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PSU's Franklin recruiting remarks about other Big10 schools

ChesmontLeague1

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Jul 26, 2012
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Neshaminy grad and current PSU coach should focus on putting a winning product on the field (14-12 shouldn't cut it for PSU fans) instead of making recruiting allegations against other schools. Sounds like a guy in desperation for his job. I'm sure coaches Meyer, Harbaugh and D'Antonio will remember when the line up against state. You can't change facts about your school but winning plus good coaching (see Christian Hackenberg) will bring recruits in.
 
Horrible situation that was overlooked for years by PSU insiders - all prior to Franklin's arrival in Happy Valley. I can't blame other teams using it to their benefit, but really can't blame Franklin for being upset (even though he knew it wouldn't be easy to move on from the past). A couple excellent recruiting classes in recent years need to show on the field this year. Beating Mich, OSU, or MSU this year would be huge for the current coaching staff.
 
I don't think they beat any of those 3 Fletsch plus Iowa still has Beathard and Minn looks like somebody this year. Pitt, out there?....looks like a tough non-conf. Purdue has everybody back with Mr. Indiana in the backfield and some talented QBs.

And WOW....is this guy really throwing stones with the detestable story that is Penn State and a .500 record? He needs to man up and win some football games.

Right Chesmont, until he can do something better than 14-12....a mark that might fly in Nashville (Nashville....??) he needs to shut up and win games.
 
No doubt Franklin came into one of the most difficult jobs in college football but this arm chair QB thinks coach O'Brien did a much better job w lesser talent. In this day of age where football helps fund other sports and programs at colleges it will be interesting to see how Franklin's team does this season. If he's mediocre will the fans stay behind him? Personally I'm not sure Franklin is anywhere near the caliber coach vs Meyer, Harbaugh or D'Antonio who are some of the best in college football. Maybe he beats a Michigan State but can he beat a few of them?
 
No doubt Franklin came into one of the most difficult jobs in college football but this arm chair QB thinks coach O'Brien did a much better job w lesser talent. In this day of age where football helps fund other sports and programs at colleges it will be interesting to see how Franklin's team does this season. If he's mediocre will the fans stay behind him? Personally I'm not sure Franklin is anywhere near the caliber coach vs Meyer, Harbaugh or D'Antonio who are some of the best in college football. Maybe he beats a Michigan State but can he beat a few of them?

Lesser talent? You're kidding right? He still had Paterno's leftovers since not many transferred due to Mauti & Zordich holding things together.

You do realize that Allen Robinson, Jesse James, John Urschel, Garry Gilliam, Mike Mauti, Gerald Hodges, Adrian Amos, Matt McGloin, Jordan Hill, Daquan Jones, Nate Stupar, and Donovan Smith from the 2012 team are ALL in the NFL.

Franklin should at least get through the 2017 season to coach his mature 4-star recruits. Paterno's and O'Brien's OL recruiting was horrendous (not blaming them...it does happen.)

Franklin's first 2 years were essentially Hackenberg and some walk-ons. I cannot believe you said that with a straight face.
 
Tomasetti - you need to do your homework. PSU was 37th in 2011, 55 in 2012 and 42 in 2013 during OBriens tenure. His roster was shredded iby the worst sports scandle ever which was mishandled by Paterno followed by a cover up by the PSU administration. Yeah... I'd say he worked w his hands tied much more than Franklin. Not sure what koolaide you're drinking. Franklin should put up and shut the hell up. I realize your strong feelings for me pointing out flaws about your team but think you would agree let's see what he can do.
 
You do realize that Allen Robinson, Jesse James, John Urschel, Garry Gilliam, Mike Mauti, Gerald Hodges, Adrian Amos, Matt McGloin, Jordan Hill, Daquan Jones, Nate Stupar, and Donovan Smith from the 2012 team are ALL in the NFL.

Great point! Franklin has been reloading talent that could be better than the above group, which needs to show on the field this year.
 
Tomasetti - you need to do your homework. PSU was 37th in 2011, 55 in 2012 and 42 in 2013 during OBriens tenure. His roster was shredded iby the worst sports scandle ever which was mishandled by Paterno followed by a cover up by the PSU administration. Yeah... I'd say he worked w his hands tied much more than Franklin. Not sure what koolaide you're drinking. Franklin should put up and shut the hell up. I realize your strong feelings for me pointing out flaws about your team but think you would agree let's see what he can do.

