Fiesta Bowl coaches with Division II roots try to lead their teams into CFP semifinals

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Spencer Danielson was a young assistant coach when he attended a coaches convention where James Franklin was a speaker.

“I listened to Coach Franklin and was just blown away by him,” Danielson said Monday. “Seeing his journey and the success that he has had everywhere he goes, I just have so much respect for him.”

Franklin and Danielson were NCAA Division II football players, Franklin at East Stroudsburg and Danielson at Azusa Pacific. They also began their coaching careers at the D2 level, Franklin at Kutztown and Danielson at his alma mater.

The guys with D2 roots will try to send their teams to the College Football Playoff semifinals when Penn State (12-2) and Boise State (12-1) meet in the Fiesta Bowl at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (TV-ESPN).

“When you’re a Division II guy, you kind of have to do it all,” Franklin said. “There’s a lot of value in that. You’re doing everything from lining the fields to coaching the guys. I used to fill soda machines up on campus in the morning when I worked at Kutztown (in 1995) and the players made fun of me.

“When you’ve been a Division II guy and you had to work your way up the ladder, you learn a ton from that. Humility is a huge aspect for all of us,” he said.

Both coaches were hired by their current schools during tumultuous times.

Penn State coach James Franklin has a 100-41 record in his 11th season. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Franklin became Penn State’s head coach in 2014 in the midst of massive NCAA sanctions levied in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal. He’s led the Nittany Lions to a 100-41 record, including six seasons with at least 10 wins beginning in 2016.

“He’s been someone that I’ve admired from afar for a long time,” Danielson said, “because of the product that he’s continually put on the field in every…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/fiesta-bowl-coaches-division-ii-044600492.html

Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.

Publish date : 2024-12-31 04:46:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.