I'm standing by my season prediction

[Bvillebaron]

The Big 12 sucks and Hansen couldn't carry either Skeeter Nichols' or Jon Williams' jock. Or any of 50+ other past PSU tailbacks. That in plain enough English for you?

His longest run - on 35 carries - is 16 yards. He has TWO receptions for 13 yards. This against 3 tomato cans and Wisconsin at home.

Enough already.

Franklin reached his ceiling--I think we all agree on that. It was a Mark Richt ceiling that was solid
Campbell may be better or worse than Franklin--time will tell but one loss to Wisconsin in year one doesn't determine that.
Franklin went 2-6 in the Big Ten his first year with losses to Northwestern and Maryland. Then followed that up with another poor season with losses to Temple and Northwestern. Year 3 is where I started to judge James and will be where I start to judge MC like all coaches. If in year 3 we're not where we need to be he needs to go.
Your reaction to one game is just as ridiculous as those that hate James

I’m not overreacting at all. I just am not trying to excuse a god awful performance from a coach with 10 years’ head coaching experience. I have been a fan for 65 years; attended my first game when Rip was still coach; had season tickets from 1978 until 4 years ago when my wife’s health issues were too much to permit her to attend. I will always bleed blue and white and hope Campbell turns it around. I have seen some horrible losses over the years (including for example sitting in row 57 in the north end zone before there was a second deck to provide shade in 95 degree heat and watching the team lose 14-3 in a season opener to Cincinnati before it was close to being a decent team) but yesterday’s debacle is easily in the top ten clunkers. By the way, you realize that Franklin’s first two seasons were the worst two years of the sanctions years (most of Paterno’s left over players were gone and the scholarship limitations resulted in several walk ons playing OL). With the portal, NIL spending and the facilities enhancements Franklin pushed for Campbell has no such restrictions this year.

 

[Bvillebaron]

Great point. A coach should also win homecoming when you are 20.5 pt favorites as in 2025 NW.

Correct.

 

[olelion]

How many do you think it will take? Kraft fired Franklin for not meeting the “standard” of winning Big and National Championships despite the fact Franklin won the last Big in his third season which was the first year he had a full complement of scholarship players. I understand his firing but you don’t do it in the middle of a season without a clear succession plan and kiss away virtually an entire recruiting class because you were upset that Franklin’s agent went around your back and went directly to the President to try to get a raise.

One good recruiting class and selective portal additions. Geez the guy had basically no recruiting class and had to do a mass transfer from his prior team just to field a team at PSU.

 

[KingLando]

I’m not overreacting at all. I just am not trying to excuse a god awful performance from a coach with 10 years’ head coaching experience. I have been a fan for 65 years; attended my first game when Rip was still coach; had season tickets from 1978 until 4 years ago when my wife’s health issues were too much to permit her to attend. I will always bleed blue and white and hope Campbell turns it around. I have seen some horrible losses over the years (including for example sitting in row 57 in the north end zone before there was a second deck to provide shade in 95 degree heat and watching the team lose 14-3 in a season opener to Cincinnati before it was close to being a decent team) but yesterday’s debacle is easily in the top ten clunkers. By the way, you realize that Franklin’s first two seasons were the worst two years of the sanctions years (most of Paterno’s left over players were gone and the scholarship limitations resulted in several walk ons playing OL). With the portal, NIL spending and the facilities enhancements Franklin pushed for Campbell has no such restrictions this year.

First...we had two losses last year that were worse than yesterday
Second...the impact of the sanctions remains overblown
Third...MC got a late start to things due to Kraft which is why we have as many Iowa State guys as we do.
Finally...if Franklin was the still our HC this year would have been a down year. I said that all last year before and after he was fired. Our only hope was a huge Portal class and that went out the window due to the delay in hiring a coach

Campbell wasn't my top choice or close to it but one loss in year one of his tenure shouldn't cause this insane reaction. Bad loss. Unacceptable loss. We all knew we'd have at least one of them this year. The lack of patience is insane given how patient most of these same people were with Franklin.

Sincerely sorry to hear about your wife's health issues

 

[MtNittany]

I’m not overreacting at all. I just am not trying to excuse a god awful performance from a coach with 10 years’ head coaching experience. I have been a fan for 65 years; attended my first game when Rip was still coach; had season tickets from 1978 until 4 years ago when my wife’s health issues were too much to permit her to attend. I will always bleed blue and white and hope Campbell turns it around. I have seen some horrible losses over the years (including for example sitting in row 57 in the north end zone before there was a second deck to provide shade in 95 degree heat and watching the team lose 14-3 in a season opener to Cincinnati before it was close to being a decent team) but yesterday’s debacle is easily in the top ten clunkers. By the way, you realize that Franklin’s first two seasons were the worst two years of the sanctions years (most of Paterno’s left over players were gone and the scholarship limitations resulted in several walk ons playing OL). With the portal, NIL spending and the facilities enhancements Franklin pushed for Campbell has no such restrictions this year.

