Not all Penn State football players planning to return to campus, coach James Franklin says
Penn State football has “a number of players” who have decided not to come back to Happy Valley during the Nittany Lions’ phased return to campus, according to head coach James Franklin.
Franklin revealed the information in an appearance on “REAL Sports With Bryant Gumbel” that aired Tuesday night on HBO.
“They have that right,” Franklin said on the show. “There’s no doubt about it. ... We can’t take away all risk.”
Gumbel asked Franklin how fearful he was for his own safety during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and the Nittany Lion head coach revealed a plan that his family believes will be the safest considering his youngest daughter has sickle cell disease. The disease can make its carriers particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 complications.
“It’s changed the dynamics of our family,” Franklin said. “My wife and kids are gonna stay in Florida for the season and I’m gonna be in Happy Valley just because we think that’s the right thing to do for our daughter with sickle cell.”
Franklin said the conversation surrounding the subject was an emotional one and the cost of having the season during the pandemic is spending half a year away from his family.
“There was a lot of tears,” he said. “A lot of heartache over it.”
The Nittany Lions are currently in phase two of their planned return to campus, which included the return of more athletes and the football coaches.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 8:00 AM.
