ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — James Franklin said Saturday he was shocked when Penn State fired him hours after a loss in which the Nittany Lions also lost quarterback Drew Allar to a season-ending injury but that he cannot wait to coach again elsewhere.
Franklin said during an appearance on ESPN’s “College GameDay” that Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft visited him ahead of a meeting and practice last Sunday and told him the university was making a change. Franklin said he had an emotional team meeting to tell people he was leaving.
“To think essentially six games ago we were fighting for a chance to be in the national championship, a two-minute drive away," Franklin said. "So that’s the thing. ... Twelve years, a ton of good moments, a bunch of big wins. But decisions were made. And I’m no