Anchor Of Gold - Will James Franklin Weigh Anchor?The Unofficial Vanderbilt Commodores Blog * Now With Fewer Law Degrees!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46811/anchor-fave.png2014-01-16T12:14:08-05:00http://www.anchorofgold.com/rss/stream/50593232014-01-16T12:14:08-05:002014-01-16T12:14:08-05:00Is Franklin Justified to Pull Recruits from Vandy?
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<figcaption>Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's not a popular stance, but James Franklin's decision to honor his Vanderbilt scholarship offers at Penn State makes sense. In fact, it's the closure that Vandy fans may need to move on.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">I don't think <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">James Franklin</a> is trying to screw over Vanderbilt.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Yes, he's pulling recruits from the Commodore Class of 2014. Yes, he may have lied to administrators and players on his way out of Nashville. Yes, his recent "thank you" in the midst of a rapidly dwindling supply of coaches and recruits seems trite.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But I don't think that it's malicious.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">James Franklin is simply watching over his best interests, which are now Penn State's best interests. This isn't a new or unique trait from him. Franklin worked hard to raise Vanderbilt up from the depths because he understood that building a culture benefitted everyone. Now, he's trying to recreate that symbiotic culture in Happy Valley. While it may come at Vandy's expense, it's a justifiable loss from CJF's perspective.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This won't make me many friends around Vandyville, but from a risk/reward scenario, Franklin's actions make sense. Here's his situation. He has two options</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>a)</b> Keep his bond with Vanderbilt and cut ties with the players he's recruited, regardless of his relationship with them.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>b)</b> Keep his bond with his recruits and honor the scholarship offer he gave them in Nashville.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Choosing (a) is an integrity move, but it does nothing to help Franklin. It works to strengthen a relationship that he no longer has. Once the coach decided to leave for Happy Valley, that tie was effectively severed. Vanderbilt recruits, many of whom opened up their recruitment after Franklin's departure, weren't guaranteed to stay in Nashville anyway. Any player who was so invested in CJF that they would follow him to the Nittany Lions was unlikely to stay in Vandy without him.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Choosing (b) burns Vanderbilt. It also benefits the coach and the recruits that he has built a relationship with over the past year. It also holds him to a bond and offer he made to incoming players, albeit at a different university. Those players can be a part of his future. Vandy's current players can be nothing but his past. If he goes down this road, he benefits himself, Penn State, and the players that he's been working with for the past two years (while burning the ones he worked with intimately for the last three).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Either way, Franklin was going to take a hit. He can either catch heat from Vandy fans or lose out on players he thinks can build a program. He chose the path that benefits him the most and moves him forward instead of tying him to a fanbase that had already begun to turn on him as PSU's coaching search heated up. That absolutely sucks for Vanderbilt - but the university isn't the one making that decision.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Ultimately, the choice to leave comes down to what the players want. Ideally, these high school students would choose a team based on a combination of the coaching staff, a program's prestige, and the university behind it. However, the players that have based their decision on the ebullient coach that has been a constant in their lives throughout their senior years don't have the same connection to Vanderbilt as they do to James Franklin. Nothing should stand in their way when it comes to making the choice that serves them the best.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">As for Franklin, dwelling on his choices won't make Vanderbilt any better (and I understand how that sounds after posting and venting over his thank-you message earlier in the day). This is a no-win situation for Vandy, a bitter taste that won't go away - but it also gives this team closure. James Franklin doesn't want this relationship anymore. That chapter of Commodore history is over. A new chapter begins as soon as David Williams makes his latest coaching hire in the coming week.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">So don't begrudge a coach that honors his bond with a player from another era. Look forward to the players who want to be part of the next great generation of Commodore football.</p>
