James Franklin, the Nittany Lions' head coach, is building a championship culture at Penn State football. And the funny thing is in our country whenever you say diversity people go right away to black or white. The Nittany Lions paced the Big Ten in first downs (223) and were second in total offense (430.3). Freeman would go on to become the Wildcats highest NFL offensive draft pick since 1954 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him 17th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. And a lot of times you know, again, its so much more than that race does play a part of that. I would love to have more open discussions about politics. [5] Franklin completed a master's degree in educational leadership at Washington State in 1999. Ferrell first oversaw bowling en route to a three-decade long tenure within the athletic department. Perhaps most importantly, Franklin was seven, 40 years ago on the nose, whenWillie Jeffries, the first black Division I-A head football coach, was hired to work at Wichita State. When his father (who met Franklins mother while stationed at an Air Force base in Manchester, England) became an absent participant in Franklins life, the contrast was only stronger. He threw for 2,438 yards, 22 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in 2010, with All-ACC receiver Torrey Smith making 67 catches for 1,055 yards and 12 scores. He helped the Terrapins to victories in the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl and the 2010 Military Bowl. In 2003, Franklin added duties as recruiting coordinator and directed back-to-back recruiting classes ranked in the Top 25 nationally. Franklin continued in that role under new head coach Ralph Friedgen in 2002 and 2003 and helped the Terps to three consecutive 10-win seasons, including an appearance in the 2002 FedEx Orange Bowl. Theres no advantage from [your race] but theres no disadvantage either, youre just being hired on your ability to do the job. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings and No. In 2017, Franklin led the Nittany Lions to another 102 regular season, 72 in Big Ten Games. The Nittany Lions claimed their fourth overall Big Ten Championship and first outright title since 1994 with a thrilling 38-31 comeback win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Ole Miss riots of 1962 and their tie to football were then as memorable as Selma just a year later. First winning record in the regular season since 1982. "I am pleased with the progress our program has made in the community, in the classroom and on the field. With Franklins emphasis on safety, along with the precautions he, the coaching staff, medical team and support staff established, the Nittany Lions were one of only two Big Ten teams to play all nine of its scheduled games during a shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Defensively, the Nittany Lions were seventh in FBS in scoring average (16.5 ppg) and sacks (3.23 spg), while coming in 17th in total defense (329.5). 1 month ago. Its something that Im conscious of. 1996 - East Stroudsburg (GraduateAssistant/Secondary) The Nittany Lions posted their third-straight season with at least nine wins in 2018 with a 9-4 overall record. Receive all the latest news and events right to your inbox. [9] His geographic areas of concentration for recruiting were Baltimore; Prince George's County, Maryland; Charles County, Maryland; and public schools in Washington, D.C.[5] In 2005, Franklin departed Maryland to serve as the wide receivers coach for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. The class was also ranked No. So I think for all of our female student-athletes to look and see her in her position I think it is empowering for all of our student-athletes [and] to see someone, you know, like me sitting in the head coaching position it is empowering.. Early years. STATE COLLEGE, Pa. At 6 a . Franklins victories in the Fiesta Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Music City Bowl and Birmingham Bowl (formerly the Compass Bowl) marked the first time in each bowls history an African American head coach earned the win. In 2017, McSorley broke the Penn State single-season record for completions (284), total offense (4,061), touchdowns responsible for (37), 300-yard passing games (5) and 200-yard passing games (11). Through the transfer portal, Penn State has been able to address needs at wide receiver and defensive back so far. [15] They took graphic photos and videos of the rape. The 3.83 average star ranking for the 2019 class was the highest in program history since the inception of the 247Sports Composite in 2000. He earned $4.3 million for the 2014 season. He set seven school records as a senior to earn team MVP honors and was a Harlon Hill Trophy nominee as the NCAA Division II Player of the Year. That year, the Bengals recorded 29 touchdowns, 258 receptions, and in excess of 3,300 passing yards for one of the best statistical seasons in school history. Born outside of Philadelphia to a white mother and black father, Franklin was a product of those two different Americas. The area that I spent my time in Pittsburgh it was [mostly] African-American. [5] Since then, he has been considered a top recruiter. 9 in the final CFP rankings. I dont think that helps anybody.. The season was scarred early on by the sudden retirement of starting running back Journey Brown due to a heart disease.