Penn State coach James Franklin breaks silence after dodging media questions about former players’ rape accusations

Penn State football coach James Franklin apologized for walking away from reporters who asked him about rape allegations against two of his former players.

“I didn’t do a very good job on Wednesday,” Franklin said Saturday night after the Nittany Lions’ 28-13 victory over Wisconsin. ‘It’s a tough, tough situation and I have to admit I didn’t do a good job of it. … I did not do a good job of handling this situation and accurately representing this program.’

The incident occurred days ago as the Nittany Lions were preparing to face the Badgers in a major Big Ten matchup.

The program was already under the spotlight as 19-year-old former Nittany Lions players Kaveion Allen Keys and Jameial James Lyons were accused last week of raping a 17-year-old Penn State student in her campus apartment over the summer. Another student claims she woke up and was sexually assaulted by Lyons, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press.

Staff told the media not to ask Franklin questions about defendants who were released on bail. But when reporters ignored that guidance and questioned his handling of the situation, Coach walked away from the podium and went behind the scenes.

Penn State’s James Franklin apologizes for walking away from reporters last week

Jameial James Lyons (right) and Kaveion Allen Keys (left) were released on bail following their arrest

Communications staff came forward in Franklin’s place and reiterated that ‘the athletic department will have no further comment.’ Franklin then returned to the podium but stepped back once again when asked how he handled the situation.

On Saturday, after the No. 3 Nittany Lions improved to 6-0 heading into their Week 9 matchup with No. 4 Ohio State, Franklin acknowledged that reporters did nothing last week to justify his reaction.

“I respect that,” Franklin said. ‘The truth is, there’s not much I can say other than (the university’s) statement. This is an ongoing legal situation and it is challenging. It challenges everyone. … I didn’t do a good job there. Like everyone who is in a difficult situation, I am trying to heal. … I am sorry.’

Franklin received significant criticism following Wednesday’s press conference.

USA Today columnist Dan Wolken wryly wrote of Great work by everyone.”

USA Today columnist Dan Wolken sarcastically congratulated Penn State

Both players were mysteriously suspended over the summer for what the school described as a ‘personal matter’. They were ultimately cut from the roster in August, and Franklin has refused to discuss their status since then.

But the focus of the rapidly growing debate in State College wasn’t Keys or Lyons. Instead, Franklin was criticized by the media and fans for dodging reporters.

Newsday’s Evan Barnes wrote of X: ‘All James Franklin had to do was not comment, otherwise we won’t be able to cover this issue due to ongoing legal matters.’ ‘Instead he looks like a coward and a fool. It would be a laughing stock for a professional coach to act like that, and so he should. It’s a good thing there are people doing their job putting pressure on him.’

‘I’m watching the James Franklin statement reading fiasco live right now on SportsCenter at 6pm,’ Slate’s Alex Kirshner wrote on X.’ A great own goal by Franklin and Penn State’s executives and PR teams. ‘If JF had personally read a statement and wasn’t literally hiding behind a background, no one would have mentioned it.’

Jerry Sandusky, center, is escorted after sentencing at the Center County Courthouse in Bellefonte on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012.

Joe Paterno was forced to leave Penn State for improper handling of allegations against Sandusky

Many people online were quick to draw a connection between Franklin’s handling of the situation and Penn State’s response to the infamous child sex abuse scandal involving former Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

The controversy centered around the program and legendary head coach Joe Paterno’s response to child sexual abuse allegations against Sandusky, who is incarcerated in Pennsylvania. Paterno was dismissed and passed away soon after.

Others cited Franklin’s history with his previous job at Vanderbilt, where some of his players were accused of rape. Franklin denied allegations that he encouraged a player to delete graphic footage of the rape, adding that he had never personally seen the footage, although some players had given the impression that he did.

Indy Star reporter Nate Atkins wrote about X: ‘James Franklin was Vanderbilt’s head coach when three of his players were sent to prison for gang rape.’ ‘Penn State hired him to lead them out of darkness after Jerry Sandusky’s conviction.

‘This… this is not the perspective they should be projecting with this situation,’ he added.

‘How can James Franklin and Penn State be so bad at this after the Sandusky mess that they are supposed to be so well versed in crisis management?’ one fan asked online. ‘Yet here we are and they actually look worse than they did during the Sandusky era. Unbelievable.’

Much of the criticism towards Franklin focused on his salary, which will be at least $7.5 million for the ongoing season.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport called X ‘The face of the football program.’ ‘Penn St. The most prominent person associated with is demanding that athletes be held accountable. We paid millions, some of it taxpayers’ money.

‘Yet he refuses to stand up and make a statement or face important questions from reporters doing their job.’

Much of the criticism towards Franklin focused on his salary, which will be at least $7.5 million for the ongoing season.

Many critics cited Franklin’s past, including her previous work at Vanderbilt, where some of her players were accused of rape.

Keys and Lyons were arraigned Wednesday and released on bail of $400,000 and $500,000, respectively. Neither was required to post bail as long as they did not violate the terms of their release.

They will appear in court again on Wednesday.

According to the complaint, Keys denied knowing ‘Victim 1’ and insisted that she did not engage in any sexual intercourse on the night in question.

Lyons admitted to having sex with Victim 1 but insisted it was consensual. However, the complaint stated that Victim 1 said he thought he would “most likely report the situation to the police.”

Both former players’ mobile phones were handed over to police and police discovered a video of the shooting showing ‘inappropriate contact’ with Victim 1.

These images were found on Keys’ phone, which Lyons admitted to having. However, he refused to record the footage.

Keys was charged with first-degree forcible rape, second-degree sexual assault, second-degree aggravated assault without consent and second-degree indecent assault without consent.

Meanwhile, Lyons is facing the same charges; as well as second-degree felony, voluntary deviant sexual intercourse and second-degree invasion of privacy.