Penn State visitors make Wyomissing Homecoming a day to remember

This was a Wyomissing Homecoming like no other.

Not just because of the spectacular, sunny fall day or the fact that the Spartans romped in front of a big crowd that included a lot of recent grads.

It was the special visitor — no make that visitors — that set this one apart.

Penn State coach James Franklin, along the prize of his 2022 recruiting class, Nick Singleton, stole the attention away from the Homecoming queen, the Hall of Fame class — one that included legendary West Reading coach Ray Linn — even the Spartans, good as they were in beating Cocalico 38-7.

Franklin, as he often does, helicoptered in to take an in-person look at Wyomissing tackle Jven Williams — and maybe some of his teammates.

Williams is about as locked-in as a Penn State commit can get, and Franklin doesn’t need to fly in to show his support. But he did anyway; he likes to get out and sell his program and shower his recruits with love, and Williams appreciated it.

“He tries to get out to (see) as many commits and recruits as he can,” said Williams, who committed to Penn State in February. “It means a lot when he’s able to come out and be here on our home field. It’s really a big deal, not only for me but the kids and parents and just the whole community.”

That’s for sure. Little kids flocked to Franklin as though he were the pied piper. He signed their jerseys and hats — even the front of a cell phone. And when they became too numerous to handle he sent them Singleton’s way.

The former Gov. Mifflin running back, a Berks County legend along the lines of Lonnie Walker IV, is popular with local youths — and adult Penn State fans now that he’s frequenting the end zone. He signed autographs for all the kids and took photos with most of them.

“It means a lot for him to spend time to come out to support our community,” Williams said of Franklin. “You know, we’re all Penn State fans over here. Our whole community appreciates it.”

“It’s pretty cool that he comes out and walks through the stadium,” said Cocalico coach Bryan Strohl, who saw Franklin visit his sideline during the third quarter. “It adds to the atmosphere.”

Franklin didn’t stay long. He arrived at halftime and was back in his chopper, circling the A-Field, before the game ended. He only got to see Williams in a handful of plays; Wyomissing’s starters were pulled midway through the third quarter.

“I didn’t get a chance to speak to him today,” Williams said, “but I bet I’ll get a chance to speak to him on the phone later today.”

This was Franklin’s second visit to a Wyomissing game in as many seasons: He stopped by to watch Williams and the Spartans beat Neumann-Goretti 42-6 in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal last year at Pennridge High School.

That was just a few months after he had offered Williams a scholarship, and long before the Spartans lineman committed — though he says now he was pretty much in the bag for Penn State from the state.

Franklin gets around the state often to keep tabs with his recruits. Last week he few into Reiffton to visit with Exeter commit Joey Schlaffer.

Last season his helicopter landed in Shillington and he watched Nick Singleton score a couple touchdowns in a 49-13 romp over Harrisburg.

He flew into Reiffton several years ago to watch future Penn State captain Michal Menet and the Eagles play.

“I knew for a while that he was coming,” Williams said. “It was their bye week, and he wanted to make sure he got here. I let him know it was Homecoming, Hall of Fame ceremony, it was gonna be a big deal here, so it was nice to get him here.”