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After following through this year on his pledge to "dominate the state" in re- cruiting, James Franklin will continue to maintain his high profile in Pennsylva- nia by headlining the annual Penn State Coaches Caravan this spring. Franklin and the head coaches of several other varsity teams will go on tour this spring, with stops in 12 locales. Eight of the events will take place in Pennsylvania, with additional stops in Baltimore, New York, Washington, D.C., and New Jer- sey. Franklin is scheduled to participate in all 12 Coaches Caravan stops and will be joined by other Penn State head coaches on the tour. At each event, Penn Staters will be treated to a message from the Nittany Lions' head coach and at least one other head coach and will have the opportunity to ask questions about the university's 31-sport athletic depart- ment. Jointly sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association and the Nittany Lion Club, this will be the fourth edition of the Penn State Coaches Caravan, which will make stops at Nittany Nation strongholds across Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic from May 5-7 and 19-21. "I really enjoyed meeting so many Penn Staters during the Coaches Cara- van last year and am looking forward to traveling around Pennsylvania and sur- rounding states again this spring," Franklin said in a prepared statement. "The pride and passion for Penn State, the football program and all our teams is one of the reasons why Penn State is so special. It's going to be great spending time with the other coaches and visiting with our loyal alumni and fans through- out the region." Each of the Coaches Caravan events will feature a meet-and-greet with Franklin and the other Nittany Lion head coaches during the lunch or evening re- ceptions prior to the programs. Franklin will meet with alumni and fans and talk about his first season as head coach, preparations for the 2015 campaign and vision for Penn State football, as well as how all Penn State alumni and fans can help build on Penn State football's tradi- tion. Members of the Penn State football coaching staff may also attend selected events. Penn State football's recent class of 25 signees, which includes 11 Pennsylvania prospects, was rated No. 2 in the Big Ten Conference and No. 15 in the nation by Rivals.com. In 2014, Franklin became just the third Penn State coach to lead the team to at least seven wins in his first season, joining Dick Harlow (1915) and Bill O'Brien (2012). The Nittany Lions capped the season by rallying from a 14-point deficit to earn a 31-30 overtime win over Boston College in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Franklin is en- tering his fifth year as a collegiate head coach, leading his first four squads to a bowl game, with postseason victories the past three years. He owns a 31-21 ca- reer record, with three consecutive win- ning seasons. Franklin will be joined by head coaches who have helped champion Penn State's "One Team" philosophy. Penn State has captured 17 Big Ten championships and five NCAA titles since September 2012 while earning an NCAA graduation rate of 89 percent. Complete details on the other coaches participating, locations and registration information for each Coaches Caravan stop on the tour are expected to be an- nounced in the coming weeks. Penn State Alumni Association and Nittany Lion Club members will have the oppor- tunity to register in advance, before Car- avan registration is open to the general public. Member registration is sched- uled to begin in March, with general public registration to follow. ■ FOOTBALL Coaches Caravan set to hit the road in May CARAVAN SCHEDULE* May 5 Harrisburg (lunch) Lancaster (evening reception) May 6 Washington, D.C. (lunch) Baltimore (evening reception) May 7 Altoona (lunch) Pittsburgh/Cranberry Township (evening reception) May 19 Philadelphia/Center City (lunch) Philadelphia/Bucks County (evening reception) May 20 New York (lunch) Northern New Jersey/Morris County (evening reception) May 21 Lehigh Valley (lunch) Wilkes-Barre (evening recep- tion) • Exact locations to be announced this month ROAD WARRIOR Franklin will be appearing at all 12 Caravan stops, along with other coaches. Photo by Patrick Mansell

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