Penn State coach James Franklin introduces assistant coaches

Penn State coach James Franklin introduces assistant coaches during a news conference at Beaver Stadium. Joe Hermitt, PennLive

STATE COLLEGE -- When Penn State football coach James Franklin appears this evening in Washington, D.C. to watch the president deliver his annual State of the Union address, he'll have one goal in mind: convince Barack and Michelle Obama to hit Happy Valley this fall.

"

My big reason for going is to try to get the president and first lady to a game next year," Franklin said before entering a University Faculty Senate meeting. "So I don’t know if I have any chance of doing that whatsoever, but that’s what I’d like to do."

Franklin said he couldn't remember exactly when Thompson reached out to him regarding the major event, saying "it was a few days ago" and that "it's seemed like one long day" since he was named Penn State's head coach on Jan. 11.

Attending the State of the Union address is coming at one of Franklin's busiest times of the year. The former Vanderbilt

coach said he flew into State College this morning after recruiting in Massachusetts and New Jersey on Monday. Following the address tonight in Washington, Franklin will fly out to California t

"W

e have a lot going on in recruiting. We're trying to put in two weeks of recruiting and do what usually takes a year, so it's been a scramble," he said. "But I think it's great when we can get out in the public and represent Penn State."

Thompson, a lifelong resident of Centre County, has served in his capacity

since

2008. He was re-elected to his third term in January 2013.

"With the beginning of a new year, we are filled with a sense of optimism and possibility," Thompson said in a statement. "The State of the Union offers us the chance to reflect upon the previous year and provides us with a preview of the challenges and opportunities that we face together. Given these sentiments, it’s an honor to have Coach Franklin as my guest for this occasion."

Franklin also briefly addressed the University Faculty Senate Tuesday. He told faculty members that he's been researching GPAs of the football players with the hope of breaking academic records.