James Franklin Not Proud of Jason Kelce Incident

In a recent turn of events surrounding Penn State football, head coach James Franklin expressed his discontent about the viral incident involving NFL star Jason Kelce. The situation unfolded outside Penn State’s stadium on November 2, shortly after Kelce’s appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay and just before a key game against Ohio State.

Kelce, who was engaged in a verbal altercation with a spectator, took the drastic step of smashing the individual’s phone after the heckler hurled a homophobic slur at Kelce’s brother, Travis Kelce, and his relationship with Taylor Swift. Footage from the incident circulated, showing Kelce responding to the heckler with the same slur multiple times.

In light of the incident, Franklin reflected on the situation when speaking to reporters on November 4. He stated his desire for Kelce to have had a positive experience during his visit to State College. “I saw something that I wasn’t very, very proud of. I wish that didn’t happen,” Franklin remarked. He acknowledged that there were consequences for the heckler’s actions but emphasized that passion during games should not lead to unacceptable behavior.

Franklin, whose team faced another defeat against Ohio State, reinforced the need for maintaining boundaries, saying, “That doesn’t excuse bad behavior at times.”

In another episode, Franklin himself found at the center of a brief confrontation with a young fan as he exited the field. The fan heckled him, prompting Franklin to ask for the young man’s name in response to the taunts. According to Franklin, it is important for everyone to own their words, whether spoken or posted online. “If you’re going to say something, own it,” he stated, further discussing how critiques are part and parcel of his role as a coach.

As Penn State prepares for their upcoming game against Washington on November 9, the incidents have sparked conversations about the behavior of public figures and the expectation of accountability in such high-stakes environments.