Penn State players behind James Franklin after ‘Fire Franklin’ chants in White Out loss

 Penn State players behind James Franklin after ‘Fire Franklin’ chants in White Out loss

 

 

Oregon running back Jordon Davison waltzed into the end zone to increase his squad’s lead over Penn State to 17-3. Soon after, the student section made its frustrations clear.

“Fire Franklin,” the students chanted. 

 

The Nittany Lions would then rally to force overtime, but the Happy Valley faithful’s age-old feeling of “big-game” James Franklin struck again. Penn State lost its White Out game to Oregon, 30-24, and Franklin and his squad was forced to react to the fans' frustrations once again.

“Think about someone watching you on your job,” Penn State center Nick Dawkins said. “It’s tough.”

The fans’ frustrations come as the 12-year Penn State coach boasts a record of 4-21 against AP top-10 teams during his tenure. The latter two wins were the College Football Playoff win over Boise State in December and the 2023 Rose Bowl win over Utah.

Franklin’s record against top programs is brought up often. To some, it’s a product of harping on the downfalls of the veteran coach while ignoring the positives, but Franklin said it for what it is after the game.

“I kind of look at the entire picture. I get that narrative, and it’s not really a narrative, it’s factual,” Franklin said despite acknowledging the successes of his program. “I totally get it, and I take ownership, and I take responsibility at the end of the day.”

The Nittany Lions brought back many veterans, like Dawkins, and they’ve heard plenty of the uproar. Fifth-year safety Zakee Wheatley said he didn’t hear the “Fire Franklin” chants, but in general he tries not to pay attention to what the crowd has to say in down moments.

“The same people chanting going to be the same ones rooting for us down the road,” Wheatley said. “You can’t read too much into it.”

Wide receiver Devonte Ross added to that sentiment, saying the team doesn’t “react” to the negative comments.

To the two’s point, the Happy Valley faithful showed up and showed out for the White Out game. Franklin asked for the crowd to be on its feet for the entire game and prove why Penn State’s the best atmosphere in college football.

That brought 111,015 fans — 15 spectators shy of tying the all-time Beaver Stadium attendance record — and a push to help the team gain momentum even after the chants rained out.

But the fanbase has made it clear something must give.