Did James Franklin take a jab at Jim Harbaugh's recruiting methods?
James Franklin was allowed to address recruits by name for the first time on Wednesday after Penn State’s 2016 class was signed.
That didn’t mean he was ready to address Jim Harbaugh by name.
The Penn State coach wasn’t asked specifically about the Michigan coach, but he was questioned about what he thinks of the various recruiting methods other coaches use.
To that, he had this to say:
James Franklin on what he thinks of some coaches' recruiting strategies: "We want to be creative, not creepy."
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) February 3, 2016
Jim Harbaugh, of course, slept over at the house of the nation’s top kicker, Quinn Nordin, who at the time was a Penn State commit. But Nordin later decommitted from Penn State and announced on Wednesday that he was going to Michigan.
Harbaugh did say that he didn’t sleep in the same room as Nordin, which was the original idea he pitched. He slept in his sister’s room — she wasn’t there — and said on Wednesday that it was one of the most comfortable beds he’d ever slept it.
In fact, Harbaugh admitted on Wednesday that he slept over at the house of five different recruits.
Perhaps that’s what Franklin was referring to when he said that Penn State didn’t want to be “creepy.” The Lions did have their own methods, which were considered borderline, though they weren’t “creepy.”
RELATED: Nation’s top kicker chooses Michigan
Penn State created a minor controversy when they introduced four-star cornerback Lavert Hill at a hockey game. It wasn’t an NCAA violation, but there were some who questioned whether or not it was.
Hill, a former Penn State commit, ultimately picked Michigan over the likes of PSU and Michigan State on Wednesday.
Hill’s commitment was before Harbaugh hosted the “Signing of the Stars” event, which had a long guest list that included the likes of Derek Jeter and Tom Brady. The event ended with Michigan landing its first ever consensus No. 1 recruit in Rashan Gary.
Harbaugh was indeed creative, and you can debate whether or not he was “creepy.” But Michigan tight end Jake Butt didn’t take too kindly to Franklin’s indirect knock.
Some call it creepy, weird, "too much". I call it GETTING THE JOB DONE… Watch us work! Already excited for next season
— Jake Butt (@Jbooty88) February 3, 2016
Michigan and Penn State will face off on Sept. 24 to open B1G play. Get ready for an awkward pregame handshake.