New Game in Coaching

By Jim Gazzolo

Ten months ago, James Franklin was one play away from going to the national championship game.

Three months ago, his Penn State team was considered by some to be the favorite to win the title this year.

And just three weeks ago, Franklin and his Nittany Lions were at home in overtime against Oregon as the No. 3 team in the nation.

Today, Franklin is out of a job, though he will receive a $49 million buyout not to coach Penn State.

Hunting season on college football head coaches is coming earlier and earlier each fall. Franklin is not the only one to lose his job already this season, before the pumpkins are even out on the porch in the Midwest.

He is, however, the biggest name in a growing trend as the business of college football continues to rise, as does the pressure. 

It’s hard to call this unfair when the guy will make a lot of money to sit at home in his recliner if he chooses. Franklin is set for life.

This is why I have no issue with players chasing the money these days, as school officials are making it clear that it’s all about the money. They are teaching the players well. 

Forget all the talk about what is good for the student/athletes; this is all about the money. Plain and simple. 

When you consider the mess Franklin took over at Penn State a dozen falls ago, and how he has cleaned it up, this seems like a quick hook. But Franklin himself said this was the best talent he has ever had at Penn State, so he signed his own death certificate with those words over the summer.

Are you watching Brian Kelly?

The LSU head coach made a similar promise before his summer camp opened, stating that his Tigers would secure a playoff spot, if not a place in the national title game. One loss already makes you wonder how thin the ice is he’s skating on in Baton Rouge.

There will be others who will follow in Franklin’s footsteps, even if Kelly does not. Places like Michigan, Texas, and a few selected others think they belong in the national title talk each season, even if they don’t. 

That’s just the nature of the business, and when you include new folks investing big money into the game, they want to see a return on their investments. The pressure on coaches around the country has never been greater.

That doesn’t mean Penn State was right or wrong for getting rid of their head coach six games into the season; it just proves that this is no longer a game for the weak of heart. This is big-time college football played by big-money coaches with record contracts.

Fans will just have to get used to it.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers sports in Southwest Louisiana. He is also the host of Poke Nation, which airs weekly on CBS-Lake Charles.