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Fran Brown has already locked in his own NIL deal.

It’s safe to say that in his first season as Syracuse’s football coach, Camden native Fran Brown found quick success. Brown, who guided the Orange to a 10-3 record that included a home upset of Miami in the regular-season finale, coached Mount Laurel native Kyle McCord to a record-breaking season and saw four of his […]

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It’s safe to say that in his first season as Syracuse’s football coach, Camden native Fran Brown found quick success.

Brown, who guided the Orange to a 10-3 record that included a home upset of Miami in the regular-season finale, coached Mount Laurel native Kyle McCord to a record-breaking season and saw four of his players get picked in the April’s NFL draft.

Earlier this month, Brown joined the National Football Foundation’s Good in the Game podcast, hosted by legendary Penn State linebacker Lavar Arrington, to discuss his Camden roots, path to coaching, and the heights to which he wants to bring Syracuse football.

Before his sit-down with Arrington, Front Office Sports reported that Brown had signed with the NIL agency Network as he looks to raise his profile with the ultimate goal of attracting top talent to the Orange.

Brown is one of two coaches to sign with the agency, joining former Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, now the head coach at Norfolk State.

According the report, Brown is working with the agency to build his brand and amplify “DART,” the acronym he coined that stands for “detailed, accountable, relentless, and tough.” It’s the brand of football he hoped to produce at the school when he arrived in 2023.

Now, through his official standing with the agency, Brown wants more exposure as a thought leader in college football. That includes topics like NIL and the transfer portal and how student athletes can use both more effectively.

According to the report, there are also appearances planned and the possibility of creating a signature line (think Deion Sanders having a line of custom sunglasses) in addition to being open to endorsement deals.

Brown would be one of the first coaches to consider working with an NIL agency to raise his exposure, a twofold idea that also benefits the program that employs him.

According to an April study by sport psychologists at the Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention in Waltham, Mass., the average student-athlete spends 4½ hours daily on social media — nearly 20% of the day.

Coaches seeking to attract athletes to their schools see it as advantageous to be in the spaces where their target demographic lives.

“When we started Network, we weren’t pretending to nor considering to get into the coaching world,” Doug Scott, chief strategy officer at Network, told Front Office Sports earlier this month. “[However], we think there’s a little bit of a void in the marketplace right now.”

More than Penn State up north

While Arrington hails from Pittsburgh, the former linebacker and Brown share a commonality: Both of their wives grew up in Woodbury, about 13 miles south of Philadelphia. They also discussed growing up in tough situations, and how that molded them into football players, with Arrington a star at Penn State and Brown at Western Carolina.

» READ MORE: Coach Fran Brown carries Camden and its players with him as he leads a turnaround at Syracuse

Beyond Brown’s own story and his getting into coaching shortly after his playing career ended, Arrington asked the 43-year-old coach about his vision for Syracuse coming off a successful season. Brown is eyeing one program in particular, fresh off a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance.

“When I look at up north, it’s just been Penn State for a long time, right? Back in the day, it was Syracuse, and it’s coming back, but it’s been Penn State [recently],” Brown said. “I love what Penn State does, I love what they’re about. I love the culture that Joe Paterno set, that Bill O’Brien tried to keep it going for that little bit of time, and now [James] Franklin got it back.

“I think we need to show it’s not just one team up there that’s a dominant football team. I think it needs to be more. Because when you’re going to the South, they’ve got a few. … I want to be able to do that up here.”

While Arrington gave Brown plenty of praise for Syracuse’s success last season, Brown said that he’s “not coaching to be 8-4, or to be 10-3. … I’m not happy that we were 10-3 last year.” He has aspirations to win a national championship at Syracuse after winning one as an assistant coach with Georgia in 2022.

The Orange have not won a title since 1959.

Gratitude in coaching

Brown opened up to Arrington about the “vulnerability” he approaches his coaching job with and how he’s able to relate to his players on a personal level.

» READ MORE: Penn State adds transfers Trebor Peña and Amare Campbell to its football roster

“I share a story with the whole team, tell them exactly what went on, exactly what happened, exactly why I was doing this. And why would you talk to them and tell them all that? So they won’t make that same mistake,” Brown explained. “So they feel comfortable enough to come and talk to me, and then they sit there, and it’s like, ‘Oh, snap. This is who the coach really is.’

