FC/OT: Is Cory Giger right?

[ApexLion]

If Penn State were to fire Campbell after this season, who would they hire?

Chesney is locked up at ucla. Is there a 2026 version of Chesney?

Finally break down and hire urban? He isn’t getting younger, and he would expect $50 million in NIL. , which we don’t have.

Now you are talking. We need a coach who is amoral but will bring in the NIL $$$. We need an ahole!!! Now you are talking!!! I’m surprised it took us this long to get there.

 

[psuno1]

NW might be the 3rd or 4th best team in Big 10 this year. the Big 10 is down this year, but NW is a good solid, well coached team. they are also tough. If you can play decent defense and run the ball you can win anywhere. I thought that this description would be PSU......... not NW.

The roster is just not very good. Outside of a couple of the DBs, maybe Rojas......who is a solid Pro Prospect? TE? Hard to win when you do not have the Jimmies and the Joes.

Just not enough talent on this team. need way more dudes. OSU Oregon Indiana would beat PSU by 40 or more.

 

[psuno1]

If Penn State were to fire Campbell after this season, who would they hire?

Chesney is locked up at ucla. Is there a 2026 version of Chesney?

Finally break down and hire urban? He isn’t getting younger, and he would expect $50 million in NIL. , which we don’t have.

Should have hired Meyer in the first place. If he wanted the job and Kraft said No. WOW.

 

[mh-larch]

Giger and many on here are overreacting. NW was a tough game after a deflating Wisconsin loss. Short week to make adjustments, had to travel, and facing the Wildcats on the opening of thier new stadium. Plus, this NW team is pretty solid.

Yes, talent is down (it didn't help that Kraft hired so late) and this is going to be a subpar year, but Campbell will get things turned around. I'm going to give him some time. I think he deserves that.

 

[BobPSU92]

Now you are talking. We need a coach who is amoral but will bring in the NIL $$$. We need an ahole!!! Now you are talking!!! I’m surprised it took us this long to get there.

It’s 2026. Morals are for sissies.

 

[BobPSU92]

Giger and many on here are overreacting. NW was a tough game after a deflating Wisconsin loss. Short week to make adjustments, had to travel, and facing the Wildcats on the opening of thier new stadium. Plus, this NW team is pretty solid.

Yes, talent is down (it didn't help that Kraft hired so late) and this is going to be a subpar year, but Campbell will get things turned around. I'm going to give him some time. I think he deserves that.

I wish that I had seen your post before I jumped.

 

[Midnighter]

The past 2 games have been Dark Years like. When you can’t run the football on O or stop the run on D, you are a 3-4 win team in the Big Ten.

I’m not giving up on Campbell, but what happens next will be critical for how PSU fans view him. He can’t drift through the season aimlessly like this and save face.

This isn’t Iowa St where they’ll love you forever for a few 8 win seasons.

Kraft is the one who is in real jeopardy. He acted rashly then compounded that mistake with a botched coaching search that allowed the program to fall apart.

Maybe we’ll learn more about what went on between him and Franklin over time. It definitely smacked of a Kraft vendetta.

I agree with all this (and you).

 

[Psumatt85]

I think it’s rational. What about the last two games has you optimistic? Guessing we’re killing it in recruiting and you’re playing the long game?

There is no long game with pay for play

 

[Midnighter]

There is no long game with pay for play

Worth remembering Franklin did this last year with a much better roster. We’re cursed.

 

[Bvillebaron]

Giger is overeacting like most here
Fire Kraft...that's fine but of course MC gets 3 years and of course this year's team isn't great because of how it had to be assembled. Kraft's biggest mistake was forcing the next coach to keep Terry Smith. Terry failed miserably to keep the class together and other candidates were unwilling to take the role without being able to fully build their own staff.

MC may or may not work out but anyone in our base that has lost faith after 5 games isn't a rational person.

Giger's been right maybe 4 times in his life.

This is probably one of those times.

 

[Bvillebaron]

You have to give Northwestern some credit on those 3rd down calls--they did a great job taking away the first read
I know people think Northwestern and believe they're not good--they are good. Indiana saw that.

