It might prove to be a classic example of winning the battle and losing the war.
FC: New James Franklin article in The Athletic.
- Thread starter Midnighter
- Start date
PSU hasn't been a top 5 program since the mid 90's.
When Franklin got here PSU was in the midst of the second worst sanctions to a football program in NCAA history. Blaming him for not being a top 5 program is a hoot.
Too many PSU fans are delusional and entitled. Reality is going to bite. PSU has been a top 8-15 program for some time now.
It is in real danger of slipping lower due to NIL deficiencies.
It will be especially painful and hard to explain for the locals who think blaming Franklin is the default excuse for everything.
For now, the mantra is blaming James, high school recruiting isn't important, we will flip recruits at the last minute, we'll win the portal, and if all else fails, we will coach em up!
Yes, unlike any other D1 coach in America (save CC) "WE" have a plan.
PSU hasn't been a top 5 program since the mid 90's.
When Franklin got here PSU was in the midst of the second worst sanctions to a football program in NCAA history. Blaming him for not being a top 5 program is a hoot.
Too many PSU fans are delusional and entitled. Reality is going to bite. PSU has been a top 8-15 program for some time now.
It is in real danger of slipping lower due to NIL deficiencies.
It will be especially painful and hard to explain for the locals who think blaming Franklin is the default excuse for everything.
For now, the mantra is blaming James, high school recruiting isn't important, we will flip recruits at the last minute, we'll win the portal, and if all else fails, we will coach em up!
Yes, unlike any other D1 coach in America (save CC) "WE" have a plan.
And who started the debacle?
Well, the answer is in the article. BGJ tells us all that he got too far away from coaching, trusting that his elite coordinators were doing a great job. Had he stayed closer to running the offense and defense, surely we would have been better at both.
Zero accountability, all ego. For the record - and I have said this before - I appreciate what he did for us, and that he beat the teams he should. In 11 years, I would’ve expected more than 1 big win against a Top 10 opponent given the talent we had - that he himself recruited. It just didn’t happen and he had plenty of time to remedy this. It was time to move on. I wish he would.
Well, the answer is in the article. BGJ tells us all that he got too far away from coaching, trusting that his elite coordinators were doing a great job. Had he stayed closer to running the offense and defense, surely we would have been better at both.
For the record - and I have said this before - I appreciate what he did for us, and that he beat the teams he should. In 11 years, I would’ve expected more than 1 big win against a Top 10 opponent given the talent we had - that he himself recruited. It just didn’t happen and he had plenty of time to remedy this. It was time to move on. I wish he would.
BGJ was all BS and little substance.
Take a look at what happened after the last great Paterno Team. PSU went through an extended period of "making do." Joe was at heart an academic who prioritized as such. The combination of failing to invest in football facilities and then the Sandusky Scandal proved a powerful one two punch. It took years 2012 to present (like pulling teeth) to show administration and BOT how far PSU had fallen behind.
Also, the fact that Joe had a top program for about 2 decades, doesn't make it permanent. Look what happened to Nebraska?
Programs that are at the top and remain are adept at staying ahead of trends and consistent in their financial commitment to an elite program. PSU has been doing better but has had ground to make up. Now we're faced with top 15 NIL funding (at best). In this era, money talks. Period. It's professional football disguised for fan consumption as college football.
Given all this, PSU has finished as high as #5 under Franklin, in addition to other top 10 finishes. But "we deserve better."
LOL
Other than Michigan (who didn't do well until Stalions) which Big Ten Team beat Ohio State more than once during Franklin's time at PSU?Well, the answer is in the article. BGJ tells us all that he got too far away from coaching, trusting that his elite coordinators were doing a great job. Had he stayed closer to running the offense and defense, surely we would have been better at both.
For the record - and I have said this before - I appreciate what he did for us, and that he beat the teams he should. In 11 years, I would’ve expected more than 1 big win against a Top 10 opponent given the talent we had - that he himself recruited. It just didn’t happen and he had plenty of time to remedy this. It was time to move on. I wish he would.
Amazing observation....but if cjf recruited as such they might be
I'm actually not all that down on Kraft as many others.
Yeah, he really fumbled the search. But he came out of it with Campbell - who was honestly my personal fan pick right from the start. It was a mess, but he finished strong, luck or not.
