Just how bad is coach James Franklin?

[Stalker]

Here's his Won-Loss in key areas since arrival 2014.

* W/L vs teams finishing above .500 (6-5 teams and up). This includes the Ball States, Akrons and Kent States
38-36

* W/L vs +.500 teams away.
16-24....40%

*W/L vs teams with double digit winning season. 10 wins and up
12-28....30%

* W/L vs teams with double digit winning season, AWAY only
5-21....19.2%

And for a cherry on the cake, here's his W/L vs Michigan and Ohio State
Michigan 3-7 (DNP 2024)
Ohio St 1-10
Total 4-17
Bowls 4-6

He is probably the most overrated head coach of a major program in the country. But, what did us die hard Penn State fans expect taking a coach from Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt!

 

[Fletchster1]

Overrated? He takes a ton of heat for not winning the big games.

He's great in the living room, but struggles a bit at times on the sideline.

 

[sammyk]

I think it's a matter of perspective. I would venture to think that there are 120 other college football teams that would take Penn States record the past 10 years. I think there are several BIG and SEC teams that would take PSU record. The numbers are real PSU has struggled to win big games perhaps this year will change that perception. If they make it to the final 4 will that be enough ??? What if they make the playoffs again next year(which they should) and win games next year as well?? Who does Penn State get that is better??

 

[Stalker]

Overrated? He takes a ton of heat for not winning the big games.

He's great in the living room, but struggles a bit at times on the sideline.

You're supposed to take "a ton of heat" as a big-time program going 38-36 (ie .500!) against winning teams and 5-21 on the road against superior teams, meaning teams that ended the season with 10 or more wins. Those are high marks if you're Kentucky, Minnesota and Wake Forest, not Penn State.

They're clearly NOT an upper tier team as they used to be with a 4-17 record against Ohio State and Michigan. Jeez! That's not just someone who struggles a bit on the sidelines. That's someone who cannot win the big games against quality teams.

That's not me bad mouthing Franklin. That's his performance on the field against the better teams. I'm just showing his results that speak for themselves.

 

[Relayer]

If college football always had the 12-team playoff instead of the 4-team playoff, this year would be Franklin's 7th time in 11 years of finishing in the top 12....just sayin. That said, PSU needs to reach the semis this year.

 

[paul from philly]

Doesn't matter what his record is at Penn State. He, apparently, runs a clean program and Penn State is all on board with that. I do not like him and his antics on the sidelines in big time moments of a game. The last thing I want to see is my head coach running up and down the sidelines with his hair on fire.

His seeding in the playoffs couldn't be better. He should definitely make the semis. If not, well there's always next year.

 

[Fletchster1]

You're supposed to take "a ton of heat" as a big-time program going 38-36 (ie .500!) against winning teams and 5-21 on the road against superior teams, meaning teams that ended the season with 10 or more wins. Those are high marks if you're Kentucky, Minnesota and Wake Forest, not Penn State.

They're clearly NOT an upper tier team as they used to be with a 4-17 record against Ohio State and Michigan. Jeez! That's not just someone who struggles a bit on the sidelines. That's someone who cannot win the big games against quality teams.

That's not me bad mouthing Franklin. That's his performance on the field against the better teams. I'm just showing his results that speak for themselves.

You mentioned that he was overrated, "the most overrated head coach of a major program in the country". Who is overrating Franklin at PSU? He's constantly being bombarded by criticism, not suffering from the general public and media overrating him.

I think the O could be better, I hate giving the ball to a RB standing still. No fullback, but at least they're now running some wham. Having your "elite" QB on the field standing by the numbers while your TE plays running QB...

 

[monarch178]

You mentioned that he was overrated, "the most overrated head coach of a major program in the country". Who is overrating Franklin at PSU? He's constantly being bombarded by criticism, not suffering from the general public and media overrating him.

I think the O could be better, I hate giving the ball to a RB standing still. No fullback, but at least they're now running some wham. Having your "elite" QB on the field standing by the numbers while your TE plays running QB...

The numbers speak for themselves. Going 1-10 against Ohio St. is not acceptable for a program like Penn State when your coach is paid $100 million. He's a great recruiter but always falls short when the lights are bright. They may as well skip the game because you already know the end result with Franklin at the helm. Honestly, I would have replaced him with Bill O'Brien or Manny Diaz. Nice to see everyone again!

 

[2020sports]

Here's a funny reality check? In this "area" three power 4 programs- Penn state, Pitt and WVU- the only team "moving on" from the "status quo?" Take me home!?!?

Again, we could argue this point- but arguably- of the current coaches who are "officially more successful and better" than Franklin? Maybe four!! so maybe he is fourth of fifth best out of 125? I don't think PSU is gonna fire him.

 

[Stalker]

You mentioned that he was overrated, "the most overrated head coach of a major program in the country". Who is overrating Franklin at PSU? He's constantly being bombarded by criticism, not suffering from the general public and media overrating him.

I think the O could be better, I hate giving the ball to a RB standing still. No fullback, but at least they're now running some wham. Having your "elite" QB on the field standing by the numbers while your TE plays running QB...

Well Fletch, someone is overrating him in the administration keeping him on for 11 years when he's demonstrated the ability to be no more than an average coach with a 38-36 record against winning teams. This is Penn State. Not Temple.

His record says he's overrated, not just me. And he's finally getting some criticism for that record. Someone this year finally noticed his 3-17 record against Top 10 teams since his arrival. I first posted it 2 or 3 years ago as I thought it was interesting for the board after hearing so many talk about him in a positive manner.

Yes, I said he's the most overrated HC of a major in the country. I don't know of another coach at a "major" eg LSU, GA, Mich, Osu, ND, Fla, Clem, etc who have been at a program more than a few years that are less successful (38-36 v winners) than he is. The Schembecklers, Urban Myers, Spurriers, Paternos, Saban's etc are well rated because they win the big games, not lose them like Franklin does, consistently!

 

[Fletchster1]

So, the PSU administration is/are the only people overrating him by keeping him around. Everyone else would love for him to be accountable (fired) for the performance of the team in big games - I don't consider that overrated.

 

[Stalker]

So, the PSU administration is/are the only people overrating him by keeping him around. Everyone else would love for him to be accountable (fired) for the performance of the team in big games - I don't consider that overrated.

I won't quibble about the word overrated. But I did feel the board would enjoy seeing the facts on just how poor a coach he is against quality teams. The puzzlement is why they've hung onto him so long.

Here's one for you Fletchster1. His W/L of 38-36 vs winning teams (6-5 and up), home and away drops to 26-36 eliminating wins (all games) against MAC teams, Akron 2-0, Kent St 3-0, UMass 2-0, Buf 2-0, Ball 1-0, CMich 1-0 and BG 1-0. He has no trouble beating teams of that low caliber by an average score of 42.8 to 9.5.

SMU will present some problems for them but maybe they get one at home. He's 4-6 in bowls but fortunately not playing a SEC school where he's 0-4. Go LIONS!