[32]. I didnt grow up in Pennsylvania thinking I could be or would be the head football coach of Penn State, Franklin said as the fog rolled across Mount Nittany on the horizon. From 2016-19, Franklin led the Nittany Lions to three New Years Six bowls - 2016 (Rose), 2017 (Fiesta) and 2019 (Cotton) - making Penn State one of eight teams to accomplish the feat during the four-year span. A total of 56 Nittany Lions earned a 3.0 GPA or higher during the 2015 fall semester, which set a school record. In 2017, the newest set of Nittany Lions finished in the Top 15 in the country, ranking as high as 12th by Rivals. He has a $2 million buyout for the 2017 season and a $1 million buyout for every subsequent year. James Franklin Delivers an Invitation, and a CTA, to Penn State's Trustees 'We have to embrace the new college football,' Franklin tells the board. Gillikin set the Penn State record for punting average in a season with a 44.00 mark, besting the previous record of 43.55 set by Ralph Giacomarro in 1981. Franklin has guided the Nittany Lions to an 86 percent graduation success rate, a perfect single-year 1,000 APR for the 2018-19 school year and record-breaking performances in the classroom. Penn State finished the regular season 75, and 45 in Big Ten play. The 2015 season also saw Christian Hackenberg break every Penn State career passing record, including passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions, and true freshman Saquon Barkley set the freshman season rushing record with a 1,000-yard campaign. He owns an 91-49 career record, with a winning record in nine of 11 seasons at the helm. If Franklin ever starts those discussions remains to be seen, though in all likelihood that day will never come. The Nittany Lions posted their first 1,000 single-year APR in program history in 2018-19, topping the previous high of 993 in 2014-15. It was hard, it was challenging. Franklin also worked with Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles (1999) and Minnesota Vikings (2008) in the NFL program. [30], Penn State got off to their worst start in school history in 2020, starting 05. The Nittany Lions earned back-to-back 11-win seasons for the fifth time in program history and first time since 2008 and 2009 with an 11-2 record. In Franklins first season at Penn State, he helped Mike Hull to the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year award to carry on the Linebacker U tradition. Official Fan Travel and Hospitality Services, Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital, Music City: Beat North Carolina State, 38-24, New Era Pinstripe: Beat Boston College, 31-30 (OT). 7 in the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls. When Mike Brown was acting head coach for the Golden State Warriors, opposite Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue in the 2017 NBA Finals, it marked the first time since 1975 that two black head coaches had met in the Finals. In his second season (2012), the Commodores finished 94 and ranked in both the Associated Press and USA Today end-of-season coaches' top 25 for the first time since 1948 (and the first ranking in any week since 2008). In 2019, punter Blake Gillikin took home CoSIDA Academic All-America first-team honors for the second-straight year to become the 12th two-time first-team selection in Penn State history. It allows kids growing up in this country men, women, black, white, whatever your background is that you could be the president of the United States. At his off-season press conference, James Franklin . Saturday, December 4, 2021 . The Nittany Lions +14.4 scoring improvement in 2016 ranked fourth in FBS and second among Power 5 schools. Leery of the media, or in the very least the Internets ability to twist quotes, Franklin is content with keeping most of his political opinions to himself. The attitudes toward multiracial families then are not what they are today. The metric used to determine such things was clear and often stated within the governments own literature. 5 by Rivals and No. The team posted a 3.39 mark with 29 players earning Academic All-Big Ten recognition. Despite missing five of Penn States nine games due to a season-ending injury, Freiermuth led all Big Ten tight ends in receiving yards (310). The football teams 2,100 hours of community service in 2014-15 equated to nearly 40 percent of the 5,300 community service hours by Penn State student-athletes. Ive talked to [Stanford head coach] David Shaw, a good friend of mine and a number of other coaches and I do think that a lot of the [minority] coaches carry a little bit of extra pressure, Franklin added. Tight end Pat Freiermuth was selected as the Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year, becoming Penn States first tight end to win the award. Nassib also led the nation in sacks with a school-record 15.5. And if he can come across as guarded, its not for a lack of wanting to share. Most times scoring 40 (5) or more points since 1915. The Commodores were 5-3 in SEC play, winning five SEC games for the first time since 1935, and posted two shutouts for the first time since 1968. Analysis of James Franklin's switch to superagent Jimmy Sexton. . It was Penn States highest finish in the polls since 2005. Stacy became the first player in Vanderbilt history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, gaining 1,141 yards to finish his career with a school-record 3,143 yards and 30 rushing touchdowns. font-weight:bold; "He has been through the most thorough vetting process that any individual has gone through at the university," Erickson said after a press conference at Beaver Stadium where Franklin made his first official appearance as a leader of Penn State. Matthews broke the SEC season record with 112 receptions for 1,477 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013, becoming the first SEC receiver to make 100 catches in a season. Franklin is living in an apartment above the garage of. He also encourages them to visit. Parsons was the No. Recently, Penn State announced at the end of the 2019 regular season that the Board of Trustees had confirmed unanimous approval of an extension of James Franklin contract after rumored interest from several other programs including the USC Trojans[29] and Florida State Seminoles. The 2011 seniors for the Vanderbilt football team became the first class in program history to qualify for two bowl games while at the school. "[24][25], During the 2016 season, Penn State started the season 22, but Franklin rallied his team to win the next eight games, winning the Big Ten's East Division, followed by a victory over Wisconsin in the 2016 Big Ten Football Championship Game. In addition, Parsons became the 101st first-team All-American and 43rd consensus All-American in Penn State history. 