https://www.anchorofgold.com/2014/1/16/5315548/james-franklin-isnt-right-to-pull-vanderbilt-recruits-penn-state-college-footballChristian D'Andrea2014-01-14T14:19:32-05:002014-01-14T14:19:32-05:00Vanderbilt Set to Interview Stanford DC Derek Mason<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20140113/SPORTS0602/301130054/Vanderbilt-s-Williams-hits-road-search-new-football-coach">Vanderbilt Set to Interview Stanford DC Derek&nbsp;Mason</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Vandy's coaching search will continue this week as Athletic Director David Williams reaches out to one of the hottest names amongst assistant coaches in the NCAA. Stanford's Derek Mason engineered a stellar Cardinal defense in 2013 and is regarded as one of the best defensive minds in the business.</p></p></div>
https://www.anchorofgold.com/2014/1/14/5308562/vanderbilt-set-to-interview-stanford-dc-derek-masonChristian D'Andrea2014-01-13T13:16:23-05:002014-01-13T13:16:23-05:00Vandy HC Search: A Look at Possible Candidates
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<figcaption>Tyler Smith</figcaption>
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<p>Greg Roman? Chad Morris? Herb Hand? Vanderbilt will have plenty of qualified options when it comes to replacing James Franklin. Today, we'll look at the guys who have been tied to the vacant spot at the top of the Commodores' leadership chart.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">James Franklin</a> may no longer be Vanderbilt's head coach, but more than 20 candidates have already reached out to AD David Williams to express interest in the job.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">That alone is a win for a football program that was resigned to scouring I-AA teams to find a leader over a decade ago. Franklin may have spurned the fanbase he helped build when he left for Penn State last week, but he undoubtedly left this team in better condition than how he found it back in 2010. Williams noted that of the coaches that had contacted him regarding the position, at least five had previously turned down a chance to interview with the Commodores following Bobby Johnson's retirement.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">That means that the school will have a chance to pull some hot names into their coaching search. The 'Dores will have the opportunity to kick the tires on a long list of leaders whose experience range from the Sun Belt to the NFC West. Today, we've put together a list of six coaches who have been discussed the most in concert with Vandy's vacant position. Here's a brief look at the gentlemen who could be the next head coach to drop anchor in Nashville.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>The Smart-School Coordinators:</i></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Greg Roman</b>. Roman is currently the San Francisco 49ers' Offensive Coordinator, but he previously teamed with coach Jim Harbaugh in 2009 and 2010 to lead Stanford to 20 wins and an Orange Bowl victory. He'll be a tough interview to lock down with the NFC Championship Game looming, but the young assistant has shown interest in returning to the college game as the head coach of a major-conference program.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Like James Franklin before him, Roman is a 41-year old rising star who is known for his offensive prowess (he also had the chance to interview with Penn State before the Vandy coach ultimately took the position). He has played a key role in developing players into stars despite a harsh academic environment and a fanbase that isn't known for filling stadiums. That's the kind of track record that Vanderbilt officials will be looking for this winter. There are questions regarding whether or not Roman would be interested in coming to Nashville due to his high profile in the NFL, but Williams will do his best to make Natchez Trace an enticing destination if he decides that the 49ers coach is his guy.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Derek Mason</b>. Mason is Stanford's Defensive Coordinator and the only defensive specialist (aside from a Bob Shoop mention) to dot today's list. Like James Franklin, he's a coaching nomad who has risen through the ranks to become a top coordinator after several stops along the way. Mason had coached for Weber State, Utah, St. Mary's, Ohio, the Minnesota Vikings, and others before earning the associate head coach role for the Cardinal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Mason put together a defense that allowed just 19 points per game in 2013. That includes a three-game stretch where his team held UCLA, Oregon, and Oregon State to just 42 combined points (their 2013 combined scoring average? 116). That would be a good fit for the Commodores, who have a roster full of talented defensive players despite losing seven starters from last year's 9-4 team. Mason has a history of developing athletes and creating defensive schemes that work. Imagine what he could do with guys like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116268/kyle-woestmann">Kyle Woestmann</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158309/caleb-azubike">Caleb Azubike</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158313/adam-butler">Adam Butler</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158296/darreon-herring">Darreon Herring</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158293/paris-head">Paris Head</a> in 2014.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Chad Morris</b>. Morris engineered Clemson's high octane offense as Dabo Swinney's coordinator from 2011 to 2013. In that span, he's been named OC of the Year (in 2011, by Rivals.com), helped the Tigers get to a pair of BCS bowl games, and overseen 32 wins in three years. Before that, he - like Vandy's own Herb Hand - took a successful turn running Tulsa's offense and helping the Golden Hurricane score more than 41 points per game in 2010. After turning Tahj Boyd into a beast, he'd have the opportunity to develop <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158284/patton-robinette">Patton Robinette</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/208229/johnny-mccrary">Johnny McCrary</a> into similarly scary quarterbacks for the Commodores.