Franklin

Penn State media reacts after James Franklin refuses to speak on 2 dismissed players

Penn State head coach James Franklin is facing backlash following his recent media availability, where he refused to answer questions about two former players recently charged with rape and indecent assault.

The players, Jameial Lyons and Kaveion Keys, were dismissed from the team over the summer after the allegations first surfaced. On Tuesday, the charges became public, shedding light on the reasons behind the dismissals.

The news prompted increased scrutiny at Franklin’s Wednesday press conference, where the head coach had a staff member read a prepared statement acknowledging the charges and the dismissals.

The statement also made it clear that Franklin would not take any questions on the matter.

Despite the directive, two reporters pressed Franklin for more details. He maintained his stance, repeating that he would not comment further. The decision to remain silent has drawn criticism, with some seeing it as an attempt to sidestep accountability.

Watch: Two reporters ask James Franklin questions he will not answer

James Franklin’s refusal to answer sparked media firestorm

James Franklin’s refusal to answer questions about former players Jameial Lyons and Kaveion Keys, who were dismissed following rape allegations, sparked a media firestorm.

But before jumping to conclusions, let’s put this into perspective: there’s a strong likelihood that Franklin’s silence wasn’t a choice, but rather a legal necessity.

The athletic department’s decision to release a prepared statement at the start of Wednesday’s media availability suggests that Franklin was likely advised—or even required—not to comment further.

The situation involves active legal proceedings, and any off-the-cuff responses could compromise ongoing investigations or the university’s legal standing.

Whether people want to hear this or not, Franklin was probably following a directive, and there’s a strong chance he wouldn’t have been able to respond even if he wanted to.

This seems more like people trying to get their “gotcha” moment.

Critics have framed the incident as a “gotcha moment,” and to some degree, it worked.

The video of Franklin declining to answer questions racked up over 1.2 million views on X, while reporter Audrey Snyder’s post on the incident has surpassed 1.8 million views.

Snyder, a well-respected voice on the Penn State beat, defended her decision to ask the questions, saying that her job is to seek answers on behalf of the public.

Let’s be clear about one thing: Franklin and Penn State anticipated these questions. To say Franklin didn’t respond is disingenuous. That’s exactly why the official statement was read at the start—an attempt to address the issue head-on while also making it clear that no further details could be provided.

Could Franklin have handled it differently? Absolutely. He could have simply said, “This is an ongoing legal matter, and I cannot comment further.” While that wouldn’t have changed much in terms of substance, it might have softened the blow and appeared more forthcoming.

Twitter/X is up in arms over Franklin’s lack of a response.

While some have criticized the optics of Franklin’s decision to have a staffer deliver the statement, it’s standard practice in situations like this.

It’s the SID’s job to communicate what can and cannot be discussed, and the approach was likely designed to protect Franklin and the program from saying something that could impact legal proceedings.

Like the post said, a simple “It is a legal matter and an open investigation, I can’t make any further comment” would have at a very minimum been better for optics.

The media’s response, while justified in asking tough questions, also seemed driven by the viral potential of the moment. Once the statement ended with “no further questions,” it was clear that Franklin wasn’t going to elaborate.

Pushing for more, while understandable, was unlikely to yield new information.

It’s crucial to emphasize that what Lyons and Keys are accused of is reprehensible, and Penn State acted swiftly by removing them from the team.

But the aftermath—the Wednesday press conference—was mishandled on multiple fronts. Franklin’s communication could have been better, and the media could have avoided a repeat of the same question after it was clear that answers weren’t forthcoming.

This incident exposes how Penn State, despite taking decisive action, remains trapped by the shadows of its past scandals. Posting incomplete videos without context fueled a predictable firestorm, reinforcing old narratives regardless of their relevance to the current situation.

The need for transparency and accountability is undeniable, but so is the need for responsible journalism that respects legal boundaries.

Again, don’t lose sight of the core issue here: Jameial Lyons and Kaveion Keys were accused of serious crimes, and Penn State acted appropriately by dismissing them from the team and the university as soon as the program became aware of the allegations. There is absolutely no place in college football—or society, for that matter—for behavior like this, and there is no reason they should ever be allowed back on the field.

That said, Wednesday’s media session with James Franklin was chaotic and unprofessional on multiple fronts. Franklin’s handling of the situation could have been better. While he chose to have a staffer deliver the prepared statement, he could have taken a moment to reiterate that he was unable to comment further due to legal constraints.

This small step wouldn’t have changed the substance of the interaction, but it might have improved the optics slightly and demonstrated a bit more poise.

On the flip side, the media could have approached the situation differently. Once it was clear that Franklin wasn’t going to offer further details, repeatedly pushing the same questions seemed futile.

The viral video, shared without full context, has only fueled backlash. Given Penn State’s complicated past, it’s not surprising that people connected these dots, even if they’re entirely unrelated to previous scandals. The optics of the situation were poor, and the video’s impact was amplified by how it was presented online.

Ultimately, both Franklin and the media could have handled this press conference with more care. While transparency is vital, so is respecting legal boundaries and the gravity of the accusations. This was a complicated situation where both parties seemed to misstep, contributing to a narrative that could have been managed more effectively.

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Greg Pickel of On3 Blue White Illustrated

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