Penn State head coach James Franklin has a busy schedule this month. As if a 17-stop bus tour with a handful of other Penn State coaches and his own assistant coaches was not enough, Franklin will give a commencement speech at his alma mater this weekend.
Franklin, a former quarterback at Division 2 East Stroudsburg University, will be back on his old stomping grounds on Saturday to address the school’s Class of 2014.
“I’m hoping to grab their attention and say a few things that they’ll remember,” Franklin said to The Pocono Record. “I don’t want be one of those guys who stands up there talking who no one’s paying attention to. I’m going to talk to them from the heart and be very open and honest with them. Maybe give them a few things that have been important to me since I’ve left East Stroudsburg and also let everybody know how appreciative I am of what East Stroudsburg has done for me.”
Franklin has referenced East Stroudsburg a number of times since being named the head coach of Penn State earlier this season. The Pennsylvania native seems to take great pride in his roots and has been supportive of ESU in recent months since returning a bit closer to home. The opportunity to address the students at his alma mater was not something Franklin was going to pass on.
“I really wanted to share some things that I’ve learned in my 19 years since I graduated from East Stroudsburg and especially some things I wish I would’ve known in the five years after graduating that I’ve been able to figure out over the rest of the time,” Franklin said.