James Franklin reacts to the 'unusual' situation of Chip Kelly leaving UCLA for Ohio State

James Franklin was surprised Chip Kelly left his head coaching gig at UCLA to go to Ohio State as the offensive coordinator.

He wasn’t the only one. Franklin mentioned Tom Allen coming from Indiana to become Penn State’s defensive coordinator after the Hoosiers let him go.

But the Kelly situation was certainly different and perhaps out of left field.

“That was a pretty unusual situation,” Franklin said. “I wouldn’t describe that as similar to the situation with Tom. That was pretty unusual. But I think (it’s) pretty telling about, you know, where college football is at and how the job has changed, and how a lot of those factors can be outside of your control.

“And I don’t know all the details of that and I don’t know all the perspectives on that but that one, a sitting head coach in the conference that leaves to go be a coordinator feeling professionally, that was a better decision and a better job.”

Franklin will still see Kelly in the Big Ten of course, since the latter is with the Buckeyes. Penn State hosts Ohio State on November 2nd this season and Allen’s defense will have to contain Kelly’s loaded offense.

Heck, it could be a game that determines the top two teams in the Big Ten.

Kelly hasn’t had this much talent on an offense in quite a bit. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day pointed that out when discussing Kelly’s abilities to draw everything up.

“I think he would tell you he is very excited about what he has in terms of the talent level on the perimeter, up front, the running backs, the quarterback options, the tight ends. So that’s the journey that we’re on. You know, what is it that fits that,” Day said at Big Ten Media Days. “Then it’s my job as the head coach to make sure it fits complementary football across the board and that the offense is complementing the defense.

“In terms of the second part of your question, what he brings, you know, for me turning it over, I really wanted to have somebody that had head coaching experience. Now, never thought that you would have somebody that was a head coach the way he has been in college and in the NFL and that background. It allows me a little more of a peace of mind and certainly a lot of trust there.”