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Clemson officials have gone on record to suggest that they'll work overtime to retain their highly-touted assistant, but the lure of a head coaching job in the SEC could be too much for them to compete with. The school has already made him the highest-paid coordinator in the NCAA thanks to a $1.3m annual salary. Can the Tigers provide Morris with the opportunities they'd need to if Morris were offered the Vandy position? With Swinney firmly entrenched at Clemson, a head coaching offer in Nashville could be enough to pull one of the ACC's rising stars to the real south.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>The Small School Coaches:</i></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pete Lembo</b>. Lembo, the head coach at Ball State, has earned praise as a player favorite in his three years with the Cardinals. In that span, he's led his team to two bowl games (two losses) and a 25-13 record. He's gone 17-7 against the MAC and beaten four BCS opponents, though two of those wins came against Indiana. He's a big part of the trend they call "MAC-tion," thanks to a high-powered offense (38.5 ppg in '13) that helped make Tuesday night football a piece of weekday pigskin salvation over the past three years.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Lembo has a trait that Vanderbilt has relied on in the past; a successful FCS background. He has taken both Lehigh and Elon to the I-AA playoffs in his career. His teams finished in the final top 25 rankings in six of his 10 years as a FCS coach. Lembo had previously applied for the vacant head coach position at Wake Forest, so he believes that he can handle the challenge of running a program with tough academics and a fan base that lags behind the rest of the conference.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Mark Hudspeth</b>. Hudspeth has made the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns relevant in the Sun Belt, guiding them to the most successful stretch of football in school history. He's notched three-straight nine-win seasons at Louisiana after making the jump from Division II North Alabama, and he may be looking for another challenge now that he's proven himself in the shallow end of D-I football.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Hudspeth doesn't have a series of quality wins to hang his hat on. He's 0-6 against teams from BCS auto-qualifier conferences in his career. He did, however, hold Arizona and Florida to one-possession wins on the road despite having a severely outmatched roster. The young coach has a track record of success at the lower levels, but that may no longer be enough to earn the top job at Vanderbilt. The Commodores may instead look at candidates with more experience working with bigger programs.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>The In-House Fan Favorite:</i></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Herb Hand</b>. Hand, Vandy's Offensive Line Coach, Twitter hype specialist, and cooking savant, is expected to interview for the Vanderbilt job in the coming days. He and DC Bob Shoop earned praise as the team's most influential and effective assistants under Franklin, and the former Tulsa coordinator has become a favorite among fans due to his vivacious personality. With Shoop likely headed to Happy Valley, Coach Hand may be the most likely member of the VU staff to earn a promotion.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Hand actually predates the Franklin era, having come to Nashville in 2009. He stuck it out through Bobby Johnson's resignation and what must have been endless Robbie Caldwell turkey insemination jokes to help build a successful program on West End. He was responsible for building up an offensive line that transformed from cheesecloth into iron and turning players like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/79074/wesley-johnson">Wesley Johnson</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38447/ryan-seymour">Ryan Seymour</a> into leaders that you can build an offense around. Additionally, his Tulsa teams, with their Air Raid offense, once scored 661 points in a single season.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">So, Herb Hand would be fun, at the very least.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>The Constant:</i></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Todd Graham</b>. Because if there's a head coaching vacancy out there, Graham is already on the phone, discussing how to best screw over his current team to get it.</p>
https://www.anchorofgold.com/2014/1/13/5304080/the-vanderbilt-coaching-search-breaking-down-some-likely-candidatesChristian D'Andrea2014-01-11T10:44:40-05:002014-01-11T10:44:40-05:00James Franklin is Officially Penn State's Coach
