If James Franklin wants to stay at Penn State, he should say it [opinion]

The talk of James Franklin leaving Penn State for another college football coaching job has decreased with each loss and is now barely a whisper.

Four defeats by 18 points after a promising 5-0 start will do that.

This was the fourth time in five seasons that national media members have linked Franklin’s name to other jobs. It’s annoyed Nittany Lions fans, who have wondered whether it’s been a distraction to him, his staff or his players.

“Yes, you do,” Franklin said when asked last month if he gets tired of addressing the rumors internally.

So then why not put an end to those rumors once and for all? Why not come out and say that you’re fully committed to Penn State or that you hope to continue to coach the Lions for a long time?

Especially since he’s told multiple people privately that he wants to stay at Penn State.

Franklin has made it abundantly clear that he wants Penn State administrators to increase their investment in the football program to the level of an Alabama or an Ohio State. We don’t know if that means facilities, salaries, staffing or all of the above.

Why wage that campaign in public like he has for several years? Why do it during a press conference three days after losing to Michigan? Why not do it behind closed doors? Why not do it after the season instead of in the middle of it?

Two years ago at the Cotton Bowl, Penn State director of athletics Sandy Barbour said the reports mentioning Franklin as a candidate for other jobs didn’t bother her. She called them “awesome” and “fantastic.”

Then she was asked if increasing salaries of assistant football coaches and improving facilities were part of contract negotiations then with Franklin.

“Those are conversations we have, frankly, almost daily, certainly weekly, about our ability to compete,” Barbour said. “I would hesitate to say those ended up being part of his contract negotiation.

“Don’t get me wrong; James is always looking out for his assistants. James is always pushing for what’s going to help Penn State be competitive. That is always happening, but those commitments were made by us long ago.”

Overall, Franklin has done a very good job as the Lions coach after taking over in the throes of NCAA sanctions. He’s had three 11-win seasons, three New Year’s Six bowl appearances and three top-10 finishes in the polls.

He’s had one losing record in eight seasons, and that came after Penn State lost All-America linebacker Micah Parsons (opted out) and leading rusher Journey Brown (medical condition) before the first game.

Does Franklin have flaws? Of course, particularly with game management.

Last week, he inexplicably called a fake field goal in the first quarter of the Lions’ 21-17 loss to Michigan instead of leaving the offense on the field 2 yards from the end zone or kicking a field goal.

In a 27-26 loss to Ohio State in 2018, Penn State didn’t throw on fourth-and-5 late in the fourth quarter. Miles Sanders took a handoff and was stopped for a 2-yard loss by Chase Young.

Those are two of the more glaring in-game mistakes Franklin has made.

On the plus side, Penn State players continue to graduate at a high rate. They’ve mostly stayed out of trouble off the field during his tenure. He also seems to motivate the Lions because they rarely lack for effort.

Most of all, Franklin is outstanding in recruiting, the lifeblood of any college program. He and his staff have worked to receive commitments from 25 high school seniors in a class that’s ranked among the top five nationally.

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, whose name has been linked to the LSU job, said it best. With the Aggies’ Class of 2022 also ranked in the top five, he said he would be “the dumbest human being” to leave.

“I want to be at A&M,” Fisher said this week. “I plan on being at A&M. I ain’t going nowhere. I don’t want to be nowhere else. I love being right here.”

If Franklin feels that way about Penn State, he should say it.