'It's a hit to Penn State': State College dreary and subdued after firing of James Franklin

STATE COLLEGE — Former Penn State offensive lineman Landon Tengwall was shocked by the firing of the university’s longtime football coach, James Franklin.

“It has been full-on shock,” Tengwall, 23, of State College told TribLive on Monday. “A lot of people seemed to understand that it needed to be done, but it was still a shock to most people, including the lettermen and former players I’ve talked to.”

The university announced Sunday that Franklin had been fired after the team’s third consecutive loss over the weekend.

Penn State football is woven into the fabric of life in State College. But with the future of Happy Valley football now uncertain, residents say the town’s sense of team spirit has taken a hit.

The campus was dreary and quiet Monday as it was announced that associate head coach Terry Smith took over as interim coach.

“I call this place home,” Smith said during a news conference.

Smith declined to comment to a TribLive reporter who saw him outside Beaver Stadium after he met with the media Monday.

Tengwall said many fans sensed after Saturday’s upset loss to Northwestern at Beaver Stadium that a major shake-up might be on the horizon.

“It’s a hit to Penn State and Penn State Athletics,” he said.

On top of that, Beaver Stadium is in the midst of a $700 million renovation.

“It’s obviously not ideal,” Tengwall said. “You put a lot of money into this.”

Economic impact

The tailgating scene seemed subdued Saturday, according to Gary Brandeis, CEO of Scholar Hotels LLC, which owns The Nittany Lion Inn, The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center, the Scholar Hotel and Hyatt Place State College.

“We were surprised but not shocked by it,” he said of Franklin’s firing. “Ultimately, we support what Penn State wants to do and what it thinks it needs to do. … We’re gonna support whoever’s running the team.”

At the homecoming game Saturday, Brandeis said, fans did not seem overly enthusiastic. Then, Penn State lost to underdog Northwestern, 22-21.

“Obviously, a lot of people left early,” he said. “That didn’t create the greatest atmosphere in the game.”

Penn State football has a substantial impact on the State College economy, Brandeis said.

“The fall Penn State calendar revolves around the football season,” he said, referencing various events and fundraising efforts such as Homecoming or the White Out. “Obviously, a successful team — a winning team — is going to be more attractive to visitors.”

Rebuilding in Happy Valley

Despite the long faces on Penn State fans over the weekend, Tengwall said he believes people are still excited for the future of Nittany Lions football.

“I think from here, Penn State has to put a product on the field … that Penn Staters are proud of,” he said.

Nick Zakucia, an avid Nittany Lions fan, has lived in State College for about five years.

After Saturday’s game, he noticed people around town were “definitely upset” and weren’t partying as usual.

When Franklin’s firing was announced, Zakucia, 25, said the atmosphere immediately shifted.

“It seemed everyone wanted to celebrate that he was fired,” he said.

Zakucia said a tagline he heard after the news was “ding dong the coach is gone” — a play on the famous line about the wicked witch in “The Wizard of Oz.”

“I was surprised, but I wasn’t surprised,” he said. “I at least thought they were gonna wait till the end of the season, but I think it was time after three really sad losses.”

He has mixed feelings about Franklin’s firing.

“I hope, moving forward, we can get back to (being) ranked,” Zakucia said. “I hope for a bowl game this year again.”

Brian Ketchem, who works in State College, also was not expecting Franklin to be fired so soon.

“But they were pretty bad losses,” said Ketchem, 44. “It almost seemed intentional, they were so bad.”

He believes the mental side of the game is what’s holding the Nittany Lions back.

“We always get to the big game and lose it,” Ketchem said. “I’m tired of going to games when it’ll just be random if we win or not. As a fan, it’s demoralizing — you commit so much.”

Not only do the Nittany Lions have an impact locally, but they also have an extensive national fan base — comprising countless alumni, family and friends, according to Tengwall.

“People know the season is not salvageable,” he said. “I think, no matter what, Penn State, the alumni (are) going to rally behind this team.”