Penn St fires Franklin
Mildly surprised but...
...they almost had to do it. Huge outcry and top recruits are decommitting.
...got him out of there before he could wreck Grunkemeyer.
...they almost had to do it. Huge outcry and top recruits are decommitting.
...got him out of there before he could wreck Grunkemeyer.
Last edited by jeemie on Sun Oct 12, 2025 6:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Dammit
I wanted him at State College for life
Anyone know Curt Cignetti’s buyout at Indiana?
Gotta assume Penn State will make a run at that guy
I wanted him at State College for life
Anyone know Curt Cignetti’s buyout at Indiana?
Gotta assume Penn State will make a run at that guy
Nick Markakis on Astros: "Every guy over there needs a beating."
Heard two rumors from a friend with connections to Trace McSorley...not vouching for any of this, but if true, maybe Allar ruined Penn State's season and not Franklin.
First rumor is Franklin's buyout has been negotiated to $20 M.
Second rumor, which applies to my comment, is Allar "found God" in the off-season and became an uncoachable PITA, taking advice and instruction only from his "spiritual advisor".
Who knows? Might explain all the times this season where the coaches showed zero trust in Allar taking the ball out of his hands in key spots.
I will make one comment...none of this absolves Franklin for Penn State's defense falling off a cliff.
First rumor is Franklin's buyout has been negotiated to $20 M.
Second rumor, which applies to my comment, is Allar "found God" in the off-season and became an uncoachable PITA, taking advice and instruction only from his "spiritual advisor".
Who knows? Might explain all the times this season where the coaches showed zero trust in Allar taking the ball out of his hands in key spots.
I will make one comment...none of this absolves Franklin for Penn State's defense falling off a cliff.
“Yeah we suck, be there is a chance we could suck slightly more if we try to correct the problem.” - Art Deuce (summarized by SteelPerch)
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Imagine paying someone $40 million to not coach your team after he wins 70% of his games….
Good news: it’s only the 2nd or 3rd most ridiculous decision that PSU has made regarding its football program….



Good news: it’s only the 2nd or 3rd most ridiculous decision that PSU has made regarding its football program….
You can't bring everyone back, get aggressive in the portal, and then lose to a UCLA team being coached by guys who have never coached before and then Northwestern.Steel Ubaldo wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 7:26 pmImagine paying someone $40 million to not coach your team after he wins 70% of his games….![]()
![]()
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Good news: it’s only the 2nd or 3rd most ridiculous decision that PSU has made regarding its football program….
You just can't.
“Yeah we suck, be there is a chance we could suck slightly more if we try to correct the problem.” - Art Deuce (summarized by SteelPerch)
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Franklin had PSU one game away from the National Championship…LAST YEAR!!!jeemie wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 7:33 pmYou can't bring everyone back, get aggressive in the portal, and then lose to a UCLA team being coached by guys who have never coached before and then Northwestern.Steel Ubaldo wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 7:26 pmImagine paying someone $40 million to not coach your team after he wins 70% of his games….![]()
![]()
![]()
Good news: it’s only the 2nd or 3rd most ridiculous decision that PSU has made regarding its football program….
You just can't.
This is amazing!!!!! I laugh at all of these morons I am forced to live around…



And Tomlin has the Steelers three games away every year.Steel Ubaldo wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 8:37 pmFranklin had PSU one game away from the National Championship…LAST YEAR!!!jeemie wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 7:33 pmYou can't bring everyone back, get aggressive in the portal, and then lose to a UCLA team being coached by guys who have never coached before and then Northwestern.Steel Ubaldo wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 7:26 pmImagine paying someone $40 million to not coach your team after he wins 70% of his games….![]()
![]()
![]()
Good news: it’s only the 2nd or 3rd most ridiculous decision that PSU has made regarding its football program….
You just can't.
This is amazing!!!!! I laugh at all of these morons I am forced to live around…![]()
![]()
![]()
Sometimes you need someone else to take the next step.
“Yeah we suck, be there is a chance we could suck slightly more if we try to correct the problem.” - Art Deuce (summarized by SteelPerch)
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I see what you did thereSteeldrama wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 6:13 pmDammit
I wanted him at State College for life
Anyone know Curt Cignetti’s buyout at Indiana?
