But as long as we're asking questions,
we
should also examine those expecta-
tions. Because, to borrow a phrase from
one of Franklin's predecessors, they're a
little bit out of whack.
One of the main problems Penn State
is facing right now is that there re-
mains a huge disparity between the ca-
pabilities of its various position
groups. The Nittany Lions have differ-
ence-makers at running back, wide re-
ceiver and defensive back, and the
abundance of marquee players at those
positions has raised hopes. But they've
also got a couple of critical weaknesses
that keep those hopes from being fully
realized, and that has not gone over
well, at least on Twitter, where, in fair-
ness, almost nothing goes over well.
What's more, the plan for in-
herited was an o>ensive line that had
been hollowed out by graduation, attri-
tion
and scholarship reductions. Every-
one also knows that o>ensive lines are
not quick ensive linemen who were on
campus when Franklin arrived in Janu-
ary 2014 were mostly inexperienced
backups and former walk-ons, and they
would soon be joined by a pair of con-
verted defensive linemen. Only two of
the linemen who took part in Franklin's
ensive line were not available to him
as
he scrambled to the 2014 re-
cruiting class that former coach Bill
O'Brien had started. Of the four linemen
Franklin signed in his ensive line
prospects didn't begin until Franklin and
his sta> had been on campus for more
than a year. In 2015 Penn State signed
four linemen who had received four-star
ratings at some point in their recruit-
ment: Ryan Bates, Paris Palmer, Sterling
S I T E L I N E S • B W I . R I V A L S . C O M R E A D E R S D I S C U S S P S U ' S P R O G R E S S U N D E R
Please, please, please tell me why in
the world Franklin would be on the hot
seat right now. Coach K has said that he
is glad he isn't starting his coaching ca-
reer today because he probably would
have been fired. People questioned his
coaching ability and decisions but they
kept him on.
coachjeroudclark
The entire football landscape has be-
come a
what have you done for me/I
want a championship now
mentality
because the rest of the world gets
whatever they want whenever they
want. Think about it. You want a
burger, you get it. You want info on
Russian czars? Just ask Siri. You want a
loan? Boom, Lending Tree has $10K in
your bank tomorrow. We have trained
ourselves to have zero patience. So now
when patience is needed, we can't ac-
cept it. I'm on the Franklin train until
2018. If by then things haven't im-
proved, then we know the issues are
actually in the staff not the kids.
mbar21
You hit the nail on the head. Add to
that the plague of those sports talk
radio/TV dimwits who MUST stir up
[controversy] every day on their shows
or they don't get ratings. So fans listen
to their nonsense and nod in agreement
as they drive to and from work. Then
they go home and turn on ESPN and
nod in agreement with the idiots on
that station who know nothing about
football but sure know how to create a
controversy where there is none. The
radio/TV [commentators] then top it
all off by proclaiming "Unless you win
the national championship, your pro-
gram is a failure and your coaches
should be fired" – and those types of
statements are greeted with the afore-
mentioned nodding and bleating
(translated: "posting") of the sheep
who truly believe that every word ut-
tered is the gospel truth.
SJLuvsLions
We have to give him time! He has
made his mistakes, but he has also had
his successes. This year, all we should
expect is to see a team fight like hell
and keep getting better! Build up depth
and experience and take another step
next year!
AFRich
Just getting better as the season goes
on is what I want. Certainly not too
much to ask. Having a team ready to play
would be another.
jamesmoorepainting
Personally I think there are a few rea-
sons:
1.) Some posters wanted other
choices – Golden, Fitzgerald – and will
take any shot available to fan the
flames.
2.) Media in general seem to already