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<img alt="AND THIS IS THE SOUND A SEA LION MAKES, DOBBS! ARE YOU DISTRACTED YET?" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BxJ9_brF5ga1yfZG0ptxp5wMeJs=/0x92:4000x2759/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26651927/131186251.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>AND THIS IS THE SOUND A SEA LION MAKES, DOBBS! ARE YOU DISTRACTED YET? | Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>Fine. Whatever. As long as we have AD David Williams, we'll be fine.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">It started with "I love you." It ended with "But I'm leaving."</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">James Franklin</a> was officially hired as Penn State University's new football coach on Saturday, ending a three-day process of rumors and reports that put Franklin at the Nittany Lion helm as early as Wednesday night. The 41-year old coach had spent three years at Vanderbilt, leading the Commodores to back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2012 and 2013.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Franklin's deal is worth up to $4.5 million per year. On Friday, reports swirled that Athletic Director David Williams was prepared to offer Vanderbilt's rising star head coach a contract that would have added up to 10 years and $50 million in total compensation, along with various facility upgrades. Unfortunately, Franklin's move to the Big Ten went deeper than a contract could cover.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He began his PSU tenure with a familiar pitch to fans and players:</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><span>When football student-athletes come to Penn State, they have a unique opportunity to receive a premium education while playing at the highest level of competition.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: right;">- James Franklin</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Franklin went 24-15 in three years at Vanderbilt, compiling an 11-13 record against SEC competition. His 11 conference wins give him the fourth-most victories against SEC opponents of any Commodore head coach - a statistic that is in no way depressing for Vandy fans.</p>
<p><span>It is unclear who will succeed Franklin in Nashville. Reports suggest that the university has been in touch with several high profile coordinators and assistants from across the NCAA. Hot names include Stanford's Derek Mason, the San Francisco 49er's Greg Roman, and Vandy's own Herb Hand. Hand, who has a track record of developing and recruiting players, a boisterous personality tailor made for SEC Media Days, and a history at Vanderbilt that predates the James Franklin era, could be a solid fit to take the reins if he does not follow his former head coach to Happy Valley.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Williams will have his work cut out for him when it comes to replacing a record-setting head coach. However, Franklin leaves Vanderbilt in much better shape than he left it thanks to a roster stocked with highly-rated recruits, a campus with new player-friendly facilities, and an administration that is newly committed to developing a football legacy. While the news on Saturday may be grim, there's a new dawn on the horizon for Commodore fans.</p>
https://www.anchorofgold.com/2014/1/11/5298242/james-franklin-is-officially-the-new-head-coach-of-penn-state-footballChristian D'Andrea2014-01-10T12:55:47-05:002014-01-10T12:55:47-05:00Chris Lee: Franklin Hired @PSU, Hesitation a Farce
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<figcaption>SAMUELS! DON'T TELL ANYONE THAT I'M LEAVING! | Grant Halverson</figcaption>
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<p>VandySports.com's Chris Lee was on Nashville Sports Radio today to shed light on the James Franklin situation. According to his sources, Franklin took the Penn State job on Wednesday - and has been lying about the job in order to protect his image.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/chrislee70">VandySports.com Editor Chris Lee</a> (who you need to be following if you're invested in this coaching search in any way) believes that James Franklin has already agreed to terms with Penn State. In fact, the notion that he hasn't made up his mind about a decision is "a farce."</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">That's what Lee told WNSR - Nashville Sports Radio - on Friday morning after hearing multiple sources confirm to him that the Vanderbilt head coach had already taken the PSU job. It's widely believed that Franklin will be announced as the new Nittany Lion coach after the Board of Trustees approves his contract on Saturday morning. The notice for that meeting was Tweeted out by ESPN's Josh Moyer earlier today:</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Here's the ad in PSU's local paper today, advertising Saturday's meeting for a "personnel matter." <a href="http://t.co/wJxse0SLuu">pic.twitter.com/wJxse0SLuu</a></p>
<div style="text-align: justify;">— Josh Moyer (@ESPNJoshMoyer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNJoshMoyer/statuses/421669686430818304">January 10, 2014</a>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Lee believes that Franklin agreed to a contract with Penn State "sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning," but then left Vandy and PSU fans in the lurch as they awaited confirmation.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">He's been playing Vanderbilt and David Williams ever since, just to help his own image. Vanderbilt needs to cut bait from this guy and move on. He's not going to be their coach.</p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><a target="_blank" href="http://vanderbilt.rivals.com/">- Chris Lee</a></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Lee was also optimistic that Vandy would be able to hire a strong leader to take Franklin's place on the throne, intimating that the Commodores have already reached out to a number of high profile assistants. You can hear Lee's interview below.