Sitake would have been a better option than Campbell

[Alphalion75]

I blame Kraft for not hiring Bob Chesney.

I believe you made that clear many times.

 

[KingLando]

Agree with you on some points, but NIL is not simply an “allocation” issue and leave it there. Except to add one more point: the increase in NIL last season was for roster retention and had no meaningful impact on new talent acquisition going forward.

So the cycle continues, Franklin was supposedly the problem despite his consistent success, now Campbell is the problem despite PSU losing 46 transfers (which is a wildly ironic take even without outgoing transfers considering the fact that Campbell did not hire himself), and then the next coach will be the problem, all under the pretense that PSU is the destination job, dream school for recruits, and premier program that we all wish it was.

We went out and added a ton of people through the portal including revamping the WR room. That was very expensive...to the point the coaches refused to play Howard.

I don't agree MC is the problem. He got a late start, 2026 was going to be a problem even if Franklin stayed, etc.

Franklin was fired because he had, by his own statement, the best team during his tenure. We spent tons of money to retain talent and improve other areas including bringing in Knowles. He refused to fire AK or adapt his offense to fit Allar. He lost yet another game to a ranked team at home then flopped against a 3-9 UCLA team which was the worst loss of his career then lost at home to Northwestern while getting his QB injured running a ridiculous offense. James had to go. Just like Richt had to go at Georgia.

The objective is to win titles...period. Franklin proved he isn't capable. MC will be gone if he can't make the playoff in the next two years which just got easier.

 

[Shadow99]

We wnt out and add a ton of people through the portal including revamping the WR room. That was very expensive...to the point the coaches refused to play Howard.

I don't agree MC is the problem. He got a late start, 2026 was going to be a problem even if Franklin stayed, etc.

Franklin was fired because he had, by his own statement, the beat team during his tenure. We spent tons of money to retain talent and improve other areas including bringing in Knowles. He refused to fire AK or adapt his offense to fit Allar. He lost yet another game to a ranked team at home then flopped against a 3-9 UCLA team which was the worst loss of his career then lost at home to Northwestern while getting his QB injured running a ridiculous offense. James had to go. Just like Richt had to go at Georgia.

The objective is to win titles...period. Franklin proved he isn't capable. MC will be gone if he can't make the playoff in the next two years which just got easier.

Agree with most of this… Just don’t agree that ANY coach is set up to win as currently structured…unfortunately .

Would definitely be considered a Franklin apologist, but I understand. But now I make similar points “defending” Campbell and the fans who hated Franklin also hate Campbell, and some who defended Franklin (as I did) now unfairly attack Campbell to prove their point about Franklin.

My point is that there are fundamental aspects of the program that undermined them both, and will continue to undermine any future dream coaches unless something changes. Our only point of significant disagreement seems to be my assertion that NIL is a significant part of that, albeit not the only factor.

 

[KingLando]

Agree with most of this… Just don’t agree that ANY coach is set up to win as currently structured…unfortunately .

Would definitely be considered a Franklin apologist, but I understand. But now I make similar points “defending” Campbell and the fans who hated Franklin also hate Campbell, and some who defended Franklin (as I did) now unfairly attack Campbell to prove their point about Franklin.

My point is that there are fundamental aspects of the program that undermined them both, and will continue to undermine any future dream coaches unless something changes. Our only point of significant disagreement is my assertion seems to be that NIL is a significant part of that, albeit not the only factor.

Yeah, I don't think NIL is a problem at all--I think 2025 proved that and 2027 or 2028 will reinforce it's not.
Now if Zayas and Howard leave then I'll be the first to admit there's a problem--especially Zayas--Howard may just leave if we don't have a proven QB

 

[Marshall2323]

I believe you made that clear many times.

It's worth repeating

 

[Jonathan Assbutt Jr.]

I don't think your talent is there right now. Not as developed talent, anyway. Recruiting rankings aren't a final product.

Campbell is taking over a team that wasn't very good the year before -- brought some ISU guys in, not enough.

 

[MtNittany]

Or Will Stein.

Manny Diaz

 

[KingLando]

Manny Diaz

He's lost the last two weeks to two awful teams...this isn't his first year there

 

[BobPSU92]

No doubt Kraft is sitting back today over Sunday Brunch mimosas laughing about Sitake. “We’re Penn State. He isn’t Penn State material. Pfft. ”

 

[MtNittany]

He's lost the last two weeks to two awful teams...this isn't his first year there

Carolina would beat PSU by 2 TD's right now.