Gotta assume Penn State will make a run at that guy
And yes, Cignetti and PSU are a match made in heaven. Whether they can get it done is another story.
ding dong the witch is dead
Cignetti is 64 years old and IU locked him up for quite awhile.Steeldrama wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 6:13 pmDammit
I wanted him at State College for life
Anyone know Curt Cignetti’s buyout at Indiana?
Gotta assume Penn State will make a run at that guy
I'd be worried if Cignetti were 35, but from everything I've heard, dude has absolutely no plans on leaving Bloomington.
I also believe if necessary, IU will throw out the huge dollars to keep Cignetti if that became necessary.
"...It's very difficult to keep the line between the past and the present... Do you know what I mean...?"
Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale
Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale
franklin and allar were locked in an eagle-like death spiral. both bringing out the worst in the other.
and big time programs get to 7 wins by sheer volume of talent and half soft schedules. these coaches get 100millioj dollar ten year contracts to win big games ... not go 1-15 in them ... - not babysit and develop young men. if you want that it's fine - be Iowa and be happy about it.
penn state didn't hire and pay franklin to be Iowa
and big time programs get to 7 wins by sheer volume of talent and half soft schedules. these coaches get 100millioj dollar ten year contracts to win big games ... not go 1-15 in them ... - not babysit and develop young men. if you want that it's fine - be Iowa and be happy about it.
penn state didn't hire and pay franklin to be Iowa
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They were ONE game away LAST year. Tomlin hasn’t won a playoff game since…. no since in continuing.jeemie wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 8:55 pmAnd Tomlin has the Steelers three games away every year.Steel Ubaldo wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 8:37 pmFranklin had PSU one game away from the National Championship…LAST YEAR!!!
This is amazing!!!!! I laugh at all of these morons I am forced to live around…![]()
![]()
![]()
Sometimes you need someone else to take the next step.
It’s done. It’s hilarious. May the powers that be at State College make the 3rd biggest mistake in that illustrious football program’s history with their next hire….

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Second rumor, which applies to my comment, is Allar "found God" in the off-season and became an uncoachable PITA, taking advice and instruction only from his "spiritual advisor".
The palm reader on the boardwalk in Wildwood could do better than 4-17 against Michigan and OSU.
The palm reader on the boardwalk in Wildwood could do better than 4-17 against Michigan and OSU.
The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.
Nietzsche
Nietzsche
Lol!
“Yeah we suck, be there is a chance we could suck slightly more if we try to correct the problem.” - Art Deuce (summarized by SteelPerch)
Two of their top recruits have decommittedSteel Ubaldo wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 10:51 pmThey were ONE game away LAST year. Tomlin hasn’t won a playoff game since…. no since in continuing.jeemie wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 8:55 pmAnd Tomlin has the Steelers three games away every year.Steel Ubaldo wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 8:37 pm
Franklin had PSU one game away from the National Championship…LAST YEAR!!!
This is amazing!!!!! I laugh at all of these morons I am forced to live around…![]()
![]()
![]()
Sometimes you need someone else to take the next step.
It’s done. It’s hilarious. May the powers that be at State College make the 3rd biggest mistake in that illustrious football program’s history with their next hire….![]()
Recruiting was the one thing Franklin could do...if that was spiraling out of control, you couldn't keep him.
College is different from the pros in every way.
“Yeah we suck, be there is a chance we could suck slightly more if we try to correct the problem.” - Art Deuce (summarized by SteelPerch)
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And did so, by still winning ZERO big games. Penn State had by far, the most favorable draw of any of the playoff teams, beating SMU in Beaver Stadium, and then Boise State, before Coach & QB collaborated to lose to an underdog Notre Dame team.Steel Ubaldo wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 8:37 pmFranklin had PSU one game away from the National Championship…LAST YEAR!!!jeemie wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 7:33 pmYou can't bring everyone back, get aggressive in the portal, and then lose to a UCLA team being coached by guys who have never coached before and then Northwestern.Steel Ubaldo wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 7:26 pmImagine paying someone $40 million to not coach your team after he wins 70% of his games….![]()
![]()
![]()
Good news: it’s only the 2nd or 3rd most ridiculous decision that PSU has made regarding its football program….
