Fran's Game 7 Press Conference | Pitt

[Consigliere]

PSU AD is Pat Kraft, who was at Temple when Fran coached there. So there is some familiarity with him already. There is no doubt he will get a look.

As was Matt Rhule.

 

[Archbold44]

I love Fran and think that he is only going to improve as a coach, but I don't think Pstate is going to head in his direction at this time unless they swing and miss on their top 3 or 4 choices which they won't.
If Fran were to leave, I believe that Nixon would get a serious look and based on my time with him, I would be all in on him.

The Penn State blog (one of them) that I checked out did not have anything on Fran. Why would they? Fran has nice wins over Miami and Clemson. Miami did not end up in the playoffs last year and Clemson will not this year. We did a good job beating Ohio, UNLV, UConn (twice), and what looks like ACC fodder to an outsider. We also lost to Stanford last year and were blown out by Pitt. Not real tempting for Penn State. Yet.

 

[Archbold44]

Let me also say that the ACC fining the program might be something that keeps a few schools from looking at Fran right now. Everyone's doing that... but everyone else is more subtle. Need to learn to play within the rules and appear that you are (if you are not).

 

[hoopsupstate]

That response gave me major vibes that some active renegotiation could be going on right now and they should be. If there was a time to double down, it’s right now. We’d be feeling so much different if our starting QB wasn’t hurt and played the last two games. Perhaps reporters were clued in off the record which is why he was annoyed to get that question. All speculation. I just think Penn State has to consider Fran Brown in the decision a lot more than they would’ve for a Syracuse coach the last twenty years. Fran has already been putting some pressure on Penn State recruiting and honestly James Franklin and their team has done a pretty good job containing it, even though Syracuse has been able to pick up a few that they were in on. That door with their uncertain coaching situation right now is a temporary golden opportunity for Syracuse. Whoever they hire, they have to ask themselves, can this guy be competitive or be better than Fran on the recruiting trail in the northeast. They have a problem in Fran Brown and I hope the end result isn’t them buying Fran Brown away.

Fran Brown has not been a problem for Penn State. Name a big time recruit we got away from Penn State?

 

[Cusefan69]

While you can never say never with the craziness of college football, I don't think Fran even gets an invite to talk at PSU. At this point in his HC arch. My take is top program ADs want to see Fran at least make a playoff and win a league title. Fran certainly has attributes but his HC resume is currently "in progress ". That doesn't mean though that his agent doesn't use this time to get big bump and Syracuse a big buyout clause. That's just using leverage smartly. That would protect Syracuse from a low level SEC or B10 taking a shot.

 

[sufan59]

I love Fran and think that he is only going to improve as a coach, but I don't think Pstate is going to head in his direction at this time unless they swing and miss on their top 3 or 4 choices which they won't.
If Fran were to leave, I believe that Nixon would get a serious look and based on my time with him, I would be all in on him.

I hope you’re right. I am cautiously optimistic that Syracuse is a big winner out of all of this if Penn State messes up this hire. Which is very possible, James Franklin did everything besides winning the biggest games on the schedule. Perhaps one game breaking 5 star wide receiver away in many of those games that Ohio State has. But really no matter what they do, it’s relevant to Syracuse.

 

[hoopsupstate]

While you can never say never with the craziness of college football, I don't think Fran even gets an invite to talk at PSU. At this point in his HC arch. My take is top program ADs want to see Fran at least make a playoff and win a league title. Fran certainly has attributes but his HC resume is currently "in progress ". That doesn't mean though that his agent doesn't use this time to get big bump and Syracuse a big buyout clause. That's just using leverage smartly. That would protect Syracuse from a low level SEC or B10 taking a shot.

Correct. His team for two years can’t stop anyone.

 

[orangefog]

Fran Brown has not been a problem for Penn State. Name a big time recruit we got away from Penn State?

Roseby Lubintus was committed to them and Fran flipped him. But, that's pretty much it, I believe.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Correct. His team for two years can’t stop anyone.

