Since James Franklin was fired at Penn State last October, the Nittany Lions fan base has been completely obsessed with him since he was sent packing and hired at Virginia Tech. They live and breathe and comment on everything he says and does. It's really weird.
Virginia Tech fans would never do that with a former coach who was fired. Sure, they might comment once in a while; they wouldn't live and die over every single thing he says and does. They didn't even do that with Kenny Brooks. It's called moving on.
Poor Matt Campbell. He gets hired at Penn State to replace Franklin, and still, 10 months later, he's living in Franklin's shadow in State College. Sadly, it doesn't look like it's going to change. If it wasn't going to change in his first game as head coach at Penn State against Marshall on Saturday afternoon, it never will.
James Franklin will live rent-free in Penn State fans' heads forever
Campbell made his Nittany Lions debut on Saturday with a 45-0 win over Marshall. Good for him. However, even though he may not have noticed with his headset on during the game while making key decisions, Penn State fans, media, and even the stadium employees were trolling the coach he replaced, Franklin. Take a look at the two X posts below. It's all you need to know about the crazy obsession.
Penn State playing Enter Sandman during today’s game against Marshall: pic.twitter.com/m4yrSOk4ga
— Will Horstman (@WillHorstman_) September 5, 2026
Beaver Stadium signs of a new era:
— Mike Poorman (@PSUPoorman) September 5, 2026
Trolling your Ex, Penn State Beaver Stadium music:
+ Since You've Been Gone
+ We Are Never Getting back Together
+ Enter Sandman (Va Tech football takes the field at Lane Stadium to this Metallica hit)
Absent from pre-video PSU team intros:…
I mean, can you say complete obsession? Again, poor Matt Campbell. Whatever he does will always be in the shadow of Franklin. He could win a National Championship at Penn State, and the first thing the Nittany Lions fans and media will do is post about James Franklin. Imagine begging to move on from Franklin for the amount of time that Penn State fans were still obsessing about him long after he's gone. Again, poor Matt Campbell.
Now, Penn State fans will always point the finger at Franklin for talking about Penn State in his press conferences since arriving at Virginia Tech. They're right; he addresses the situation when he's asked about it. Otherwise, he has moved on and is focusing on the task at hand: Virginia Tech.
James Franklin is the ex-high school sweetheart that you broke up with, but trolling them on social media, commenting, and watching every single move they make on any social media platform is a daily routine. Usually, when a breakup happens, especially nearly a year later, you move on, be grateful for what you have, and embrace it.
No, not Penn State fans; it's all about James Franklin. He'll live rent-free in everyone's head- fans, media, and gameday operations at Beaver Stadium forever. Again, poor Matt Campbell. Whatever he accomplishes with the Nittany Lions will always take a backseat to James Franklin.
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