Franklin to hold off another day on questions about future taken in Altoona, Pa. (Penn State)

Penn State Athletics

James Franklin and quarterback Sean Clifford slap hands during a Penn State game earlier this season.

ALTOONA, Pa. -- There was always going to be a potential problem with today's news -- or lack thereof -- because of the timing of everything.

James Franklin met the media for his weekly press conference at 12:30 p.m. The compensation subcommittee of Penn State's Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet a 3:45 today, presumably to discuss details of a new contract for Franklin.

So, even though the coach said Saturday he would have an update on his future today, there wasn't anything he could say about it when asked during his press conference.

The first question Franklin was asked was this direct one by Mike Gross of Lancaster Online. Note that it wasn't about a new contract or anything, just about 2022 specifically.

Are you going to be Penn State's football coach in 2022?

This was Franklin's response:

“Yeah, fair question, and I get it. But I was hoping that I’d be able to have a conversation with you guys at this stage, but I don’t have anything new to report at this time. Hopefully I'll get with you guys on Wednesday.

"I don’t mean to keep kind of moving this thing out. But like I told you guys before, I want to make sure when I say things to you guys that it’s completely transparent and totally honest, and there’s still some moving parts going on. But I understand the question, and again I think last time I met with you I was hopeful that I'd be able to talk to you guys about it today in more detail."

The fact that Franklin deflected a question about his future wasn't a surprise, since he's done that all along in the process and because, again, the compensation subcommittee doesn't meet until later Tuesday.

However, Franklin was asked again later on about 2022 specifically, by Neil Rudel of the Altoona Mirror. The coach already is under contract through 2025. Rudel's question:

If you could go back to Mike's original question about coaching here in 2022, which you deflected, but can you at least clarify that that's your desire on next year, or is that up in the air?

"Again, I've been asked this question a bunch, and I think I have said and shown of my commitment and of my loyalty over eight years," Franklin said. "I don't really think that's a question. Obviously, this is much more complex than just a yes or no question that I get in these press conferences. I know a lot of coaches handle it different. But when I speak, I want to be able to speak in detail, and I want to be able to know exactly what’s going on.

"So you guys, you keep asking me these questions, it's not a simple yes or no answer. And I think I have displayed and showed my commitment and loyalty over the last eight years."

We'll see if the university puts out any kind of information about all of this after today's compensation subcommittee meeting.


Loading...
Loading...