Penn State's James Franklin on USC HC Opening: 'Energy and Focus' Is on Auburn Game
Sep 14, 2021
Penn State head coach James Franklin during their NCAA football practice, Saturday, April 17, 2021, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Penn State head football coach James Franklin did not confirm any potential interest in the head coaching vacancy at USC on Tuesday.
According to Audrey Snyder of The Athletic, Franklin said he plans to speak with the Penn State leadership council about rumors and speculation linking him to the USC job. Snyder also said Franklin's "energy and focus" are on Saturday's game against No. 22 Auburn.
The USC head coaching job became available Monday when Clay Helton was fired after parts of seven seasons on the job.
Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports released a list of early candidates for the USC head coaching position Monday, and Franklin was among them.
There was speculation about Franklin going to USC late in the 2018 season, but the Trojans retained Helton, and Franklin remained at PSU.
While USC has long been viewed as a dream coaching job in the college football ranks, Franklin seemingly has much deeper ties to Penn State and the state of Pennsylvania as a whole.
The 49-year-old is a Langhorne, Pennsylvania, native and played his college football at East Stroudsburg University in the state.
After three seasons as the head coach at Vanderbilt, including back-to-back 9-4 campaigns in 2012 and 2013, Franklin took the head coaching job at Penn State before the 2014 season.
He has not led the Nittany Lions to a College Football Playoff berth, but he has largely been successful with a 62-28 record, one Big Ten title and six bowl bids.
Penn State went just 4-5 last year and did not qualify for a bowl, but it is off to a much better start this season at 2-0.
The Nittany Lions upset the then-No. 12 Wisconsin Badgers 16-10 on the road in Week 1 and followed that with a 44-13 demolition of Ball State last week.
PSU is ranked No. 10 and has a legitimate path to the Big Ten title.
Meanwhile, USC is off to a 1-1 start after falling to Stanford 42-28 last week. Also, the Trojans have struggled to return to the elites of college football in recent years, posting just two double-digit-win seasons since 2014.
With Penn State possibly on the verge of a breakthrough and USC continuing to struggle, staying put may be the best option for Franklin.
No. 19 Penn State Upsets No. 12 Wisconsin Behind Late Red-Zone Interceptions
Sep 4, 2021
Wisconsin's Isaac Guerendo runs for a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The No. 19 Penn State Nittany Lions put an end to the No. 12 Wisconsin Badgers' 25-game winning streak in home openers Saturday with a 16-10 win at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
A two-yard touchdown run by Penn State running back Noah Cain broke a 10-10 tie with less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, and Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz was intercepted on each of the Badgers' final two drives to seal the deal.
In a game between two perennial Big Ten powers, it was defense that ruled the day, as both offenses struggled to find a rhythm throughout the contest.
Penn State's defense forced three turnovers in the victory. Meanwhile the Badgers had a strong defensive performance as well, holding the Nittany Lions to 297 total yards and 11 first downs, although Penn State did not turn the ball over.
With the win, Penn State is off to a vitally important 1-0 start both overall and in conference play, while Wisconsin is 0-1 overall and in the Big Ten.
Notable Stats
Sean Clifford, QB, PSU: 18-of-33 for 247 YDS, 1 TD, 0 INT
Graham Mertz QB, WIS: 22-of-37 for 185 YDS, 0 INT, 2 INT
Noah Cain, RB, PSU: 8 CAR for 48 YDS, 1 TD; 5 REC for 27 YDS
Chez Mellusi, RB, WIS: 31 CAR for 121 YDS, 1 TD; 2 REC for 8 YDS
Jahan Dotson, WR, PSU: 5 REC for 102 YDS, 1 TD
Danny Davis III, WR, WIS: 8 REC for 99 YDS
Jahan Dotson Flashes Big-Play Ability in Defensive Struggle
Penn State couldn't get much going offensively throughout the day and relied heavily on its defense forcing turnovers and making stops to remain in contention.