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><iframe src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/128852500&color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" height="166" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Lee also said that rumors that Franklin's buyout includes funding for the program's new athletic facility are not true. Recent speculation had suggested that Penn State would be on the hook for paying for the university's new indoor practice field as part of their compensation package for luring Vandy's coach. There are no details on what Franklin's buyout will bring to campus.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There are still no confirmations from either side that a deal has been reached, so Franklin is still technically the coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores as of 11:51 on January 10th. We'll have more details as they arise.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>UPDATE: Franklin is expected to earn up to $4.5m/year with his PSU contract, per ESPN.</b></p>
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<p>James Franklin expected to receive contract worth up to $4.5M/year at Penn State, source told <a href="https://twitter.com/espn">@ESPN</a>. Bill O'Brien made $3.82M</p>
— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/McMurphyESPN/statuses/421728860925739009">January 10, 2014</a>
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https://www.anchorofgold.com/2014/1/10/5295714/vandysportss-chris-lee-franklin-to-psu-is-a-done-deal-recentChristian D'Andrea2014-01-09T00:57:00-05:002014-01-09T00:57:00-05:00Franklin Offered Penn State Job, Decision Thurs?
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<figcaption>Frederick Breedon</figcaption>
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<p>Vanderbilt will know whether or not they'll have to look for a new head coach on Thursday. According to reports, James Franklin is slated to choose between spending his future with the Commodores or with Penn State.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115134/james-franklin">James Franklin</a> rumors reached an all-time high on Wednesday night, as reports suggested that the third-year Vandy coach had been offered the reins at Penn State following Bill O'Brien's departure. Franklin is expected to choose between Vanderbilt and PSU on Thursday.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">THIS JUST IN: Penn State has offered head coach job to Vanderbilt coach James Franklin. A decision is expected Thursday. (via <a href="https://twitter.com/timestribune">@timestribune</a>)</p>
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<span>— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) </span><a style="font-size: 12px;" href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/statuses/421154597365755904">January 9, 2014</a>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">That news follows a report that Franklin will no longer interview with the Washington Redskins for their head coaching vacancy. The 41-year old was slated to meet with owner Dan Synder on Friday.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If nothing else, Thursday should bring some stability to a Commodore fanbase that has had to deal with Franklin rumors for the past week. The rising head coach has been linked to no fewer than four different positions since last Thursday. Despite the distractions, Franklin was able to lead Vanderbilt to a 41-24 BBVA Compass Bowl victory over Houston.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The PSU offer has gotten Commodore fans talking throughout Twitter. That includes PGA Tour professional and Vandy alum Brandt Snedeker.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Vandy nation, need to let <a href="https://twitter.com/jamesfranklinvu">@jamesfranklinvu</a> know how much we want him to stay.. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23franklinfever&src=hash">#franklinfever</a></p>
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<span>— Brandt Snedeker (@BrandtSnedeker) </span><a style="font-size: 12px;" href="https://twitter.com/BrandtSnedeker/statuses/421150298187771904">January 9, 2014</a>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Snedeker also offered Franklin free golf lessons for life if he stays with the 'Dores. By tomorrow, we'll know if the head coach will be getting some top notch pointers out at the driving range this summer.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>UPDATE: Centre Daily Times (State College) beat reporter Travis Johnson refutes the Scranton paper's claim (11:57 CST)</b>:</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p style="text-align: justify;">Told of the report Franklin's been offered, a high-ranking PSU official told the CDT that no one has been offered the PSU job yet. FWIW.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span>— Travis Johnson (@bytravisjohnson) </span><a style="font-size: 12px;" href="https://twitter.com/bytravisjohnson/statuses/421158090763808768">January 9, 2014</a></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>UPDATE 2: WGAL - Susquehanna Valley's number one news team on Twitter - editor Julie Loeper suggests that Franklin and Penn State drew up a contract in their meeting tonight. She did not mention any specifics, but later noted that the news broke on the station's 11pm broadcast.</b></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">WGAL is reporting Penn State and Vandy's James Franklin finalized a contract tonight. Announcement expected by noon Thursday.</p>