You just can't.
This is amazing!!!!! I laugh at all of these morons I am forced to live around…![]()
![]()
![]()
On the road to the playoffs, they lost to Ohio State & Oregon. So not a huge accomplishment.
Oh, and I'll say it again. Franklin is more Tomlin than Tomlin.
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News sources are now saying that Adidas was behind the firing and they are eating the money.
I guess losing to Nike in Happy Valley was a really bad look.
Especially given that Nike just lost to IU.
I guess losing to Nike in Happy Valley was a really bad look.
Especially given that Nike just lost to IU.
The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.
Nietzsche
Nietzsche
Franklin's big game coaching acumen will be missed in Columbus.
Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile...
I will say if this is true, it is not a good thing.Dan Smith--BYU wrote: ↑Mon Oct 13, 2025 12:57 amNews sources are now saying that Adidas was behind the firing and they are eating the money.
I guess losing to Nike in Happy Valley was a really bad look.
Especially given that Nike just lost to IU.
No way should corporate sponsors have that much power.
Don't get me wrong... Good riddance to James Franklin.
But these decisions should be made for football reasons, not monetary reasons.
Yes I know I'm being naive.
“Yeah we suck, be there is a chance we could suck slightly more if we try to correct the problem.” - Art Deuce (summarized by SteelPerch)
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A lot of grief about franklins payout while Penn state is closing branch campuses for financial reasons. Cant argue with that, but begs the question of why Franklin rated that kind of contract to begin with.
I get the complaints, but it's a distinct budget, so it's not money that's completely fungible for the university.swissvale72 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 13, 2025 1:43 pmA lot of grief about franklins payout while Penn state is closing branch campuses for financial reasons. Cant argue with that, but begs the question of why Franklin rated that kind of contract to begin with.
Why did he get the contract?
Apparently he ingratiated himself with Sandy Barbour, the previous athletic director, and also made a veiled threat to leave for, I believe, either USC or UCLA (I can't remember which).
Barbour had already ruffled feathers by refusing, until huge public pressure was applied, to give Cael Sanderson a contract extension...and unlike Franklin, Sanderson built an actual championship program (12 team titles and 40 individual titles in college wrestling).
So there's your answer.
“Yeah we suck, be there is a chance we could suck slightly more if we try to correct the problem.” - Art Deuce (summarized by SteelPerch)
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I also read that Adidas said they would eat the cost of the buyout.jeemie wrote: ↑Mon Oct 13, 2025 4:27 pmI get the complaints, but it's a distinct budget, so it's not money that's completely fungible for the university.swissvale72 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 13, 2025 1:43 pmA lot of grief about franklins payout while Penn state is closing branch campuses for financial reasons. Cant argue with that, but begs the question of why Franklin rated that kind of contract to begin with.
Why did he get the contract?
Apparently he ingratiated himself with Sandy Barbour, the previous athletic director, and also made a veiled threat to leave for, I believe, either USC or UCLA (I can't remember which).
Barbour had already ruffled feathers by refusing, until huge public pressure was applied, to give Cael Sanderson a contract extension...and unlike Franklin, Sanderson built an actual championship program (12 team titles and 40 individual titles in college wrestling).
So there's your answer.
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Only going to say this once....Steeldrama wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 6:13 pmDammit
I wanted him at State College for life
Anyone know Curt Cignetti’s buyout at Indiana?
Gotta assume Penn State will make a run at that guy
Stay. The. F. Away.

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Believe it, we won't let him leave. We'll match every dollar. We've tasted what real success looks like, we won't let it go. Hell, Penn State wanted our DC and we gave him a $350k raise the next day on top of the raise we had already given him. The check books are flowing now that there's confidence in the leadership and the coach at Indiana.K_C_ wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 9:30 pmCignetti is 64 years old and IU locked him up for quite awhile.Steeldrama wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 6:13 pmDammit
I wanted him at State College for life
Anyone know Curt Cignetti’s buyout at Indiana?
Gotta assume Penn State will make a run at that guy
I'd be worried if Cignetti were 35, but from everything I've heard, dude has absolutely no plans on leaving Bloomington.