Yeah next thing you know Northwestern will
be rushing for 413 yards against the Packers huh?

 

[84lion]

Fire Kraft...that's fine but of course MC gets 3 years and of course this year's team isn't great because of how it had to be assembled.

Makes no sense to fire Kraft because "MC a bad hire" if you're going to keep MC for 3 years to "prove himself." Suppose you fire Kraft now, and in two years, MC finds his footing and has Penn State back in the playoffs? Looks kinda stupid to fire Kraft at that point, no?

Now, you might fire Kraft because of Barry's belief that the Adidas deal was rotten, etc. There was this article yesterday:

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/n...look-ubs-warns-against-catching-falling-knife

So maybe Nike ain't all that?

If Kraft does get canned, it means that someone in the admin will have grown a pair and made an Executive Decision. That ain't what these people are. They're managers, they cover for one another and refuse to admit blame, deflecting it with aplomb.

Bottom line to me is, Penn State is on the way down. When the ship hits bottom - who knows? Bad as Indiana used to be? Bad as Rutgers was, is, and always will be? Right now, I don't think anyone in the Penn State admin, or MC, or Kraft, can stop the dive. This is what we have:

 

[Bob78]

Cory Geiger. Yumpin' Yimminy, right or wrong.

Franklin's time here was very successful in many ways, but it was time for him to go one way or another. That was a good break for him, and therefore for us.

Campbell is here for a while, unless he leaves on his own. I support him, and want him to be wildly successful here. But, at some point, he either wins or he goes. The business end of things in the P4 is here to stay. There's always the next best and brightest up-and-comer in coaching.

Right now, the only "what if" that I think is viable is "what if we had hired Terry Smith full-time?". I think we all would be more 'forgiving' if he had gotten off to this rough start. I'm guessing Campbell is leaning heavily on his input right now... Terry turned around a tough situation (yes, different in many ways) just last season.

 

[KingLando]

Yeah next thing you know Northwestern will
be rushing for 413 yards against the Packers huh?

When did I defend our run defense?
Lynn gets a ton of blame for yesterday

 

[KingLando]

Makes no sense to fire Kraft because "MC a bad hire" if you're going to keep MC for 3 years to "prove himself." Suppose you fire Kraft now, and in two years, MC finds his footing and has Penn State back in the playoffs? Looks kinda stupid to fire Kraft at that point, no?

Now, you might fire Kraft because of Barry's belief that the Adidas deal was rotten, etc. There was this article yesterday:

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/n...look-ubs-warns-against-catching-falling-knife

So maybe Nike ain't all that?

If Kraft does get canned, it means that someone in the admin will have grown a pair and made an Executive Decision. That ain't what these people are. They're managers, they cover for one another and refuse to admit blame, deflecting it with aplomb.

Bottom line to me is, Penn State is on the way down. When the ship hits bottom - who knows? Bad as Indiana used to be? Bad as Rutgers was, is, and always will be? Right now, I don't think anyone in the Penn State admin, or MC, or Kraft, can stop the dive. This is what we have:

Kraft gets fired for the decline of several programs (see WVB this year) and how he botched the process not the hire himself.
You're overreacting to 2 losses--losing to UCLA/Northwestern last year was worse than Wisconsin/Northwestern this year.

 

[KingLando]

Cory Geiger. Yumpin' Yimminy, right or wrong.

Franklin's time here was very successful in many ways, but it was time for him to go one way or another. That was a good break for him, and therefore for us.

Campbell is here for a while, unless he leaves on his own. I support him, and want him to be wildly successful here. But, at some point, he either wins or he goes. The business end of things in the P4 is here to stay. There's always the next best and brightest up-and-comer in coaching.

Right now, the only "what if" that I think is viable is "what if we had hired Terry Smith full-time?". I think we all would be more 'forgiving' if he had gotten off to this rough start. I'm guessing Campbell is leaning heavily on his input right now... Terry turned around a tough situation (yes, different in many ways) just last season.