And that’s his side of the ball as well which is not good. i think at 5-7 this year could see interest from a Va Tech type if they gave him assurances on NIL. Coaches need big NIL $ to win these days even the best recruiters

 

[sufan59]

Fran Brown has not been a problem for Penn State. Name a big time recruit we got away from Penn State?

Calvin Russell was offered by Penn State. Messiah Hampton, yeah he picked Oregon, but it sounds like he would’ve been for Syracuse over Penn State. Orangefog, mentioned Roseby Lubintus. I believe a pretty decent share of the current roster had offers from Penn State, whether they were high priority targets or non committable offers for Penn State, I have no clue. But to say Fran Brown has not been a problem for them is not how I would describe that situation. There are scales to problems and he is becoming and is increasingly with each future recruiting class a bigger problem for Penn State. Already some Penn State decommits are coming for visits, will they come here, if we get 1 that would be a big deal given the other suitors. I did mention earlier in a previous post that James Franklin and his staff have done a pretty good job containing it. The work this staff has been doing in Florida against Florida State, Miami, and Florida is more notable. Which also is another selling point is that Fran can get elite recruits outside of the northeast and the dmv, which I’m not sure even James Franklin and his staff was able to do.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Fran has to look out for Fran whether he wants to stay at SU for the rest of his career or not. Saying you are happy at SU and will never leave is what all of us fans want to hear but that answer does nothing for Fran come negotiation time. I'm not reading in to anything he says publicly.

Nor should anyone take what he said in his first press conference as anything more than coach speak. It means absolutely nothing. What means something is when coaches stay who are actually trying to be hired by bigger or similar programs for more $. I don’t see Cignetti leaving Indiana, he’s a great fit there. Or like when Lanning didn’t jump to Alabama a couple years ago

 

[OttosShoes]

Also. All the other reporters wondering about the team and about Pitt.

Meanwhile, I think it was Brent Axe: why is a football coach holding a football?

 

[sufan59]

While you can never say never with the craziness of college football, I don't think Fran even gets an invite to talk at PSU. At this point in his HC arch. My take is top program ADs want to see Fran at least make a playoff and win a league title. Fran certainly has attributes but his HC resume is currently "in progress ". That doesn't mean though that his agent doesn't use this time to get big bump and Syracuse a big buyout clause. That's just using leverage smartly. That would protect Syracuse from a low level SEC or B10 taking a shot.

In bold, in general I would agree with you. Playing devils advocate here. The path getting there matters a lot. However, if you see a program building towards that and even being able to sustain that, why wait to poach? By the time they prove themselves it may be too late. Cignetti is on the path to getting it done so quick, it may already be too late to poach him away from Indiana because they are bought in. Even here at Syracuse, they seem to keep things pretty quiet, but for all we know we could have a lot more resources to stay competitive and be at less of a threat of poaching than we think.

 

[GoSU96]

I don’t think Fran will be in serious consideration for PSU unless they whiff on candidates about plan 1-6 or 7 At the end of the day he’s a lot like Franklin. Franklin’s a hell of a recruiter just never could put an offense together. Now if Angeli did not get hurt and Syracuse was 5-1 right now, whole different ball game. Would be a tough sell to PSU hiring a Syracuse coach that looks to be going at best 5-7. Being a great recruiter for a factory is an expectation but Fran’s always going to be at the mercy of how good his coordinators are

I think PSU should hire an offensive type coach but I’m sure they will work their way though a bunch of possibilities with Fran being about 10th on that list.

Quite frankly I could care less whether he stays or goes. That press conference was a real head scratcher but I guess stranger things have happened

His CV is way too thin for that job.

 

[llandz]

Does anyone wonder how questions about the head coach potentially leaving for another school affect the players focus and vibe heading into this weekend’s game? Think of that and maybe you’ll understand why that question might be upsetting to Fran.

 

[JRHEETER]

Does anyone wonder how questions about the head coach potentially leaving for another school affect the players focus and vibe heading into this weekend’s game? Think of that and maybe you’ll understand why that question might be upsetting to Fran.

Honestly, part of the nature of coaching.

it is the responsibility of the coach to keep his team focused.

He did not need to do the mumbling after the question and said whatever he said about the reporter etc.

