OT: How does Franklin keep losing these?

psu83

Junior
May 29, 2001
255
318
63
104-45 Franklin's record is in the books. Matt Campbell is enjoying excellence at the highest level.
BLJ says THANK YOU
Real Music Milk GIF by Robin Gan
 

MacNit

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,334
2,279
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Personally, I thought MC would be a massive improvement in terms of putting the best players in the best position to succeed. I thought he was bringing over the cream of the crop of the ISU team. Mix in some key holderovers and key portal additions and the seemingly easy schedule, I thought 9-3 was a realistic goal. I ignored the team being basically gutted before he even got here. I ignored the highly regarded ISU WR coach who took another job after committing to come to Penn State. I ignored that Lions had absolutely no depth, so just a few key injuries could derail the whole season.

My main concern going forward is that the staff doesn't look like a playoff caliber staff. Talent can be added, but the lack of imaginative play calling on both Off and Def, the lack of in-game adjustments, doesn't bode well for the future.

I would think talent-wise, this is team is similar to Purdue, Minn, Rutgers and Maryland. If we can finish the year 7-5, I'd have some hope for next year. 6-6 and I'm thinking next year is gonna be a similar struggle. Anything less and I'm thinking MC was a huge mistake by a guy out of his depth, which I think anyway.
Need to buy much better players…”cream of ISU crop” ~ Minnesota’s/Wisconsin
 

MacNit

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,334
2,279
113
Speaking of getting things down to a science, after yesterday’s loss to Indiana Nebraska has now lost 31 straight to ranked opponents. But don’t let your Franklin Derangement Syndrome get in the way of an assinine comment a year after he was fired.
What syndrome? He has the worst big game record in CFB…earned over a decade plus.
NIL is not the reason we lost to NW. Will more NIL money turn Campbell into a better game day coach, cause right now he sucks at it. Maybe more NIL will get us some better supporting coaches.
relax. Campbell has been successful every where he has been. With much better players, he will have a chance to do the same here.

Must pay or this will be the product.
 
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BUFFALO LION

All-Conference
Oct 4, 2001
1,216
1,937
113
face it though, given when Kraft decided to make a hire, if Campbell didn't bring a base of players from Iowa State, we'd be in even worse position. But some of the guys from ISU just don't seem to be up to B1G level. Number 8, for example, just seems to bounce off runners instead of tackling them. Also he was the cover guy on that option guy and he never even made it to that side of the field. Do we have anybody better?...apparently not.

Looking at things somewhat realistically, this year is done. And, we lose quite a few last year of eligibility guys after this season. So we either have a lot of good players sitting on the bench, coming in as freshmen, or we'd better be spending a lot of time identifying players from other teams who might be portal material. If Kraft was smart he'd be spending 24 hours a day lining up NIL money for 2027.

I'm not holding a great deal of hope, or expectations, for next year. There are just too many holes to fill all throughout the roster. We could have the greatest coaching staff in the country, and without players it won't make any difference. And right now we don't have the players

Yep. The biggest problem the boo birds and Kraft got us into was that they intentionally flipped the recruiting switch. When James was here, we were a “Program” destination. We had stability and certainty. Now, we are a “Cycle” destination. A recruit and his parents will not be sure if their son will be playing for the same Head Coach that recruited him. We’ve now lost that edge. An edge that takes many years to build, but only one day to blow up.

I hate to break it to you guys, but this may be the best roster we have for many years to come. It was hand picked by Campbell, who picked the 24 best players from his semi-successful P-4 squad, including his All World QB, to restock this team. He won’t have that luxury going forward. Add that to the fact that we blew up our 2026 recruiting class, and our 2027 class appears to be below what we are used to, and you have a recipe for disaster going forward.

Then you have the next Coach, and the next Coach, and the next Coach, and the next,……….and then you have 2040. Hence, to a recruit and his parents, an uncertain “Cycle” destination.

