James Franklin Shoots Down Miami Coaching Rumors
James Franklin was named one of 12 potential replacements for recently-fired University of Miami head coach Al Golden by CBSsports.com writer Dennis Dodd, fueling a bit of speculation that the second-year head coach could jump ship from Penn State and bolt to “The U.”
Dodd has been know to blindly fuel speculation in the past, so his recent comments come as no surprise. Here’s what Dodd wrote about Franklin potentially making a move:
“You keep hearing rumblings that Franklin would be interested. Franklin has no ties to Miami but would probably have a better chance to win in the ACC Coastal rather than an increasingly brutal Big Ten East.”Franklin addressed these rumors in his Tuesday press conference, promptly shooting down the notion that he’d leave Happy Valley.
“First of all, let me say this. I don’t like it,” Franklin said. “I think it causes a distraction for our team, I think it’s a distraction for Penn State, and I have no idea where it’s been coming from. I’ve worked my ass off to get to Penn State, and this is where I want to be.”
Franklin noted the appeal of such a lucrative job opening such as the one in Coral Gables, but stated that he was taken aback after learning he’d been connected to the position.
“I guess some people can look at it as a compliment, I don’t. My focus is 100 percent on Penn State, and I’m not going to address it any further. This is where I want to be. This is where my staff wants to be. End of discussion.”
The rumors never really had much value to begin with, but now it’s official. James Franklin won’t be leaving any time soon.
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