Penn State Legend Says He Believes in James Franklin

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Very few people need no introductions among the Penn State community. One such figure is the winner of the 1999 Bednarik Award, Butkus Award and two time All-American LaVar Arrington. All anyone has to say is “The Leap” and visions of the original “Stick City” denizen leaping over the Illinois offensive line to make the stop. 

Over the years, Arrington has been a staunch supporter of Penn State head coach James Franklin, coming to his defense numerous times despite his big-game woes.

“We’ve had two coaches post-Joe (Paterno), and we judge them based on what we do against Ohio State and Michigan," Arrington said after last season’s loss to Michigan. "What I think about is—Joe didn’t beat Michigan or Ohio State either. I didn’t get a win against (Michigan). Not one. We didn’t beat Michigan. So stop comparing (Franklin) to Joe. That’s the first thing.”

If Franklin has allies like Arrington, the enemies would surely be hiding in remote places. 

With Arrington’s son, linebacker LaVar Arrington II, committing to Penn State, the elder Arrington caught up with Nittany Central to discuss his optimism and continued support of Franklin.

“I would have loved to play for James Franklin,” Arrington said. “I just want to be who I am. Shape and mold me, let me know if I’m right or if I’m wrong. I have no problem being coached, but allow me to be who I am. That’s something that I believe is the differentiator of the two of them.

“I feel like that’s one of the biggest assets that James Franklin brings to the table," he said. "I’ll just say If you ask me, we got robbed (in 2016), the year we had a tremendous team that won the Big Ten (Conference), and a team that didn’t even win the Big Ten goes into the College Football Playoff (Ohio State). He’s proven that he can be that level of a coach.”

Arrington Backtracks

While Arrington has been on the record defending Franklin after big-game disappointments, Arrington acknowledged that record cannot be ignored. Franklin’s record against Michigan is 3-7, against Ohio State 1-9, and since defeating Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game in 2016, Penn State is 1-12 against top 10 teams.

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“When you get the kind of contract he was awarded. And you’re not playing in the College Football Playoff, or you’re not winning against Ohio State and Michigan more than he has, because he has come up short against those teams, the criticisms are going to be just," Arrington said. "It is what it is.

“There’s no getting around that," he said. "He has to have tough enough skin to be able to shoulder that and handle that, and just remember who was there and who wasn’t there when he was in those games.”

Be Careful What You Wish for

It is easy for fans to get caught up in the firing of a coach or even punishing a coach for not performing. There has been a contingent in the Penn State base that would like to see Franklin fired or at least docked in pay. It wouldn't be the first time.

Going into the 2020 season, Michigan docked then-head coach Jim Harbaugh in pay due to the lack of results. This is something Arrington was not too keen on.

“They made him take a pay cut during COVID, they wanted him out, they treated him like a second-class citizen for a moment there, and it came back to bite [Michigan] in the ass,” Arrington said.

When a team strikes gold replacing what fans feel is a stagnant coach, everyone feels it can be the next school to do it. The leading example is Georgia. Mark Richt is a Hall of Fame-caliber coach, but Georgia fans got tired of finishing second fiddle and not winning the big games. Yes, Georgia was able to upgrade to Kirby Smart, but for every Georgia there is a Nebraska, a Tennessee, a Texas, or an USC that have gone through tough stretches because there was a lack of patience. 

Arrington went to to give his strongest endorsement for Franklin with a perspective many often miss.

“We are a top-25 or top-10 team every year, we only lose the big game," Arrington said. "I understand we want to win the big game. But, are we at Penn State closer to being an elite program or closer to being a mediocre program? If James were to leave, what coach are we bringing in that’s going to make us an elite team? Do we really know if that person is going to come in and be the person that we thought he was going to be?

“James Franklin was hired, he took on the challenge, and he took over a team that was on the brink of being a mediocre program and he took it to a place where he won a Big Ten title and has been competitive in recruiting and competitive in-season since he’s been there.

“If I’m thinking about this the wrong way, I could convince myself that he hasn’t done enough, but if I’m thinking sensibly, I’m saying to myself ’keep tweaking it, keep evolving," Arrington said. "I think James Franklin is the guy. He does have a long-term contract, if it doesn’t work out that way then he crosses that bridge when you get to the late stages of his contract, you assess it or evaluate it, just like you would do everyone else who has a long-term contract.

“By no means have I ever looked at this team and thought ‘wow, they’re doing so poor[ly] that we need to fire James Franklin," he said. "If you’re thinking that, I think there could be malice coming from somewhere else other than what that man’s performance has been.”

Can Penn State Reach Elite?

There are two schools of thought with the newly expanded College Football Playoff. It is easier to access but the road got a lot tougher. In order to win a national championship, Penn State has to make the CFP first.

With 12 teams able to enter the CFP Arrington said he believes in Franklin's coaching ability.

“Yes, [Franklin] is the caliber of coach who can take a team to the big dance," he said. "He’s proven that.”

Grant you, Franklin has proven he can win at Penn State. If you recall Franklin's “Good to Great to Elite” speech, Penn State is currently in the "Great" stage. Arrington is correct that Franklin will have Penn State in the playoffs but to secure Penn State’s first national championship since 1986, consistently winning the big games is needed before many fans will drink the Kool-Aid.