Penn State football coach James Franklin stoked the controversy surrounding the program on Wednesday by walking away from reporters when asked about his handling of rape allegations against two former Nittany Lions players.
“Again, just great work by everyone involved at Penn State to turn a story that no one would have noticed into a national commentary on James Franklin’s inability to handle a simple job responsibility as an adult,” wrote USA Today columnist Dan Wolken sarcastically on X.
The program was already under scrutiny when 19-year-old former Nittany Lions players Kaveion Allen Keys and Jameial James Lyons were accused this week of raping a 17-year-old Penn State student in their campus apartment over the summer. Another student claims she woke up to being sexually assaulted by Lyon, according to the criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press.
The media was told by staff not to ask Franklin about the defendants, who are out on bail, but when reporters ignored that directive and questioned his handling of the situation, the coach simply walked away from the stage and behind a background.
In Franklin’s place, communications staff stood up to reiterate that the “athletics department will have no further comment.” Franklin then returned to the stage only to make another retreat when asked again about his handling of the situation.
Penn State head coach James Franklin walks onto the field with his players on October 5
Jameial James Lyons (right) and Kaveion Allen Keys (left) are out on bail after their arrest
USA Today columnist Dan Wolken sarcastically congratulated Penn State
Both players were mysteriously suspended this summer for what the school described as a “personal matter.” They were ultimately removed from the roster in August and Franklin has declined to discuss their status since.
But it wasn’t Keys or Lyons who became the center of the growing controversy emanating from State College. Instead, Franklin has been criticized by the media and fans for withdrawing from reporters.
“All James Franklin had to do was not comment or we can’t address this due to pending legal matters,” Newsday’s Evan Barnes wrote on X. “Instead, it makes him look like a coward and a fool. A professional coach would be ridiculed if he behaved this way, and so he should. It’s good that people are doing their job and putting pressure on him.’
“I’m now watching the James Franklin statement reading fiasco live on the 6pm SportsCenter,” Slate’s Alex Kirshner wrote on X. “Just a great own goal from Franklin’s admin and PR teams and Penn State. No one would be talking about this if JF were personally reading a statement and not literally hiding behind a background.”
Many online were quick to draw a connection between Franklin’s handling of the situation and Penn State’s response to the infamous child molestation scandal involving former Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.
Jerry Sandusky, center, is escorted from his sentencing hearing at the Center County Courthouse in Bellefonte on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Joe Paterno was forced to leave Penn State due to his improper handling of claims against Sandusky
The controversy centered around the program and legendary head coach Joe Paterno’s response to child sex abuse allegations against Sandusky, who remains imprisoned in Pennsylvania. Paterno was fired and died shortly afterwards.
Others pointed to Franklin’s history with his previous job at Vanderbilt, where several of his players had been accused of rape. Franklin denied allegations that he encouraged a player to delete graphic images of the rape, adding that he had never personally seen the images, despite giving some players the impression that he had.
“James Franklin was the head coach at Vanderbilt when three of his players were sent to prison for a gang rape,” Indy Star reporter Nate Atkins wrote of Jerry Sandusky.
“This is…not the look they should be projecting in this situation,” he added.
“How can James Franklin and Penn State be so bad at this, after the whole Sandusky mess, that they should be well versed in crisis management?” one fan asked online. “Yet here we are and they actually look even worse than they did during Sandusky. Unbelievable.’
Much of the criticism of Franklin has focused on his salary, which will be at least $7.5 million for the current season.
“Face of the football program,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network wrote on X. “The most recognizable person associated with Penn St. is demanding athletes be held accountable. Millions paid, part of which was tax money.
“Yet he refuses to stand up and make a statement or answer important questions from reporters doing their jobs.”
Much of the criticism of Franklin has focused on his salary, which will be at least $7.5 million for the current season
Many critics pointed to Franklin’s history with his previous job at Vanderbilt, where several of his players had been accused of rape.
Keys and Lyons were arraigned Wednesday and released on bail of $400,000 and $500,000, respectively. Neither was required to post bail unless they violate the conditions of their release.
They have to appear in court again on Wednesday.
Keys has denied knowing “Victim 1,” according to the complaint, and has maintained that he had no sexual contact on the night in question.
Lyons admitted to having sex with Victim 1, but insists it was consensual. However, he said he believed Victim 1 would “likely report the situation to police,” according to the complaint.
The mobile phones of both former players were handed over to police, who discovered a recorded video showing ‘indecent contact’ with Victim 1.
Those images were found on Keys’ phone, which Lyons admitted he had. However, he denied recording the footage.
Keys has been charged with first-degree forcible rape, second-degree sexual assault, second-degree aggravated assault without consent and second-degree sexual assault without consent.
Lyons, meanwhile, faces the same charges, as well as second-degree criminal mischief, voluntary deviate from sexual intercourse and second-degree invasion of privacy.