“I’m committed to you. Show me you’re committed to me. I’m going to show you that by my actions consistently. I care about you, and I’m not just going to tell you that; my actions [are] going to show you that.”

Brown said he also understands there’s a fine line between being an available ear for players to rely on vs. running a tight ship at practice. On the field, he says, it’s all about “the work.” But he ensures that he shows compassion and care for his players and staff off the field.

Since becoming a head coach, Brown has developed a relationship with Colorado coach and Pro football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. In thinking about how far he has come in his coaching career, Brown reflected on the similarities they share.

“I got a chance to talk to [Sanders] and get to know him over these last couple of years,” Brown said. “I heard Prime Time [say], ‘Yo, man, I love you, brother.’ And I thought to myself, ‘This is amazing!’ That’s why I felt that he’s doing as well as he’s doing, because he’s comfortable. He’s comfortable with who he is, and that’s the same way I am. I’m super comfortable, man, because I’m thankful. It’s so much gratitude in this, for me coming from Camden, New Jersey.

“When it all starts to come to fruition, it’s like, wow, God is good, man, to have the opportunity to be in that position.”



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FSU football rival receives lawsuit over tampering accusations

Long gone were the days of under-the-table fast food bags filled with cash to entice top-tier recruits to join one football program or the other, or at least the college football world thought when introducing a way for athletes to benefit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in 2021. The new NIL era has […]

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Long gone were the days of under-the-table fast food bags filled with cash to entice top-tier recruits to join one football program or the other, or at least the college football world thought when introducing a way for athletes to benefit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in 2021.

The new NIL era has introduced a wave of problems, litigation, and it is safe to say that the NCAA is still working out a solution on how to fairly compensate athletes and reduce tampering in what will likely be known as the “wild west” of college athletics in the years to come.

No program is immune to scandals with such a vast amount of revenue being poured through its locker room, but one Florida State rival seems to be on the brink of facing consequences after getting caught with its hand in the cookie jar.

The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed an unprecedented lawsuit against the University of Miami Hurricanes in state circuit court on Friday, accusing the university of tortious interference, according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports.

The suit claims that Miami illegally poached defensive back Xavier Lucas, referred to in the filing as “Student-Athlete A,” while he was under contract with the Badgers.

“Miami interfered with UW-Madison’s relationship with Student-Athlete A (Lucas) by making impermissible contact with him and engaging in tampering.”

READ MORE: Three former Seminoles listed in ESPN’s NFL All Quarter Century Team

“Knowingly inducing” an athlete to have a change of heart and play for your school while they are currently under contract is a blatant violation of transfer practices and NCAA policies (in fact, the transfer portal was closed at the time of the violation). Although Wisconsin reportedly was hesitant to escalate the issue, the school said that it was “committed to ensuring integrity and fundamental fairness in the evolving landscape of college athletics.”

Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian

Nov 30, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian gestures to fans against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images / Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

While the school won’t be pursuing any legal action against Lucas, the move could (and should) prompt a higher oversight at the program level from administrations that would like to keep their hands clean of the bad press, lawsuits, and relationship-breaking consequences that can arise as the country tries to paddle the murky waters of the new NIL era.

As for Miami? Well, some habits are hard to break.

READ MORE: Cornerback prospect shuts down recruitment, sticks with Florida State

Stick with NoleGameday for more FREE coverage of Florida State Football throughout the offseason

Follow NoleGameday on and TwitterFacebook, Instagramand TikTok





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Maine closes out the high school softball season with MPA championships

The high school softball season around the country finally came to an end this past weekend with the Maine Principal Association (MPA) state championships. The four contests were played between St. Joseph’s College and the University of Maine. Four state title games took place from Classes A to D, with the MPA crowning champions in […]

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The high school softball season around the country finally came to an end this past weekend with the Maine Principal Association (MPA) state championships. The four contests were played between St. Joseph’s College and the University of Maine.

Four state title games took place from Classes A to D, with the MPA crowning champions in each classification.

In the Class A state championship tilt between Windham and Edward Little, the Eagles blanked the Red Eddies, 7-0, behind a strong pitching performance from senior hurler Kennedy Kimball. The pitcher went the distance, allowing just two mere hits and striking out a game-high 11.

