Will Penn State coach James Franklin soon tell all he's 'not going anywhere'?: One big thing

STATE COLLEGE — It appears that James Franklin and Penn State may be close to making a definitive statement about their future together.

According to Neil Rudel of The Altoona Mirror, the eighth-year leader of the Nittany Lions told members of the State College Quarterback Club on Wednesday that “I’m not going anywhere.”

Presumably, he was asked at the usually off-the-record lunch about being connected to other jobs over the last few months. That was his response, per those there who informed Rudel. Franklin has not denied saying it.

Lately, the chatter has been shifting away from other jobs and more toward a new Penn State deal that would undoubtedly provide more funding for his program and likely the coach, too. As of Saturday, no formal announcement had been made or even scheduled, however.

Monday update: The aforementioned meeting is now set for Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. The agenda merely lists an unspecified that a “personnel matter”

Franklin was asked to address the comment on Saturday after his Penn State team blasted Rutgers 28-0 at Beaver Stadium. His response hinted that something could have happened already but didn’t. It might do so at any time moving forward, though. Saturday night update: As Statecollege.com reports and the Board of Trustees’ website says, its Committee on Compensation will meet virtually on Tuesday. Neither a time nor agenda have been set, but it of course is very notable given the context of this story.

Monday update: The aforementioned meeting is now set for 3:45 p.m. The only agenda item is an unspecified “personnel matter.”

We’ll present the full transcript below courtesy of Penn State Athletics:

Question: Your comment to the quarterback club assuring that you’re not going anywhere. Do you plan to disclose that to everybody else?

Answer from James Franklin:

“I’d like to right now talk about Rutgers. I get it. I’d like to talk about Rutgers. I made that statement because I thought something was going to happen a little bit sooner. Tuesday we can talk about that as much as you guys want to talk about that. I’d like to talk about Rutgers. I get it and I understand the questions.

“I’ve tried to tell you guys before, these things are much more complicated than just a simple yes- and no-answers. With me, I just am always trying to be as transparent as possible and tell you guys what I know. And, when I say something, it’s going to happen. If we could wait until Tuesday, I’d appreciate it, but I also understand the question.”

What it means

James Franklin speaks with reporters every Tuesday afternoon. He’s inside the Beaver Stadium press room and members of the media are on ZOOM. So, that’s what he was referring to in that part of the quote. He’ll talk this Tuesday prior to the Michigan State game.

It goes without saying that all sides would undoubtedly like to button up the years ahead sooner rather than later. That’s true even if Franklin signed an extension in February of 2020 that runs through 2025. In college football, especially these days, coaches and universities negotiate more than ever before despite what is on the books. That is, undoubtedly, what’s going on here. Look no further than Jimbo Fisher’s gigantic extension at Texas A&M or the reports of Mel Tucke’s pending payday at Michigan State for examples of that.

Assuming something does happen soon, a group will scoff at this statement seemingly coming to fruition as the Lions improved to 7-5 because it didn’t happen until after a 5-0 start was derailed.

Others will be relieved but wonder if it really will take his name out of the coaching carousel in the years ahead.

Some will be indifferent to any of that and simply excited for the future with a coach who is about to sign a high-level recruiting class and is 67-32 during his time here.

Regardless of which side of the fence you’re on, it’s probably safe to say that all can agree that some kind of definitive word will be good for everyone. The stage has been set for a future course to be set. A betting person would say that will likely happen sooner rather than later.