Remember what B.OB did AT Wisconsin as a 23 point underdog with half a roster too. THAT was a coaching performance.

 

[KingLando]

Correct.

But you defended that and disagreed with him being fired over a decade into his tenure (following a UCLA loss bwt) but Campbell loses 1 game and you have a major issue with it. Cute.

 

[MtNittany]

I'll say this Lando. You must be popular here. You got a special request over on the jukebox thread if you want to check it out.

 

[KingLando]

I'll say this Lando. You must be popular here. You got a special request over on the jukebox thread if you want to check it out.

Oh no...someone doesn't like me...how will I survive. Imagine being an adult and basing decisions on if they're popular. I guess you dont have to imagine it.

 

[MtNittany]

Oh no...someone doesn't like me...how will I survive. Imagine being an adult and basing decisions on if they're popular. I guess you dont have to imagine it.

I don't dislike anyone here. I think that's mostly the case with all posters. I did dislike one poster a few years back that caused a lot of damage to my business at the time, but he's gone, and I'm over that.

Disagreeing isn't disliking. Having a little fun while disagreeing even further distances it from disliking.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

uu Loado, mummy is waiting.

 

[grap54]

The Big XII stuff needs to stop
With the portal none of that matters

Correct. This all-time begs the question of why JMU transfers can help elevate two B1G teams, but Iowa State transfers can't help one.

 

[KingLando]

I don't dislike anyone here. I think that's mostly the case with all posters. I did dislike one poster a few years back that caused a lot of damage to my business at the time, but he's gone, and I'm over that.

Disagreeing isn't disliking. Having a little fun while disagreeing even further distances it from disliking.

Then what's the issue
My belief is this is all about Franklin and his fan base trying to create unrealistic expectations for Campbell because they felt Franklin had unrealistic expectations more than a decade into his tenure
You can disagree with that all you want--doesn't bother me I will respond which allegedly you're fine with but not fine with? All good

 

[grap54]

I'm simply suggesting that Hansen shouldn't be PSU's starting tailback. He wouldn't have made most PSU rosters in the past.

Hansen is puzzling. There's no way he can be 100% physically. He is 29 yards away from 2,000 in his career (in two seasons), he has 20 career TDs, and he had six 100-yard games last year. That Hansen would not only have made the roster, but been in the starting rotation.

 

[KingLando]

Correct. This all-time begs the question of why JMU transfers can help elevate two B1G teams, but Iowa State transfers can't help one.

Maybe they eventually will
Maybe Cignetti's just an elite coach
We'll eventually find out but it's a valid/legit/good question

 

[MtNittany]

Hansen is puzzling. There's no way he can be 100% physically. He is 29 yards away from 2,000 in his career (in two seasons), he has 20 career TDs, and he had six 100-yard games last year. That Hansen would not only have made the roster, but been in the starting rotation.

He was running against smaller D-Lines in the Big 12.

 

[KingLando]

He was running against smaller D-Lines in the Big 12.

No, it's because he's banged up as we knew before the year started
Our first 3 games had nothing to do with the Big Ten or Big XII

 

[baircub]

Mine is an 8-4 or 7-5 record but tending toward the latter. I just couldn't get on board with the irrational exuberance of a mid-level Big 12 team jumping to the Big 10 and winning 9+ games.The so-called easy schedule created an unfair benchmark for Campbell with anything less than nine wins bringing out the boobirds.......well they're here. It's going to take a couple of years to right this ship. Be a little patient

Campbell has to win with a mid level NIL budget. We are even behind Nebraska. Look at the Top Tier schools. We are not in the same conversation, it’s just a fact. Doners need to contribute more so we can sign elite players. Amazing watching Dante More go down..only to see another multi million backup.. step up in his place as a backup. Frankly.. this was a much bigger win and game for Fickel that it was for Campbell.

 

[dcf4psu]

I thought Kraft fired Franklin for not meeting the “standard” of winning Big and National Championships. I also saw numerous posts on here before the season proclaiming Campbell was a superior coach to Franklin. How long shall I give Campbell before he takes off his Big Ten “training wheels”?

Franklin won the Big 10 championship his third year. Without realizing that I was thinking three years.

