Nebraska HC Matt Rhule speaks out on fan treatment of James Franklin’s family after Penn State’s collapse
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule spoke out after Penn State fired James Franklin, condemning fans who yelled at Franklin’s children and praising the former coach for stabilizing his alma mater’s program.
Penn State’s decision to fire James Franklin has drawn praise and criticism from across the college football landscape. As the program seeks a replacement, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has quickly emerged as Penn State’s top target. With a track record of rebuilding broken teams, impressive recruiting, and a deep knowledge of State College programs, Rhule would bring the kind of energy and authenticity that can unite boosters, players, and fans.
When asked about Penn State’s decision, Rhule spoke with genuine emotion, expressing sadness and frustration — not about the job opening, but about how Franklin and his family have been treated in the aftermath.
Matt Rhule gives surprisingly emotional response to James Franklin firing
When asked about possibly replacing Franklin as head coach, Rhule took a moment to emphasize his frustration with fan behavior at his alma mater.
“I love Penn State. Met my wife there. It’s my alma mater, fan since I was born,” Rhule said Monday. “I probably had a Penn State shirt when I was born. I love Pat Kraft. I’m really sad to see Coach Franklin go. When you think about what he did for my alma mater, the program was in peril. James took over a program in disarray and gave stability and excellence. To see videos of people yelling at his kids, I just don’t understand why in our country coaches are villains.”
Rhule’s voice grew heavier as he addressed the human cost of fan outrage.
“People say, ‘Oh, you make a lot of money,’” he continued. “Making a lot of money doesn’t make your kids feel good when they’re hearing that. It’s nice to make a lot of money, but we’re still people. I really respect James Franklin.”
Franklin’s dismissal came after one of the most dramatic collapses of the college football season. Penn State started 3-0 and climbed to No. 5 in the AP poll before the bottom fell out. The Nittany Lions dropped three straight games — first a double-overtime heartbreaker to No. 7 Oregon, then a shocking 42-37 loss to previously winless UCLA, followed by a 22-21 defeat to Northwestern in a game that saw quarterback Drew Allar suffer a season-ending leg injury.
The offense sputtered, averaging just 19 points during the skid, while the defense allowed 31 points per game over the same stretch. Once a College Football Playoff hopeful, Penn State fell to 3-3 overall and 0-3 in Big Ten play.
Athletic director Pat Kraft said the decision to part ways with Franklin was about trajectory, not emotion.
“This is not a three-game thing,” Kraft told reporters. “I’m here to win national championships.” While he praised
Franklin’s decade-long leadership, he emphasized that “football is our backbone” and that the program needed new energy to compete at an elite level.
Still, the videos of fans berating Franklin’s children after the Northwestern loss struck a nerve around college football. For Rhule, who shares deep roots with Penn State, the outrage hit close to home.
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