Haste makes waste. We just wasted 11 solid and successful years of Program growth because of three losses, each with at least some level of explanation. If we can’t handle the easiest schedule we’ll have for years to come with this squad of hand picked professionals, I have a hunch you ain’t seen nothing yet.
 

Chumboshifko1

All-Conference
Oct 15, 2025
3,247
3,566
113
Yep. The biggest problem the boo birds and Kraft got us into was that they intentionally flipped the recruiting switch. When James was here, we were a “Program” destination. We had stability and certainty. Now, we are a “Cycle” destination. A recruit and his parents will not be sure if their son will be playing for the same Head Coach that recruited him. We’ve now lost that edge. An edge that takes many years to build, but only one day to blow up.

I hate to break it to you guys, but this may be the best roster we have for many years to come. It was hand picked by Campbell, who picked the 24 best players from his semi-successful P-4 squad, including his All World QB, to restock this team. He won’t have that luxury going forward. Add that to the fact that we blew up our 2026 recruiting class, and our 2027 class appears to be below what we are used to, and you have a recipe for disaster going forward.

Then you have the next Coach, and the next Coach, and the next Coach, and the next,……….and then you have 2040. Hence, to a recruit and his parents, an uncertain “Cycle” destination.

Haste makes waste. We just wasted 11 solid and successful years of Program growth because of three losses, each with at least some level of explanation. If we can’t handle the easiest schedule we’ll have for years to come with this squad of hand picked professionals, I have a hunch you ain’t seen nothing yet.


More than 3 losses sunk the Terd BGJ. A lot more. The pile is gone and isn't coming back.

Move on already. There's much wrong with CFB today. If it can be fixed is anyone's guess.
 

Marshall2323

All-American
Aug 7, 2024
5,337
5,514
113
What syndrome? He has the worst big game record in CFB…earned over a decade plus.

relax. Campbell has been successful every where he has been. With much better players, he will have a chance to do the same here.

Must pay or this will be the product.
Over 10 years his average conference record was 5-4.
 

Marshall2323

All-American
Aug 7, 2024
5,337
5,514
113
VT is loaded in all sports. lol!
How far the mighty have fallen. The BWICAC take comfort in proclaiming "at least we're better than VT! Aren't we?" LOL Seems like yesterday the fearless leader promised "excellence at the highest level" and a national championship.
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
8,090
4,367
113
Look it up. Look up Ebel, Ezeogu, Eskeldsen, Williams, Hansen Cooper, and Neal. Use the same source you used for Liam clifford's deal.
I've never once mentioned Laim--you're so angry when you post you're confusing people
None of the rumored amounts has any meaning--as I've said throughout
Liam likely didn't get anything
 

manatree

All-American
Oct 6, 2021
3,536
6,359
113
For kicks, I checked the VT vs Cal box score and absolutely nothing sticks out as to why VT lost. Grunk played a clean game, the team had no turnovers, they had fewer penalties, and had more first downs. As is Franklin’s signature style of losing, he has a lead in the 4th quarter and loses it right at the end.

I live in NOVA and a friend went to the game out west. I warned him that Franklin tends to follow up a loss with another loss. And that his losses frequently come from ahead. And that they’re always close, rip-your-heart-out kinds of games.

And listen, of course I see how we’re doing and we really don’t have any stones to throw—but things certainly didn’t get better for Franklin “doing more with more.”

Sir, this is a Penn State Wendy’s, not a Virginia McDonald’s.

IMG_3643.jpeg
 

kgilbert78

All-Conference
Apr 9, 2013
1,116
1,715
113
Remember Amare Campbell was insulted by how much PSU offered. Do you think Matt didn't want to keep another good LB, or was it we couldn't pay him that much? I think we just have to face the fact PSU is not a "blueblood", the new "bluebloods" are those stockpiling and paying the most money to players. OSU, Oregon, Texas, Indiana etc.
Nobody really knows what is going on behind the scenes
And in some places it is easier to come up with that kind of money. Columbus and Austin are top 15 population cities in the US. Us? Saw a commercial over the weekend where a PSU player was in an ad for a local car dealer in Lewistown (I was visiting my niece there--first time in my life I was in the PSU area on Game Day and did not go). There's a difference between that and, say, Nationwide Insurance or Chase Bank.
 

