FC: New James Franklin article in The Athletic.

BobPSU92

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Aug 22, 2001
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😞
 

Ceasar

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The one thing that bothered me and I believe I’m in the majority is that Franklin and staff were outcoached often, too often. That’s it. He never addresses that issue when interviewed. It’s a simple discussion really. Can you coach better than most? Why should the answer be yes based on the track record?
I think you nailed it, Apex. And in the many discussions on these boards, which often conclude that for better or worse Campbell is a lot like James, the point that is missed is that game day decision making and game planning is where PSU needs to improve. And maybe, hopefully, Campbell can do that. If he is "like James" in other respects, I am good with that. But we know the record vs. top 10 teams; the record coming off bye weeks was also poor. As were the odd two point decisions and fake punts/FGs in big games.
 

Marshall2323

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I think you nailed it, Apex. And in the many discussions on these boards, which often conclude that for better or worse Campbell is a lot like James, the point that is missed is that game day decision making and game planning is where PSU needs to improve. And maybe, hopefully, Campbell can do that. If he is "like James" in other respects, I am good with that. But we know the record vs. top 10 teams; the record coming off bye weeks was also poor. As were the odd two point decisions and fake punts/FGs in big games.
Last season ISU led BYU 21-14 At half only to lose 41-27 for its 3rd consecutive loss. Becht threw 3 interceptions. Was Campbell out coached, was he responsible for the critical interceptions?
Or did BYU simply have a better team?
Can you be out coached and win? Who measures this statistic?
 

PSUPetch

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Oct 31, 2021
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Despite his "demotion" he has managed to best PSU with it's "elite resources" in both 247 and Rivals recruiting rankings.
PSU isn't in a position to look down on anyone.
Yeah…BGJ could always recruit well…problem was, he couldn’t coach well, especially on game day. His decision making was horrible and his clock management sucked eggs. Player development was position-specific, depending on his assistant expertise…DB, DE, TE were good. OL, DT, RB were average, and QB, WR, LB were horrible.
 

KingLando

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Last season ISU led BYU 21-14 At half only to lose 41-27 for its 3rd consecutive loss. Becht threw 3 interceptions. Was Campbell out coached, was he responsible for the critical interceptions?
Or did BYU simply have a better team?
Can you be out coached and win? Who measures this statistic?
Yes he was outcoached in that game.
Here's the thing...every coach that has ever lived has been outcoached. The longer they survived as a coach the more times it happens. The problem is when a coach is continously outcoached by the same guy.
 
May 11, 2012
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Yep so Kraft showed him whose boss by firing him with no replacement plan and kissed away an entire recruiting class. Sheer genius huh?
I have a question for the AKB.....I have been told that PK attempted to discuss the position with HCMC but the inquiry was sent to an outdated address....never reaching Campbell. After significant time of failure a mediator spoke with both and conveyed PSU'S interest to HCMC and the proper channel was addressed.
Does anyone know if this SNAFU is actual and true?
 

grinagrin

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Aug 25, 2001
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I have a question for the AKB.....I have been told that PK attempted to discuss the position with HCMC but the inquiry was sent to an outdated address....never reaching Campbell. After significant time of failure a mediator spoke with both and conveyed PSU'S interest to HCMC and the proper channel was addressed.
Does anyone know if this SNAFU is actual and true?
It came from PK’s mouth
 
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Chumboshifko1

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The emoji imbecile is on the loose.
I have a question for the AKB.....I have been told that PK attempted to discuss the position with HCMC but the inquiry was sent to an outdated address....never reaching Campbell. After significant time of failure a mediator spoke with both and conveyed PSU'S interest to HCMC and the proper channel was addressed.
Does anyone know if this SNAFU is actual and true?
Supposedly, that did happen.
 