 

[KingLando]

Carolina would beat PSU by 2 TD's right now.

Only Northwestern has done that and most of the teams that beat us would also beat UNC
We'd be favored against them FYI

 

[Ludd]

Agree with most of this… Just don’t agree that ANY coach is set up to win as currently structured…unfortunately .

Would definitely be considered a Franklin apologist, but I understand. But now I make similar points “defending” Campbell and the fans who hated Franklin also hate Campbell, and some who defended Franklin (as I did) now unfairly attack Campbell to prove their point about Franklin.

My point is that there are fundamental aspects of the program that undermined them both, and will continue to undermine any future dream coaches unless something changes. Our only point of significant disagreement seems to be my assertion that NIL is a significant part of that, albeit not the only factor.

The people who wanted Franklin fired, including Kraft, are people that have an unrealistic ideal of where PSU football is and has been for decades. It doesn’t matter who the coach is if a whole lot of other things don’t change and I don’t think they will. What we were doing under Franklin was the ceiling, we will now get to see what the floor looks like…enjoy.

 

[KingLando]

The people who wanted Franklin fired, including Kraft, are people that have an unrealistic ideal of where PSU football is and has been for decades. It doesn’t matter who the coach is if a whole lot of other things don’t change and I don’t think they will. What we were doing under Franklin was the ceiling, we will now get to see what the floor looks like…enjoy.

So, was Georgia's ceiling what Richt was doing? They hadn't won a title since 1980 before Smart arrived.
How about Indiana? They won a title--did you expect that?
The reality is--the past doesn't matter--you're building to win a title now.

 

[Nitt1300]

It’s more of a destination job and dream school for recruits than Kentucky.

Was, anyway

Today? maybe not

 

[olelion]

I blame Kraft for not hiring Bob Chesney.

Given what I've seen of Kraft, Chesney had no chance. Kraft's ego demands that he put his stamp on everything. Examples: Franklin ain't my guy, I want my own coach Stadium? Redo it in my image. Chesney? I'm no copycat, Indiana was lucky. Shitake? Now he's my guy for sure, no rush to close. He's mine. In the meantime, recruits left, holdovers pilfered despite the efforts of Terry Smith et al. Grunkenmire was keepable. No recruits, portal closed. Now you're seeing the results

 

[MacNit]

He and Neeli were enamored with him but deserve no credit as he could not get him across the written finish line. He then lost Chesney who wanted to be here but left with the news on Sitake and then was left with Daboll and Rees until Campbell came along. We are totally effed over the next 3-4 years if Campbell cannot get it together. We cannot afford to go a different direction with that buyout. This is looking worse than the sanction years. At least that depleted team had balls.

Simply need to buy much better players. NIL or bust.

 

[MacNit]

We are not getting it together in any significant way. Kraft can't get enough NIL so we will do okay in the portal for next season but not spectacular. Call it 7-5 maybe 8-4.

Probably 8-4 in '28. Then what? We are never getting close to elite or 10 win seasons under Campbell from what I see and if we do make the playoff it is only because it expanded to 24 and we lose in the first rd.

Need to cut bait with Campbell after year 3 while canning Kraft next year. Then the new AD can reenergize/revitalize NIL and have Campbell on a 2 year secret probation. My prediction is the new AD won't be satisfied with the trajectory of the program after the '28 season and cans Campbell.

Then a new search which hopefully is better than what we just went through and we get a guy that is actually a keeper.

What can tbd AD do to “revitalize” NIL do that Kraft can’t do today. If it is that easy, send him a note and ask for compensation.

 

[Skeeter41]

Given what I've seen of Kraft, Chesney had no chance. Kraft's ego demands that he put his stamp on everything.

It all made sense to me after watching Chesney's burn the boats speech. He turned around, put on his sunglasses and walked out of the tunnel like a boss. Kraft's ego would never allow another boss in the same stadium let alone the same room.

 

[Moogy]

His team beat Notre Dame and is undefeated. He literally does do more with less as he was quoted a few months ago lamenting how little resources he has at BYU versus what he saw was available at PSU during the coaching search. The Notre Dame team he beat today has at least double his NIL war chest. Per insiders a number of his best players were coming with him to Happy Valley before cookie crumble got involved and ruined Krafty the Klown’s pinky swear non-written agreement. Goodness what could’ve been.

