Penn State news by
Penn State's student blog

Topics

More

Vanderbilt Says Goodbye to James Franklin

I feel bad for Vanderbilt. I really and truly do. The betrayal we felt two weeks ago when Bill O’Brien abandoned us for the Texans is the same sort of betrayal I imagine Commodores are feeling in Nashville right now. Much like O’Brien led Penn State through muddy waters and back to prominence, Franklin did the same thing at Vanderbilt — perhaps even to a greater degree.

He was their coach yesterday, ubiquitously loved after resurrecting Vanderbilt into a formidable program in only three years. Today, he is our coach. That’s the reality of this tough business — a business that doesn’t take heartbroken fans into account anymore.

Franklin lit a spark in the fanbase that hadn’t been seen at Vanderbilt in a long time. That newfound passion reached full circle this morning, as a group of fans organized a rally to support the players as they walked into the football building to say goodbye to their coach for the last time. It was called #Starwalk, and it took off on social media all day Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all, more hundred fans showed up to greet their players this morning. It reminded me of a smaller version of our Rise and Rally event in July 2012 that still gives me chills to think about it.

 

 

 

I guess I just want to say, thank you Vanderbilt. You have a lot to be proud of. Anchor Down.

UPDATE: Here’s a statement from Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams.

I received a phone call last night from Coach Franklin saying he was going to accept a new opportunity. There is no question that James Franklin’s outstanding work has helped put Vanderbilt football on the national stage.

We are extremely sorry to see the Franklin family leave our university and community, and we thank them and wish them the very best. Because of James, Fumi, Shola and Addy Franklin, our program is stronger in every way than it was just a few short years ago.

While I will personally miss them, I want to assure our campus community and Commodore Nation that we are prepared to begin the process that we’ve used in the past to identify and hire our other very successful head coaches.

We have every expectation to hire an outstanding new football coach to build upon the progress that has been made in recent years.

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

Kevin Horne

Kevin Horne was the editor of Onward State from 2012-2014 and currently holds the position of Managing Editor Emeritus, which is a fake title he made up. He graduated from Penn State with degrees journalism and political science in 2014 and is currently seeking his J.D. at the Penn State Dickinson School of Law. A third generation Penn Stater from Williamsport, Pa., Kevin is also the president of the graduate student government. Email: [email protected]

[Photo Story] Elevated Views From Happy Valley

Our photographers looked down and saw the world below from a handful of elevated vantage points.

Penn State’s Restorative Justice Initiative Offering Bachelor’s Degrees To Incarcerated Individuals

The program will allow incarcerated persons to work toward a degree while in prison.

WBIT Creating Newfound Attention For Women’s College Basketball

The Lady Lions are headed to the semifinals after an energetic win in the last home game of the season.

Follow on Another Platform
113kFollowers
164kFollowers
59.4kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Other posts by Kevin

Hometown Brewery Releases Beer Honoring Evan Pugh

Penn State’s first president Evan Pugh was born in 1828 at Jordan Bank Farm, three miles south of the city center of Oxford, Pennsylvania, an hour west of Philadelphia in Chester County. One-hundred eighty-nine years later, an Oxford brewery is honoring one of the preeminent champions of “liberal and practical” higher education in the form of a delicious Porter.

Penn State Basketball Downs Colgate 72-59 In Front of Thanksgiving Eve Crowd

Why Honoring Paterno Still Matters