They (probably correctly) determined he wasn't the guy
To take them to the level they want to go. In that sense, its a perfectly defensible move.
But the buyout, the timing, the optics, etc. all make it seem really rash. Running the 2016 Kelly playbook wasn't really an option because they're already paying elite coordinator money for guys that are well-respected (though I'm not 100% sure the OC deserves it).
Complete thread:
- PSU fired Franklin.
![[ [ No text ] ]](themes/default/images/no_text.png "Empty posting / no text")
-
domer.mq,
2025-10-12, 11:04 ![[*]](themes/default/images/complete_thread.png "Open whole thread")
- Has anyone else heard that Urban Meyer is sniffing around? -
omahadomer,
2025-10-13, 10:18
- He's the only person who makes this make sense. -
nedhead,
2025-10-13, 18:18
- Saw a rumor about Michigan St. and him. - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2025-10-13, 10:41
- He's the only person who makes this make sense.
- JF is a peter-principle coach, yet firing him now was stupid -
KelleyCook,
2025-10-12, 18:31
- Fleck’s a good idea actually. -
beattherush,
2025-10-13, 05:51
- Fleck does seems like a decent fit -
Regular Joseph,
2025-10-13, 06:03
- Fleck has turned out to be pretty average -
Jay,
2025-10-13, 08:00
- He's decidedly mid. -
KGB,
2025-10-13, 08:46
- I'll post this every time this fraud's name comes up. - Chris, 2025-10-13, 09:17
- He's decidedly mid. -
KGB,
2025-10-13, 08:46
- He already has the sweater and tie. -
cdawg,
2025-10-13, 07:15
- Fleck has turned out to be pretty average -
Jay,
2025-10-13, 08:00
- Fleck does seems like a decent fit -
Regular Joseph,
2025-10-13, 06:03
- I don't get the value in doing it now -
Jeff (BGS),
2025-10-12, 20:24
- Ton of rumors that Adidas was behind this move. $300 million -
cdawg,
2025-10-13, 07:19
- I don't understand why Adidas cares? -
CK08,
2025-10-13, 08:43
- It is a rumor. Doesn't make much sense when you flesh out - cdawg, 2025-10-13, 08:50
- I was wondering... - beattherush, 2025-10-13, 08:45
- If true, it should give us all pause -
HCE,
2025-10-13, 07:50
- It gets worse - beattherush, 2025-10-13, 08:42
- Hey. I'm with you. This Big whatever development with VC $ -
cdawg,
2025-10-13, 08:36
- I'm at Radford, and my wife teaches at VT - HCE, 2025-10-13, 09:21
- T-Minus 5 years until a Penn State debt crisis -
CK08,
2025-10-13, 08:46
- Too B1G to fail? -
Jeff (BGS),
2025-10-13, 08:47
- Too B1G to fail?
- I don't understand why Adidas cares? -
CK08,
2025-10-13, 08:43
- Me neither. -
beattherush,
2025-10-13, 05:42
- They can'y hire Rhule mid-season, can they? -
Jeff (BGS),
2025-10-13, 06:51
- A pocket deal would make more sense - beattherush, 2025-10-13, 08:47
- Would anyone notice? -
nedhead,
2025-10-13, 08:36
- They can'y hire Rhule mid-season, can they? -
Jeff (BGS),
2025-10-13, 06:51
- Ton of rumors that Adidas was behind this move. $300 million -
cdawg,
2025-10-13, 07:19
- The irony for me is that... -
bobbywal,
2025-10-12, 18:46
- What would it take to get Cignetti? -
nedhead,
2025-10-12, 18:49
- I don’t think they can get Cignetti -
beattherush,
2025-10-13, 05:38
- I think it shows how silly this is. - nedhead, 2025-10-13, 06:02
- I don’t think they can get Cignetti -
beattherush,
2025-10-13, 05:38
- What would it take to get Cignetti? -
nedhead,
2025-10-12, 18:49
- Fleck’s a good idea actually. -
beattherush,
2025-10-13, 05:51
- has to be related -
Jay,
2025-10-12, 18:19
- Guffaw -
BPH,
2025-10-13, 09:08
- The H is for honeypot. -
nedhead,
2025-10-12, 18:29
- It would actually be a weird karmic circle - bobbywal, 2025-10-12, 19:47
- Guffaw
- This could be their Solich moment -- -
omahadomer,
2025-10-12, 14:00
- They’re going to spend $100m to replace Franklin with Ruhle -
HumanRobot,
2025-10-12, 17:25
- Rhule is 17-14 at Nebraska -- -