Why is Terry Smith even in the discussion? Terry isn't qualified for the role at all.
Requiring the new HC to keep him was arguably our biggest mistake

 

[Bvillebaron]

I thought Campbell was a good hire. But the cupboard looked pretty bare when he got here for returning talent. Plus virtually no recruiting class.

The way they lost the last 2 weeks is very concerning. Especially considering the opponents. They looked like they had no interest in playing the last 6 quarters. Becht returning after the half against NW is an awful decision.

He better knock this recruiting class and portal acquisition period out of the park. This year looks like a lost cause.

Yep sure looked like they quit on Campbell half way through his 4th game. Either that or the talent is historically pathetic. On second thought more likely a combination of both. How exactly will they knock this recruiting class out of the park? Campbell has never recruited as well as Franklin (some of that may be because he was trying to recruit kids to ISU, but the early returns on this year’s class aren’t that great and blowing a 17 point lead during a homecoming game probably didn’t wow the numerous recruits in attendance). Penn State is 7th in the Big in NIL spending. So how exactly will they do better in the portal than OSU, Oregon, etc? Oregon had a 1st round QB hurt on a cheap shot during the USC game and they replace him with a former highly rated QB who started 2 years at Nebraska and he leads them to victory.

 

[Bvillebaron]

RB is the complete opposite. Neither of those two should play
Rojas should be at DE--he's awful in space

Yeah that’s right because Hansen is the second coming of Cappelitti right Lando?

 

[KingLando]

Yeah that’s right because Hansen is the second coming of Cappelitti right Lando?

Hansen was great last night
Is he Cap or Barkley? Of course not--he's just our most complete back
The whole Q obsession is only because he stayed--he's not a great back--11 touches for 25 yards the last two weeks.

 

[Bvillebaron]

Giger is overeacting like most here
Fire Kraft...that's fine but of course MC gets 3 years and of course this year's team isn't great because of how it had to be assembled. Kraft's biggest mistake was forcing the next coach to keep Terry Smith. Terry failed miserably to keep the class together and other candidates were unwilling to take the role without being able to fully build their own staff.

MC may or may not work out but anyone in our base that has lost faith after 5 games isn't a rational person.

Another day; more nonsense. How is the failure to keep last year’s recruiting class on Terry Smith? He’s the sole reason they managed to salvage two verbals. The loss of virtually the entire recruiting class is SOLEY on Pat “Fanboy” Kraft who fired a coach mid-season with no succession plan; never publicly said anything to my recollection to try to convince the verbals to stay since he was going to hire a good head coach and then didn’t hire Campbell until 4 days after the early signing date. I think Campbell is a good person and decent coach but this is the Big Boys’ league not the Big 12. Campbell
has never recruited as well as Franklin (you can argue that this may be largely due to coaching at ISU but the early returns on this year’s recruiting class aren’t great and blowing a

You're underestimating Northwestern.

Did you enjoy Campbell’s beefy defensive tackles stuffing the run last night? Sorry my bad Penn State did hold them to less than 425 yards.

 

[Midnighter]

Why is Terry Smith even in the discussion? Terry isn't qualified for the role at all.
Requiring the new HC to keep him was arguably our biggest mistake

C’mon. Biggest mistake? Keeping a coach who has arguably the best unit year after year on defense and outstanding recruiting ties to Western PA was our biggest mistake? That is not a serious take. I’d say getting a humiliating wet willie from BYU and the cookie king by going all in on a Polynesian Mormon HC is far, far bigger.

 

[KingLando]

Another day; more nonsense. How is the failure to keep last year’s recruiting class on Terry Smith? He’s the sole reason they managed to salvage two verbals. The loss of virtually the entire recruiting class is SOLEY on Pat “Fanboy” Kraft who fired a coach mid-season with no succession plan; never publicly said anything to my recollection to try to convince the verbals to stay since he was going to hire a good head coach and then didn’t hire Campbell until 4 days after the early signing date. I think Campbell is a good person and decent coach but this is the Big Boys’ league not the Big 12. Campbell
has never recruited as well as Franklin (you can argue that this may be largely due to coaching at ISU but the early returns on this year’s recruiting class aren’t great and blowing a

Did you enjoy Campbell’s beefy defensive tackles stuffing the run last night? Sorry my bad Penn State did hold them to less than 425 yards.