When the Nittany Lions did move the ball, however, it was primarily thanks to dynamic senior wide receiver Jahan Dotson.
With the score still tied at 0-0 in the third quarter, Dotson got behind a Wisconsin defense that had shut down the Nittany Lions to that point and torched the Badgers for a 49-yard touchdown:
It was Cain who scored what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown for PSU in the fourth quarter, but Dotson had a big hand in making that drive a success as well.
His 42-yard catch set up the touchdown, as Cain found pay dirt on the very next play.
Penn State undoubtedly has a lot of kinks to work out offensively for next week and beyond, but with a player like Dotson in the fold, some of the Nittany Lions' deficiencies can be hidden and overcome.
Mistakes in Red Zone Cost Wisconsin
Wisconsin had no shortage of opportunities to take control of the game and beat Penn State on Saturday, but two turnovers and a blocked field goal in the red zone sealed the Badgers' fate.
The first major miscue came early in the second quarter with the score tied at 0-0. Wisconsin came up short on third down but seemed certain to seize a 3-0 lead.
Instead, Arnold Ebiketie blocked a 25-yard field-goal attempt by Wisconsin kicker Connor Larsh:
On the ensuing drive, Wisconsin seemed to be driving for the go-ahead score once again only for Mertz to lose a fumble on 3rd-and-6 at the Penn State 8-yard line:
The Badgers did finally manage to break through with a touchdown run by Chez Mellusi in the third quarter in order to tie the score at 7-7, but he was the only true bright spot for the Wisconsin offense throughout the game:
The heartbreaking loss gave the Badgers their first defeat in a home opener in a quarter century, and also put them well behind the eight-ball in terms of vying for a Big Ten title.
What's Next?
Both Wisconsin and Penn State should have easier matchups next week, as they will both take on MAC foes.
The Badgers will host Eastern Michigan on Saturday, while the Nittany Lions will host Ball State the same day.
PSU's James Franklin Shows Support for Carl Nassib, Will Donate to Trevor Project
Jun 22, 2021
STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach James Franklin congratulates Carl Nassib #95 of the Penn State Nittany Lions after a third down stop against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium on November 29, 2014 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Carl Nassib's former college coach is standing with the defensive end following the Las Vegas Raider publicly coming out as gay Monday.
In a statement of support for Nassib, Penn State head coach James Franklin praised the one-time Nittany Lion for his strength, courage and generosity as the 28-year-old became the first active player in the NFL to announce he's gay.
Nassib's video announcement included the revelation that the NFL veteran donated $100,000 to The Trevor Project, which provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth across the world.
Thank you, Carl Nassib, for living your truth and supporting our mission to end LGBTQ youth suicide 🧡
Franklin announced he and his wife, Fumi, will donate $10,000 to The Trevor Project as well after being inspired by Nassib's actions.
"[Nassib's] generosity and advocacy for The Trevor Project is yet another shining example of his huge heart," Franklin wrote. "He has inspired Fumi and I to donate $10,000 to The Trevor Project as well. Carl's brave announcement will forge a path for others to be true to their authentic self."
Nassib went from a walk-on at PSU in 2011 to a consensus All-American in 2015. The Cleveland Browns drafted him with the No. 65 overall pick in 2016, and he's since gone on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining Las Vegas in 2020.
His announcement has been met with an outpouring of support both across the league and within the NFL offices itself.
In a post on Instagram following up on his video, Nassib explained he was drawn to The Trevor Project after learning about their mission as well as the fact that LGBTQ youth are five times more likely than straight youth to consider suicide. He also cited studies that say it takes one accepting adult to decrease the risk of an LGBTQ youth attempting suicide by 40 percent.
Franklin quickly followed his former player's lead.