omahadomer,
2025-10-12, 19:20
- turns out Ruhle has a comically low buyout -
HumanRobot,
2025-10-13, 06:23
- I read that -- -
omahadomer,
2025-10-13, 10:17
- Yes - IrishGuard, 2025-10-13, 10:35
- I read that -- -
omahadomer,
2025-10-13, 10:17
- A subtle econ point in your post that most miss - KelleyCook, 2025-10-12, 19:45
- turns out Ruhle has a comically low buyout -
HumanRobot,
2025-10-13, 06:23
- Are they going to force him to keep the coordinators? - Jeremy (WeIsND), 2025-10-12, 17:38
- Rhule is 17-14 at Nebraska -- -
omahadomer,
2025-10-12, 19:20
- It's totally crazy. -
nedhead,
2025-10-12, 16:47
- He's an ass and not an elite coach -
Bryan (IrishCavan),
2025-10-12, 17:10
- They (probably correctly) determined he wasn't the guy -
Jeremy (WeIsND),
2025-10-12, 17:37
- Do not underestimate the hubris - bobbywal, 2025-10-12, 18:14
- He’s probably sub-Kelly, but not by much -
Jeff (BGS),
2025-10-12, 17:29
- That's the other question. - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2025-10-12, 17:35
- The "hot wives" comment always bothered me -
Busco21,
2025-10-12, 17:19
- I think ND 2016 is comparable. -
nedhead,
2025-10-12, 17:27
- This is like firing Kelly in 2017 -
beattherush,
2025-10-12, 17:55
- They're probably looking at the Cignetti model - hobbs, 2025-10-12, 18:00
- This is like firing Kelly in 2017 -
beattherush,
2025-10-12, 17:55
- It always bothered me - bobbywal, 2025-10-12, 17:25
- I think ND 2016 is comparable. -
nedhead,
2025-10-12, 17:27
- They (probably correctly) determined he wasn't the guy -
Jeremy (WeIsND),
2025-10-12, 17:37
- He's an ass and not an elite coach -
Bryan (IrishCavan),
2025-10-12, 17:10
- An on brand and apt comment! -
Dallasdomer,
2025-10-12, 15:35
- They’re going to spend $100m to replace Franklin with Ruhle
- Didn’t take long for Freeman’s name to be voiced -
River,
2025-10-12, 13:59
- The mere notion is hilarious -
Jack,
2025-10-12, 14:48
- Kirby Smart -
River,
2025-10-12, 15:05
- That was my next guess -
Jack,
2025-10-12, 15:08
- I am shocked Saban & Belichick haven’t been mentioned. -
River,
2025-10-12, 15:43
- Or Gruden! -
hobbs,
2025-10-12, 16:23
- He was mentioned by some dude on Sirius -
CK08,
2025-10-12, 17:38
- He was mentioned by some dude on Sirius
- Or Gruden! -
hobbs,
2025-10-12, 16:23
- I am shocked Saban & Belichick haven’t been mentioned.
- That was my next guess
- Kirby Smart
- I'm confident that Freeman wouldn't take that job -- - omahadomer, 2025-10-12, 14:04
- He's a PSU alum - BPH, 2025-10-12, 14:03
- The mere notion is hilarious -
Jack,
2025-10-12, 14:48
- What if -
Jack,
2025-10-12, 13:53
- Lots of PSU rumors about Adidas - beattherush, 2025-10-12, 14:14
- This is really bad news for Billy Napier -
hobbs,
2025-10-12, 12:02
- Honestly, Franklin makes a lot of sense for UF. -
Bingo,
2025-10-12, 15:38
- Not UF. Franklin would be perfect at UNC - hobbs, 2025-10-12, 16:15
- He would tank in the SEC - Jeff (BGS), 2025-10-12, 15:46
- I can't believe Wisconsin didn't move first. -
domer.mq,
2025-10-12, 12:43
- Maybe they’ll fire Fickell and hire Franklin -
Jack,
2025-10-12, 13:50
- I don't view Wisky as in that tier - hobbs, 2025-10-12, 12:59
- Maybe they’ll fire Fickell and hire Franklin
- Honestly, Franklin makes a lot of sense for UF. -
Bingo,
2025-10-12, 15:38
- They will regret this -
beattherush,
2025-10-12, 12:00
- Hoping for a Nebraskaning. -
domer.mq,
2025-10-12, 12:44
- The last 15 years of Joe Pa were already Nebraskaesque -
Romulox,
2025-10-12, 13:08
- I forgot about this... - domer.mq, 2025-10-12, 15:37
- The last 15 years of Joe Pa were already Nebraskaesque
- Cig is the hot name -
HumanRobot,
2025-10-12, 12:10
- Wisconsin would be smart to hire Diaz. -
beattherush,
2025-10-12, 13:52
- Wisconsin would be smart to hire Diaz.
