Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/247378
PHIL'S CORNER Coach's arrival rekindles memories of a momentous era at PSU t's never fair to compare someone to a legend, but while listening to James Franklin speak at his introductory news conference on Jan. 11, I couldn't help but hear echoes of a message from more than four decades ago. The messenger: Joe Paterno. When I was a student at Penn State in the late 1960s and early '70s, Paterno was just beginning to formulate the philosophy that would come to be known as the Grand Experiment. His goal was to build an elite football team that was capable of challenging for the national championship two or three times a decade and was able to combine on-field success with excellence in the classroom. Paterno was fully committed to the student-athlete ideal, and in order to achieve it, he immersed himself in all aspects of the college experience. He wanted to produce championship-caliber football players who were leaders both on and off the field. As I listened to Franklin speak earlier this month, I was reminded of Paterno's approach to the game. It was exactly the sort of pick-me-up that Penn State's fan base needs to hear right now, the sound of a football coach who believes in the university's ideals and wants to be a big part of the community. "Penn State is a special place, " Franklin said. "There are only a handful of Penn States in this country. An opportunity to coach here is such a tremendous honor that I take so much pride in. "We're going to wake up every single morning, do a back handspring out of I bed, excited about the opportunity to represent this great institution." The former Vanderbilt coach made it clear he understands that his role as the leader of Penn State's football program makes him, to a large degree, the public face of the university. "The interesting thing with this job," he said, "is that you've got to wear a lot of hats, and every job is important: connecting with former players, recruiting, developing relationships on campus. I think that one of the best things that we did when we first got to Vanderbilt is that I went around and took every dean, the provost, vice chancellors out to lunch. "I plan on doing the same thing here. Taking everybody that I can on this campus out to lunch and getting to know them and asking them questions [about] what we can do better." Franklin continued, saying that he and his family plan on reaching out to the broader community, as well. "We'll not turn down a speaking engagement. We'll get out and interact with people," he said. "If people ask us to come speak at schools, we're going to be there. If people ask us to speak at social events, we're going to be there. "We'll do everything we can to bring this community back together and really take pride in this program and where we're going and how we're doing it, and you can't get more excited. As much as I love this press conference, I really can't wait for it to end so that we can run out of here and get to work." Franklin certainly appears to understand the shock and heartache that Penn State's fans, alumni, students and employees have experienced ever since the Sandusky scandal began making national headlines. "The healing process is why I'm here," he said. "It's why we're all here, to bring this great university back together and try to unite the former players, the current players, the alumni, all the people. "I think the reality is that everybody just takes great pride in this university and they want to see it be great in everything – academically, athletically, socially, spiritually, the whole package." I'm not being flippant, but if the powers that be decide to have another Coaches Caravan this coming spring, I believe that Franklin would embrace and perhaps even enjoy the experience. He knows how to work a room and would be a rock star if he went out on the road meeting fans and alumni. I first developed my passion for Penn State football when Paterno's Grand Experiment transformed the Nittany Lions into one of the nation's elite teams. Between 1968 and '94, Paterno's teams won two national championships and posted five undefeated seasons. In his 46 seasons as head coach, he won 409 games. But numbers don't tell the whole story. What really impressed me about Penn State football was the energy, drive and passion Paterno demonstrated during the formative years of his head coaching career. It was during those years that he turned the program into a national power almost through sheer force of will. From what I witnessed at Franklin's introductory news conference, he appears to have the same type of ambition and bravado that Paterno possessed at the beginning of his coaching tenure. That was most evident when he discussed his recruiting philosophy and the confidence he has in himself and his staff. "I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but we're going to dominate the state [in recruiting]," Franklin said. "That is the first thing we're going to do. I believe in the high school coaches in this state. I know how well [players are] coached and developed. I know how tal-