Rocco3

Junior
Mar 25, 2022
247
271
63
For kicks, I checked the VT vs Cal box score and absolutely nothing sticks out as to why VT lost. Grunk played a clean game, the team had no turnovers, they had fewer penalties, and had more first downs. As is Franklin’s signature style of losing, he has a lead in the 4th quarter and loses it right at the end.

I live in NOVA and a friend went to the game out west. I warned him that Franklin tends to follow up a loss with another loss. And that his losses frequently come from ahead. And that they’re always close, rip-your-heart-out kinds of games.

And listen, of course I see how we’re doing and we really don’t have any stones to throw—but things certainly didn’t get better for Franklin “doing more with more.”
Gotta get him back ;)
 

Rocco3

Junior
Mar 25, 2022
247
271
63
I agree that Kraft’s hubris won’t allow him to admit his mistake but I strongly disagree that PSU could not afford to move on if a new AD came in and wanted “their guy”. Just like with Franklin, Campbell would find another job and it would offset the total payout. AD change allows both parties to save a little face with the transition. With all of the new construction costs, pressure to “win now”, and a fanbase that has clearly grown tired of the product on the field, perhaps we can’t afford not to.
Not being sarcastic here because I'm genuinely interested at this point in who would that new guy be since my guy went to UCLA and there's no getting him now.
 
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BUFFALO LION

All-Conference
Oct 4, 2001
1,216
1,937
113
Please describe the explanation level for ucla

We played like **** against UCLA. Everyone knows that. But unlike Northwestern a couple of weeks ago, the team didn’t quit after the first half, and finally woke up

There are some rational explanations for the loss. Even though they don’t make me or anybody else happy based on the opponent at the time, they certainly didn’t warrant a total destruction of the football Program for years to come.

1.) We were coming off a double overtime night game loss against the number two team in the Country at the time, an eventual CFP team, that we had at least three instances that could have gone either way. We get just one of those to go our way, we probably, or in one case definitely, win (Oregon’s fumble in the first overtime).

2.) After losing an emotionally draining, hard fought game in front of 110,000 screaming fans, we have to fly 3,000 miles cross country through four time zones, to play a game against a team we think we can just go through the motions. I’ve played in a game like that and you have no juice. You go from one week playing against a huge opponent and a huge crowd ready to tear someone apart that you end up losing, to a game the next weekend against a winless team feeling like you’re going to be playing a bunch of girls in front of hardly anybody. No matter how much a coach tries to motivate you, you just jog through pre-game thinking this will be a game of pitch and catch.

3.) We obviously come out flat as a pancake, going through the motions, and UCLA jumps to a 27-7 first half lead. Unlike Northwestern two weeks ago, we at least woke up in the second half to make the game competitive outscoring UCLA 30-15 in the second half to make the final score 42-37.

If not for, by far, the ugliest crowd I can remember in well over half a century of Penn State football, we probably right the ship against Northwestern, conceivably beat Iowa and eventual National Champion Indiana at home, end the season 10-2 with losses to Ohio State and Oregon, and maybe make the CFP.

