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 2003, Franklin added duties as recruiting coordinator and directed back-to-back recruiting classes ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Commodores defeated Florida, Georgia and Tennessee in the same season for the first time in program history, winning in Gainesville and Knoxville. 16 nationally in red zone offense (.897). In 2006, he helped the Wildcats to their first winning season in four years. While serving as the tight ends coach at Washington State, Franklin first met his wife Fumi (then a student at Washington State) in 1998. The 2019 class featured a pair of 247Sports five-star recruits and three No. There is a pressure that comes with this honor though. He has a $2 million buyout for the 2017 season and a $1 million buyout for every subsequent year. Franklin denied the accusation. Penn State finished the regular season 75, and 45 in Big Ten play. And if he can come across as guarded, its not for a lack of wanting to share. Sometimes painful, in more ways than one. I dont think that helps anybody.. McSorley, who was the Offensive MVP of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, followed up his record-breaking 2016 campaign with another outstanding season. The class was also ranked No. Vanderbilt considered Franklin a candidate for its head coaching position vacated with the forced resignation of interim coach Robbie Caldwell after the 2010 season. The 2012 team had numerous milestones. 12 in the final CFP rankings and No. Of course normal is not the same thing as easy. It was only the third nine-win season in school history, also was the first time since 1935 that Vandy won five SEC games in a year and the first time in 30 years that they won at home against Tennessee. Franklin guided the Nittany Lions to a 7-6 record in 2015 and a berth in the TaxSlayer Bowl. I look forward to diligently working with President Barron and Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour on implementing a plan that puts our University and our student-athletes in the best position to compete on the field and in life.". 1 running back in the state of Pennsylvania in 2015 (Saquon Barkley), 2016 (Sanders) and 2022 (Singleton). 11 Washington in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. 2006-07 - Kansas State (OffensiveCoordinator/Quarterbacks) Northwestern, like Vanderbilt in the SEC the sole private institution in the Big Ten, alleged that the real reason was fear on the part of Vanderbilt to continue playing its Big Ten counterparta series which had been referred to as the Battle of the Nerds.[19]. Offensively, Penn State finished seventh in FBS with a 41.1 scoring average, the third-highest in program history, and 19th in total offense with a 460.3 average, which also ranks third in PSU history. That deal includes retention bonuses paid at the end of each year of the contract. Franklin graduated having broken or tied 23 school records. Penn State finished the season 112, ranked #8 in both the AP and Coaches Poll. And thats a healthy thing in any relationship in life with your friends, with your team, as long as its done in a respectful manner. 1997 - James Madison (Wide Receivers) [18], A minor controversy occurred when Vanderbilt canceled games at home with Northwestern and away games with Ohio 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. [12] Franklin was the first half African American to be head coach of a major sport at Vanderbilt, and the third to be a head football coach in the Southeastern Conference (after Sylvester Croom, formerly at Mississippi State, and former Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips).[13]. 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. [34] The Franklins have two daughters, Addy and Shola.[35]. Twenty-three Penn State players have been selected in the last four NFL Drafts, the most in a four-draft span since 1993-96 (27 players drafted). [5], Franklin first served at the University of Maryland as the wide receivers coach starting in 2000. Prior to the regular-season finale against Michigan State, Franklin agreed to a 10-year, $75 million extension to remain as Penn State's head football coach through the 2031 season. Jonathan Sutherland led the way with a pair of blocked punts in the season-opener against Idaho, marking the first time since 2000 the Nittany Lions had two blocks in a game. Those maps, and the birth of redlining a policy that can broadly be defined as the denial of real estate and financial services based on the racial composition of neighborhoods and communities can still be found online. Even as Jeffries took to the sideline, nobody knew how it would go, or how long it would be before another black coach would lead a football team at the D1 level. He also encourages them to visit. Thats presidents of universities. "I am pleased with the progress our program has made in the community, in the classroom and on the field. Franklin left the Wildcat coaching staff prior to Ron Prince's 2008 dismissal, and subsequent return of Coach Bill Snyder. Franklin also worked with Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles (1999) and Minnesota Vikings (2008) in the NFL program. 1 player in the state of Pennsylvania (Sanders) for the first time since Jared Odrick (2006). Franklin is one of four current Big Ten coaches (Ryan Day, Kirk Ferentz, Jim Harbaugh) to have won a Big Ten Championship and became the first African American head coach to win a Big Ten title after Penn States 2016 victory. 2000-04 - Maryland (WideReceivers/RecruitingCoordinator) One hundred eleven of the 205 signees (54 percent) under Franklin are from within a 250-mile radius of State College. Penn State announced Franklin will make $4.3 million during the 2017 season as part of a contract will escalate each year through the 2022 season in which he will make $6.3 million. Franklin led Vanderbilt to a bowl game all three of his seasons as head coach at Vanderbilt, a team that had never previously participated in a bowl game in consecutive seasons, making him the only football coach in program history to do so. And I think it opens up a different perspective it opens up a different mindset and I think in a lot of ways thats the same thing when someone gets a job like head football coach at Penn State. The following season, he took over as the coach of the defensive secondary for his alma mater, East Stroudsburg. The Pittsburgh that I grew up with, I thought growing up that Pittsburgh was Atlanta. Shortly before then coach Ralph Friedgen was fired in December 2010, he accepted the head coach position at Vanderbilt.[10]. 