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<span>— Julie Loeper (@JulieLoeper) </span><a href="https://twitter.com/JulieLoeper/statuses/421159680346300416" style="font-size: 12px;">January 9, 2014</a>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>UPDATE 3: ESPN's Joe Schad backs up Travis Johnson's report this morning.</b></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>While James Franklin is still clear leading candidate for Penn State job, school source still adament formal offer has not been made</p>
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/schadjoe/statuses/421295523187130368">January 9, 2014</a>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>UPDATE 4: Bruce Feldman says Franklin is leaving.</b></p>
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<p>BREAKING <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Vandy&src=hash">#Vandy</a> coach James Franklin is expected to be the next head coach at <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23PennState&src=hash">#PennState</a>, per source</p>
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/statuses/421320933018578944">January 9, 2014</a>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>UPDATE 5: Caleb Azubike says "not so fast."</b></p>
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<p>No Decision Has Been Made! First Hand Knowledge.</p>
— Caleb Azubike (@VandyKid_55) <a href="https://twitter.com/VandyKid_55/statuses/421356570547466241">January 9, 2014</a>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>UPDATE 6: David Williams also denies reports that Franklin has made a decision to leave.</b></p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Vanderbilt&src=hash">#Vanderbilt</a> AD says James Franklin is still the Commodores' coach and has informed him he has not accepted another job offer.</p>
— Andrew Stockey (@astockeyWTAE) <a href="https://twitter.com/astockeyWTAE/statuses/421379276235997184">January 9, 2014</a>
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https://www.anchorofgold.com/2014/1/9/5290814/report-james-franklin-offered-penn-state-job-decision-expectedChristian D'Andrea2014-01-07T13:11:54-05:002014-01-07T13:11:54-05:00RUMOR: James Franklin Top Candidate at Penn State
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<img alt="Emerging from the fog to save another embattled, big-conference program?" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LBFHOC2gtWGFN9yDuseg6AfmtcY=/0x8:1000x675/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26426781/125441209.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Emerging from the fog to save another embattled, big-conference program? | Grant Halverson</figcaption>
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<p>James Franklin made history as the first coach to lead Vanderbilt to back-to-back season-ending top 25 rankings. Now, he may be taking his high-energy leadership to Penn State.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bruce Feldman reports today that James Franklin is Penn State's number one choice when it comes to filling Bill O'Brien's vacated head coaching position in Happy Valley:</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Vandy&src=hash">#Vandy</a> coach James Franklin has emerged as the clear frontrunner for the vacancy at <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23PennState&src=hash">#PennState</a>, per source</p>
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/statuses/420603715905548288">January 7, 2014</a>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Penn State was originally rumored to have Franklin, Miami coach Al Golden, and former Titans coach Mike Munchak in their top three candidates. While Munchak has become more available due to his recent firing, Golden has rebuffed the Nittany Lions and confirmed that he will be staying in South Beach. Franklin, who played college football at Pennsylvania's East Stroudsburg State, would give PSU a rising star with local ties, a strong history of recruiting, and the demonstrated ability to turn a program around as head coach.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If Feldman's source is correct - and the CBS Sports reporter is typically very reliable - Franklin is expected to leave Nashville for Happy Valley this winter:</p>
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<p>If Vandy's James Franklin is the clear favorite for Penn State, as <a href="https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS">@BFeldmanCBS</a> says, those who know him expect him to take the job.</p>
— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooForde/statuses/420612016315711488">January 7, 2014</a>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">The team's staff threw additional intrigue into the mix when the Nashville Post reported that coordinators Bob Shoop and John Donovan <a href="http://t.co/cRq8CUGfel" target="_blank">began following PSU recruits on Twitter this morning</a>. In news that may also be tangentially related, linebackers coach Brent Pry <a href="http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2014/01/06/brent-pry-turns-down-georgia-southern-wants-to-stay-with-james-franklin/" target="_blank">recently turned down an offer to become Georgia Southern's newest head coach</a>. Pry cited his loyalty to Franklin as a big reason why he wanted to stay with the Commodores.