FSU showing interest in Franklin
FSU reportedly has been in contact with Penn State coach James Franklin and there is “mutual interest between the two parties” as the Seminoles continue their coaching search.
247Sports.com’s Brendan Sonnone reported the communication between the Seminoles and Franklin, who is considered one of the top FSU targets — along with Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, Memphis coach Mike Norvell and Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck — to replace Willie Taggart, who was fired on Nov. 3.
Franklin is also expected to be in the running for the Southern California job if the Trojans fire coach Clay Helton.
Franklin is an established coach with a history of winning at both Penn State and his previous stop at Vanderbilt. The Nittany Lions are 9-2 this season and peaked as high as No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings this season.
FSU athletics director David Coburn said he would ideally like to have a coach in place by the end of the season and before the early signing period on Dec. 18, during which potential recruits can sign their letters of intent.
Several candidates have already taken their names out of the running to become FSU’s next head coach.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops reiterated Monday he is not vying for the Seminoles job, knocking down a report he interviewed for the position.
247Sports.com’s Josh Newberg reported FSU officials interviewed Stoops in Cincinnati, Ohio, last week, but he was not offered the job.
Stoops was asked about meeting with FSU administrators following Kentucky’s 50-7 win over UT-Martin.
“I love it here,” Stoops said shortly after the game. “I’ve been very fortunate. I have a great administration. … The fans, our players, the recruits. This is where my heart is, this is where I want to be. So, I’m going to be at Kentucky.”
He doubled down on his commitment to Kentucky during a press conference on Monday.
“I don’t want to get any specifics about anything like that and I don’t want to open up speculation and things for the future. I just don’t think it’s appropriate,” Stoops said Monday. “I was pretty clear on [Saturday]. I’m intent on being here and building this program and we have unfinished business and I’m excited about the future.”
His older brother, Bob Stoops, has also turned down interest in becoming FSU’s next head coach. The elder Stoops has not coached since retiring at the end of 2016 season. He won the 2000 national championship with Oklahoma and is currently the head coach and general manager of the XFL’s Dallas Renegades, who begin play in 2020.
Mark Stoops was the Seminoles’ defensive coordinator from 2010-12 under former coach Jimbo Fisher. Stoops has had success since becoming Kentucky’s head coach in 2013.
He was named SEC Coach of the Year last season after leading the Wildcats to a 10-3 record, the program’s best mark in 41 years.
“At Florida State, I had a great experience there and it afforded me the opportunity to be [at Kentucky],” Stoops said on Saturday.