Nitt1300

Heisman
Nov 2, 2008
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I have a question for the AKB.....I have been told that PK attempted to discuss the position with HCMC but the inquiry was sent to an outdated address....never reaching Campbell. After significant time of failure a mediator spoke with both and conveyed PSU'S interest to HCMC and the proper channel was addressed.
Does anyone know if this SNAFU is actual and true?
If true, it's a disturbing level of stupidity. You call the coach's agent, for Christ's sake.
 

bbrown

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
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Yeah…BGJ could always recruit well…problem was, he couldn’t coach well, especially on game day. His decision making was horrible and his clock management sucked eggs. Player development was position-specific, depending on his assistant expertise…DB, DE, TE were good. OL, DT, RB were average, and QB, WR, LB were horrible.
His decision making got better and his time or clock management and even Time Outs' aren't much different than any other college or pro coach I've watched.
As for his player development if you think Barkley, Sanders, Allen and Singleton were average RB's you are going to be very disappointed this season. LB'r was also better than you think.
 
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PSUForever

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PK and CJF were most definitely not a marriage made in heaven. Usually those situations come about due to issues from both sides. I expect that is clearly the case here. That dog (PK and HCJF) clearly was not going to hunt.

That said:
There would be - without a doubt - far more ADs that would welcome HCJF to be their football coach, than there would be Head Coaches who would wish to work with a guy like PK.

Exhibit A:
HCJF had no trouble sorting through options and picking a next destination after PSU. For even more money than his PSU deal (that is a whole 'nother story, and symptomatic of the insanity of current "college" football)

Exhibit B:
PK was representing one of the Blue Blood football programs, and in the midst of spending +/- $1 BILLION on the program, and promises of huge annual budget allocations - despite all that, he ran through his entire rolodex, to the point of begging a "horrendous fit" coach from BYU to take the job, before finally someone (not PK) convinced HCMC to allow PSU to buy his services (at a huge increase in compensation).
What is the analogy here? There is a very apt one, that is probably not SFW, so lets just say "Couldn't lead a starving dog to a meat wagon"

QED
If any top program would welcome Big Game James to lead their program then they're moronic. Of course middling programs like Va Tech would like him. He is a middling coach who can't win big games.

I think your assertion of Kraft is way over the top and negatively skewed but have at it. So if Campbell is a success (which I hope you want but not sure) then Kraft gets no credit but if he is a dumpster fire Kraft gets all the blame?

I like Kraft but I'm not a blind fan of his. He is not getting it in hoops (and better fast) and seemed to struggle getting Campbell....but he did land Campbell and thank God he stepped up and canned that walking and talking big game loss.
 
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PSUFTG

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If any top program would welcome Big Game James to lead their program then they're moronic. Of course middling programs like Va Tech would like him. He is a middling coach who can't win big games.

I think your assertion of Kraft is way over the top and negatively skewed but have at it. So if Campbell is a success (which I hope you want but not sure) then Kraft gets no credit but if he is a dumpster fire Kraft gets all the blame?

I like Kraft but I'm not a blind fan of his. He is not getting it in hoops (and better fast) and seemed to struggle getting Campbell....but he did land Campbell and thank God he stepped up and canned that walking and talking big game loss.
You can choose to believe what you want, obviously :unsure:

Fan(atics) have no duty to be restrained by reality.
 
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ApexLion

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Last season ISU led BYU 21-14 At half only to lose 41-27 for its 3rd consecutive loss. Becht threw 3 interceptions. Was Campbell out coached, was he responsible for the critical interceptions?
Or did BYU simply have a better team?
Can you be out coached and win? Who measures this statistic?
I hear ya but for me its easy. My dad, a former coach, calls me and says 'Franklin's staff got outcoached and outsmarted. Did you see this play'...and then he proceeds to go point by point and discuss what should have happened and that Franklin should have the squad better prepared for this or that. I saw it too. I had the same f'in conversation with my dad more than 24 times, even sometimes after games they eked out. At some point, you realize its obvious. My dad, who actually likes Franklin, sits there and picks his strategy apart with ease. So, hey its my Dad, I get it. But not 24 times or more. It was obvious Franklin was average as a coach and his staff was average when coordinating during each game.

