Franklin thinks Penn State will be in 'really healthy place' by 2018
James Franklin's first two years at Penn State have been rocky to say the least, but the third-year boss sees a smoother road ahead for the Nittany Lions.
While Penn State continues to recover - and reel - from the NCAA sanctions stemming from the Jerry Sandusky molestation scandal several years ago, Franklin told Rich Scarella of the Reading Eagle that his program is on course to be "in a really healthy place" by 2018, the same year the last of the remaining penalties are set to expire.
"In my conversations with the previous coaching staff and administration, everybody knew Year 3 (2014) and Year 4 (2015) were going to be the hardest years," Franklin said. "I didn't really present it that way and nobody else really talked about it. Everybody talked about when the sanctions first hit (in 2012) and about how that was going to be the hardest time. It was going to be the hardest (time) emotionally, but the actual effects of the sanctions were going to be hardest later."
A load of penalties handed out in 2012 crushed Penn State, leaving it with a clear lack of talent in a strong Big Ten conference. Though many of the sanctions have already expired, Franklin said the school continues to face a never-ending uphill battle in recruiting.
"A month ago, I'm in Chicago at a wedding of one of my former players and the most recent things come up ... I spend all Friday and Saturday on the phone talking to all of our players because other schools are contacting them and telling them the NCAA is going to get involved again and impose more sanctions," Franklin said.
"The people we're competing with – Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame – this is just not something they have to deal with. Although we want to move on, those other schools are not letting us move on."
Recently, a lawsuit alleged that late head coach Joe Paterno knew of the Sandusky allegations in the 1970s but did nothing about them.
Meanwhile, pressure from the Penn State fan base is beginning to mount on Franklin after two disappointing seasons at the helm. On top of his mediocre 14-12 record, a rift seemed to form between Franklin and quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who undoubtedly regressed under his watch and decided to forego his senior season in favor of the 2016 NFL Draft. Franklin has had several other players transfer out of his program since his arrival, and saw his highly regarded defensive coordinator, Bob Shoop, leave for Tennessee over the winter.
Franklin will attempt to start righting the ship on Sept. 3, when he and the Nittany Lions take on Kent State in the 2016 season opener.