James Franklin is more likely to end up at East Stroudsburg than USC next season



“The Jason Garrett of college football”


… worst loss in PSU history? Maybe not


What thing is now clear: The University of Southern California would now never, ever consider James Franklin for their open coaching position.


Nor would LSU. 


Those rumors exploded in smoke after one of the most humiliating Nittany Lion losses in Penn State history. 


How in the world could a premiere college coach lose to a team in which he is a 24-point favorite?


Well, it has probably happened before, though I cannot remember one. 


That is what Franklin’s team did on Saturday by losing to Illinois in nine overtimes. The trolling started early in the game, and became Twitter-mania by the second half. 


Maybe back to East Stroudsburg


Franklin’s move to the upper echelon of college football coaching was indeed a Horatio Alger moment. However, those moves often end in disaster.


Twenty-six years ago, he graduated from little-known Division II East Stroudsburg of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). He was a record-setting starting quarterback for the Warriors, and to his credit, he moved up the coaching ladder quickly because of his ability to articulate himself — and sell himself in Elmer Gantry fashion. 


Franklin landed at Penn State during the fallout from the Jerry Scandal that led to the firing of its legendary coach and a 250 million payout to a variety of people. 


To his credit, he captured a Big Ten title early in his career and built Penn State back into a national power with his recruiting memes. 


And now, this,


Scott Kauffman

@scottiekauffman


James Franklin has had 8 years. Every year something happens. The Jason Garrett of college football.

3:48 PM · Oct 23, 2021


Twitter


And this conclusion from S.I.,


Penn State might be thrilled if James Franklin leaves for another job this coming off-season. We don’t blame the Nittany Lions. They can do better.

Franklin and his players have plenty of soul searching to do ahead of next Saturday’s Ohio State game.


The Spun, Sports Illustrated, October 23, 2021


And the truth is that he is more likely to be offered a job at East Stroudsburg or another PSAC school than at any Division I school — though Penn State is tied to him for years because of their clueless athletic director. 


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