James Franklin still dreams of winning a national championship, even after his firing from Penn State. In a recent interview on “College GameDay,” he expressed his determination to achieve that goal elsewhere.
“I thought we were gonna win a national championship there,” Franklin said. “We were close. That goal hasn’t changed. We’re just gonna go win a national championship somewhere else now.”
Franklin was taken aback by his firing, which followed three straight losses, including one to Northwestern on October 11. He was preparing for a team meeting when the news hit. “We’re gonna make a change, sorry,” said Penn State’s athletic director. Franklin took the next few minutes to inform his players, ensuring they heard it from him first. “It was that quick,” he recalled.
During the interview, Franklin chose to remain positive, stating it wasn’t his place to judge how he was treated. However, fellow coach Nick Saban called the decision “unfair as hell.” After 12 seasons with Penn State, Franklin still had $49 million left on his contract and started the season with high hopes, ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Last season, the Nittany Lions came close to the championship too. They had impressive playoff wins against SMU and Boise State before narrowly losing to Notre Dame. Reflecting on his time, Franklin said, “Twelve years, a ton of good moments, but decisions were made. I’m not involved in those decisions.”
Penn State has since promoted associate head coach Terry Smith to lead the team for the remainder of the season, which includes a challenging game against Iowa. The team is also tackling the loss of quarterback Drew Allar, who recently underwent season-ending surgery for an ankle injury, as reported by ESPN.
Meanwhile, Franklin is looking forward to his next chapter. He made it clear that he isn’t done yet, stating, “I can’t wait for that next challenge, and we’re gonna go win a national championship at the highest level.”
This determination reflects a broader trend in sports today where coaches are often judged by immediate success. A recent survey found that nearly 70% of college football coaches believe they face unrealistic expectations, increasing pressure to win quickly. Franklin’s case highlights the challenges many face in such a high-stakes environment.
As the coaching carousel spins, many fans and analysts are keen to see where Franklin will land next and whether he can fulfill his championship aspirations.
Source link
College Football,Sports,espn,james franklin,penn state nittany lions,sports media
