Ex-Notre Dame coach slams James Franklin for ‘excuses’ following Peach Bowl loss

Penn State football is still coming to grips with a frustrating Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss to end the 2023 season. The 38-25 defeat felt somewhat demoralizing for a Nittany Lions program in transition, looking for a springboard into 2024. Instead, James Franklin got a team on Saturday that was not the same unit that won 10 games in the fall. Franklin vented his frustrations afterwards, which evidently were not well received by some in the Ole Miss contingency, including one individual with a notable background in college football. On Sunday, former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, whose son is on the Rebels’ staff, took to social media to slam James Franklin over his “excuses” for the Peach Bowl loss.

James Franklin: “Too many moving parts” played role in loss to Ole Miss

It was a busy month of December for Penn State football leading up to the Peach Bowl. James Franklin had to replace both coordinators, and he subsequently designated pairs of co-interim coordinators to call Saturday’s matchup with Ole Miss.

The Nittany Lions also suffered opt-outs from several of the team’s most notable playmakers, including decisions from LT Olu Fashanu and CB Kalen King that were not made public until immediately before kickoff.

Anyone wondering how Penn State would handle these changes got their answer early in the Peach Bowl. The Nittany Lions kept the score close in the first half, but it was fairly apparent that Ole Miss was the better team in Atlanta. The Rebels put up season-highs in points (38), passing yards (394), and total yards (540) against a Penn State defense that was the best unit in the nation coming into the game. The Nittany Lion offense again struggled to keep pace, most notably not having a WR record a reception until the third quarter.

Following the loss, James Franklin was visibly frustrated by the product Penn State put on the field. While acknowledging the success of Lane Kiffin, who secured the first 11-win season in Ole Miss history, Franklin noted how external factors played a role for the Nittany Lions.

“Got to give Ole Miss credit,” he said. “Got to give Lane and his staff credit. But I think ultimately too many moving parts, staff and players, to have the type of success that we want to have.”

Franklin was also vocal about the “less than desirable” officiating after the game, including several Ole Miss turnovers that were overturned by replay.

Ex-Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis takes shot at Penn State football coach for comments after Peach Bowl loss

While it was certainly a celebratory atmosphere for Ole Miss in Mercedes-Benz Stadium following the Peach Bowl win, James Franklin’s comments apparently didn’t go unnoticed.

On Sunday, Charlie Weis, former head coach of Notre Dame and Kansas, took to social media to slam Franklin for the way he discussed the loss. Weis’s son, Charlie Weis Jr., is in his second year as the QB coach and co-offensive coordinator on the Rebels’ staff.

“Congrats to the Ole Miss Rebels for their dominant win [sic] over Penn State,” Weis wrote on X. “Surprised that Coach Franklin chose not to give Ole Miss credit, but chose to blame the loss on ‘too many moving parts!’ Hotty Toddy! On to 2024.”

Congrats to the Ole Miss Rebels for their dominant will over Penn State. Surprised that Coach Franklin chose not to give Ole Miss credit, but chose to blame the loss on “too many moving parts!”
Hotty Toddy! On to 2024

— Charlie Weis (@charlieweissr) December 31, 2023

“Congratulating a team that defeats you means nothing if it is followed by excuses for losing, like moving parts and/or officiating!” Weis continued in a second post. “Any coach who is a decision maker is best to first point the finger at themselves!”

While Charlie Weis may have been upset with Franklin after the game, the comments were pretty similar to the Penn State football coach’s typical postgame remarks, particularly after losses. The Nittany Lions now look to turn the page to 2024, a year that will see the expansion of the College Football Playoff.

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