Reports: Reports: James Franklin will become the next head coach at Penn State; Vanderbilt AD says otherwise (Update)
UPDATE (4:00 p.m. ET)
Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams told the Associated Press that James Franklin told him that "he has not accepted another job offer." Williams knows that Franklin has spoken with Penn State officials, but said that Franklin called him Thursday to say that the reports that he had accepted another job were "inaccurate" and that as of 2:45 p.m. ET that Franklin "is still Vanderbilt's football coach."
Additionally, Vanderbilt defensive end Caleb Azubike tweeted that Franklin had not yet reached a decision.
No Decision Has Been Made! First Hand Knowledge.
— Caleb Azubike (@VandyKid_55) January 9, 2014
On the other hand, FootballScoop.com, one of several outlets to report the hire earlier in the day, tweeted that the deal between Franklin and Penn State might take until Saturday to finalize.
At Penn State, sources say they are getting all necessary clearances. Might take 24 hours (or even until Saturday) but Franklin is their guy — FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) January 9, 2014
At this point, we'll just have to wait for something official from either side to emerge.
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There is a new head coach in Happy Valley.
According to reports from CBS Sports’ Bruce Feldman and ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin is expected to become the next head coach at Penn State. Feldman is reporting that there are still "many details to be sorted out on both sides within the next 48 hours."
BREAKING #Vandy coach James Franklin is expected to be the next head coach at #PennState, per source
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) January 9, 2014
Vandy's James Franklin expected to accept offer from Penn State today, source told @ESPN. Also reported by @BFeldmanCBS — Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) January 9, 2014
In three seasons at Vanderbilt, Franklin was 24-15 and his won 16 of his last 20 games as head coach of the Commodores. Before Franklin’s arrival, Vanderbilt had won 13 SEC games in 10 years. With Franklin at the helm, Vanderbilt won 11 SEC games and appeared in three straight bowl games, winning two. The school had appeared in just four bowl games in its history prior to Franklin’s arrival.
Franklin, a Pennsylvania native, will replace Bill O’Brien, who left Penn State after two seasons to take the head coaching job with the Houston Texans.
This marks the end of a week-long, winding coaching search where Miami coach Al Golden, former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak and San Francisco 49ers assistant Greg Roman emerged as candidates.
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