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Franklin's players don't seem to know much about their coach's upcoming decision, but they are hoping for resolution to come quickly:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3827973/Screen_shot_2014-01-07_at_12.09.28_PM.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Screen_shot_2014-01-07_at_12" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3827973/Screen_shot_2014-01-07_at_12.09.28_PM_medium.png"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3827981/Screen_shot_2014-01-07_at_12.09.41_PM.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Screen_shot_2014-01-07_at_12" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3827981/Screen_shot_2014-01-07_at_12.09.41_PM_medium.png"></a> <br id="1389118236351"></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There's no official news from either school or the players involved in this story. It's possible that these rumors go nowhere, or that Franklin is named Penn State's top candidate but turns down any potential offer they bring him. However, the way the winds are blowing suggest that James Franklin's tenure in Nashville may soon come to an end. We'll have more updates on the story as it develops.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>UPDATE: AD David Williams tells CBS Sports that he's ready to open up the check book for James Franklin for the third year in a row and expects to keep his coveted head coach:</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: 'Open Sans', verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.25px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff;">When asked about Franklin re-upping contractually to stay at Vanderbilt -- which has revised Franklin's deal in each of his first two offseasons there -- Williams said he's expecting as much.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Open Sans', verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.25px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff;">"I expect James to be our football coach. I'm planning on it," Williams said. "We're looking at facilities. We're working on some stuff. I have all thoughts that he's going to be our football coach. I'll do everything I can to make sure that he is."</p>
<p style="text-align: right; font-family: 'Open Sans', verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.25px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/jeremy-fowler/24401489/coaching-changes-daily-vandy-ad-expects-to-keep-james-franklin">- Jeremy Fowler</a></p>
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https://www.anchorofgold.com/2014/1/7/5284564/rumor-james-franklin-is-top-candidate-for-penn-state-coaching-jobChristian D'Andrea2014-01-03T17:32:47-05:002014-01-03T17:32:47-05:00James Franklin a Finalist for Texas Coaching Job?
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<img alt="Just remember, coach - you leave Vandy, you leave the coat too." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3RT8NCI3YHzkp3jf6s7MTU5cI7Y=/0x175:3013x2184/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26216549/153590663.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Just remember, coach - you leave Vandy, you leave the coat too. | Jamie Squire</figcaption>
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<p>Orangebloods.com has a source that's telling them James Franklin is one of two finalists for the prized job in Austin. Will Vanderbilt's coach end up at Texas or Penn State before this week is through?</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">There's more <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115134/james-franklin">James Franklin</a> news developing today, as rumors that the Vanderbilt head coach could be <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115256/mack-brown">Mack Brown's</a> replacement at Texas have begun swirling not long after reports surface that he'd be interviewing at Penn State this weekend.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1593969" target="_blank">From OrangeBloods.com:</a></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span>A source close to the Texas coaching search says Vanderbilt's James Franklin and Louisville's Charlie Strong are among the finalists to replace Mack Brown at Texas.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The question is if they are the only finalists?</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span>Orangebloods.com was the first to report Texas athletic director Steve Patterson had interviewed both Strong, 53, and Franklin, 41, separately, earlier. </span></div>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><span>That puts Franklin smack dab in the middle of two major coaching searches one day before Vanderbilt's bowl game against Houston. The Texas job has Franklin competing with Strong for the high-profile position, while Penn State's coaching search is rumored to be hinging on a top-two of Franklin and Miami's Al Golden. If Golden gets that job - rumors floated on Friday suggested that a job offer was imminent for the former Temple HC - then Franklin will likely see his name attached to any Hurricane opening that arises.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It's been a crazy Friday for the Commodores as they prepare for a big bowl matchup with an underrated Houston team. Hopefully these off-the-field distractions won't make their way into the Vandy locker room.</p>
https://www.anchorofgold.com/2014/1/3/5271406/james-franklin-a-finalist-for-the-texas-head-coach-opening-charlie-strongChristian D'Andrea