- They could end up getting Penn State grad Matt Rhule -
Jack,
2025-10-12, 12:04
- Not an upgrade -
beattherush,
2025-10-12, 13:52
- We don't think it's an upgrade - BPH, 2025-10-12, 14:01
- Not an upgrade -
beattherush,
2025-10-12, 13:52
- Hoping for a Nebraskaning. -
domer.mq,
2025-10-12, 12:44
- hairline joke karma kicking in - Jay, 2025-10-12, 11:55
- They did join the B1G about the same time as Nebraska -
Jeff (BGS),
2025-10-12, 11:50
- Huh??? -
Irish96,
2025-10-12, 12:04
- Holy crap, you are right. - Jeff (BGS), 2025-10-12, 12:11
- Huh???
- His replacement is going to make runs at -
hobbs,
2025-10-12, 11:48
- Fran Brown who will probably finish 5-7? -
BPH,
2025-10-12, 12:34
- FWIW, as I'm sure you know they were 3-1 -
hobbs,
2025-10-12, 12:56
- Regardless of what perhaps they should do -
BPH,
2025-10-12, 13:22
- Agreed. -
hobbs,
2025-10-12, 13:27
- Agreed.
- Regardless of what perhaps they should do -
BPH,
2025-10-12, 13:22
- FWIW, as I'm sure you know they were 3-1 -
hobbs,
2025-10-12, 12:56
- Fran Brown who will probably finish 5-7? -
BPH,
2025-10-12, 12:34
- Rhule already being linked to the job -
BPH,
2025-10-12, 11:46
- It has been a slow climb for Rhule -- - omahadomer, 2025-10-12, 16:56
- womp womp -
KGB,
2025-10-12, 11:23
- +14 -
Chris,
2025-10-12, 11:42
- +14
- Life comes at you fast - HumanRobot, 2025-10-12, 11:18
- Holy shit -
BPH,
2025-10-12, 11:09
- Cignetti ain’t going anywhere -
Jack,
2025-10-12, 12:15
- $72m guaranteed -
HumanRobot,
2025-10-12, 12:33
- $72m guaranteed
- You can't convince me that in 2025 it's -
ReginaldVelJohnson,
2025-10-12, 11:36
- Cignetti is 65. He's grabbing the bag NOW -
hobbs,
2025-10-12, 11:53
- What are you talking about? -
KGB,
2025-10-12, 13:45
- A. Didn't really remember his IU extension - hobbs, 2025-10-12, 15:13
- At what point does a raise not matter? -
Coach Gillespie,
2025-10-12, 13:38
- And he’s making almost as much as Franklin was -
Jack,
2025-10-12, 13:52
- And he’s making almost as much as Franklin was
- What are you talking about? -
KGB,
2025-10-12, 13:45
- Cignetti is 65. He's grabbing the bag NOW -
hobbs,
2025-10-12, 11:53
- For $15 mil, will we see mid-season coaching changes? - Mark, 2025-10-12, 11:13
- Cignetti ain’t going anywhere -
Jack,
2025-10-12, 12:15
- Can we name a more dramatic fall from grace? -
Pete,
2025-10-12, 11:09
- got to be something happening behind the scenes -
Jay,
2025-10-12, 11:39
- Wonder if Seider knew “something?” - Dallasdomer, 2025-10-12, 13:04
- with ears -
KelleyCook,
2025-10-12, 12:33
- got to be something happening behind the scenes -
Jay,
2025-10-12, 11:39
- Didn’t see that one coming. -
NDinVA,
2025-10-12, 11:08
- If ND doesnt make the playoff … how much slack would you/ND -
Mark,
2025-10-12, 11:10
- Depends on the losses - CFFdomer, 2025-10-12, 19:55
- Tough crowd -
Jeff (BGS),
2025-10-12, 18:06
- if ND crapped out and lost out this year, -
nedhead,
2025-10-12, 18:20
- I'd proclaim this is statistically impossible… - KelleyCook, 2025-10-12, 18:47
- if ND crapped out and lost out this year, -
nedhead,
2025-10-12, 18:20
- PSU isn't just losing. - ReginaldVelJohnson, 2025-10-12, 11:38
- They're not going to tank, though - BPH, 2025-10-12, 11:11
- If ND doesnt make the playoff … how much slack would you/ND -
Mark,
2025-10-12, 11:10
- Incredible turn of events -
Jack,
2025-10-12, 11:07
- $49 million plus, per ESPN -
HCE,
2025-10-12, 11:48
- $49 million plus, per ESPN
- Has anyone else heard that Urban Meyer is sniffing around?