There you have it, Happy Valley.

James Franklin is the new head coach of the Nittany Lions football team. Franklin is coming into a position that has been just a tad bit unstable since the firing and unfortunate passing of former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno.

Franklin and Paterno actually had a history a while ago. Franklin, as a high school quarterback preparing to enter the college football scene, tried out for Paterno’s Lions team back in the day. Paterno and his coaching staff didn’t exactly think he was “up to snuff” so Franklin didn’t make the team. He then when on to have a very good career at Division 2 East Strousburg.

Nearly twenty years later, James Franklin is taking his second shot at Penn State.

“I’m a Pennsylvania boy” said Franklin in his first interview as the head coach.

Franklin has already revealed his desire to get as big of a fan base for the Nittany Lions as possible.

“We’ll do everything we can to bring this community back together and really take pride in this program,” said Franklin.

Franklin has a good track record as a head coach. he was able to turn around a Vanderbilt program that was nothing more than a punching bag to teams in the SEC. Over his final 20 games with Vandy, Franklin put together a 16-4 record which is second only to Alabama in the SEC.

Franklin, who has a good track record as a player recruiter, also said, “We are here to dominate the state…the right way”.

Franklin is going to need to dominate the state if it is going to compete with division rival Ohio State for PA’s top football prospects.

Franklin brings to Penn State, a sense of energy and urgency to bring the communiy together. Not only is he going to focus on winning football games and returning Penn State to national prominence, but also returning Penn State to the level of program that it has a history of being.

I think that Franklin will be good fit for Penn State, its players, and its extremely faithful fan base.

There are bright things coming in the future for Happy Valley…I can just feel it.