He is getting paid $$$ to answer these questions and honestly, its one of the hottest questions from the fan base right now and it is the reporters duty to get the questions their readers want to know the answers to.

 

[Archbold44]

Does anyone wonder how questions about the head coach potentially leaving for another school affect the players focus and vibe heading into this weekend’s game? Think of that and maybe you’ll understand why that question might be upsetting to Fran.

I think it might have upset them to hear Fran to SEC talk after the Clemson win. He could have come out and said something to placate the fans/players, right?

It is interesting that the UCLA job opens up and Florida State goes on a skid. Looks like DC White is trying to take himself out of the running there. I do think it can distract coaches.

 

[Acesn8s]

I don't think the blue bloods who have have or may have job openings will go after Fran Yet. Florida, Penn State, Auburn, maybe Florida State, but I would be worried about the Arkansas/ Kentucky jobs IMO

 

[sufan59]

Honestly, part of the nature of coaching.

it is the responsibility of the coach to keep his team focused.

He did not need to do the mumbling after the question and said whatever he said about the reporter etc.

He is getting paid $$$ to answer these questions and honestly, its one of the hottest questions from the fan base right now and it is the reporters duty to get the questions their readers want to know the answers to.

Yeah, I thought he should’ve been more direct about James Franklin and Penn State lol. Not even direct as it pertains to Frans commitment to here, but if he had any thoughts on the situation. Like hey coach, do you have any thoughts on the firing of James Franklin at Penn State and his impact on northeast football? take Fran answer there as you wish. Fran does start out the press conference mentioning how thankful he is to be here and lead this program (I think he always does this though).

 

[hoopsupstate]

I think it might have upset them to hear Fran to SEC talk after the Clemson win. He could have come out and said something to placate the fans/players, right?

It is interesting that the UCLA job opens up and Florida State goes on a skid. Looks like DC White is trying to take himself out of the running there. I do think it can distract coaches.

White is not staying at a school long enough to really establish himself. He’s had some success, but hasn’t dominated at a level that will get him a head coaching job.

 

[Archbold44]

I don't think the blue bloods who have have or may have job openings will go after Fran Yet. Florida, Penn State, Auburn, maybe Florida State, but I would be worried about the Arkansas/ Kentucky jobs IMO

If he leaves for Arkansas or Kentucky, good riddance. That is someone who is chasing a bag, not national titles. And his persona will not work nearly as well a second time around. Right now, he sells something in living rooms that a mercenary coach cannot. Bailing after 2 years to go to a lower half SEC program will not help his cause.

 

[David321]

I'm so sick of not being able to hear the questions.

 

[orangefog]

I'm so sick of not being able to hear the questions.

Where is Garrett Morris when you need him?

 

[sufan59]

If he leaves for Arkansas or Kentucky, good riddance. That is someone who is chasing a bag, not national titles. And his persona will not work nearly as well a second time around. Right now, he sells something in living rooms that a mercenary coach cannot. Bailing after 2 years to go to a lower half SEC program will not help his cause.

Or it could mean Syracuse isn’t meeting his demands for resources to keep the show rolling. Even if they continue to meet the demands for resources and remain somewhat competitive there is still three programs I had previously thought that I wouldn’t be shocked if he would at least listen to if they called. Penn State is one of them though is third to Georgia and Rutgers. Any other programs that Fran goes to I would wonder if it was anything on the Syracuse side that could’ve been done better to support him. People may laugh at the Rutgers one, but if he feels he can fix that place and they give him the resources and he gets along with their administrators. Well I think he has a very tough decision to make.

 

[JRHEETER]

Or it could mean Syracuse isn’t meeting his demands for resources to keep the show rolling. Even if they continue to meet the demands for resources and remain somewhat competitive there is still three programs I had previously thought that I wouldn’t be shocked if he would at least listen to if they called. Penn State is one of them though is third to Georgia and Rutgers. Any other programs that Fran goes to I would wonder if it was anything on the Syracuse side that could’ve been done better to support him. People may laugh at the Rutgers one, but if he feels he can fix that place and they give him the resources and he gets along with their administrators. Well I think he has a very tough decision to make.

I personally do not think he will ever go to Rutgers