Penn State Football 2018: 5 bold predictions for November

3. Special Teams coach Phil Galiano is relieved of his duties

This prediction should have already happened, but it will come to fruition. James Franklin will fire special teams coach Phil Galiano at the end of the regular season.

Penn State’s special teams have been an unmitigated disaster this season. There have been a couple bright spots with KJ Hamler’s electric returns and kicker Jake Pinegar seemingly turning a corner against Iowa. Overall though they have made a ton of mistakes.

Every week it seems something new happens to them. They failed to defend a fake punt against Michigan State when they knew Mark Dantonio is known for special teams tricks. They failed to recover an onsides kick near the end of the Indiana game, giving the Hoosiers one last chance to win. Against Iowa, the Lions had a punt blocked for a safety and a punt snap sail over punter Blake Gillikin‘s head for a safety. Penn State also could not defend an Iowa fake field goal which the Hawkeyes converted for a touchdown.

Those are just a few examples of the issues that have plagued the Lions all season on special teams. Franklin is loyal to his assistants, almost to a fault. However, at the conclusion of the 2015 season, Franklin fired offensive coordinator John Donovan. Franklin and Donovan had coached together for nearly 15 years. Joe Moorhead was hired as Donovan’s replacement and Moorhead was a big part of the Lions success the last two seasons.

Gailiano has been with Penn State for two seasons and only one as special teams coordinator. The gaffes are adding up. A change must be made at season’s end.