I really disliked running Allar; not using Tyler Warren vs. OSU near the goal line; passing in OT vs. Oregon; staying in man vs. Michigan State at home; back up qb at Iowa travesty; how the end of the Indiana game out there was handled; the use of the RBs last year when one was having a great deal of success and the other was not; preparation for UCLA out there; and, I could go on and on. Dumb football.
 

Marshall2323

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I hear ya but for me its easy. My dad, a former coach, calls me and says 'Franklin's staff got outcoached and outsmarted. Did you see this play'...and then he proceeds to go point by point and discuss what should have happened and that Franklin should have the squad better prepared for this or that. I saw it too. I had the same f'in conversation with my dad more than 24 times, even sometimes after games they eked out. At some point, you realize its obvious. My dad, who actually likes Franklin, sits there and picks his strategy apart with ease. So, hey its my Dad, I get it. But not 24 times or more. It was obvious Franklin was average as a coach and his staff was average when coordinating during each game.

I really disliked running Allar; not using Tyler Warren vs. OSU near the goal line; passing in OT vs. Oregon; staying in man vs. Michigan State at home; back up qb at Iowa travesty; how the end of the Indiana game out there was handled; the use of the RBs last year when one was having a great deal of success and the other was not; preparation for UCLA out there; and, I could go on and on. Dumb football.
Lots of people have coached football.
Including me. Franklin has been a D1 P4 head coach for now entering 15 years. He has had no trouble finding employment that nets him more than 8 million dollars per year. Meanwhile there are thousands that claim they would do better. It's all part of the deal.
Coaches like me and your Dad had people in the stands that knew how to coach better than we did too. I gave them all the attention they deserved. :cool:
Imagine how stupid a coach has to be....all those years of playing, watching film, attending clinics, countless hours of off season conditions etc. When all you need to do is watch games on TV to have all the answers.
 

PSU4U

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Aug 6, 2019
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The insincerity is absurd. He knew when he lost to Northwestern he was done. That was clear to everyone. He wasn't blindsided and there were conversations. James simply hates accountability. Always has.
He had planned on being done before the season started and jumping at the end of the year, oops!
 
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Lots of people have coached football.
Including me. Franklin has been a D1 P4 head coach for now entering 15 years. He has had no trouble finding employment that nets him more than 8 million dollars per year. Meanwhile there are thousands that claim they would do better. It's all part of the deal.
Coaches like me and your Dad had people in the stands that knew how to coach better than we did too. I gave them all the attention they deserved. :cool:
Imagine how stupid a coach has to be....all those years of playing, watching film, attending clinics, countless hours of off season conditions etc. When all you need to do is watch games on TV to have all the answers.
There is no such thing as "having all the answers"! Just like there is no exact thing as the best coaching style and system. Cignetti proved that last year. Every NFL team and D1 semi-pro team has their preferred style and system. To argue which is better seems useless. CJF had faults, so did Joe PATERNO.....but this bickering over who is wiser is ridiculous. There is no reason to bash HCMC before his team has played a single down....seems foolish. Did everyone predict Nick Saban would win MNC at .LSU and Alabama after a mediocre MSU stint?
15 years ago we had a guy here that was wiser than the great OZ....think his handle was MKsomething....he would argue just to be contrary. Any JA can complain. Personally.....I feel CJF was a better salesman than football coach. That chapter is closed and everyone should support Head Coach Matt Campbell!
 
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Bvillebaron

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Please make this thread go away. JF is irrelevant to us as far I am concerned. Move on.
Not so fast my friend. Starting posts bashing Franklin months after he had left is the most important thing in many poster’s lives here. I do agree that the reverse is true as well; way past time for Franklin to stop talking about Penn State.