James Franklin responds to USC, FSU coaching rumors

As is become the norm every year, James Franklin’s name has begun circulating with other high-profiled opened or expected to be vacant head coaching opportunities.

Franklin sounds used to it at this point. On Tuesday, he shared how he deals with it while reaffirming that he loves Penn State.

“All those things that take away from that we try to stay away from it as much as we can,” Franklin said in his Tuesday press conference.

James Franklin on coaching speculation and how he handles it in general: "All those things that take away from that we try to stay away from it as much as we can. … We love it here. Really enjoy coaching these guys and don't really see that changing anytime soon."

— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 5, 2019

Franklin also tried a new tactic for squashing rumors that he could leave Penn State. He turned it around and mentioned that his opponent this week, Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck, should receive plenty of attention from other programs on the coaching carousel as well.

Penn State coach James Franklin turned a news-conference question on speculation about his future in State College, Pa., over to #Gophers coach PJ Fleck, saying he's heard Fleck's name come up in coaching carousel talk.

"Call him all week," Franklin joked. "I got his number."

— Andy Greder (@andygreder) November 5, 2019

Franklin is in his sixth season at Penn State and has the Nittany Lions 8-0. He owns a 53-21 record at Penn State and hasn’t lost more than four games in any of the last four seasons (including 2019).

If Franklin and Penn State can get through the regular season undefeated or pick up a win or two in the postseason, the Nittany Lions could record their first 12-win season this year since 1994.

That amount of success is why other programs such as Florida State and USC are rumored to be interested in Franklin, but Penn State is a pretty elite job itself. While Ohio State is routinely in its way, Penn State is a prestigious program with top-notch facilities, and it doesn’t sound like Franklin is at all uphappy in his current position.