Former PSU President Graham Spanier Has Jail Sentence from Sandusky Scandal Upheld
May 26, 2021
Former Penn State President Graham Spanier walks from the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pa., after a hearing at Wednesday, May 26, 2021. A judge has upheld the jail sentence of Spanier who was forced out as the school's top administrator after Jerry Sandusky was arrested nearly a decade ago. The judge said Spanier must report to jail on July 9 to begin serving at least two months for endangering the welfare of children, followed by two months of house arrest. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A Pennsylvania judge ruled Wednesday
former Penn State president Graham Spanier must serve a minimum of
two months in jail related to his March 2017 conviction on a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of children related to
the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
Mark Scolforo of the Associated Press
reported Judge John Boccabella ordered Spanier to serve the jail
sentence followed by two months of house arrest with electronic
monitoring. Other punishments include two years of probation, a
$7,500 fine and 200 hours of community service. The sentence had been under appeal for the past four years.
Spanier said at Wednesday's hearing he
remains a tenured faculty member at Penn State despite his
resignation as president in November 2011. A school spokesperson told
the AP that Spanier is on administrative leave and not currently teaching
classes.
His attorney raised concerns about
Spanier's health, saying he underwent open-heart surgery in September
2019 and has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but Boccabella
upheld the sentence.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh
Shapiro issued a statement after the ruling.
"Today marks the end of a long road
towards justice for the children endangered by Mr. Spanier's
inaction—choosing to cover up the abuse at the hands of Jerry
Sandusky rather than reporting it to law enforcement," Shapiro
said.
Spanier said the interactions between
Sandusky and young boys was described to him as "horseplay," but
he raised concerns in an email entered as evidence in the case,
saying "the only downside for us is if the message isn't 'heard'
and acted upon, and we then become vulnerable for not having reported
it," according to Scolforo.
Penn State administrators never
reported Sandusky's abuse to police.
Boccabella ordered Spanier to begin
serving his sentence July 9 at the Centre County Correctional
Facility in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
"He made a mistake and he's going to
pay for his mistake, but I don't consider him to be a danger to
society as I would a criminal," Boccabella said.
Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant football coach, was sentenced to a minimum of
30 years in prison in October 2012 for the sexual abuse of 10 boys
over a 15-year period. He was resentenced to 30 to 60 years in
November 2019.
Two other Penn State officials, Tim
Curley and Gary Schultz, were also sentenced to prison in June 2017.
The scandal led to the firing of
longtime Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno in November 2011.
He died two months later at the age of 85.
Penn State was fined $60 million by the
NCAA and the football program received a four-year postseason ban as
part of the penalties from college sports' governing body.
Video: Penn State LB Micah Parsons Runs 4.39 40 at Pro Day Before 2021 NFL Draft
Mar 25, 2021
Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons (11) in action against Purdue during an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Micah Parsons solidified his standing as one of the top prospects in the 2021 NFL draft with a huge performance at Penn State's pro day Thursday.
There will be no single 2021 NFL combine event because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Parsons would clearly be among the best in the class with his numbers. His fellow linebacker and 2020 top-10 draft pick Isaiah Simmons also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds and was the only front-seven player to break 4.45 seconds.
Parsons is also likely to hear his name called early even after opting out of the 2020 season.
The 2019 All-American is rated the No. 19 overall player in the class by Bleacher Report. B/R's Justis Mosqueda listed the Penn State product as the most versatile, best blitzer and best run-stopper among all linebackers.
Penn State Football Fixes Viral Super Bowl Tweet: 'No Magnifying Glass Needed'
Feb 5, 2021
A Penn State Nittany Lion logo decorates a wall in the end zone of an NCAA college football game between Penn State and Iowa in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State's social media team has revised a widely mocked graphic meant to highlight the program's NFL alumni.
On Thursday, the Nittany Lions account tweeted a graphic that stated, "A Penn Stater has appeared in every Super Bowl." However, the fine print clarified that a Penn State alum has appeared in all but five Super Bowls since 1967.
On Friday, the program gave its graphics department another chance, and it sent out a corrected image and mocked its initial phrasing.
The original graphic became a college sports meme as schools like UMBC and Ole Miss poked fun at PSU's claim.
