On Oct. 11, I wrote a column titled “Welcome to Rock Bottom, Penn State.”
I typed it in the press box at Beaver Stadium after the Nittany Lions lost to Northwestern 22-21. I don’t disagree with anything I wrote in that article — James Franklin was fired less than 24 hours after it was published — but now I’d like to take a different approach. Because the thing about hitting rock bottom is, there’s only one way to go.
In the weeks since Franklin was fired, numerous members of the national media — many of whom relentlessly chastised Franklin at Penn State for his inability to win big games — have reversed course and called the move shortsighted.
Sports Illustrated’s Mike McDaniel, On3’s Ari Wasserman, FOX’s Urban Meyer and ESPN’s Rece Davis and Aaron Murray are a handful of examples of national media members publicly bashing Franklin pre-firing and immediately criticizing the university for firing him afterward.
There are others who didn’t necessarily ridicule Franklin during his tenure but have still described the move as a mistake, including ESPN’s Nick Saban, who called the move “unfair as hell.” On3’s Pete Nakos and Chris Low wrote an article claiming “patience in college football is extinct — and Penn State just proved it” following his 12 seasons in the role (which made him one of the longest-tenured head coaches in the country).
The Nittany Lions have become a laughing stock at a national level, first for losing as 20-plus point favorites against UCLA and Northwestern, and now for being without a head coach. Many are predicting Penn State will fall from glory and have drawn comparisons to Nebraska post-Bo Pelini.
Some are questioning why any coach would take the job given the expectations. Some are saying Kraft had no plan after firing Franklin. Some have even claimed the program was propped up by Franklin and will crumble without him.
Penn State fans have been told the program is nothing without Franklin and will dwell at the bottom of the college football world for decades in the aftermath of this coaching search.
Well, in the words of Saban, “it’s unfair as hell.”
Because what the national media fails to understand is there are too many people who care too much about this program for it to fade into obscurity. As Michael Mauti once famously said, “This program was not built by one man and this program sure as hell is not going to get torn down by one man.”
Penn State is the preeminent football program in the northeast.
Penn State has 948 wins — seventh most nationally.
Penn State has two national championships and has a legitimate claim to several more.
Penn State has 56 bowl game appearances — ninth best nationally, including 33 wins — tied for fourth nationally.
Penn State has 394 NFL draft picks — eighth best nationally.
Penn State has produced an All-American in 52 of the last 58 seasons.
Penn State has spent 717 weeks ranked in the AP Top 25 — ninth most nationally.
Penn State has the winningest coach in college football history, and no, it’s not James Franklin.
Penn State is undergoing the second most expensive college football stadium renovation in college football history at $700 million, to a stadium with the second highest capacity in the country.
Penn State made Jim Knowles the highest-paid coordinator in college football.
The foundation is there. The fanbase is there. The facilities are there. The support is there. The brand recognition is there. The alignment is there. The history is there.
Franklin deserves credit for elevating the program. He endlessly fought for upgrades, support and resources. But when he got those things, he couldn’t deliver. Maybe the next coach can.
Because Penn State isn’t a program held together by bubble gum and paper clips that Franklin willed to the College Football Playoff semifinal. It’s a program capable of competing for national championships regardless of the head coach. Those outside the program don’t understand that. But those inside know.
