Category Archives: James Franklin

02.12.14
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A Family Affair

Nick Scott

We don’t usually cover recruiting here at the Blog, but this seems like an appropriate time to make an exception. We got an email Tuesday from Matt Hoffert ’01, a health and phys ed teacher and assistant football coach at Fairfax (Va.) High School—that’s Matt standing, above on the left. The photo was taken last week on National Signing Day; the smiling young man in the ball cap and tie is Nick Scott, a versatile athlete and member of James Franklin’s first Penn State recruiting class. He’s flanked by his parents, Irvin and Kisha. Continue reading →

01.25.14
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The Sharks on Special Teams

NektonMaybe the most memorable soundbite from Friday’s press conference introducing James Franklin’s coaching staff came from Charles Huff, the Nittany Lions’ special teams coordinator and running backs coach. Huff, who said he’d been asked repeatedly about the “identity” of his special teams units, offered up a phrase that stumped most (if not all) of the assembled media: a “nekton mentality.”

He smiled as he added, “I’m not sure how many science teachers are in the building…” Continue reading →

01.15.14
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About Those Balloons…

Photo by Tina Hay

Photo by Tina Hay

For all of the memorable things James Franklin said when he was introduced last weekend as Penn State’s 16th head football coach, the line about the balloons might’ve been the most memorable of all. In case you missed it:

“Me and my wife and children will be out in this community. We’ll not turn down a speaking engagement. We’ll get out and interact with people … People ask us to blow up balloons at their kid’s birthday party in the backyard, we’ll do that.” Continue reading →

01.11.14
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The Man For the Job

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Penn State got its man.

With James Franklin’s arrival today as the Nittany Lions’ 16th head football coach, that’s the only logical conclusion. Less than two years removed from NCAA sanctions that many thought would cripple the program, Penn State has hired arguably the most dynamic and talented young coaching prospect in the nation. Continue reading →