Bob Shoop Leaving a Major Blow For James Franklin
By Ty Duffy
Tennessee hired Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop. That’s another blow for the Nittany Lions and James Franklin.
Losing Shoop stinks for Penn State. He’s regarded as one of the best defensive coordinators in the country. Both his Nittany Lions defenses ranked in the Top 15 according to S&P+. Those units, amidst offensive struggles, have kept the team competitive.
To make it more worrisome for Penn State, Shoop’s departure isn’t about money. Tennessee’s three-year $1.15 million per year contract is not that much more than the extension he signed with Penn State last year. That modest raise may be negated, as Tennessee is not covering Shoop’s buyout.
Bob Shoop’s deal with #Vols: 3 years, $1.15 million per year. Tennessee not responsible for Penn State buyout. That’s between PSU, Shoop.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) January 10, 2016
Not clear what has changed in the calendar year since it “wasn’t really much of decision” for Shoop to turn down LSU. Shoop is a Pennsylvania native and a Franklin guy (plucked from William&Mary by Franklin in 2011).
Franklin is 14-12 with Penn State after two years, 6-10 in the B1G. His best win is…31-30 in overtime over a 7-5 Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl? His tenure has been best known for getting nothing out of Christian Hackenberg. For 2016, Franklin is now replacing both coordinators.
Penn State does have a strong recruiting class coming in. Franklin has not had a fair shot yet with a sanctions-depleted roster. Hot seat talk may be premature. But, the outlook, with Meyer, Harbaugh, and Dantonio entrenched in the division, looks much dimmer than when he was hired.