Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1340947
You get what you earn," Banks said. "I can sleep at night. I don't change how I coach. I don't change my approach, be- cause I'm always honest with my guys. That's one of the things that I pride my- self on." An issue that has only been exacer- bated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the approval of immediate eligibility for every current transfer makes this off- season the first of what is likely to be- come a virtual period of free agency in major college football and basketball. (Though, proposed legislation to ap- prove a "one-time transfer" rule in Jan- uary has been delayed indefinitely due to name, image and likeness considera- tions currently being sorted out. Ac- cording to various reports, however, the NCAA still intends to have the new rules in effect for the 2021-22 academic year.) Having previously established the program's ground rules for players who decide to enter the portal – Penn State will remove aid at the end of the semes- ter while leaving open the door for a re- turn – the approach is only likely to become more entrenched moving for- ward. Taking a stand on principle, the Nittany Lions will continue to risk los- ing players who were very much part of the program's plans. In the cases of Levis and Dixon, that was almost cer- tainly true. But to Franklin, the long- term benefits of this approach outweigh the immediate costs. Establishing the program's approach to transfers from the very outset of the recruiting process, Franklin and his staff can remain true to themselves and the coaching methodology that has deliv- ered success at every career stop along the way. And with it, players and their families can have no misunderstanding about what the process will look like if or when a decision is made to enter the portal. "For us, we're not going to worry about it a whole lot. We're not doing a whole lot of recruitment of our own rosters," Franklin said. "If guys want to go to the transfer portal, we're not going to be in the business of talking them out of it." ■ It's easy to see why [Mike] Yurcich has had such a successful career in coaching. He comes across as smart and articulate, able to translate complex ideas into something that a digital room full of reporters can understand. In terms of per- sonality and charisma, while it's impossible to fully assess how each work behind closed doors, Yurcich seems much more in the mold of James Franklin than his predecessor Kirk Ciarrocca. BEN JONES STATECOLLEGE.COM The Nittany Lions began 2020 with a new offensive coordinator and minus per- haps their two best players (linebacker Micah Parsons, running back Journey Brown), and they struggled to find themselves, starting 0-5 before finishing 4-0. Whatever their goals are for 2021, the opposite needs to happen: They have to be a fully formed team from the opening kickoff. They begin the season at Wiscon- sin, before welcoming MAC champion Ball State and the SEC's Auburn to Happy Valley. ... Whatever changes Mike Yurcich implements for the offense, it needs to have totally clicked in August. BILL CONNELLY ESPN.COM T H E M O N T H I N . . . O P I N I O N S JOE KRENTZMAN & SON, INC. • Buyers and Brokers of Steel, Iron and Nonferrous Metals • Industrial Scrap Buyers • Container Service Available • Large Service Territory Since 1903 Lewistown, PA • Hollidaysburg, PA • DuBois, PA (800) 543-2000 • www.krentzman.net F irst i n S cra p