James Franklin opens up about life after Penn State firing
TL;DR
James Franklin reflects on his difficult transition after being fired from Penn State, revealing he struggled to watch his former team's games. Now coaching the Virginia Tech Hokies, he faces new challenges in the ACC.
Key points
- James Franklin reflects on his firing from Penn State
- He struggled to watch Penn State games after his departure
- Franklin is now coaching the Virginia Tech Hokies
- There is debate over the reasons for his firing
- He faces new challenges in the ACC
Mentioned in this story
To many Penn State fans, former head coach James Franklin is just a faint memory of an overwhelmingly failed experience. Still, there is sense that Franklin may not feel the same way. Heading into his first year with the Virginia Tech Hokies, he must be prepared for a wholly different experience to coaching in Happy Valley... and maybe be prepared to completely cut ties with them altogether.
In a recent interview with Adam Breneman, Franklin revealed that the past few months after his firing were tough and that he could not even watch his former team's games.
"I had a hard time watching college football, specifically Penn State. I couldn't sit back and watch ... I could watch college football, I couldn't watch Penn State", Franklin said. For a coach that felt so connected to the program in every way, it must have felt weird for Franklin to try to reconcile with his Penn State career and realize he was not be leading the team.
There is a huge debate about why Franklin was fired when he was. Was it simply the four-game losing streak in a year that the Nittany Lions were viewed as legitimate national championship contenders? Was it the hires at different coordinator spots that didn't end up working out? No matter what it could have been, Franklin faces another animal entirely in trying to lead Virginia Tech back to relevancy in the ACC and elevate their national profile.
Still, his interview with Breneman showed that he still appreciated what he was able to build with the Nittany Lions. Just don't count on him watching all their games in the future, unless it's to study some film.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: James Franklin opens up about life after Penn State firing
Q&A
What did James Franklin say about his time after being fired from Penn State?
James Franklin described the months following his firing as tough, stating he had difficulty watching college football, especially Penn State games.
Why was James Franklin fired from Penn State?
Franklin's firing has been debated, with speculation surrounding a four-game losing streak and unsuccessful coordinator hires as potential reasons.
What challenges does James Franklin face at Virginia Tech?
At Virginia Tech, Franklin aims to restore the team's relevance in the ACC and elevate their national profile, marking a significant shift from his Penn State experience.
