Penn State Nittany Lions

Reporter or tweeter, Franklin isn't talking PSU offense woes with you

Published Oct. 6, 2015 6:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

Penn State football coach James Franklin is riding a four-game winning streak built mostly on playing stout defense.

He has heard questions about his offense since the Nittany Lions were beaten 27-10 in their season opener against Temple, and they have not quieted much as the offense has averaged 28 points per game since.

During his weekly Tuesday news conference in State College, Franklin acknowledged he and his staff have frequent conversations about what the Nittany Lions need to do better.

"Are we working hard on them every single day?" Franklin asked. "Yes. Am I going to come in here and tell you exactly what those things are in my opinion? No! Again, because if someone could explain to me how that helps our program, if someone could explain to me how it helps our program, for me to come in and say this is a problem, this is a problem and this is a problem, do we have those conversations internally? Yeah."

It turns out Twitter is no better at getting information out of him, as Franklin explained his response to a fan who sent him what he called a "colorful tweet."

"It went on and on and on and on, and I looked at it and I was going to respond, and I thought, 'Don't respond,' " Franklin said. "And four hours later I was scrolling and I looked at it again, and I was about to respond and I said, 'Don't respond.' "

"And the next morning I saw it again and I said, 'No, I'm going to respond.' I respond and I said, 'Tell me how that would help?' Because he's basically saying the same thing that you guys asked me. So I said, 'Explain to me that would help. If you can explain to me how that would make the situation we're in and make it better, I'm happy to do it.' "

Did that get an answer from the fan? Yes, but not one that would help the media get any further information out of Penn State's coach.

"I get a response, "Coach you're exactly right, I was emotional, I was angry, I let my emotions get the best of me. We are ... you have our support, blah, blah, blah.'

"That's how I look at it. I understand you guys gotta ask the tough questions. I'm asking the same tough questions in our office internally. I'm looking at it, as well, but I think there is a time and place for everything, and after the game is not the right time. In this press conference, I don't think, is the right time."

Maybe next week.