Smith was literally retained due to his relationship with the recruiting class. Saving two wasn't worth keeping him. It cost us another HC candidate.
Do you get paid by how often you say "Big XII" as though that's relevant? Almost every coach started at a lower level
Obviously it's harder to recruit at Iowa State--I'd hope Franklin was doing better
I criticized the run D last night when everyone else was focused on Becht
You claim I'm saying nonsense--look in the mirror

 

[KingLando]

C’mon. Biggest mistake? Keeping a coach who has arguably the best unit year after year on defense and outstanding recruiting ties to Western PA was our biggest mistake? That is not a serious take. I’d say getting a humiliating wet willie BYU and the cookie king by going all in on a Polynesian Mormon HC is far, far bigger.

Yes, it was the biggest mistake because it took other coaches out of the running who weren't willing to be told to keep a coach
"Arguably" was the key word there because it's a false statement
You only wanted him to stay because he's a Penn Stater not because of talent/ability

 

[Midnighter]

Yes, it was the biggest mistake because it took other coaches out of the running who weren't willing to be told to keep a coach
"Arguably" was the key word there because it's a false statement
You only wanted him to stay because he's a Penn Stater not because of talent/ability

You need some continuity. Would love to know who was ‘chased off’ given Kraft’s inability to make an offer to anyone sensible. You’re giving him way too much credit. He went for Rhule then Sitaki then Campbell fell into his lap. The rest is made up.

 

[KingLando]

You need some continuity. Would love to know who was ‘chased off’ given Kraft’s inability to make an offer to anyone sensible. You’re giving him way too much credit. He went for Rhule then Sitaki then Campbell fell into his lap. The rest is made up.

He never went for Rhule--that's the most made up part of the whole thing

 

[m.knox]

The past 2 games have been Dark Years like. When you can’t run the football on O or stop the run on D, you are a 3-4 win team in the Big Ten.

I’m not giving up on Campbell, but what happens next will be critical for how PSU fans view him. He can’t drift through the season aimlessly like this and save face.

This isn’t Iowa St where they’ll love you forever for a few 8 win seasons.

Kraft is the one who is in real jeopardy. He acted rashly then compounded that mistake with a botched coaching search that allowed the program to fall apart.

Maybe we’ll learn more about what went on between him and Franklin over time. It definitely smacked of a Kraft vendetta.

LOL.. What happens next happened last night.... It was the very same. I noted that Campbell gets a pass for last week, well, that pass is going to expire. I honestly don't foresee him pulling a rabbit out of the hat next week.

Agree on Kraft. He did act rash, but Franklin committed a nearly unforgivable sin last year in dropping three in a row after all the hype.

 

[WestSideLion]

LOL.. What happens next happened last night.... It was the very same. I noted that Campbell gets a pass for last week, well, that pass is going to expire. I honestly don't foresee him pulling a rabbit out of the hat next week.

Agree on Kraft. He did act rash, but Franklin committed a nearly unforgivable sin last year in dropping three in a row after all the hype.

Kraft could have and likely should have waited until after the regular season ended to fire Franklin. That would have been the sharp way to handle things.

I think Kraft wanted him out for political reasons and worried Franklin would turn things around enough to justify staying. So he acted rashly and paid the price.

Campbell is a good coach. But hes also handling a different level of pressure, IMO. We’ll see whether he can steady this and salvage a 6-7 win season.

 

[Midnighter]

LOL.. What happens next happened last night.... It was the very same. I noted that Campbell gets a pass for last week, well, that pass is going to expire. I honestly don't foresee him pulling a rabbit out of the hat next week.

Agree on Kraft. He did act rash, but Franklin committed a nearly unforgivable sin last year in dropping three in a row after all the hype.

Franklin’s losses much worse given how much better his team was. By a lot. And it was best for both parties. We just conducted the worst coaching search in history afterwards and are where we are because of it.