This year, we then start off the season running with Grunk and all of OUR guys, with full recruiting classes in our pocket, against a schedule that is turning out to be tailor built for a Playoff run.
 

rigi19041

Sophomore
Apr 1, 2026
430
194
43
And in some places it is easier to come up with that kind of money. Columbus and Austin are top 15 population cities in the US. Us? Saw a commercial over the weekend where a PSU player was in an ad for a local car dealer in Lewistown (I was visiting my niece there--first time in my life I was in the PSU area on Game Day and did not go). There's a difference between that and, say, Nationwide Insurance or Chase Bank.
And in some places it is easier to come up with that kind of money. Columbus and Austin are top 15 population cities in the US. Us? Saw a commercial over the weekend where a PSU player was in an ad for a local car dealer in Lewistown (I was visiting my niece there--first time in my life I was in the PSU area on Game Day and did not go). There's a difference between that and, say, Nationwide Insurance or Chase Bank.
They found money for the isu transfers.
 

o_PSUALREADYKNOW

Sophomore
Mar 9, 2022
116
135
43
Yep. The biggest problem the boo birds and Kraft got us into was that they intentionally flipped the recruiting switch. When James was here, we were a “Program” destination. We had stability and certainty. Now, we are a “Cycle” destination. A recruit and his parents will not be sure if their son will be playing for the same Head Coach that recruited him. We’ve now lost that edge. An edge that takes many years to build, but only one day to blow up.

I hate to break it to you guys, but this may be the best roster we have for many years to come. It was hand picked by Campbell, who picked the 24 best players from his semi-successful P-4 squad, including his All World QB, to restock this team. He won’t have that luxury going forward. Add that to the fact that we blew up our 2026 recruiting class, and our 2027 class appears to be below what we are used to, and you have a recipe for disaster going forward.

Then you have the next Coach, and the next Coach, and the next Coach, and the next,……….and then you have 2040. Hence, to a recruit and his parents, an uncertain “Cycle” destination.

Haste makes waste. We just wasted 11 solid and successful years of Program growth because of three losses, each with at least some level of explanation. If we can’t handle the easiest schedule we’ll have for years to come with this squad of hand picked professionals, I have a hunch you ain’t seen nothing yet.
I wish the dumb *** who made the original post would read THIS one, re-write it, capitalize ever letter, look up the meanings of every word in it. And swallow the bitter pill of delusion. We Are…Spoiled.
 

JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws

All-Conference
Jun 26, 2025
1,163
1,184
113
You can’t lose 30 players to graduation, 46 to the transfer portal and a 20+ recruiting class and then have the new coach come in and work a miracle. That is on the AD and not the new coach. Of course a reasonable, intelligent and educated person would easily tell you that. You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken $h!t. There is nearly zero talent on this team, especially on defense and it shows. When PSU played teams with a similar talent level they won. That is how devoid of talent and athleticism this team is. Right now almost every B10 team has a more talented roster. The rest of the season is not going to be pretty.

Huh? What? Campbell might have lost that many to the Portal, but he brought in an equal amount via the Portal (and he is paying his CHOSEN roster a princely sum of $30-$32 million). Your full of crap that no one else had these kinds of losses to the Portal forcing them to bring in replacements via the Portal - Cignetti did it a couple years ago.... and both Bob Chesney and Will Stein did it last year with SMALLER portal budgets than Campbell (Chesney is 5-0 @UCLA after beating a highly regarded Oregon team with a massive NIL roster budget and Stein is 5-1 @uk after beating a highly regarded LSU team with a massive roster budget).

You are quite incorrect about the problem - the problem was not that Campbell had to hit the Portal for players (he had a much bigger roster budget than either Will Stein or Bob Chesney); the biggest problem was Cambell's decision-making as to who he brought on with the +$30 million roster budget he had (otherwise known as talent evaluation and acquisition in Professional sports like CFB is now. Campbell's talent evaluation and acquisition decisions sucked relative to the amount of $$$ he spent on same!).

You apologists are so off your rocker with your lame "problem analysis" which is lightyears off the mark in today's Professional CFB environment as is your nonsense about a "long-term" rebuild. If Campbell keeps spending wads of $$$ the way he did last year (i.e., more $$$ for less talent - way less talent) there is going to be no rebuild - longterm or otherwise - as Campbell's talent evaluation skills appear to be extremely suspect as he is paying bottom of the barrel FBS talent top-market prices (paying Becht - who only has eligibility for this year - $2 million is beyond criminal and irresponsible.
 
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