Nevertheless

Franklin needs to win at least eight games to show enough progression toward competing for a Big Ten title.

If he is able to defeat both Temple and Pitt in September, then the team will experience some success.

Fourth year

In reality, in the same section of the Big Ten with Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan, they may not be able to compete at that level for another three years, if then.

Conclusion

James, you need to show more progression in your third year than Noll did, but you should be cognizant that if you earn a fourth year, you may have a program that can compete at the upper levels of the Big Ten.