17 Memphis in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton ended his Penn State career as the programs career receptions leader (214) and second in school history in receiving yards (2,842). 1-ranked recruits in their respective states (Brandon Smith, Adisa Issac, Sal Wormley). } Or if you rather, Franklin was four when Penn State hired Don Ferrell, the university first black head coach. The following season, he took over as the coach of the defensive secondary for his alma mater, East Stroudsburg. You know, and the good thing is, that responsibility aligns already with what Im doing.. Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin walks on the field prior to the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver . 16 nationally in red zone offense (.897). Under James Franklin, the Nittany Lions look to become a true College Football Playoff contender by complementing the current roster with new pieces capable of plugging holes. Wide receiver Jordan Matthews broke the Vanderbilt season receiving record with 1,363 yards on 94 catches. One of the things that I am a big believer in is that you can really have disagreements. Franklin finished the 2011 regular season with an overall record of 66 and a mark of 26 in conference play, finishing in a tie with Kentucky for fourth place in the SEC East. Franklin coached quarterback Josh Freeman and oversaw an offense that produced a 3,000-yard passer (Freeman), 1,500-yard receiver (All-American wide receiver Jordy Nelson) and 1,000-yard rusher (James Johnson) during the 2007 season, a first in school history. For his team's turn around, Franklin was named the Dave McClain Coach of the Year in the Big Ten.[26][27]. Franklin has also been an ardent supporter of Be the Match, encouraging community members to join the national bone marrow registry. Franklin was welcomed to an America eight years removed from the Civil Rights Act, but the nation's march toward true equality was still ongoing, the impact of segregation still so prevalent that. The Nittany Lions took a step back from their recent success, finishing their regular season 93 overall and 63 in conference games. In addition, five-plus Nittany Lions have been drafted in four consecutive years, the longest streak for PSU since 1978-84. 17 in the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls. After starting the season with three wins and then three losses, the third to Georgia in a close game (3328) that proved they could be competitive. Penn State finished the season 112, ranked #8 in both the AP and Coaches Poll. .bio-section-logo October 26, 2021 7:44 am PT. padding-bottom:5px; When Franklin was three, Frank Robinson was hired by the Cleveland Indians, the first black manager in Major League Baseball history, breaking a new barrier in the sport some 19 years after Jackie Robinson had retired from the game. In court testimony, Franklin admitted to changing his story about whether he told Vanderbilt players that he had viewed a video recording of the incident. The defense led the way for the Nittany Lions in 2018, finishing in the top 20 in team passing efficiency (8th; 106.10), red zone defense (11th; .750), passing yards allowed (15th; 181.5) and third down conversion defense (19th; .336). Quarterback Trace McSorley capped his Penn State career as the programs career holder for passing yards (9,899), completions (720), 300-yard passing games (10), 200-yard passing games (28), rushing yards by a quarterback (1,697), rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (30), passing touchdowns (77), total offense yards (11,596), touchdowns responsible for (107), wins as a starting quarterback (31) and consecutive games with a touchdown pass (34). The Nittany Lions surged in 2016, winning nine consecutive games en route to the Big Ten Championship, a Rose Bowl berth and an 11-3 overall record. The Backdoor Roth IRA: A Very Little Key May Open a Very Heavy Door. Parsons was also selected as the Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year to become the third Nittany Lion to claim the award, joining Mike Hull (2014) and Michael Mauti (2012). Read about James Franklin Addresses Penn State Board of Trustees and more from the State College, PA region. The Nittany Lions also signed 12 ESPN300 recruits in 2018, the first time since 2006 when ESPN rankings started. Franklin has been building the talent slowly at Penn State, painstakingly going after top recruits, missing on some, but landing on others, to the point where the Nittany Lions sit at 16th in the . [22][23] In the days following the move to Penn State; on January 7, 2014, James Franklin was forced to discuss the gang rape allegations by four of his former players at Vanderbilt. The Nittany Lions earned a New Years Day bowl berth against Arkansas in the Outback Bowl. Read about Over a Decade and Counting: Seven Penn State Football Staffers Talk Loyalty and Longevity with James Franklin and more from the State College, PA region Saturday, April 2, 2022 Menu He collected first-team accolades from Associated Press and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and second-team laurels from the Football Writers Association of American (FWAA), Walter Camp and Sporting News. Penn State and James Franklin are in this for the long haul, and the university will be investing heavily in Franklin's leadership for . Skin color is only a part of how a person can be identified, and in an era still reeling in racial tension, to be biracial was to be different from almost everyone else. Wide receiver Jahan Dotson led the league in receiving yardage (884; 19th nationally) and was tied for the nation's lead in catches of 60-plus yards (4). Diversity is important so that youre able to see and hear different perspectives so that you can ultimately make the best decision for the organization. In each of his three seasons in Nashville, Franklin signed classes that finished in the top 50 nationally. Parsons was the first sophomore to win Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. Zettel earned All-Big Ten first-team honors, while receiver DaeSean Hamilton garnered All-Big Ten second-team accolades after pulling in 82 catches for 899 yards. 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