The NIL stuff has been debated non-stop. But we have a ton of donor money wrapped up in the stadium reno. The stadium reno had to happen and it's going to be an amazing attraction for fans. Kraft has a business plan set to have the stadium help drive donor activity once it's completed - I'm willing to see how that plays out before I push him out the door. I think most believe that we'll have more NIL funds once the stadium reno is down.
Yeah, he really fumbled the search. But he came out of it with Campbell - who was honestly my personal fan pick right from the start. It was a mess, but he finished strong, luck or not.
The NIL stuff has been debated non-stop. But we have a ton of donor money wrapped up in the stadium reno. The stadium reno had to happen and it's going to be an amazing attraction for fans. Kraft has a business plan set to have the stadium help drive donor activity once it's completed - I'm willing to see how that plays out before I push him out the door. I think most believe that we'll have more NIL funds once the stadium reno is down.
and if he recruited 30? At least we have Campbell to recruit to 5 now. OOPs
He had nothing to do with finding Campbell. He claims he couldn't find his phone #.
We’re in mid-season form with Penn State Football in July. Where will we be mid-season?
3-3We’re in mid-season form with Penn State Football in July. Where will we be mid-season?
I think his plan was Rhule. Then when both Rhule and the fanbase realized that wasn’t in anyone’s best interest, Kraft was left with no plans. I don’t think Kraft has the foresight to see things through. He’s reactionary only.
Don’t ask questions that have answers you won’t like.
There’s truth in this. OSU has been on a historic run of dominance in the conference that many just can’t admit to. They have had top level coaching and recruiting. Michigan found a little success against them, but besides that only PSU has played them competitively. Franklin and Co just couldn’t find a way to squeeze a few more wins out those competitive games. Beating OSU in 16,17, and 18 may have put the program on a whole different trajectory. Even the 2019 game was close as PSU was within 21-17, in the third quarter, in Columbus. The difference in that game was Justin Fields. PSU had no answer for him on defense. He was coverting third and longs with his feet to keep drives going and the clock running.
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No I don’t think it’s Bushie. His diatribes seem a bit different from Bushie’s. Maybe CR66, but doesn’t seem quite like him either to me. But I could be wrong on either account if they have evolved (? devolved) in their posting style.
And it Campbell fails you move on. Coaches typically aren't lifers. We're not looking for Parerno here
I don't agree with that for a second. I don't believe Rhule was ever his plan. Franklin had to go...he didn't need a coach lined up to make that move. We can criticize the process after that but it was never going to be Rhule.
This is about the least amount of craps I ever gave about PSU football and it's getting worse.
I agree. Looking for a long term hire may not be the right approach these days for any program. It’s a win now environment. That’s why am curious how long Campbell will get if he stumbles a bit out of the gate, while trying to take the build from the foundation up approach. I think it is going to be pretty important for this years team to win 9-10 games and look good in doing so.
OSU with Cooper was like the CJF coached version of Penn State. Never could beat Meatchicken and had difficulty with strong opponents. Also couldn’t keep a lot of the in state talent from leaving.
Tressel changed the dynamic because he did dominate the state with recruiting keeping most of the homegrown talent going to O$U and was a good coach, proven by his track record at UCLA (YSU - if you are from the area you get the joke). Also mixed in with Tressel was the Alabama style money thrown at the top players in various ways until they got caught and ended Tressel’s reign.
The Sandusky debacle allowed O$U to acquire UM, probably the best recruiter in the nation and a decent coach. This allowed them to load up with talent in SEC fashion and secured their dominance in the B10.
When the UM downfall occurred, they already had a good coach in waiting and were stocked with talent. Their reputation as a dominant team that showcases NFL talent has kept the recruiting pipeline going. Being located in a city dominated by white collar industry, mainly insurance and financial, boatloads of money is being thrown at the team. They may be in the best position to dominate CFB for awhile.
Not only did Tressel dominate Ohio, his staff poached plenty of PA kids also. He was a thorn in Paterno’s side recruiting. Pryor, Brown, Hooker, Nichols, etc.
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I need to find a place with positive discussion of Penn State. It occurred to me to just talk to myself, but I quickly started complaining.
B.Y.O.Tongs?I need to find a place with positive discussion of Penn State. It occurred to me to just talk to myself, but I quickly started complaining.
It became worse than that. No one realistically thought James could win a game against an evenly matched roster. Once that happened, it was clearly time for a change.