Credit to Penn State, however: The team left up the original post, which is sure to be retweeted for years to come.
Mike Yurcich Hired to Replace Kirk Ciarrocca as Penn State OC After 1 Season
Jan 8, 2021
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 07: Ohio State Buckeyes quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich before a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cincinnati Bearcats on September 7, 2019, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Penn State announced Mike Yurcich will become the team's new offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, according to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic.
He replaces Kirk Ciarrocca, who held the roles last season after being hired away from Minnesota.
Yurcich spent last season as the offensive coordinator at Texas but was seeking a new home after head coach Tom Herman was fired after four seasons at the school.
Though the Longhorns didn't live up to their own lofty expectations, the offense still thrived with an average of 42.7 points per game, eighth best in the country.
Yurcich has proved himself at other top programs in the past, including spending the 2019 season with Ohio State as the squad won the Big Ten title and reached the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes had the third-best scoring offense in the country as Justin Fields finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
This came after serving as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State from 2013-18, often leading some of the most explosive offenses in college football.
The consistency at different stops has made Yurcich one of the top assistants in FBS in recent years:
Throughout his career, Yurcich's offenses have averaged 6.49 yards per play, which ranks No. 1 among offensive coordinators since 2013. https://t.co/xFpiPoLfDh
Penn State is hoping this can continue after a miserable 2020 campaign. The Nittany Lions finished 4-5, the first losing record for the program since 2004.
Ciarrocca was hired in December 2019 after leading Minnesota to a breakout season, taking over playcalling duties after Ricky Rahne became head coach at Old Dominion.
Just one year later, head coach James Franklin told reporters it was "best for our program to make a change."
"We are excited to have Mike join our staff," the coach said of Yurcich. “He is an impressive offensive mind and talented play caller who has set records everywhere he has been as an offensive coordinator. I look forward to seeing what he can do with all of the offensive weapons we have here at Penn State."
Two-year starter Sean Clifford is expected to return at quarterback along with top playmakers like Jahan Dotson and Keyvone Lee.
Former Penn State RB Ki-Jana Carter Sued over Failed $2.4M COVID-19 Mask Deal
Dec 21, 2020
Former Penn State running back Ki Jana Carter, walks the sidelines as the team takes on Indiana during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
Former NFL running back Ki-Jana Carter is the subject of a lawsuit filed by Penn State Health, alleging a company owned and run by the one-time Nittany Lions star failed to fulfill the terms of a $2.4 million deal to supply surgical masks.
According to Penn Live's Matt Miller, Carter reached out to Penn State Health on behalf of ByoGlobe LLC to line up the sale of 300,000 masks in late March amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Penn State Health alleges in the suit it didn't receive a single mask and that it's unsure what happened to the $2.4 million it spent since ByoGlobe didn't hold the payment in escrow.
Penn State Health said it reached out to Carter in mid-April when the masks didn't arrive and received a response that a shipment was "en route." Carter allegedly followed up to say the delay was due in part to a change in ByoGlobe's suppliers.
Miller provided more on Penn State Health's allegations:
"Penn State Health claims Carter and ByoGlobe never actually had the connections or expertise to make good on the mask deal. It says it demanded a refund of the full amount of the contract in May.
"Since there was no escrow or performance bond that money has come back in dribs and drabs, with the $935,000 still to be repaid, Penn State Health contends. No further refunds have been made since July, it says."
Especially in the early stages when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, some medical facilities experienced ashortage of necessary personal protective equipment such as surgical masks.
Penn State Healthexplained in Novemberhow it dealt with the problem. Part of the solution included the creation of an email inbox "asking people to send any leads they might have for securing more items like masks and gowns." It's unclear if that's how Carter came into contact with the organization.
Miller noted Carter's connection to Penn State made his offer stand out a bit.
The 47-year-old spent three seasons with the Nittany Lions, running for 2,829 yards and 34 touchdowns. He finished runner-up to Colorado's Rashaan Salaam in the 1994 Heisman Trophy voting. Penn State was a perfect 12-0 that year but wound up second behind 13-0 Nebraska in the Associated PressTop 25 poll.
