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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
There are no must-wins in Week 1, especially for a coach just a few months removed from a contract extension through 2031.
But tonight, at Purdue (8 p.m., Fox), is a big game for James Franklin.
Public confidence in him is not high. His body of work since taking over at Penn State in 2014 -- overall -- still gets a good grade.
He led Penn State to the Big Ten championship in 2016 and followed that up with strong seasons in 2017 and 2018, featuring outstanding offensive players, riding the great Trace McSorley and winning the Fiesta and Cotton Bowls.
Even the initial 2019 transition to Sean Clifford went well as the Lions zoomed out to an 8-0 start and a No. 5 ranking.
Since, however, the program has trended downward.
It's gone 14-13 in its last 27 games 3-2 to finish 2019 (which started with an upset loss at Minnesota), 4-5 after the 0-5 start in COVID-afflicted 2020 and 7-6 last year after a 5-0 start.
That's why the generous contract extension -- his third one (2017, 2019 and November 2021) at roughly $8 million annually -- gave the fan base a case of whiplash.
The head coach-quarterback combination must be good - at least one of them -- for a college football team to be successful.
One can overcome the other at times, but not both and Nittany Nation's confidence level in Sean Clifford is about the same as it is in Franklin.
Clifford, now in his sixth year -- Franklin joked Monday that "he's 45" years old -- will likely leave Penn State with all the passing records. But these will be longevity marks as he has not proven he belongs in the conversation with PSU's all-time greats - McSorley and Kerry Collins, Todd Blackledge and Chuck Fusina, et al.
Clifford is 13-12 in his last 25 starts.
But it's a new season, and there are some positives from which to drawn upon.
Prior to his injury last year at Iowa - when the Lions lost standout defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher in the same game - Clifford was playing well and Penn State was 5-0.
He wasn't the same afterward, reluctant to make some of the effective runs that had been a big part of his game previously, and unable to throw the ball deep downfield.
When Clifford was hurt, Penn State didn't have a backup. Now it apparently does in true freshman Drew Allar, the highest-rated quarterback Franklin has recruited in his now nine-year tenure.
In fact, Franklin disclosed Allar's promotion to the backup job, over Christian Veilleux, on Monday. Though he didn't volunteer the information, it was almost as if he couldn't wait to get it out since the program, like others around the country, no longer lists a weekly depth chart.
Between his enthusiasm for Allar, along with true freshman running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, Franklin is not married to the nucleus of the last two seasons, and he seems have a bounce in his step.
He likes the Lions' depth, the continuity Mike Yurcich has provided entering his second season as offensive coordinator, and clearly is more eager than nervous about 2022.
He even joked Monday about his emphasis on running the ball more effectively, saying, "I say 'two backs' because I know the fullback mafia will come alive when I say that. When I say 'two backs' I'm talking about the personnel that can line up in those types of roles.''
The last two years have taken a toll on the players, who are anxious to prove they're better than their unranked status.
"Doesn't sit well with me," Mustipher said, and center Juice Scruggs added, "11-11 is definitely the elephant in the room."
Though he's complained throughout the offseason about the Nittany Lions once again being on the road for their conference opener - it's seven straight and 12 of the last 13 years with the next two years also scheduled for Big Ten road openers - Franklin is upbeat.
He called tonight, "a tremendous opportunity" and a "tremendous challenge," adding "I've been pleased with our preparation so far."
Then again, he concluded, "We have to go out and do it."
That would be a good way to start putting the last two years in the rear-view mirror.
Rudel can be reached at 814-946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com. He will respond to brief comments or questions in Gameday. You can also follow him on Twitter@neilrudel.