Just a couple of weeks into his tenure as Penn State’s 16th fulltime head coach, James Franklin is beginning to realize some of the perks that come with being a part of the Happy Valley football family.
The office of U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson announced Tuesday morning that the Nittany Lions coach will be the Republican’s guest at tonight’s State of the Union Address. Rep. Thompson, a PSU graduate, attempted to tie Franklin’s recent hiring to the annual shindig on Capitol Hill.
“With the beginning of a new year, we are filled with a sense of optimism and possibility. The State of the Union offers us the chance to reflect upon the previous year and provides us with a preview of the challenges and opportunities that we face together,” Rep. Thompson said in a statement. “Given these sentiments, it’s an honor to have Coach Franklin as my guest for this occasion. ...
“As a proud Penn State alumnus and a life-long Centre County resident, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my congratulations to Coach Franklin on being named as head coach of the Nittany Lions and to welcome him and his family to Happy Valley.”
Jan. 11, Penn State officially confirmed that it had pried Franklin, who grew up in the state, away from Vanderbilt.
“I am grateful and very appreciative of Rep. Glenn Thompson’s invitation to attend the President’s State of the Union Address,” said Franklin, who was named Penn State’s 16th head football coach on Jan. 11. “I look forward to hearing the President’s vision for 2014 and beyond and what we, as citizens of the greatest union in the world, can do to help move our nation forward.”