Yes, they've had a bad season. But their losses came to a very good Oregon team and a resurgent UCLA and 4-2 Northwestern.
He took them to the Big-10 championship game and the national semifinals just last year, but it feels like "how dare you lose" a few games.
The biggest thing that was hanging over Franklin's head was his record against Top-10 teams, particularly, Top-5 teams. That reminds me of Bob Stoops at Oklahoma years ago. He won a national championship in just his second season and earned the nickname "Big Game, Bob", but as years passed, he started coming back to Earth with two championship game losses and a Fiesta Bowl loss to Boise State.
It's said that Penn State wants either Matt Rhule from Nebraska or Mike Elko at Texas A&M. I'm sure they're looking at other coaches, as well.
That said, I have no doubt that James Frankllin will land on his feet somewhere else and be just fine. I expect the Wisconsin job to be open after the season is over, as well as the Auburn job. If I were them I'd jump at the chance to take Coach Franklin. He has SEC experience from his time at Vanderbilt and might build a powerhouse at Wisconsin.
Bottom line is this; the "what have you done for me lately" attitude towards coaches in this era is horrible. It seems so unfair to the man. On the other hand, college football is BIG business, and brings in the most revenue by far to most athletic departments, so sometimes there's no choice but to make changes in order to keep the seats full and the TV money coming in.
I wish James Franklin well, wherever he lands. I'd like to see him take a Wisconsin team back to Penn State and beat them during a whiteout game. That'll teach them.