9 in the final CFP rankings. Franklin was among five finalists for the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year award in 2012. Franklin was named the 16th head football coach in the storied history of the Nittany Lion program on January 11, 2014. Franklin signed a new 10-year contract on Tuesday that will guarantee him at least $75 million through the 2031 college . I think what everybody ultimately wants is getting to a point where its not a discussion, you get to a point where that whatever your background is, that people are being hired on merit and thats it, Franklin said. font-size:1.10em; Franklin served at Kansas State University as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. The attitudes toward multiracial families then are not what they are today. There were a lot of tough conversations. It wasnt a dream to have, a goal to chase, a career path to ponder. Defense was dominant for the Nittany Lions, finishing in the top 10 in FBS in yards per rush (1st; 2.55), forced fumbles (1st; 22), rushing defense (5th; 95.0), sacks (7th; 3.46), scoring defense (8th; 16.0) and fumble recoveries (10th; 12). The Nittany Lions, started the season off with a 50 record and with wins over #12 Wisconsin and #22 Auburn were ranked as high as #4 in the country. Everything is magnified, especially when you exist against the grain, against what has always been the safe hire. After five days of quarantine and four COVID-19 tests, Penn State coach James Franklin surprised his family with a visit on Christmas Eve. There is no controversy in that, just hope a hope that didnt really exist 40 years ago. 1995 - Kutztown University (Wide Receivers). Fifty-two squad members compiled at least a 3.0 GPA in the fall of 2019, which was the second-highest semester total in program history. 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). Longest rush from scrimmage 90 yards by Zac Stacy. Even with a losing record, the 2011 team outscored their opponents 347 to 281. 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). Largest margin of victory over rival Tennessee (23) 4118 since 1954 (260). Franklin guided the Commodores to a 6-6 regular-season record and earned a berth in the Liberty Bowl during his first season after inheriting a Vanderbilt team that finished 2-10 in both 2009 and 2010, with a combined mark of 1-15 SEC play. 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. The NHL is almost exclusively white with nine black coaches having been a part of an organization in any capacity, and, as of 2018, just 87 black players having seen the ice at the sports highest level. But the interesting thing for me is that became my normal.. The Franklins spent the next three weeks together, their . From building team camaraderie, to recruiting, to coaching spring ball, he ha Franklin is second all-time in winning percentage by an FBS African American head coach (minimum 80 wins) and is third in total wins. [5] He joined head coach Ron Prince as the first coaching staff to follow the legendary Bill Snyder. There are no trailblazers for white head coaches they have simply always existed. There might not be a more insightful way to experience that contrast than how Franklin did. [5] Since then, he has been considered a top recruiter. I look at diversity on our staff. Vandy defeated Houston Cougars in the BBVA Compass Bowl 4124. Franklin attributes his success on the field to the strength of his teams dedication to four core values: positive attitude, great work ethic, compete in everything you do and must be willing to sacrifice. In 1998, Franklin began his participation in the NFLs Minority Coaching Fellowship Program, starting with a stint with the Miami Dolphins and working with Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. 12 according to ESPN.com, No. 23/24 2013 & No. A victory at Missouri sparked an 8-1 finish, which included three consecutive SEC road wins for the first time in program history. 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. However, after an injury sustained by quarterback Sean Clifford, the team struggled towards the end of the season winning just two out of their final seven games. } I think for me in a lot of ways it is magnified because of how I grew up, Franklin said early Thursday morning, years, miles and millions of dollars later. Franklin has also been an ardent supporter of Be the Match, encouraging community members to join the national bone marrow registry. At his off-season press conference, James Franklin . { The Fair Housing Act, passed in 1968 just four years prior to Franklins birth, finally abolished the practice of redlining, but the maps tell the story of how we got here, their summaries as blatant as the policies they aided. They were invited to the Liberty Bowl where they were defeated by Cincinnati 3124 to finish the season 67 in 2011. In 2003, Franklin's duties expanded to include the position of recruiting coordinator. In addition to the guaranteed money, Franklin's contract has incentives including $800,000 for a national title, $400,000 for a College Football Playoff appearance and $350,000 for winning the Big Ten Championship Game. A big and significant development in the coaching carousel occurred Monday night when it was reported that Penn State head coach James Franklin switched agents, Franklin said on Tuesday that he switched representation over the summer. The engaging and enthusiastic Franklin is a popular speaker and media interview subject. Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford drops back to throw against Purdue during a 35-7 Nittany Lion win on Oct. 5, 2019 at Beaver Stadium. During that season, Green Bay ranked third in the NFL in receptions (383) and seventh in receiving yards (3,766). The Nittany Lions had 15 players garner All-Big Ten accolades, including two first-team selections in Amani Oruwariye and Yetur Gross-Matos. 1996 - East Stroudsburg (GraduateAssistant/Secondary) He owns an 91-49 career record, with a winning record in nine of 11 seasons at the helm. Perhaps Franklins greatest cultural contribution to sports is being a member of a small club of coaches that act as lighthouses, a reminder that you too could be the next David Shaw, the next James Franklin, the next Willie Jeffries. The Nittany Lions also signed 12 ESPN300 recruits in 2018, the first time since 2006 when ESPN rankings started. The 2016 season brought record-breaking performances from the Nittany Lions as the offense set marks for total offense (6,056), passing yards (3,650), points scored (526) and double-digit comeback wins (4). Barkley was selected as the Graham-George Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year and Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner for the conferences top player. It was Penn States highest finish in the polls since 2005. 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