USC coaching search: Possible prime candidate issues firmest declaration yet
By Keith Farner
Published:
James Franklin has issued his latest, and so far, most declarative statement yet about being rumored as a candidate for the open Southern Cal job.
Franklin said he is “not going anywhere” while speaking at the State College Quarterback Club, per Neil Rudel of the Altoona Mirror. Rudel added that the crowd of 175-200 gave him a rousing ovation.
Franklin has faced questions for weeks about the job speculation, and it’s led to Franklin’s worst full season in the 8 he’s been at Happy Valley, if you take out last year’s 4-5 shortened season.
The Nittany Lions are 6-4, but started 5-0 start before they lost to Iowa, Illinois and Ohio State. They beat Maryland after those 3 straight losses, but lost to Michigan on Saturday.
Earlier in the week, Franklin addressed it in another way at a press conference.
“We’ve been in the same situation before, and we’ve had really strong seasons,” he said, via Lions247. “I think you’re also in a situation, obviously, this year where we’ve lost some games that we had a chance to win and our record looks a little bit different. So I get people are trying to connect the dots. All the things that I’m able to control, I’m controlling. But I get it. I understand the business. I understand people’s concerns.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