 

[grap54]

He was running against smaller D-Lines in the Big 12.

He's not the kind of back who runs over people, though. Yes, he hasn't made defenders miss here, but key blocks have been missed on virtually every carry he's had. Those aren't blocks on interior linemen. They're blocks against ends, linebackers or safeties that Becht is making the wrong reads on. T-Frank's film room shows them all very clearly. None of our backs are make-you-miss runners. They either run past you or over you.

 

[MtNittany]

No, it's because he's banged up as we knew before the year started
Our first 3 games had nothing to do with the Big Ten or Big XII

Well, how "banged up" is he? What, is he 80%? If so, why's he the starting tailback?

Remember, this isn't 80% of Curt Warner or Saquon we're talking about here.

Is he going to be "banged up" the entire season?

 

[KingLando]

Campbell has to win with a mid level NIL budget. We are even behind Nebraska. Look at the Top Tier schools. We are not in the same conversation, it’s just a fact. Doners need to contribute more so we can sign elite players. Amazing watching Dante More go down..only to see another multi million backup.. step up in his place as a backup. Frankly.. this was a much bigger win and game for Fickel that it was for Campbell.

Explain how you're looking up NIL money being spent

 

[KingLando]

Well, how "banged up" is he? What, is he 80%? If so, why's he the starting tailback?

Remember, this isn't 80% of Curt Warner or Saquon we're talking about here.

Is he going to be "banged up" the entire season?

He started yesterday but Peoples was clearly RB1 yesterday
Once Hansen is healthy (and who knows when that will be--maybe all year) then you'll complain because Q isn't playing
We missed him a ton yesterday in pass protection but you probably don't see that.

 

[m.knox]

7 of our offensive starters are from ISU. Isn't ISU in the Big 12?

Math is challenging to Loado.

 

[MtNittany]

We missed him a ton yesterday in pass protection but you probably don't see that.

With or without pass protection, our ISU transfer QB seemed to hit nearly as many Wisky hands with the football as he did PSU hands yesterday.

 

[Psumatt85]

If Howard plays yesterday we win and, yes, that would just be masking our other issues.
I didn't say there aren't issues--did I?
Who cares how many games he lost to Wisconsin? He lost to Temple and last year lost to UCLA who was MUCH worse that this year's Wisconsin team
Franklin was fired because he was given the cooridnators he wanted and the money to build the roster then start 2-3 with losses to UCLA and Northwestern while demanding more money. He was fired for losing to teams he shouldn't have.
We should have won yesterday--bad on Campbell--no one disagree. It has nothing to do with James--at all.
He barely beat BC after struggling with Maryland.

I don’t think so. That team had no idea what they were doing on offense. Could turn around, but they were not ready for a bad Wisconsin team at home. That’s coaching.

 

[grap54]

Well, how "banged up" is he? What, is he 80%? If so, why's he the starting tailback?

Remember, this isn't 80% of Curt Warner or Saquon we're talking about here.

Is he going to be "banged up" the entire season?

He did only carry four times. I'll bet the staff will keep him on a snap count. He's clearly trying to play through something.

 

[amblernit]

The Big 12 sucks and Hansen couldn't carry either Skeeter Nichols' or Jon Williams' jock. Or any of 50+ other past PSU tailbacks. That in plain enough English for you?

His longest run - on 35 carries - is 16 yards. He has TWO receptions for 13 yards. This against 3 tomato cans and Wisconsin at home.

Enough already.

jon Williams was a hell of a back. to bad he got injured.

 

[KingLando]

With or without pass protection, our ISU transfer QB seemed to hit nearly as many Wisky hands with the football as he did PSU hands yesterday.

Agreed--but why does it matter that he's from Iowa State?

 

[KingLando]

I don’t think so. That team had no idea what they were doing on offense. Could turn around, but they were not ready for a bad Wisconsin team at home. That’s coaching.

If Howard plays we win--we almost won anyway
He's essentially our Tyler Warren this year--he enables the rest of the offense to have success
That doesn't mean you're wrong about MC (poorly coached game) but Howard is a difference maker

 

[MtNittany]

Agreed--but why does it matter that he's from Iowa State?

Well, in my mind it matters that he was gifted a starting job. Now the problem is that there is no one behind him. Manske isn't a starting QB in the B1G. I had high hopes for the D3 kid as a capable backup, but he looked like a deer in the headlights the only times I've seen him.

I don't want or expect Kerry Collins right now or even next year. But give me Zack Mills at least.

