Columns
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PSUPoorman’s Top 10: Why James Franklin Was Fired and What’s Next
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And just like that, after 4,293 days and $80 million, James Franklin is gone. He was the Nittany Lions’ head coach in the national title hunt until — poof, in a matter of a mere handful of painstaking, gut-wrenching days — he wasn’t. Franklin came to an unsteady Happy Valley on Jan. 11, 2014 wanting…
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The Question James Franklin Would Not Answer (Hint: It’s About His Future at Penn State)
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Henry Kissinger was a master of the press conference. Penn State head coach James Franklin — who has been through a number of wars himself, the latest being his toughest — is not far behind. Kissinger, the former American diplomat and U.S. Secretary of State, once opened a press conference with, “Does anyone have any questions…
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Welcome to Rock Bottom, Penn State
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In any given year, there are only a handful of teams with a realistic capability of winning a national championship. In the modern era, winning it all requires the perfect blend of talent, coaching, facilities, institutional and fan support and, of course, some luck. Falling short in any of these categories renders championship opportunities obsolete.…
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Battista: Make It Happen
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Two weeks ago, I wrote a column about the importance of taking time to go on family adventures, just after we spent nine days out west with our three adult children. Previous to that, I wrote about my great friend and hockey teammate Tim Holdcroft, who passed away unexpectedly at just 62, too young an…
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Penn State’s Losses to UCLA and Oregon Still Seem to be Bruin in James Franklin’s Head
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In the days after Penn State’s frustrating 20-12 loss at Ohio State in 2023, head coach James Franklin floated the idea of moving his traditional weekly noon press conference in Beaver Stadium from Tuesdays to Mondays. The next Saturday, Penn State rebounded with a 33-24 victory over Indiana — coached by Tom Allen in his…
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PSUPoorman’s Bottom 10: On Sunday Mourning, the Frustration Is Real
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PASADENA, Calif. — The headline says it all. Nothing tops about Penn State’s stunning and historic 42-37 loss to UCLA on Saturday in the Rose Bowl. It was real and it was spectacular — if you are a Bruins fan. For formerly seventh-ranked Penn State, the bitter disappointment is real. Penn State began the season ranked…
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For Penn State Football, UCLA Was the Worst of Times for the Best People
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PASADENA, Calif. — James Franklin wrote a check that he couldn’t cash. Twice, in a period of eight days. First, against one of the top teams in the Big Ten and in all of college football, the Oregon Ducks, who came into a White Out, ran out to a 17-3 lead and then held on…
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Penn State’s Inability to Adapt Wastes Season With Championship Potential
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PASADENA, Calif. — Penn State has entered seasons with high expectations before, beginning five seasons as a top-10 team under head coach James Franklin. But this year was supposed to be different, starting with a No. 2 preseason ranking — the team’s highest since 1997. And who could blame the voters, with the Nittany Lions…
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Opinion: Elect Experienced Jurists Neuman and Tsai to the Bench This November
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Every November, we hire elected officials to do the people’s work on a day-to-day basis. We send folks to the halls of every level of government, including the benches in courts across the Commonwealth. In these races, we want people who can hit the ground running on day one. We need individuals who possess the necessary qualifications…
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On Fall Nights, the Past Walks With Us on Campus
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September has yielded to October. The leaves are falling, the night air is getting cooler and the rhythms of fall have set in as the sun rises later and sets earlier. This is the time of year when night walks on campus are incredible. Sunsets seem clearer with deeper shades of orange to purple. There…