Some officials at Penn State feel that the university has revealed its priorities by paying James Franklin $49 million not to coach the football team.
Franklin was let go on Sunday after a series of losing seasons and 12 years with the team, leaving him with this substantial sum. Heather Page, a librarian at Penn State Fayette, expressed her disappointment, saying, “This is a slap in the face to those who have been told campus is too expensive to stay open.” According to her, the decision underscores the institution’s values. She remarked, “They want to pay this guy. I don’t want to pay for campus fees.”
She also suggested that the recent decision shows that leadership is willing to allocate funds as they see fit.
The campus where Page works is one of several Commonwealth campuses being closed to cut costs amid declining enrollment.
Andrea Adolph, an English professor, mentioned that Franklin’s buyout is roughly equivalent to six years’ worth of the budget for the New Kensington campus. She called the situation “absolutely ridiculous,” adding, “This feels like, let me have my cake and eat it too.” While she understands that the athletic budget operates separately from general education funds, the overall sentiment is one of frustration.
Interestingly, Penn State President Neeri Bendapudi received a significant pay raise of 47% last month, making her one of the top-paid public university leaders in the country. Adolph believes that these moves reflect a disconnect between leadership decisions and the realities faced by university employees and students.
This $49 million buyout is noted as the second-largest in college football history, following the $76 million buyout of former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher.
Following Franklin’s departure, associate head coach Terry Smith will step in as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Patrick Kraft, the vice president of intercollegiate athletics, will lead the search for a new head coach.
This decision comes on the heels of a string of losses, including a double-overtime defeat to the University of Oregon, a loss to UCLA in the Rose Bowl, and a close game against Northwestern. Notably, the team also lost quarterback Drew Allard to a season-ending injury during the latest home game.
At 53, Franklin has an impressive career record of 104-45, making him the second-winningest coach in the history of Penn State football. Last season, his team won 13 games but ultimately lost to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
