James Franklin apologizes for handling of controversial midweek media session

At the end of his remarks following the Nittany Lions’ 28-13 win over Wisconsin Saturday evening, Penn State football coach James Franklin clarified and apologized for his actions during what became a controversial post-practice media scrum last Wednesday.

“I’d like to end this thing by covering Wednesday. The first thing I want to do is apologize,” Franklin said to the assembled reporters in the room. “I did not do a good job of handling Wednesday. [It’s a] difficult situation, and I got to own that. I did not do a good job of that. I understand you guys got a job to do. You got to ask those questions. I respect that.

“The university had put out a statement. And the reality is, I think there’s not a whole lot more I can say other than that statement. It’s an ongoing legal situation, and it’s challenging, challenging on everybody.”

James Franklin addressed the media last Wednesday for the first time since two former Penn State defenders, Jameial Lyons and Kaveion Keys, were arraigned and charged with felony rape and other sex crimes. The ex-Nittany Lions, who were dismissed from the team this summer, are accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old university student in July. Lyons is also charged with sexually assaulting another female that same night.

Before Franklin took to the microphone last week, a Penn State football spokesperson reiterated the university’s official statement on the issue and that there would be no further comment. When several reporters attempted to ask Franklin questions about the football program’s handling of the matter, the Nittany Lions head coach stepped back from the scrum, allowing the spokesperson to repeat this message – a move that gained social media attention and national headlines.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

“At the end of the day, I did not do a good job of handling that situation and representing this program the right way,” Franklin said Saturday. “So, I want to take a minute and apologize for that and understand that you guys [media] have a job to do. So I didn’t do a good job there.

“I’m trying to get better, like everybody else in a difficult situation. And I think that is a big reason for all of this: it’s a difficult situation and challenging situation. So, I apologize.”

On the field, Penn State football handled business, putting up 419 yards of offense on the Badgers despite losing starting quarterback Drew Allar in the first half.

Ranked No. 3, the stage is now set for the first top-five matchup in Beaver Stadium in a quarter-century when No. 4 Ohio State travels to Happy Valley next weekend.

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