Penn State Football Announces It Won't Participate in Bowl Game Amid Pandemic
Dec 19, 2020
Penn State head coach James Franklin leads his team onto the field for an NCAA college football game against Illinois in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
The list of teams pulling out of bowl games continues to grow, with Penn State becoming the latest football program to announce it won't play in a postseason contest.
Per an official announcement from the school, the decision to opt out of a bowl game was made by the student-athletes with the support of athletic director Sandy Barbour and head coach James Franklin.
Franklin issued a statement included in the announcement:
"I couldn't be more proud and encouraged by how our team conducted itself during this unprecedented season. One of our four core values is a willingness to sacrifice, and our student-athletes, coaches and staff have all made incredible sacrifices both on and off the field in order for us to compete this year. This has been a challenging nine months, but we are proud of how our student-athletes have navigated these difficult times. As you know, we rely on our captains and Leadership Council to provide a voice for our team, and our student-athletes made the difficult choice not to participate in a bowl this year in order to spend time with loved ones. We are fully supportive of their decision, knowing it has been many months since our students-athletes have been able to spend time with their families and the challenges they endured, both physically and mentally. This will be an opportunity for our guys to go home, see family and recharge for the spring semester."
Brandon Marcelloof 247Sports noted a total of 17 teams across the country have opted out of playing in a bowl game.
Expectations were high for the Nittany Lions coming into 2020. They were ranked seventh in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll, but had a dramatic fall from grace with five straight losses to open the regular season.
After a 41-21 loss to Iowa on Nov. 21, ESPN'sField Yatesnoted Penn State became the first team ranked in the top 10 of the AP preseason poll to start 0-5.
Franklin was able to get his team turned around with four consecutive wins, including a 56-21 victory over Illinois in the season finale Saturday.
It's unclear if a 4-5 Penn State team would have received an invite to a bowl game anyway, but it would certainly have seemed possible given the number of programs that have decided against playing in them thus far.
By finishing their season now, the Nittany Lions have ensured their first losing record since a 4-7 mark in 2004.
Penn State Football Falls to 0-5 for 1st Time in Program History After Iowa Loss
Nov 21, 2020
Penn State head coach James Franklin walks the sideline during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Iowa in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State entered the 2020 college football season as the No. 8 team in the Associated Press poll, but the Nittany Lions have now registered the first 0-5 start in program history after falling at home to the Iowa Hawkeyes, 41-21 on Saturday.
Per Brett McMurphy of Stadium, PSU is also guaranteed its first losing season since 2004, when the team went 4-7. The Nittany Lions' best possible result this year is 3-5 with three regular-season games remaining.
Penn State's 15-season streak of winning records was the fourth-longest current run in Division I FBS, per McMurphy.
Penn State's football history dates back to1887. The Nittany Lions have only had 18 losing seasons, including 2020.
PSU entered this season with high hopes despite some significant departures, including defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (NFL draft) and linebacker Micah Parsons (opt out).
However, the season has snowballed into disaster following a stunning 36-35 overtime loss at Indiana that ended with Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix Jr. scoring a two-point conversion on a play so close that officials could have called it either way.
PSU put up a respectable showing against No. 3 Ohio State the following week, losing 38-25. Wideout Jahan Dotson broke out with three touchdowns.
However, PSU followed that game with a 35-19 home loss to Maryland and a 30-23 road defeat to Nebraska.
The latter game saw Will Levis take over for a benched Sean Clifford at quarterback. PSU also notably trailed 27-6 at halftime.
On Saturday, the Nittany Lions led 7-3 but allowed 21 second-quarter points to trail 24-7 into the half. Dotson excelled again with eight catches for 139 yards and a touchdown, but PSU had no answer for the Iowa rushing attack, which accounted for 175 yards and four scores.
PSU will close it season with games against Michigan, Rutgers and Michigan State.
