No. 3 Penn State Football has heard it all over the past decade-plus.
“Drew Allar ain’t it.”
“James Franklin is overrated.”
“Allar sucks, waste of a QB spot.”
“Fire Franklin!”
“Allar can’t handle pressure, get him out.”
“Big Game James is a fraud.”
Sound familiar?
James Franklin and Drew Allar have shared the same criticisms throughout their journey together.
Fans demanding “more, better” have failed to recognize that rebuilding a program from the ground up—developing a philosophy, a vision, and winning cleanly and consistently—is not easy. Turning a teenage talent into the elite leader of a top-ten football program takes time, which can be challenging in a society of instant gratification and short attention spans.
“He has built this thing from the ground up,” Allar said in a post-game interview in Los Angeles, following Penn State’s narrative-shifting victory over USC.
“There’s no one harder on myself than me,” Allar said in a recent interview when asked about living up to expectations. He endured the tough losses last year and brushed off criticism of the offensive line.
“People have no idea the amount of work we put in, that Coach Franklin puts in,” Allar stated emotionally after leading the Nittany Lions to victory over USC. “The people that bash online have no idea.”
Where James Franklin, Drew Allar Have Made Greatest Strides in 2024
Drew Allar has shown significant improvement and is currently ranked 7th nationally in overall QBR. James Franklin’s vision and leadership have created an environment where the junior QB can flourish.
“I need to clean up the turnovers, but it is what it is,” Allar said after the USC game. Mistakes happen, but what matters is how you respond.
It was James Franklin who fired Mike Yurcich and brought in offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who now has the Nittany Lions‘ offense ranked 14th in the nation.
It was Franklin who recruited Tom Allen, currently leading Penn State’s defense to an 8th national ranking.
Tyler Warren, who is arguably the best tight end in the country, is there because of Franklin.
Nick Singleton and the rest of Penn State’s playmakers are part of this team because of Franklin’s recruiting.
During Franklin’s tenure, Penn State ranks 8th among active coaches in terms of NFL players produced. Franklin has also outperformed expectations: while the average recruiting ranking under his leadership is 15th, Penn State’s average team ranking is 9.5. Factoring in NIL challenges, Franklin has done an exceptional job with what he has.
For some, none of this matters. They demand “improvement” from their couches, lacking any real perspective.
But Franklin will “get over the hump” and win the big games. He has the staff, the talent, and the vision, which is now coming to fruition.
The “online bashers,” as Drew Allar called them, may never be satisfied. But the only relationship that matters is between James Franklin and his team.
“There’s no other guy I’d rather go to war with. I love Coach Franklin.”
The Drew Allar that many were waiting for has arrived. And it’s because of Coach James Franklin that Penn State is sitting at 6-0, ranked No. 3 in the nation, with a wide-open destiny ahead.
MORE: Penn State’s Game Balls, MVP From USC Victory
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He has been recognized for his work as a photographer and has also contributed to various publications including PennLive and The Weather Channel.
Brad is an Air Force veteran, coach and competitive runner that grew up a Nittany Lions fan as his family is originally from the State College area.
His diverse skillset and experiences provide for interesting perspectives on the college football, and sports topics of the day.