The Penn St Dumpster Fire Thread

[sufandu]

There had to be some big name people that did not like Franklin and were waiting for a reason to can him. Paterno had a stretch in the 2000's where he had losing seasons 4 out of 5 years. Franklin's only losing season was the covid year. I don't feel one bit sorry for him, but this is out of place.

 

[GoSU96]

I think if Fran wants Penn St he will do what he did here. Pitch himself to Kraft. He’s an incredible sales man so I would gather the longer you see his name from reputable sources it would mean he’s interested in pitching

I think money is too great to discount it. He would be foolish not to run this out based on that and being in the BIG.

I hope Penn st goes another way but we wil know soon enough.

There’s three reasons not to go to PSU

OSU, UMich, Oregon.

 

[TheCusian]

There had to be some big name people that did not like Franklin and were waiting for a reason to can him. Paterno had a stretch in the 2000's where he had losing seasons 4 out of 5 years. Franklin's only losing season was the covid year. I don't feel one bit sorry for him, but this is out of place.

They hadn’t won enough big games vs peer programs going back ten years

 

[FloridaCuse]

There had to be some big name people that did not like Franklin and were waiting for a reason to can him. Paterno had a stretch in the 2000's where he had losing seasons 4 out of 5 years. Franklin's only losing season was the covid year. I don't feel one bit sorry for him, but this is out of place.

Apparently it was the $300 million from Adidas. See posts #147 & #148 on page 6 of this Thread.

 

[OttosShoes]

I have a hard time believing any school would pay anything significant relative to $49M to hire Franklin.

It probably depends on the job he takes and how all the parties (and their lawyers!) interpret the contract.

They'll figure it out; I do imagine they're on the hook for a bag but it doesn't seem like a source of panic, especially since they didn't even wait for the end of a season that is already tanked.

One low key aspect to this though is if he feels he can bring in top recruiting classes with Penn State resources, I don’t know if that’s true or not. He would have multiple guys that are ready to play. In other words, he doesn’t need the benefit of the doubt because he has the most talent. If he still thinks he can build towards doing that here that is one thing, but just something to think about.

Totally fair. I do think there's always a little bit of doubt though. Fran has been a tremendous blessing for us but he's also made some mistakes we've let go; Vollono on special teams for example.

 

[MadNY3]

Fun Fact:

James Franklin and Fran Brown share the same agent, Jimmy Sexton.

 

[sufan59]

 

[Charbroil]

For the debate about PSU fans, I’m from Central PA. They are awful and most were absolutely more upset about Paterno losing his wins than anything else.

The best example that Penn State fans learned nothing is their reaction to star running back Silas Redd deciding to transfer right after the scandal. Fans I talked to hated him for it, and he even received some death threats.

 

[721Comstock]

LOL!!!

Yeah, the coach of a 3-3 also-ran program is Top 5 for Pedo State?

Child, please.

It’s Rhule.

Fran would prolly be like 11th in their top 10 list.

 

[orangefog]

For the debate about PSU fans, I’m from Central PA. They are awful and most were absolutely more upset about Paterno losing his wins than anything else.

The best example that Penn State fans learned nothing is their reaction to star running back Silas Redd deciding to transfer right after the scandal. Fans I talked to hated him for it, and he even received some death threats.

At least they didn't threaten to *!@ him.

 

[PAcuse]

Ravens HC, not Jim.

He's not going anywhere

 

[Scooch]

I’m not gonna spend 2 seconds worrying about Fran leaving.

 

[Scooch]

Why would adidas be behind this firing? Penn State sells a metric effff ton of gear to their lunatic cult regardless of who’s coaching.

 

[FloridaCuse]

These odds seem crazy. Is that a legimate odds site? Or satire? Manny Diaz I believe failed in Miami. And Rhule so far down the list with the so-called "experts" saying it's his if he wants it. And a Dan Mullen sighting. Need a new Dan Mullen thread?

 

[sutomcat]

Matt Rhule’s career record as a college HC is 64-57.

Coaching at Nebraska the past three seasons he is 17-14 overall and 8-13 in conference play.

To me, he seems like a clear drop off from Franklin. I know the PSU AD has a relationship with him but I doubt he has the power to push such a low end unimpressive candidate forward.

They are surely going to try and go after Lanning, Freeman of ND or at least someone like Heupel. Do they have the money to outbid a power school for a big name established coach? Maybe.

Anyway, I bet they go after a coach with a better track record than Rhule. He just hasn’t won enough.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Why would adidas be behind this firing? Penn State sells a metric effff ton of gear to their lunatic cult regardless of who’s coaching.

They apparently wanted PSU to move on to a new coach. Maybe they think the brand has been tarnished by Franklin. ???

 

[FloridaCuse]

Matt Rhule’s career record as a college HC is 64-57.

Coaching at Nebraska the past three seasons he is 17-14 overall and 8-13 in conference play.

To me, he seems like a clear drop off from Franklin. I know the PSU AD has a relationship with him but I doubt he has the power to push such a low end unimpressive candidate forward.

They are surely going to try and go after Lanning, Freeman of ND or at least someone like Heupel. Do they have the money to outbid a power school for a big name established coach? Maybe.

Anyway, I bet they go after a coach with a better track record than Rhule. He just hasn’t won enough.

Well they have the money now from Adidas.

 

[Scooch]

They apparently wanted PSU to move on to a new coach. Maybe they think the brand has been tarnished by Franklin. ???

Right and I’m saying I don’t get that at all. adidas is trying to sell merch. Selling merch isn’t dependent on James Franklin. PSU merely needs to be OK-ish and they’ll sell a kajillion things. They’re a top 10 brand in the sport and they’ve certainly had worse stretches than the Franklin era.

I think it’s a rumor not based in reality.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Right and I’m saying I don’t get that at all. adidas is trying to sell merch. Selling merch isn’t dependent on James Franklin. PSU merely needs to be OK-ish and they’ll sell a kajillion things. They’re a top 10 brand in the sport and they’ve certainly had worse stretches than the Franklin era.

I think it’s a rumor not based in reality.

I don't know. You may be right. It seems likely the a source for the FOS article on the Adidas contract is one or more disgruntled trustee and even a former trustee who was voted off the Board. But something smells and I have an inherent distrust if anything the Penn St. Administration says about anything. It does seem strange to me that unlike the other schools that fired their coach mid season, this firing would happen now. So here may be something else going on. Stay tuned I guess.

 

[sufandu]

When did Marshall from 'Alias' get hired by Penn St.?

 

[FloridaCuse]

 

[pokercuse08]

I wish I could bet *against* Jon Gruden at -300, talk about free money.

 

[anomander]

Rhule's Top 25 Ws in his career:

vs #21 ECU while at Temple. A team that ended 8-5 (5-3).
vs #21 Memphis also while at Temple. A team that ended 9-4 (5-3).

Lateral hire at very best. Unless they think they can get Saban, i don’t get it.

 

[FloridaCuse]

 

[kcsu]

As of October 2025, the NCAA has updated the rule, requiring players to wait for 5 days after a new coach is announced before a 15-day transfer window opens.

They announced the new coach yesterday.