Medomak Valley edging Hermon, 1-0, for the Class B state crown was the tightest contest in terms of scoring of any game out of the weekend. Panthers’ pitcher Sydney Nichols brought her best stuff in the circle, striking out 12, yielding just three hits and leading the program to their first state championship since 1995.

Another Maine state championship game that involved a stellar performance from their senior pitcher was Bucksport upending Hall-Dale, 6-2, for the Class C title. It was senior Natalie Simpson closing the door on the Bulldogs, with the pitcher pitching all seven frames, giving up four hits, two runs and fanning 12 batters along the way.

Lastly in the Class D state title tilt between Buckfield and Penobscot Valley, it would be the Bucks defeating the Howlers 5-0. Brittany Carrier belted a home run and Carmen Crocket pitched a nearly perfect game, going seven innings, one hit, no walks and striking out 16 batters. With the win, Buckfield notched the program’s 10th state championship.

The New England region has always been one of the final areas around the country to wrap up spring sports. Just last weekend, Connecticut held its state championship games.



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After playing 117 games for Texas, this Longhorns outfielder has entered transfer portal

Texas Longhorns outfielder Will Gasparino has entered the transfer portal after two seasons. Gasparino hit .247 with 104 hits, 96 RBIs, and 25 home runs during his time at Texas. Texas has actively recruited transfer portal players to bolster their offense, including outfielders Jack Moroknek, Kaleb Freeman, and Aiden Robbins. Gasparino credited Texas assistant coach […]

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After playing 117 games for Texas, this Longhorns outfielder has entered transfer portal

  • Texas Longhorns outfielder Will Gasparino has entered the transfer portal after two seasons.
  • Gasparino hit .247 with 104 hits, 96 RBIs, and 25 home runs during his time at Texas.
  • Texas has actively recruited transfer portal players to bolster their offense, including outfielders Jack Moroknek, Kaleb Freeman, and Aiden Robbins.
  • Gasparino credited Texas assistant coach Troy Tulowitzki for his development during his time with the Longhorns.

The Texas Longhorns have lost another notable bat to the transfer portal. On Sunday, talented OF Will Gasparino announced that he will not be back at Texas next year. He leaves the program after two years full of unforgettable memories and big hits.

As a Longhorn, he appeared in 117 games and posted a .247 batting average. He added 104 hits and 96 RBI to his resume. While serving as an important bat, Gasparino showed some power with 25 home runs and 27 doubles. The Los Angeles native was sometimes streaky but can change a game with one swing. 

Due to his play, the Harvard-Westlake High School product added to his trophy case. He was a Big 12 All-Freshman Team selection and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention during the 2024 season. While he will not be easy to replace, Texas has been busy in the transfer portal improving their offense.

Those additions include first baseman Josh Livingston, Butler outfielder Jack Moroknek, Georgia State outfielder Kaleb Freeman, Seton Hall outfielder and Aiden Robbins. Robbins and Freeman are coming off career years and should help replace Gasparino’s production. 

Although this is not how Gasparino envisioned his time with Texas ending, he did not take his time in Austin for granted. Earlier this year, he praised Texas assistant coach and former MLB star Troy Tulowitzki for helping in his development.

“[Tulowitzki] was a pretty big factor for sure,” Gasparino said. “He played 10 plus years in the big leagues, really good hitter, one of the best shortstops in the game, he just knows a lot about baseball,” Gasparino said. “He knows a lot, he’s going to develop you, and he’s been through the game, he knows the ins-and-outs.”With plenty of programs needing a potent bat, Gasparino should be a popular name over the next few weeks as he looks for his next opportunity. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.

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UNC plan to pay players revenue, NIL after House settlement

UNC football coach Bill Belichick summer press conference UNC football coach Bill Belichick held a 20-minute press conference. He answered questions about outside “noise” and the roster. UNC athletes in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball will receive a share of revenue starting July 1st. UNC will increase its athletic scholarships from 338 to […]

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  • UNC athletes in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball will receive a share of revenue starting July 1st.
  • UNC will increase its athletic scholarships from 338 to 532 across all sports.
  • UNC is exploring new revenue streams like naming rights and sponsorships to offset increased costs.

University of North Carolina athletes will be paid revenue directly by the school, beginning July 1, in addition to income they already earn for use of their name, image and likeness.

UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham outlined the university’s plan for the revenue sharing era in a letter posted on June 23. This follows the approval of the House vs. NCAA settlement on June 6, which moves college sports closer to a professional model. Schools opting into the format can pay athletes up to an annual cap of $20.5 million.

“This is a significant evolution that will change our department’s financial model while providing greater financial opportunities for Tar Heel student-athletes,” Cunningham said in a school-issued statement.

“At Carolina, we have been preparing for these changes for more than a year. We are fully committed to adapting to this new era and continuing to create outstanding championship experiences for our student-athletes across our 28-sport, broad-based program.”

UNC is among the schools positioning itself to share the full amount of revenue share to its athletes. Cunningham revealed how UNC’s athletics department plans to handle the changes.

“As we begin this new era, one thing won’t change: our dedication to excellence and winning in and outside of competition,” Cunningham said.

UNC will share most of $20.5 million with men’s basketball, football

Men’s basketball and football at UNC will receive a majority of the school’s $20.5 million in revenue sharing, according to Cunningham’s letter. Women’s basketball and baseball players will also get a cut of the revenue share, bringing UNC’s total to four sports. The rev-share cap will increase by 4% annually.

UNC scholarship increases for athletes

The settlement institutes roster limits for all sports, but removes scholarship limits. With that change, Cunningham said UNC will increases its number of scholarships by nearly 200 across 28 sports, going from 338 to 532.

“The ability to have more Tar Heels on full scholarship will greatly strengthen our athletics program and the student-athlete experience at Carolina,” Cunningham said. “This is a great opportunity to support additional student-athletes financially, outside of revenue share, and we want to keep building our Rams Club Scholarship Endowment in the hope of increasing scholarships even more in the future.”

UNC backpay for athletes, budget

UNC estimates an impact of $2 million annually for the next 10 years due to the $2.7 billion in backpay to athletes who weren’t allowed to profit off NIL. The NCAA is funding payments for schools by withholding a portion of its annual distribution of funds. Cunningham said UNC’s budget, which was $150 million this year, will grow 30% or 20% by next year.

“To prepare, we have hired a new Chief Revenue Officer to investigate and initiate new revenue opportunities, including naming rights, field sponsorships and jersey patches, expanding football’s Bell Tower Block Party to draw more fans, options to further optimize our relationship with corporate sponsorship partner Learfield and more aggressive ticket sales initiatives,” Cunningham said.

“ACC Success Initiatives and additional funding allocated by the state of North Carolina from gambling revenues may also assist our efforts in the coming years, and we will continue to evaluate our Department’s budget and spending for cost-cutting opportunities.”

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.



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Henry Ford commits to Tennessee out of the transfer portal

Tennessee baseball made a big splash in the transfer portal on Sunday, picking up a commitment from the top-rated player in the transfer portal as former Virginia first baseman and right fielder Henry Ford made his pledge known to Tony Vitello and the Tennessee staff. The slugger was on campus the first week the portal […]

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Tennessee baseball made a big splash in the transfer portal on Sunday, picking up a commitment from the top-rated player in the transfer portal as former Virginia first baseman and right fielder Henry Ford made his pledge known to Tony Vitello and the Tennessee staff.

The slugger was on campus the first week the portal officially opened for an official visit ahead of Tennessee’s super regional matchup at Arkansas. Tennessee beat out Mississippi State and Texas for Ford, who is playing in the Cape Cod League this summer.

Ford, who stands in at 6-foot-5 weighing 225 pounds, is draft eligible this summer. He’s currently listed as the No. 73 MLB Draft prosect by MLB Pipeline and No. 70 by Baseball America. He has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining but is a serious draft risk.

Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor left his post to take on the head job at Mississippi State after the season. Ford, along with several of his fellow teammates, entered the NCAA transfer portal.    

The Charlottesville, Va. Native, who attended high school in Chattanooga at Baylor School, broke onto the scene as a true freshman in 2024, landing on three Freshman All-American teams after hitting .336 at the plate with 17 home runs, 69 runs batted in and 13 doubles in 61 starts. The home runs and RBI tally were both freshman records for the program.

In 2025, Ford registered a .362 average with 11 home runs, 46 RBI, nine doubles and 42 runs scored across 50 games played. He primarily played first base as a freshman before shifting more towards the outfield as a sophomore. In total, Ford played in 74 games at first base and 34 games in the outfield while at Virginia in two seasons.   Ford was named second-team All-ACC following the 2025 campaign as an outfielder.

