Penn state ‘James Franklin’ fined $25000 by NCAA for criticising officials during….

Penn State head football coach James Franklin has been fined $25,000 by the NCAA following his public criticism of officiating during the Nittany Lions’ recent game against the Oregon Ducks. The NCAA’s decision underscores its commitment to maintaining respect for game officials and upholding the integrity of collegiate athletics.

 

The controversy arose after Penn State’s narrow loss to Oregon, where the Nittany Lions incurred five penalties totaling 65 yards, while the Ducks were penalized three times for 24 yards. Notably, four of Penn State’s penalties were 15-yard infractions, including two for face masks and two for unnecessary roughness. In his postgame press conference, Franklin expressed frustration over the disparity, stating, “We just made it harder than it needed to be in the first quarter of the game. And it’s hard to do that against this type of opponent.” citeturn0search0

 

Franklin specifically highlighted the absence of holding calls against Oregon, remarking, “There wasn’t one holding call in the game, so that’ll be interesting to watch.” He also voiced concerns about non-reviewed plays, particularly a crucial sideline catch by Penn State’s Omari Evans during a two-minute drill, which was ruled incomplete. Franklin believed the play warranted a review, saying, “It looked like it was a catch… it’s two minutes, so everybody says, ‘Okay, we’ll slow down so they can review the call.’ It’s a two-minute drive. We can’t slow down in a critical game like that.” citeturn0search0

 

The NCAA’s fine reflects its stance on public critiques of officiating, emphasizing that such matters should be addressed through established channels rather than public forums. This incident adds to the challenges Franklin has faced in recent years. In 2019, an internal Penn State review found evidence of “friction” between Franklin and a former team doctor regarding medical decisions, though it did not conclude any NCAA or Big Ten violations occurred. citeturn0search1

 

Despite these controversies, Franklin has led Penn State to notable successes, including a Big Ten title and multiple New Year’s Six bowl appearances. As the program moves forward, the focus remains on learning from these experiences and striving for excellence both on and off the field.