Don't flatter yourself. It has nothing to do with you. It has to do with your inaccuracies. I DO agree that Penn State's roster WAS shredded by the scandal. But the worst of those affects hit Franklin not O'Brien. The only player loss experienced by O'Brien were graduation and those 9 allowed by the NCAA to leave due to the sanctions only a few of which were actually valuable football players. Redd's, Fortt's, & Fera's losses hurt the most. Rob Bolden and Ryan Nowicki? Meh...not so much. So, as I factually said, O'Brien still had those players who now populate NFL rosters.

The roster reduction and reduced scholarships started under O'Brien but mainly affected Franklin's teams. How anyone with a functioning brain can't see these simple facts is beyond me. Franklin had 8 scholarship OL his first year due to numerous well documented recruiting issues. (I'd be glad to detail them for you if you'd like.)

Certainly, Franklin has had some issues...a QB/offense mismatch and an overly complex blocking scheme...which he addressed this off-season with new OC & OL coaches. Franklin's first recruiting classes collectively have been PSU's best in more than a decade. Add to that...he continued working on updating PSU's woefully outdated facilities. (Of course O'Brien recognized this and really started the ball rolling).

I'm results oriented too. But for Franklin to be fired before HIS recruits mature (read 2017 & 2018 seasons) is shortsighted at best. Who would want to take the job in the first place? Sure, the talent and infrastructure improvements will be in place. But what coach worth his salt, would take a job working for an administration who fired a guy in year 3 of an obvious total rebuild? It sends a message of instability and impatience that no coach wants. Now, if PSU stinks after 2017 & 2018, I'll be right there with everyone calling for Franklin's replacement.
 
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@ChesmontLeague1 To fully understand the OL woes Franklin inherited one needs to look back all the way to PSU's 2010 Recruiting class and move forward. Here are PSU's OL recruits starting in 2010.

2010 (Paterno)

Kolb - Left team
Ricketts - Left team
Graham - Left team
Dieffenbach - PSU Starter

2011 (Paterno)
Alosi - Kicked Off
Nowicki - Left
Smith - PSU Starter now in NFL
Mangiro - PSU Starter

2012 (Paterno)
Laurent - PSU Reserve
Stanko - Quit
Gaia - PSU Starter
Dowrey - PSU Spot Starter

2013 (O'Brien)
Nelson - PSU Starter
Mahon - PSU Spot Starter
Hartman - Left

Paterno's last 3 years were not exactly stellar from an OL recruiting perspective with 6 leaving the team and therefore not even available in reserve roles. O'Brien, hampered by the sanctions, chose to only recruit 3 even with the glaring need created by the failure of Paterno's last 3 classes as he made the no-win choice to go with skill players. And still one of his OL recruits left. That means there were only 8 scholarship OL there when Franklin hit campus.

That's why Franklin has recruited 4 OL in each of his first 3 recruiting classes. Of those 12, I believe five of them are 4-star recruits and the rest 3-star recruits. That's why he needs to be given at minimum til 2017 and more fair, 2018.
 
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I'll give you that both OBrien and Franklin had/have tough roads but still believe O'Brien's was tougher due to jumping into burning bond fire of a scandle followed by an exodus of players and possibilty of disbanding football. You do a nice point of drawing away from my point that Franklin needs to put up and shut up. No more excuses after 2016. Play with the big boys (Ohio State, Michigan and State) or he'll be sent packing.
 
I'll give you that both OBrien and Franklin had/have tough roads but still believe O'Brien's was tougher due to jumping into burning bond fire of a scandle followed by an exodus of players and possibilty of disbanding football. You do a nice point of drawing away from my point that Franklin needs to put up and shut up. No more excuses after 2016. Play with the big boys (Ohio State, Michigan and State) or he'll be sent packing. After watching his first couple years his team doesn't seem to bec improving. I'm doubting Franklin until he shows me something.
 
I'll give you that both OBrien and Franklin had/have tough roads but still believe O'Brien's was tougher due to jumping into burning bond fire of a scandle followed by an exodus of players and possibilty of disbanding football. You do a nice point of drawing away from my point that Franklin needs to put up and shut up. No more excuses after 2016. Play with the big boys (Ohio State, Michigan and State) or he'll be sent packing.

I'll definitely give you that O'Brien had his own super tough issues. He, Mauti, & Zordich did a magnificent job holding that program together. ALL those kids could have left but chose not to. I think I would say that O'Brien had a much tougher administrative job in he was dealing with potential player exodus, outdated facilities, and an organization possibly rooted in sabotaging anyone not named Paterno or from the PSU tree. But, because O'Brien et al did such a good job preventing an exodus they did if fact have pretty decent talent. If they kept Fera they'd have won the VA game. Franklin's issues were totally different and rooted in lack of talent. If Franklin can get through this year, he will as you say, have NO excuses. 2017 & 2018 is put-up-or-shut-up time for him.
 
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