Baseball Transfer Portal

The 2025 non-graduate transfer portal opened on June 2 and will remain open until July 1. Players must have their name entered in the transfer portal by July 1 if they want to move on, but new destinations do not have to be made by that time.

The Vols have benefited greatly from the transfer portal in recent cycles, reeling in the likes of Chase Dollander (2022), Griffin Merritt (2023), Maui Ahuna (2023), Zane Denton (2023), Billy Amick (2024), Cannon Peebles (2024), AJ Causey (2024), Chris Stamos (2024), Liam Doyle (2025), Andrew Fischer (2025) and Gavin Kilen (2025).

Ford becomes the seventh addition for the Vols via the transfer portal, joining right-handed pitchers Clay Edmondson (UNC Asheville), Mason Estrada (MIT), Bo Rhudy (Kennesaw State), RHP Brady Frederick (ETSU), utility Garrett Wright (Bowling Green) and RHP/OF DJ Newman. Tennessee has also added junior college players such as RHP Matt Barr (SUNY Niagara) and Tyler Myatt (Walters State) and picked up catcher Trent Grindlinger as a late add to the 2025 class in recent weeks.

Tennessee has now lost 13 players to the transfer portal so far: INF Jack Jones, INF Robinson Martin, LHP Bryson Thacker, RHP Brayden Sharp, RHP Austin Hunley, RHP Thomas Crabtree, OF Colby Backus, LHP Ryler Smart, LHP Dylan Loy, LHP Andrew Behnke, RHP Austin Breedlove and RHP/OF Beau Revord.



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How Adam Breneman Wants to Change College Football, at Penn State and Beyond

Adam Breneman views Penn State football now through a uniquely personal lens. Though the foundation remains recognizable (Breneman played for Bill O’Brien and was recruited by Joe Paterno), Penn State’s program is far different than the one he knew in the 2010s. Principally regarding this. “I think the biggest thing that’s changed recently is just, […]

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Adam Breneman views Penn State football now through a uniquely personal lens. Though the foundation remains recognizable (Breneman played for Bill O’Brien and was recruited by Joe Paterno), Penn State’s program is far different than the one he knew in the 2010s. Principally regarding this.

“I think the biggest thing that’s changed recently is just, clearly, there’s been a commitment to do whatever it takes to win at the highest level at Penn State,” Breneman said in a recent interview. “And I don’t think that Penn State had that for a while.”

The former Penn State and UMass tight end and Arizona State assistant coach now is a leading young voice in college football media. Breneman, 30, co-founded The College Sports Company, a media enterprise, and is involved with its Penn State brand, State Media.

Breneman interviews the game’s top coaches and players for his podcast, Next Up With Adam Breneman, and has turned social media into a powerful personal platform. Recently, Breneman sat down with Penn State on SI to discuss his twisting career, his relationship with Penn State and his ideas for creating athlete-driven media.

Here’s Part 2 of that interview. Check out Part 1 here.

Question: How is the Penn State football program different than the one you played for?

Adam Breneman: I think the biggest thing that’s changed recently is just, clearly, there’s been a commitment to do whatever it takes to win at the highest level at Penn State. And I don’t think that Penn State had that for a while. I feel like for a long time, Penn State, for a lot of good reasons, had a certain way of doing things. It was, Penn State was different than everybody else. It was maybe more old-school at times, and you have all these pieces that were a little bit outdated, like the facilities and things like that. But if you recruit the right kind of people, those things didn’t matter at Penn State.

In today’s college football, things have changed completely. You need money, you need to compete, you need to keep up in order to win at the highest level. And [athletic director] Pat Kraft and the president [Neeli Bendapudi] and coach [James] Franklin, everyone has invested in what it takes to win at the highest level. If the expectation is that you’re going to beat all these teams, you’d better have the resources that they all have. And I think now, for the first time in a while at Penn State, there’s the resources that it takes to win at the very highest level of college football.

Now it’s time to go do it, as they have in the past, but time to win a national championship. I think now the resources are there. I mean, look at the hire of [defensive coordinator] Jim Knowles and what it took to get that done. Think about keeping all those players on their roster and not having them transfer or go to the NFL. It doesn’t happen without big-time financial resources. That’s a big change that has happened recently at Penn State.

