Blue White Illustrated

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING Though he did it well, particularly upon arrival, Bill O'Brien was never comfortable being the face of the university. While O'Brien took the job two years ago, you get the distinct impression Franklin really wanted it. And he seems eager to play a lead role in helping a community continue its recovery from the Sandusky scandal. "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. " NEIL RUDEL ALTOONA MIRROR Franklin has the gift. It's part scripted and part spontaneous. He can follow an internal script or divert from it when necessary. He is a man in the prime of his life, flush with a measure of early career success who clearly believes he can achieve just about anything to which he sets his able mind. That's an infectious person to be around. I think it will be hard for everyone to resist. And Franklin plans to meet everyone and enjoy the time. In this sense, he is the antiO'Brien. He will not endure the time played as politician and public figure; he will embrace it. DAVID JONES THE (HARRISBURG) PATRIOT-NEWS Some people are lightning rods, and that's just the way things are, fair or not. But fans should understand this about Joyner: He has been Penn State's athletics director for all of 26 months now, and he has had to fill the most important role in that department – the head football coach's position – twice. Both times, he and his search committee managed to hire one of the best young coaches in all of football: Bill O'Brien and Franklin. No doubt, O'Brien was the right hire at the right time, and the only thing he didn't do to bolster the Penn State program was stick around for a few decades. The overwhelming consensus among those who've followed Franklin in the past say the search committee landed a "home run" hire this time. Think back to November of 2011, when Paterno was fired in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, and Penn State's football reputation was not only in the toilet, but swirling toward the drain. It sure didn't seem then like Joyner and his committee had much of a chance to find one dynamic coach to lead this program. Never mind two. DONNIE COLLINS SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE It couldn't have been easy for the most ridiculed, most maligned people in college sports to hire Vanderbilt's James Franklin as Penn State's next head football coach. There are two reasons. One, Franklin brings baggage, at least perceived baggage to those who believe the university must pay for Jerry Sandusky's heinous sins forever. Those people already have registered their outrage over Franklin's hiring without scrutinizing his background. And two, Franklin has no ties to Penn State or Joe Paterno. Bill O'Brien, on his way out of Penn State's door to the NFL earlier this month after just two seasons as coach, mentioned the Paterno loyalists generally were a pain in his behind. The Penn State brass hired Franklin, anyway. Good call. RON COOK PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE The Nittany Lions under Franklin should expect to be a top 25 program and win the Big Ten by 2020. Probably sooner. Why? It's simple college football math. If Franklin can win nine in back-to-back seasons at Vanderbilt, think about the possibilities at Penn State. Better resources, better support, access to better players. In two years – if not sooner – access to the postseason. There are only a handful of schools that could make it through such sanctions. USC has won 10 games twice while enduring similar scholarship restrictions. It may be that Penn State has bottomed out and is on the rise. Bill O'Brien proved that the program wouldn't be burned to the ground in the wake of those sanctions. He won 15 games in two years. He convinced a talented freshman quarterback (Christian Hackenberg) to stick to his commitment. O'Brien handed the keys to the next guy with the family car in good shape. It's not a Corvette but Penn State isn't playing at the Division II level either, something Barry Switzer predicted in the wake of the sanctions. DENNIS DODD CBSSPORTS.COM James Franklin is a coveted 41-yearold head coach who probably would make a fine hire for any of his other suitors. Just not Penn State. Not at this time. Last June, four of Franklin's players were charged with raping an unconscious 21-year-old woman in a dormitory and a fifth player pleaded guilty to helping cover it up. All five were dismissed from the team. If and when there is a trial, it will be Franklin's former players on trial. One of the players' attorneys was quoted as saying he wants to subpoena Franklin. Whatever happens in that case, by hiring Franklin, KIRK HERBSTREIT ESPN/ABC "James Franklin is a proven commodity as a head coach with all his accomplishments at Vanderbilt. His leadership, integrity and competitive spirit make him a perfect fit for Penn State."

• Cover