"I would have been fine with Sitake but I greatly prefer Campbell" was your statement in the offseason ... and you pooped all over the idea of Chesney being here when he was a rumored candidate.

Maybe you shouldn't trust your own assessments, even now.

Regardless, BYU is a different world, and what he does there may or may not have translated here.

 

[MacNit]

He was not leaving the temple. Everyone needs to get over it already. Especially the trolls here.

Who cares…just because the were gifted a win against yet another overrated ND team?

Better than Frankin…tbd if better than Campbell.

 

[MacNit]

We lost yesterday due to horrible QB play in the second half. Interceptions are going to happen, but the first play after halftime that we have the ball and our 5th year QB throws the ball into triple coverage. An interception was the most likely outcome. The second interception showed the lack of arm talent and vision. The TE started turning up field if QB waits one more second and throws it down the side line over the DB it could have been a touchdown or big play. The fumble was also bad as our QB had no idea that he was under pressure......

the other aspect is that our run defense is god awful. DL and LB cannot get off of blocks. If 13 is not making the tackle then we are in trouble. 8, 10, 31 cannot get off of blocks and when they do, they are too slow to get to the RB.Everyone is congratulating Carr for the comeback by Michigan, but other than the two ridiculously defensed runs from Carr, what did he do? 3rd and Goal from the 10 and he runs into the endzone....it almost seemed like a give up play by Michigan to settle for the FG and it scores a TD. A 4.8 40 yard QB runs for 26 yards down to the one and a 10 yard scamper into the end zone..........

Other than the safety call that could have been a safety......it was one of the better officiated Mich - PSU games showing how far Mich has fallen too as they did not get the Wolverine calls that they usually do.............. 3-0 at halftime. Give up 3 TD in second half against the worst offense that Mich has put on the field since the 60s.

Which current player starts on 1994 offense? 1986 defense? Even make the 2-deep?

The talent drop off is a chasm?

Those teams had elite talent (and coaching).

Want to be better? Need MUCH better players. Probably like 2 dozen.

In today’s minor league football, this talent must be purchased. Period.

 

[Marshall2323]

Simply need to buy much better players. NIL or bust.

What happened to the coach with unique ability to find diamonds in the rough and coach em up?

 

[MacNit]

I'm getting an appointment with my optometrist, because I'm having difficulty seeing "excellence at the highest level, and the national championship our fans deserve," from where I'm standing.

(some of us) deserve better

Ask for binocular strength. It’s all in Blacksburg! BGJ is tearing it up!

 

[LMTLION]

"I would have been fine with Sitake but I greatly prefer Campbell" was your statement in the offseason ... and you pooped all over the idea of Chesney being here when he was a rumored candidate.

Maybe you shouldn't trust your own assessments, even now.

Regardless, BYU is a different world, and what he does there may or may not have translated here.

Yup I was very wrong. Could not script a worse situation than this.

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

I don't think your talent is there right now. Not as developed talent, anyway. Recruiting rankings aren't a final product.

Campbell is taking over a team that wasn't very good the year before -- brought some ISU guys in, not enough.

Yet Chesney bringing in his base of JMU players at UCLA "was enough" - sounds like Chesney did a better job of true "talent evaluation" at JMU than Campbell did at ISU..... resulting in Chesney bringing better highly-paid Free Agents with him than Campbell did (and Chesney is not the only example - Cignetti did same a couple years ago.... Stein at Kentucky...... Auburn's new coach brought way better talent than "Campbell's" Free Agents here at PSU.... and the list is even longer - Campbell has the worst record of current P4 wins of any 1st Year P4 Coach this year!!!).

The Coaching search (and firing of the prior coach) was utterly botched and butchered by Krafty The Clown -- he is the ROOT CAUSE of all of the destructive bs and decision-making that has taken place at PSU the last 2-3 years. Firing Campbell does nothing - until PSU fires Krafty The Clown, we are in for a world of hurt because no current proven Coach would want to work for this self-absorbed, selfish, empty-suit hack. PSU needs to fire Kraft yesterday and let the new capable AD deal with Campbell (who absolutely needs to be put on a very short leash and needs to understand short-term objectives that he needs to meet if he wants to keep his job - that is only fair to him).

 

[Marshall2323]

Ask for binocular strength. It’s all in Blacksburg! BGJ is tearing it up!

PSU Is killing it without him.
Enjoying excellence at the highest level?

