James Franklin to FSU?
Seems to be some smoke building here. FSU might not be the blue blood that PSU is, but the ACC is way less competitive and Florida is a better recruiting region, and that’s Franklin’s forte.
I’m sure Rhule would be Penn State’s top candidate, as a former Nittany Lion, but he had NFL offers last cycle, and there will be more coming this year for sure. Would be interesting if Franklin bolts for FSU after Rhule has taken an NFL job. Not sure who the target would become then. Maybe Matt Campbell.
November 21st, 2019 at 11:57 AM ^
Franklin should hold out for USC
November 21st, 2019 at 12:02 PM ^
I don't like the idea of Rhule coming there. I'd prefer Franklin to stay.
November 21st, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
Florida State would be an amazing job. Only one other real team in the whole conference. The best high school talent in the country. That program should have one or fewer losses every year and be in the top 10 going into bowl season.
November 21st, 2019 at 12:29 PM ^
FSU is probably no more than a lateral move right now in terms of prestige, but it'll be easier to win at FSU. All you've got to deal with right now is Clemson, and then the rest of the conference is a barren wasteland.
Here, you're dealing with MSU, Michigan and OSU all in the same division. Hell, the third best team in that division is usually still ranked in the top-15. At FSU, as long as you get past Clemson you're golden. And recruiting at FSU is like shooting fish in a barrel.
November 21st, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
Franklin has talked about how his ambition is to be the first black head coach to win a National Title.
For at least the next 52 hours, that dream is still alive here in the 2019 season.
But, if/when PSU falls out of the National Title race, I expect this talk to heat up considerably - and I can see him going. Florida State and the ACC provides, generally, an easier road to the CFP then Penn State and the B1G.
Franklin's buyout, if he leaves, is crazy low. Around $1MM. That will not be a constraint.
November 21st, 2019 at 1:15 PM ^
What are the chances he gets death threats if he leaves?
November 21st, 2019 at 1:53 PM ^
0.000% chance I make a death threat.
Didn't Mr. Klima only have 1 e in his first name?
November 21st, 2019 at 3:24 PM ^
By what criteria is Penn State a better program than FSU or more of a blue blood? Penn State hasn't won a natty more recently, it's won fewer conference titles over the last ten years, and Penn State has to go through Ohio/Michigan/Wisconsin instead of FSU just having the one team to beat.
The only thing Penn State definitely has an advantage on is alumni/donor base. FSU was an all girls teaching school until 1949, they don't have old money donors. That's it.
November 21st, 2019 at 6:19 PM ^
Both schools have storied histories but PSU does not come close to matching FSU in many very important ways. I lived in Georgia a couple of years and the fervor with which football is played and treated down there is unmatched anywhere north of the Mason-Dixon. I am sure Franklin is aware of the realities here and if he is given the opportunity to head south he will need to take a long look in the mirror and decide if he can stand that boiling pot-because football is very serious business at FSU.
November 21st, 2019 at 3:33 PM ^
He would be smart to leave for FSU. If they're serious about him, they will offer a top-5 contract, probably making him the highest-paid coach without a national title. They have an easier path to becoming 2nd-best in their division (and you have to assume Clemson cannot keep this up forever...see their program's previous two decades prior to Swinney) and possibly the best talent pool in the country when neither UF or Miami is in a dominant stretch.
November 21st, 2019 at 4:46 PM ^
For all the clown show that FSU's athletic department is, I have this feeling that they would stumble into a good hire without even meaning to make a good hire.
November 21st, 2019 at 5:04 PM ^
FSU might not be the blue blood that PSU isWhat? FSU has three national championships in the past 30 years (1993, 1999, and 2013), three fairly recent Heisman Trophy winners (Charlie Ward in 1994, Chris Weinke in 2000, and Jameis Winston in 2013), and a CFP appearance (2014). PSU has none of those things. They also don't have the worst scandal in NCAA history in their recent past and an insane fanbase who worships one of the men responsible for that scandal.
November 21st, 2019 at 6:50 PM ^
I always thought FSU would be a great spot for a HC. Like you mentioned it’s a high talent region that gets to play worse competition in the ACC. I guess the only negative would be the intense instate recruiting.
November 21st, 2019 at 7:37 PM ^
I'd love for Franklin to stay where he is, but... whateva! I feel like we will kill them no matter what.
November 21st, 2019 at 8:56 PM ^
Much ado about nothing!
November 21st, 2019 at 9:23 PM ^
I've heard the same Rumor Mill about Brian Kelly. Just hearsay from my brother-in-law who's an alumni.
November 21st, 2019 at 10:33 PM ^
I think Frames to FSU and Taggart to Penn State. Yep, that's the ticket.