Question: What’s different about the Lasch Football Building from when you played?

Breneman: Everything’s brand new in that thing. Every time you go, there’s new construction being done. Everything is state of the art. There’s sleep rooms, and there’s recovery rooms, and there’s a quarterback-specific training room. There’s just so many things that are really good for players. The facility was good when we when were there, but it’s even better now. And I think that’s a testament to all the resources it takes to win.

Penn State tight end Adam Breneman runs with the football after a catch against Purdue in a 2013 game at Beaver Stadium.

Penn State tight end Adam Breneman (81) runs with the ball after a catch against Purdue in a 2013 game at Beaver Stadium. / Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Question: How do you try to contribute to that through State Media and The College Sports Company?

Breneman: Our belief is that athletes want to be part of content and want to contribute on social media. If I would have done that when I was playing football, I would have gotten laughed out of the room. But now it’s common, and everyone wants to do it. We wanted to give athletes a place to do that. I think on top of it, every school and collective needed to find ways to make new money, to drive new revenue to pay the players. And we thought that creating a media network, and having these shows and assets that brands and donors can put money behind, was a great way to do that.

So that’s when we started The College Sports Company and State Media. We have networks at Louisville, South Carolina, Tennessee, BYU, schools all over the country. And really the goal is to create great content for the fans, to show the fans a different side of current and former players and to build up the program and the brand. But most importantly, it’s to drive new revenue for the players.

Question: How are you driving revenue for players?

Breneman: We operate like any other media company, where we are selling sponsorships and advertising, a lot of times to local businesses and donors. And then we have deals at each school where a certain amount, usually the vast majority, of the money goes directly to the athletes who are part of everything. So it’s a great way for schools to find ways to use donor money to find new advertisers and for us to find national advertisers. We believe it’s the future of college sports, and the schools and the NIL collectives that really think like media companies and operate like them will be the ones that are successful in driving the most revenue.

Question: How has growth gone with State Media?

Breneman: State Media has been great. We’ve done close to seven figures in revenue, and we have some media networks that are doing north of a million dollars a year in revenue. It’s pretty early, and we’re still kind of adjusting and adapting. We’re working out some new partnerships at Penn State, which I think will help us from a scaling and access and revenue standpoint. So it’s really good. We are excited about it and we think the future is pretty bright. And the cool thing is that the players and the former players are really into it and excited to be part of it.

Question: How has Penn State received the idea?

Breneman: We operate like any other media company would at Penn State. We obviously have kind of unique access but we still get approval for things we’re doing and still run things by the [athletic communications department]. We comply by that standard. I mean, really almost everything we’re doing is extremely positive about the school, obviously. But the one unique thing is, the way we operate is really outside of the direct university partnership so that we can really participate in NIL directly. There are a lot of rules around NIL and who can be part of it. So we’re a separate entity. We’re a for-profit company. We are outside of the athletic department, but we obviously work closely with the school and have a direct partnership with the NIL collective [Happy Valley United].

Question: Who has been your best Penn State interview so far?

Breneman: Coach Franklin has been great. I’ve done two interviews with him, and I think in both he’s been very candid and transparent. I’ve had a lot of people saying, ‘Hey, I haven’t really seen coach Franklin that open and honest before,’ which I think is really cool. And I know Coach enjoys doing it. I thought [offensive coordinator] Andy Kotelnicki was a great interview. He was exciting and entertaining, but I always enjoy talking to the players too. They’re fun.

Question: What has been most illuminating about your interviews with coach Franklin?

Breneman: One of the fun things we talked about is the time when he got to Penn State, when he was still dealing with sanctions. He alluded to how he didn’t know what he was walking into. He didn’t quite get the full story during the interview process of what was going on as they were selling him the job. And I thought he was pretty open about that.

We talked about some of the adversity. He talked about 2016 and the crowd chanting, ‘fire Franklin’ as he walked off the field [at halftime of the Minnesota game]. And then they turn around and win the Big 10 Championship. I thought was really cool. I asked him in my last interview, ‘Do you ever think that the fans will fully appreciate what you’ve done here in your 10 years?’ And he said, ‘No, but no one gives a s—.’ I think it was his exact quote. So I thought that was a pretty neat answer.

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