 

[KingLando]

Which current player starts on 1994 offense? 1986 defense? Even make the 2-deep?

The talent drop off is a chasm?

Those teams had elite talent (and coaching).

Want to be better? Need MUCH better players. Probably like 2 dozen.

In today’s minor league football, this talent must be purchased. Period.

So, it's comparing them to our best teams ever from decades ago?
Sowell and Howard likely start over Freddie Scott

 

[MacNit]

Agree with you on some points, but NIL is not simply an “allocation” issue and leave it there. Except to add one more point: the increase in NIL last season was for roster retention after the semi-final appearance and had no meaningful impact on new talent acquisition going forward.

So the cycle continues, Franklin was supposedly the problem despite his consistent success, now Campbell is the problem despite PSU losing 46 transfers (which is a wildly ironic take even without outgoing transfers considering the fact that Campbell did not hire himself), and then the next coach will be the problem, all under the pretense that PSU is the destination job, dream school for recruits, and premier program fully backed by the university that we all wish it was.

Consistent success? 1 win in 12 years?

 

[MacNit]

The people who wanted Franklin fired, including Kraft, are people that have an unrealistic ideal of where PSU football is and has been for decades. It doesn’t matter who the coach is if a whole lot of other things don’t change and I don’t think they will. What we were doing under Franklin was the ceiling, we will now get to see what the floor looks like…enjoy.

Need to spend like Indiana and Texas Tech…then we will get better talent. Actually pretty simple.

 

[Marshall2323]

Consistent success? 1 win in 12 years?

104-45. 3-4

 

[MacNit]

It all made sense to me after watching Chesney's burn the boats speech. He turned around, put on his sunglasses and walked out of the tunnel like a boss. Kraft's ego would never allow another boss in the same stadium let alone the same room.

Oh you mean like Cael? Mr. Mild manners?

And oh btw, we spend ~2x more in wrestling that the #2 spender.

Results?

See how it works?

 

[MacNit]

What happened to the coach with unique ability to find diamonds in the rough and coach em up?

You tell me?

I never anointed Campbell.

Get in your car and drive to Blacksburg. Maybe they can beat Pitt’s back up Qb next year…

Doing less with more…no worries, maybe he’ll get 11.5 more years to win a single meaningful game. Hopefully you will get your chance to visit that Mecca of college football and revel in the underachievement.

 

[MacNit]

PSU Is killing it without him.
Enjoying excellence at the highest level?

104-45. 3-4

Documented worst big game record in NCAA HISTORY.

So, it's comparing them to our best teams ever from decades ago?
Sowell and Howard likely start over Freddie Scott

Laughable! Freddie Scott was an amazing receiver..

 

[MacNit]

So, it's comparing them to our best teams ever from decades ago?
Sowell and Howard likely start over Freddie Scott

And comparing it to teams that had the talent level to compete at the highest level…trust to show how far we are from where we want to be…which is Consustent top 10 with a chance to win it all.

we are simply an average Big10 team…no where near that.

Will need to but elite talent (can’t recruit like the past).

 

[KingLando]

Laughable! Freddie Scott was an amazing receiver..

Not laughable. I like(d) Freddie Scott--his father was an amazing receiver--Jr was just solid--but Sowell and Howard fit better with Collins, Engram & Brady.

 

[stater02]

Those Crumbl cookies are still about the most unhealthy thing you can eat

Their business model is Crumbl-ing right now. So many of their franchises are up for sale after the large equity holders (founders and C-suite) took the bag and ran.

 

[KingLando]

And comparing it to teams that had the talent level to compete at the highest level…trust to show how far we are from where we want to be…which is Consustent top 10 with a chance to win it all.

we are simply an average Big10 team…no where near that.

Will need to but elite talent (can’t recruit like the past).

From decades ago...
Recruiting isn't nearly as important as it used to be due to the portal

 

[Chumboshifko1]

What happened to the coach with unique ability to find diamonds in the rough and coach em up?

You BGJ away to nothing but stains on your hands.

And face.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Ask for binocular strength. It’s all in Blacksburg! BGJ is tearing it up!

His spinky awaits Marshall2323

 

[Nits1989]

It all made sense to me after watching Chesney's burn the boats speech. He turned around, put on his sunglasses and walked out of the tunnel like a boss. Kraft's ego would never allow another boss in the same stadium let alone the same room.

I could see Kraft being very jealous of Chesney. No way he would hire Chesney.