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Franklin would like to see more diversity

There are only 13 black head coaches among the 130 FBS teams this season, and two of them will be on opposing sidelines Friday night when James Franklin and Penn State visit Lovie Smith and Illinois.

It will mark one of just a handful of games all season around the country to feature two black head coaches. Despite the fact that a study showed 53 percent of FBS players are black, only 10 percent of the schools have a black head coach.

Franklin was asked Tuesday how he feels about the diversity challenge for coaches in college football, which has existed for many years, and if he believes strides have been made in that area. The coach gave an extensive and eloquent response on the matter.

“I’d love for us to get to a point where this really isn’t even a conversation anymore. Obviously, I don’t think we’re there yet,” Franklin said. “But I remember thinking back as an assistant, when Tony Dungy and Lovie were playing against each other in a Super Bowl (in 2007), and I said this is going to have an impact. And I think it did. I think it did, especially in the NFL.

“I do think there’s a lot of progress that still needs to be made in college and probably the NFL, as well. But at the end of the day, I think all that anybody wants is that people have opportunities, and whether that is people of color, whether that is women, whether that is whatever it may be, that they have opportunities. And at the end of the day that the most qualified people get the job, and that if you are going to take a chance or risk on someone that maybe is less qualified, that again the same opportunities are there.”

Franklin discussed how much respect he has for Smith and how he viewed him as a role model coming up in the coaching ranks. Franklin then mentioned that he knows how important it is for coaches like himself to have success, which can open doors for other black coaches.

“I’m working like crazy, number one, for Penn State,” Franklin said. “I’m working like crazy for our players. I’m working like crazy for our lettermen and for this community. I’m working like crazy for my family.

“But I also feel like I carry a little bit of that weight that I’m also working for thousands of young African-American football coaches all over the country that, when someone gets into my position, the success that we have here hopefully opens some opportunities for other guys in the future.”

Remarkably, there still has never been a black head coach to win a national championship. Opportunities have just been too few and far between for that to occur.

Franklin has thought about the possibility of him being the first to do so, and with Penn State back among the elite programs nationally, he very well could achieve that milestone someday.

He discussed it during the summer in a Q&A with the Reading Eagle.

“I’ve never talked about it publicly, but internally I’ve talked about it from day one,” Franklin said. “When I meet with recruits and coaches, I want to know what their goals are. What are your dreams? Because that’s my job, to help you achieve your goals.

“Sometimes the staff or the players will ask, “Coach, what’s your vision?” This is mine. I’m excited that I’m at a place where that’s realistic. I can help you reach you dreams and have an opportunity to reach mine.”

Reid ready

Cornerback John Reid has missed the past two games with an undisclosed injury, but Franklin did give an update Tuesday.

“Yeah, we expect John back,” the coach said of Friday’s game.

Addressing concerns

Franklin made no secret of the fact that defensive tackle and linebacker were concerns entering the season. How does he see things through three games from a pass rush standpoint?

“We’ve been pretty good at defensive end,” he said. “I think we can be better at defensive tackle. And I think we can be better at linebacker.

“We’ve got to be more reckless when we blitz and when we rush at linebacker. Sometimes that running back goes to fit us up and we can be more aggressive in terms of rushing the quarterback.”

A capsule look at Jame’s Franklin’s press conference

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