Paul Finebuam defends unhappy Penn State fans, calls out James Franklin: ‘You haven’t done enough’

Across the college football landscape, there are various programs that simply put have higher standards than others. One of which is Penn State , whose head coach James Franklin specifically said at media days that he has one of the few jobs in the country where you can win 10 or 11 games and people will be unhappy.

Franklin went on to talk about how he and the Nittany Lions embrace those high expectations, but college football insider Paul Finebaum did not hold back on ESPN’s Get Up when he was asked to react to Franklin’s comments at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis.

“Well James, they’re unhappy with you,” Finebaum said. “You’re a very competent coach, you’ve done a nice job. You haven’t done enough. Penn State fans expect excellence, they expect championships, they’re getting a little tired of 10-2 seasons that the two biggest games of the year you blow.”

“Or last year the bowl game, that does not cut it and for $9-$10 million a year, it’s just not enough,” Finebaum added. “And James has got a big break though Greeny, there is now a playoff. So he can blow those games, as he usually does, and still get to the playoffs and probably get knocked out in the first round.”

It’s no secret that Penn State has national championship expectations year in and year out, expectations they have not been able to meet since the 1986 season under Joe Paterno . With Franklin leading the Nittany Lions to a conference title win in 2016 but failing to bring the program back to the Big Ten Championship game ever since. Highlighted by divisional rivals Ohio State and Michigan dominating the conference for the last seven years.

But the Big Ten getting rid of divisions paired with the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff could unlock the Nittany Lions and poise them for success, which CFP insider Heather Dinich also discussed on Thursday morning.

“Well when you look at what James Franklin has done, he has had top 12 finishes in six of the past eight years. He has won the Big Ten in 2016 and has never been to the College Football Playoff. So this sets up perfectly for them,” Dinich explained.

College football’s imminent definitely benefit a program like Penn State, along with their upcoming schedule this season. But Dinich believes there is one hurdle that the Nittany Lions need to jump over before getting too ahead of themselves this season before thinking about their postseason potential.

“They don’t play Michigan, they do play Ohio State, but to your point you don’t have to win the Big Ten to get in this thing. But what they can’t do is lose that season opener at West Virginia ,” Dinich said. “I talked to James Franklin about this yesterday, he and I both know how hard it is to win a game and Morgantown. Neal Brown is doing a great job. If they lose that game, this conversation changes immediately.”

Conferences and the format of the postseason may continue to change in the future, but the expectations for the Nittany Lions program will not. As Franklin will look to not just maintain their recent success, but for taking things to a new level and rarified air in the college football landscape.

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