James Franklin just went all out, telling The Athletic this past week that he didn't even get a "chance to fix it" before he was shown the door at Penn State. This confession comes right as tensions over his departure are boiling over, with Franklin dropping details about how his firing went down.
Franklin Says His Decade of Loyalty Meant Nothing
For a man who stuck with the Nittany Lions for a decade, Franklin's comments hit hard. He's been dishing details all spring and into the summer, and previously told Adam Breneman how "unfair" everything felt, despite his long legacy with the team. Now, in the new interview, he's talking about how there might've been different ideas on how the team and organization should've moved forward. It's wild to think about, right? Franklin himself said, "Well, it's unheard of because people have had challenges and had a chance to fix it. What makes it what you described is we didn't get a chance to fix it." Sounds like he feels completely blindsided by the whole thing.Pat Kraft Spills The Real Reason Penn State Pulled The Plug
So, why did Penn State really let him go? While Franklin was on a three-game losing streak at the time, that wasn't the full story. Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft wasn't shy about it back in October, saying Franklin's progress just wasn't good enough. Kraft was clear: "This is not just a three game thing. This is really diving into where we were as a program. What is the trajectory of this program? And you all know, and I'm not shy to admit it, I'm here to win national championships." It sounds like Kraft and the program had bigger ambitions than what they were seeing, regardless of loyalty or streaks. Franklin has landed on his feet in Blacksburg with Virginia Tech, and Penn State brought in Matt Campbell to start fresh. But trust me, Franklin's words are gonna hang heavy over the college football world. If the Nittany Lions stumble at all this season, his comments will absolutely resonate.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.