For Penn State's James Franklin, a Postgame Moment to Savor

Captain Theo Johnson delivered the thank-you speech Franklin usually gives following the Lions' win over Rutgers.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. | They didn't have a game ball to award James Franklin, so the Penn State football players thanked him instead. Specifically, tight end and captain Theo Johnson stood up in the locker room after the Nittany Lions' 27-6 victory over Rutgers and delivered the speech that Franklin usually gives.

"After every game, coach Franklin always tell us how much he loves and appreciates us, and I feel like sometimes he doesn’t get that in return and we don't express that to him," Johnson said. "And I just wanted to tell him how much we love and appreciate him, just because he gave everyone in that room a chance and an opportunity. For some guys, he saved their life."

Franklin teared up in the moment — "I wish you guys could have been in the locker room right there," he told reporters after the game — which wasn't unusual but certainly resonated with his players. Specifically then, after a victory, after a turbulent week that exposed more than a few raw nerves on the team and among fans. 

Penn State's 24-15 loss to Michigan challenged every corner of Franklin's $105 million football operation. Defensive tackle Dvon Ellies called the loss "heartbreaking." Offensive lineman Caedan Wallace wished the team could have a proper "grieving period." And Franklin made the unusual (for him) move of firing offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich the next day.

After the loss to Michigan, Franklin walked off the field, through the Beaver Stadium tunnel and into the locker room to boos, jeers and worse. Some fans went through a primal scream at watching Penn State go 0-6 against Ohio State and Michigan over the past three seasons. Players didn't want acknowledge hearing it but did. They didn't want to react but did. So after beating Rutgers, they felt that was the right time to say thanks.

"There's a lot of critics, there's a lot of hearsay about how he operates, but he is one of the most consistent human beings that I've ever met in my life," defensive tackle DVon Ellies said of Franklin. "And he truly loves us for all of our flaws and he truly wants the best for us. There’s not a lot of people out there who can say their head coach is one of their favorite people."

Franklin, in year three of the 10-year contract he signed in 2021, is on the verge of completing his fifth 10-2 regular season at Penn State. He's 0-4 the past two seasons against the Buckeyes and Wolverines and 19-0 vs. everyone else on the regular-season schedule. As Franklin said, "not good enough."

But on Saturday at least, after Penn State won its 17th consecutive game over Rutgers, the players who see him daily wanted him to know, as Chop Robinson said, that they "have his back, no matter where, no matter when."

"He puts up with a lot of stuff," Johnson said. "Puts up with a lot and has to go through a lot and always protects us and shields us from stuff. People have a lot of opinions about our coach, but in our locker room, everyone has tremendous love and respect for him and who he is to us."

"Theo's message to coach Franklin was excellent and it kind of opened people's eyes in the room," added linebacker Kobe King, who made 10 tackles in a phenomenal performance. "It gave people a reflection on what coach Franklin did since he started here and what he has done."

Johnson saw his coach unguarded in that moment, which led the captain to conclude that his speech was well-timed. Penn State's players are disappointed in their season but not their program. 

After the game, Franklin, perhaps inadvertently, appropriated an SEC theme in discussing his team. Above him, high school football players and their parents watched from the recruiting lounge, leaning forward as Franklin spoke. 

"And I know there's a lot of programs out there that run football factories. We don't," Franklin said. "We run a family relationship-based organization. So, it means more."

More Penn State Football

Penn State 27, Rutgers 6: The breakdown from Beaver Stadium

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar leaves Rutgers game with injury

How Penn State's offense will operate without Mike Yurcich

Drew Allar maintains a 'strong presence' through change

What we know about Penn State's offensive coordinator search

Potential candidates for Penn State's next offensive coordinator

James Franklin remains 'hopeful and excited' about Penn State's future

Ja'Juan Seider, Ty Howle take over as offensive coordinators for Penn State

AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.