While James Franklin's dismissal following the teams third-straight loss despite the Nittany Lions being a top five team in college football just a few weeks ago surprised many yesterday, few were surprised with some of the names that were immediately mentioned as his possible replacement in Happy Valley.
Among one of the first connected to the recent opening was Nebraska's Matt Rhule.
A former Penn State linebacker who got his start in coaching as a volunteer assistant back in 1998, Rhule not only has plenty of ties to the region from his time as an assistant and head coach places like Albright, Buffalo, Western Carolina, and Temple, but he's got a unique connection to athletic director Pat Kraft as well.
Kraft, now the athletic director at Penn State charged with making the decision to move on from the Franklin era and who just held a presser on the decision earlier today, was the athletic director at Temple while Rhule led the Owls turnaround from 2013-2016. He stood by Rhule as he took the Owls from 2-10 in that first season to 10-3 in his final season. After that ten-win campaign, Rhule left to become the head coach at Baylor and worked the same turnaround magic in just three seasons time.
Just being a former player and current FBS head coach would have put Rhule on the radar of more than a few folks once the job came open, but add the fact that Kraft is the athletic director too and it's no wonder his name immediately popped up.
Asked about it today at his weekly presser, Rhule made his affection for his college home known.
"Well, I love Penn State. Met my wife there. It's my alma mater. Been a fan since I was born. I love Pat Kraft."
Rhule goes on to share how he's sad to see Franklin's tenure end, considering he took over the program with it in "peril" and "disarray" while providing a foundation of stability and excellence, and how he and Huskers AD Troy Dannen are in constant communication about his current program and where they are headed.
He would go on to share, "I'm not going to talk about job openings when they come. I'm not going to talk about those things ever. I'm not going to talk about my contract here."
"I absolutely love it here. I just want us to continue to take the steps needed for us to turn this thing into a beast."