 

[m.knox]

Kraft could have and likely should have waited until after the regular season ended to fire Franklin. That would have been the sharp way to handle things.

I think Kraft wanted him out for political reasons and worried Franklin would turn things around enough to justify staying. So he acted rashly and paid the price.

Campbell is a good coach. But hes also handling a different level of pressure, IMO. We’ll see whether he can steady this and salvage a 6-7 win season.

I get it. The only consideration of BGJ hanging around the rest of last season is how bad might it have gotten?

 

[KingLando]

Franklin’s losses much worse given how much better his team was. By a lot. And it was best for both parties. We just conducted the worst coaching search in history afterwards and are where we are because of it.

Tennessee would like to have a word with you following the Schiano/Pruitt disaster
Nebraska probably too with the Riley hire
It was bad--don't get me wrong--not sure it was the worst

 

[Midnighter]

Tennessee would like to have a word with you following the Schiano/Pruitt disaster
Nebraska probably too with the Riley hire
It was bad--don't get me wrong--not sure it was the worst

 

[Bvillebaron]

When did I defend our run defense?
Lynn gets a ton of blame for yesterday

Yeah it’s always the coaches fault; never the players who were getting pushed around, trying to make arm tackles and looking generally disinterested all night.

 

[Bvillebaron]

Hansen was great last night
Is he Cap or Barkley? Of course not--he's just our most complete back
The whole Q obsession is only because he stayed--he's not a great back--11 touches for 25 yards the last two weeks.

Hansen was not “great” last night. He just sucked less than the other RBs. The real problem is that none of them are any damn good. I realize the Northwestern offensive line was doing a better job of run blocking but both of the Northwestern backs showed burst and wiggle which none of Penn State’s RBs have.

 

[KingLando]

Yeah it’s always the coaches fault; never the players who were getting pushed around, trying to make arm tackles and looking generally disinterested all night.

Players get some of the blame but it's the coaches that built the roster and put the guys on the field that they do
The person in charge always gets blamed--since the beginning of time

 

[fairgambit]

 

[KingLando]

Hansen was not “great” last night. He just sucked less than the other RBs. The real problem is that none of them are any damn good. I realize the Northwestern offensive line was doing a better job of run blocking but both of the Northwestern backs showed burst and wiggle which none of Penn State’s RBs have.

Yes, Hansen was great--especially in pass protection. He's definitely the best of the 4 backs but glad you're almost admitting that.
There were times when Northwestern's backs literally had a lane a truck could drive through and weren't touched for 20 yards. Are the better than our back, maybe? Put them on the opposing team and you likely don't see much difference in the outcome--if any.

 

[Bvillebaron]

Yes, it was the biggest mistake because it took other coaches out of the running who weren't willing to be told to keep a coach
"Arguably" was the key word there because it's a false statement
You only wanted him to stay because he's a Penn Stater not because of talent/ability

More nonsense. My god you are pathetic.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

The flying throne of the King. And some others.

 

[PAgeologist]

Yep sure looked like they quit on Campbell half way through his 4th game. Either that or the talent is historically pathetic. On second thought more likely a combination of both. How exactly will they knock this recruiting class out of the park? Campbell has never recruited as well as Franklin (some of that may be because he was trying to recruit kids to ISU, but the early returns on this year’s class aren’t that great and blowing a 17 point lead during a homecoming game probably didn’t wow the numerous recruits in attendance). Penn State is 7th in the Big in NIL spending. So how exactly will they do better in the portal than OSU, Oregon, etc? Oregon had a 1st round QB hurt on a cheap shot during the USC game and they replace him with a former highly rated QB who started 2 years at Nebraska and he leads them to victory.

It probably is a combination of both.

And im not convinced Campbell will nail recruiting and portal. But he better get it right sooner than later.

 

[Bvillebaron]

He never went for Rhule--that's the most made up part of the whole thing

And you know this how? Since you know everything, please answer the following:
(1) What succession plan did Kraft have in his lace when he fired Franklin mid-season; and
(2) What coaches did he go after?
Kraft screwed the pooch so badly that the President had to establish a committee to help him finally hire a coach.