It’s August 1st. 35 days until PSU’s first game of the 2026 season.

Nittering Nabob

All-Conference
Sep 17, 2024
3,395
3,211
113
I strongly appreciate the kids who stayed but I think the thing that saved PSU was the incredible fan base that had been built in the previous decades.
Until reading your post, I never realized that the PSU fan base "suited up" and played football. :rolleyes:
 

Marshall2323

All-American
Aug 7, 2024
4,565
5,061
113
O'Brien actually restored PSU Football Inc. by struggling at first and then pulling off some upsets (Wisky). Winning begets recruiting which is why it was easier for Franklin to shine on the recruiting trail despite his horrid hires at DC and OC.
Penn State had 53 scholarship players when Franklin arrived. Including 4 offensive linemen. BWICAC revisionist history is comical. BOB jumped ship at his earliest opportunity.
 

Marshall2323

All-American
Aug 7, 2024
4,565
5,061
113
I'm not an O'Brien fan. He stayed with the Patriots while our roster was falling apart. He explained that by saying PSU didn't hire a coach for 2012, the hired a coach for the next 5 years. He told recruits that he intended to honor that but he jumped at the first NFL opportunity. IIRC D Barnes said everybody has to look out for themselves which I don't think was a great message for the players.

I also don't think O'Brien restored PSU football. He inherited a very strong roster absent Fortt, Fera, Brown, & Redd. They had clearly superior talent than Ohio & Virginia but they were completely unprepared.

I strongly appreciate the kids who stayed but I think the thing that saved PSU was the incredible fan base that had been built in the previous decades.

Franklin inherited a horrible situation but was able to get things turned around in 3 years. I attribute that to striking gold with McSorley & the fact that he already had strong recruiting connections in the northeast. That's something Campbell is going to have to build from scratch.
The saviors of PSU Football were the young men with exceptional character that Joe recruited.
 
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bdgan

All-American
Oct 12, 2021
5,228
5,057
113
Until reading your post, I never realized that the PSU fan base "suited up" and played football. :rolleyes:
Do you really think college football as we know it would exist without fans? PSU had 90k+ average attendance through the sanctions.
 

DaytonRickster

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
3,135
3,677
113
Who cares? It's what you do with the surrounding talent you inherit. Unlike Franklin, BillO had an impressive Rol-o-dex of coaching contacts to develop the remaining players.

Mac McWhorter is in his second season as the Nittany Lions offensive line coach. In 2012, McWhorter developed a unit that was instrumental in Penn State leading the Big Ten in total offense (437.0 ypg) and ranked second in scoring (32.6 ppg) in conference games. Two of McWhorter[apos]s linemen, Matt Stankiewitch and John Urschel, earned 2012 first-team All-Big Ten honors and Stankiewitch was among six finalists for the Rimington Trophy.
1 good year from McWhorter. He decided not to stick around very long.
 
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PSU4U

All-American
Aug 6, 2019
7,285
7,699
113
What is Campbell’s approval rating?

😞
Considering no one is giving him that honeymoon grace period about 98%. It's that other 2% that seems to be taking a WOE is ME approach. You know that glass is empty thing before we even play the first game.
 
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Nitt1300

Heisman
Nov 2, 2008
7,574
14,301
113
Today 70%

11-1 90%
10-2 80%
9-3 70%
8-4 60%
7-5 50%
I don't know, we've been told that 10 wins don't count unless one of them is over tOSU.

Since they aren't on the schedule, I assume that 11 wins might be ok?

Or must he meet "the standard"?
 
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bdgan

All-American
Oct 12, 2021
5,228
5,057
113
I don't know, we've been told that 10 wins don't count unless one of them is over tOSU.

Since they aren't on the schedule, I assume that 11 wins might be ok?

Or must he meet "the standard"?
I don't think 10 wins gets us into the playoff unless one of those wins is over a ranked team. I think there would be a lot of bitching but Campbell would still be held in high regard since it was his first season.
 
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Bison13

All-American
May 26, 2013
3,652
6,036
113
I don't think 10 wins gets us into the playoff unless one of those wins is over a ranked team. I think there would be a lot of bitching but Campbell would still be held in high regard since it was his first season.
Assume there will be at least 4 SEC and 3 BIG teams in the playoff. There are 4 games that will determine playoffs: USC, @dumb, @ UW and Minn. If PSU goes 2-2 against them and all four of those teams end up in the top 25, they have a slight chance but only if they beat either USC or Michigan since they will need head to head over them potentially. Also, we all know that the SEC will declare how great their 3 loss teams are because of their fake schedule strength argument brought on by pre-season rankings so I could see a three loss SEC team get in over a 2 loss PSU.

My guess is that it takes 11-1 for PSU to get in as there will be plenty of 2-3 loss SEC teams that the media will fight for to get in
 

BobPSU92

Heisman
Aug 22, 2001
44,919
36,902
113
It’s August 17th. 19 days until (We Are!) Marshall.

btn was on campus last week interviewing coaches and players. Lots of optimism. Most disturbing.

😞
 
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BobPSU92

Heisman
Aug 22, 2001
44,919
36,902
113
It’s August 22nd. 14 days until (We Are!) Marshall. Campbell and the boys are still giving it a try. They probably won’t win on the field, but Campbell is winning hearts and minds with his words, and that is more important.

😞
 
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Nitt1300

Heisman
Nov 2, 2008
7,574
14,301
113
Also not coming back are the values that Joe tried to instill. His players were also students and there were reasons to be a PSU fan beyond the wins and losses.

Now, the entire sport is a sham- root for whomever- the NFL puts out a better product with a lot less hypocrisy.
 
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Nitt1300

Heisman
Nov 2, 2008
7,574
14,301
113
What does that have to do with you hoping Campbell fails in coaching PSU.
Where did I ever say that? My contempt for college football has nothing to do with any individual coach or player. It's not their fault that so many fans are delusional.

I do think that Kraft is a doucebag, but that's not a reflection on anyone else.

I was a PSU and a college football fan for 60 years, now I'm not. The values that made the sport worth following no longer exist.
 

BobPSU92

Heisman
Aug 22, 2001
44,919
36,902
113
Where did I ever say that? My contempt for college football has nothing to do with any individual coach or player. It's not their fault that so many fans are delusional.

I do think that Kraft is a doucebag, but that's not a reflection on anyone else.

I was a PSU and a college football fan for 60 years, now I'm not. The values that made the sport worth following no longer exist.

Kraft may be a douchebag, but he’s our douchebag.
 
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