James Franklin should've known he wasn't going to escape Vanderbilt that easily.
CollegeSpun.com reported that new Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason issued a challenge to Franklin, who left Vanderbilt in the middle of recruiting season in January to succeed Bill O'Brien at Penn State.
According to the report, Mason attended an event in Nashville over the weekend and said he wants the Nittany Lions on the Commodores schedule.
College Spun reposted a tweet from the SEC Network:
"New @VandyFootball coach, Derek Mason's message to Penn State 'If James Franklin wants to play, we will play any time and place, anywhere.' "
Penn State hired Franklin away from Vanderbilt on Jan. 11, 2014. Two days before Franklin's exit, pennlive.com reported, the Commodores had the No. 22 recruiting class in the country by ESPN Recruiting Nation.
When Franklin went to Penn State, he lured five players that were committed to Vanderbilt to join him at Penn State. Another eight players from the class that committed to Franklin and Vanderbilt went elsewhere.
Mason's recruiting class of 22 players to Vanderbilt did not crack ESPN Recruiting Nation's Top 40, pennlive.com reported.
In a Yahoo! Sports report, Franklin defended his actions in getting Vanderbilt recruits to join him at Penn State, telling radio host Dan Patrick, "A lot of people say kids should commit to a school, not a coach, but they reality is they do. It's about the relationship aspect. My responsibility is to do everything in my power to make sure that I put a team together than can help Penn State be successful."
Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams tried to take the high road when asked about Franklin's tactics.
"I try to measure things by what the rules say and what do the rules allow. I'm never surprised by it," David Williams told PennLive.com. "It may not be something you or somebody else does but you shouldn't be surprised by it."
Mason doesn't appear to be surprised; he appears to be defiant.
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