 

[KingLando]

Well, in my mind it matters that he was gifted a starting job. Now the problem is that there is no one behind him. Manske isn't a starting QB in the B1G. I had high hopes for the D3 kid as a capable backup, but he looked like a deer in the headlights the only times I've seen him.

I don't want or expect Kerry Collins right now or even next year. But give me Zack Mills at least.

He was not "gifted" anything. He earned it the past two years but on top of that we brought in Peoples and kept Martin/Wallace to provide competition.
What evidence do you have that Manske can't be a starting QB in the Big Ten? He has zero meaningful snaps How did he look like a deer in headlights? He hasn't taken a sack of thrown a pick. He's 9/14 for over 7 yards an attempt. Maybe he is Zack Mills--either way we add a QB from the portal next year to compete.
You're just irrationally angry that he brought guys with him.

 

[MtNittany]

He was not "gifted" anything. He earned it the past two years but on top of that we brought in Peoples and kept Martin/Wallace to provide competition.
What evidence do you have that Manske can't be a starting QB in the Big Ten? He has zero meaningful snaps How did he look like a deer in headlights? He hasn't taken a sack of thrown a pick. He's 9/14 for over 7 yards an attempt. Maybe he is Zack Mills--either way we add a QB from the portal next year to compete.
You're just irrationally angry that he brought guys with him.

Nothing irrational about it. In this day and age, bringing players with you is an every year occurrence across college football. I think MC will be a good coach for PSU once he gets some recruits and reestablishes his PA/OH roots (providing we win some games the rest of the year).

But we got him from Iowa State, not SoCal or Bama. Player/transfer-wise, you get what you get.

 

[KingLando]

Nothing irrational about it. In this day and age, bringing players with you is an every year occurrence across college football. I think MC will be a good coach for PSU once he gets some recruits and reestablishes his PA/OH roots (providing we win some games the rest of the year).

But we got him from Iowa State, not SoCal or Bama. Player/transfer-wise, you get what you get.

then why do you keep bringing it up?

 

[MtNittany]

then why do you keep bringing it up?

Because we've been told again and again how fortunate PSU fans are to have all this continued cohesiveness, and what a great situation this is - everyone knows each other. All on the same page.

It doesn't much matter if they don't produce. It goes to show that's it not easy, and I didn't predict it would be. I expected better than what I saw yesterday though.

 

[KingLando]

Because we've been told again and again how fortunate PSU fans are to have all this continued cohesiveness, and what a great situation this is - everyone knows each other. All on the same page.

It doesn't much matter if they don't produce. It goes to show that's it not easy, and I didn't predict it would be. I expected better than what I saw yesterday though.

And they played poorly yesterday--we all agree
It has nothing to do with "Big XII"

 

[IANit]

Mine is an 8-4 or 7-5 record but tending toward the latter. I just couldn't get on board with the irrational exuberance of a mid-level Big 12 team jumping to the Big 10 and winning 9+ games.The so-called easy schedule created an unfair benchmark for Campbell with anything less than nine wins bringing out the boobirds.......well they're here. It's going to take a couple of years to right this ship. Be a little patient

I don't think the issue is Big 12 vs. Big Ten. Maybe in one sense - I feel like Rocco wasn't used to the closing speed in the secondary on some of his deep throws.

I think the biggest concern is that it felt like coaching was a problem. The way we respond on Friday will tell us a lot.

 

[PSUAXE70]

Franklin went 2-6 in the Big Ten his first year with losses to Northwestern and Maryland.

His first year? Did you forget what his first year was? Thanks to the NCAA, Franklin was going to away games with 44 available scholarship players and he still had a winning season and a bowl win.

 

[KingLando]

His first year? Did you forget what his first year was? Thanks to the NCAA, Franklin was going to away games with 44 available scholarship players and he still had a winning season and a bowl win.

I'm well aware of sanctions that you all want to give too much weight to

 

[BobPSU92]

He was running against smaller D-Lines in the Big 12.

But he wasn’t great against Marshall or buffalo.

 

[CVLion]

I’m willing to give CMC a chance. But it bothers me that he thinks HIS QB had a good game according to a post game article I read. If he truly thinks this, then he and Penn State are in big trouble. It still bothers me that he guaranteed Becht the starting QB position and ran off Grunk. I thought at the time he knows what he is doing. Now I’m not so sure.

I saw CMC’s comments to this effect. My feeling is, that is mostly him trying to bolster Becht’s confidence with his public comments to guard against him becoming a head case. I think for every player position, but for QB and PK most of all, the state of their psyche is very important.

I’m sure that in private, Campbell will be pointing out to Becht a lot of things he needs to work on.