I also believe if necessary, IU will throw out the huge dollars to keep Cignetti if that became necessary.
Others have pooh poohed this report, but we shall see.Louis Lipps Service wrote: ↑Mon Oct 13, 2025 4:37 pmI also read that Adidas said they would eat the cost of the buyout.jeemie wrote: ↑Mon Oct 13, 2025 4:27 pmI get the complaints, but it's a distinct budget, so it's not money that's completely fungible for the university.swissvale72 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 13, 2025 1:43 pmA lot of grief about franklins payout while Penn state is closing branch campuses for financial reasons. Cant argue with that, but begs the question of why Franklin rated that kind of contract to begin with.
Why did he get the contract?
Apparently he ingratiated himself with Sandy Barbour, the previous athletic director, and also made a veiled threat to leave for, I believe, either USC or UCLA (I can't remember which).
Barbour had already ruffled feathers by refusing, until huge public pressure was applied, to give Cael Sanderson a contract extension...and unlike Franklin, Sanderson built an actual championship program (12 team titles and 40 individual titles in college wrestling).
So there's your answer.
“Yeah we suck, be there is a chance we could suck slightly more if we try to correct the problem.” - Art Deuce (summarized by SteelPerch)
This is the main reason Franklin is out.smithessmokin wrote: ↑Mon Oct 13, 2025 4:57 pmBelieve it, we won't let him leave. We'll match every dollar. We've tasted what real success looks like, we won't let it go. Hell, Penn State wanted our DC and we gave him a $350k raise the next day on top of the raise we had already given him. The check books are flowing now that there's confidence in the leadership and the coach at Indiana.K_C_ wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 9:30 pmCignetti is 64 years old and IU locked him up for quite awhile.Steeldrama wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 6:13 pmDammit
I wanted him at State College for life
Anyone know Curt Cignetti’s buyout at Indiana?
Gotta assume Penn State will make a run at that guy
I'd be worried if Cignetti were 35, but from everything I've heard, dude has absolutely no plans on leaving Bloomington.
I also believe if necessary, IU will throw out the huge dollars to keep Cignetti if that became necessary.
For years, he complained he couldn't compete financially with the Ohio States and the Michigans of the Big Ten, and thus given the level of investment, he had actually done quite well.
That changed this year. PSU opened the spigot- Franklin got some expensive portal transfers, got the NIL money for returning stars like Allar, Allen, Singleton and Sutton increased, They went all in...even called this season "The Last Dance".
The AD could probably deal with a double OT loss to Oregon because you are still in play for the championship, but you cannot lose to an 0-4 UCLA team that was headed up by a guy that had never coached before and allow 42 points to an offense headed by a guy who had never called plays before.
And you absolutely cannot follow that up with a loss at home to a 20-point underdog.
Last edited by jeemie on Mon Oct 13, 2025 5:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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It should be illegal for a public university to pay someone tens of millions of dollars to coach football, let alone tens of millions of dollars to not coach football. If I were a PA taxpayer I'd be furious about the whole situation.
Adidas has publicly denied this report.jeemie wrote: ↑Mon Oct 13, 2025 5:33 pmOthers have pooh poohed this report, but we shall see.Louis Lipps Service wrote: ↑Mon Oct 13, 2025 4:37 pmI also read that Adidas said they would eat the cost of the buyout.jeemie wrote: ↑Mon Oct 13, 2025 4:27 pm
I get the complaints, but it's a distinct budget, so it's not money that's completely fungible for the university.
Why did he get the contract?
Apparently he ingratiated himself with Sandy Barbour, the previous athletic director, and also made a veiled threat to leave for, I believe, either USC or UCLA (I can't remember which).
Barbour had already ruffled feathers by refusing, until huge public pressure was applied, to give Cael Sanderson a contract extension...and unlike Franklin, Sanderson built an actual championship program (12 team titles and 40 individual titles in college wrestling).
So there's your answer.
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Looks like Franklin already worked his way down to Zihuatanejo to meet Jimbo
https://www.instagram.com/p/DPwTZkjDrxN/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DPwTZkjDrxN/
The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.
Nietzsche
Nietzsche