What a Big Ten coach said about Jim Knowles missing Ohio State football’s celebration: Buckeye Breakfast

Posted by author February 12, 2025 Football

Spread the love

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles received backlash for the handling of his departure, highlighted by his absence from the Buckeyes’ championship celebration.

Rumors about his potential departure hung over the festivities inside Ohio Stadium on Jan. 26, and shortly after the celebration ended, news broke of Penn State hiring him as its next defensive coordinator.

Knowles’ new boss came to his defense about the situation.

“Jim had all intentions of attending their national champion celebration,” Penn State coach James Franklin told reporters Tuesday. “We did not have a deal yet. Even the day everybody was announcing the deal, it was not done.”

The timeline of Jim Knowles’ hiring

Franklin claims Penn State did not speak to Knowles about the job, which became available Jan. 13 after Tom Allen left for Clemson, until after Ohio State’s win vs. Notre Dame on Jan. 20.

It wasn’t until two days after the game that Franklin got a call at 5:40 a.m. That’s when he started to believe it could happen.

“Before that, we had no communication,” Franklin said.

The process moved quickly, thanks in large part to a relationship the two had stemming back a few years ago when Knowles expressed interest in a previous opening on Penn State’s staff.

“What is great about being at a place like Penn State is that your dream list at Penn State is realistic, specifically now, with our support,” Franklin said. “But again, it was still a twisting and turning process.”