Not much gets by you huh?That’s preposterous. He was not even born yet.
But truly, Franklin avoided our past like the plague.
Paterno exhibit
- Thread starter G3624
- Start date
Our own lettermen have stated they’ve never felt as welcome this year as they have felt with Campbell. I trust their assessment. Franklin very rarely referenced the past at all. It was a forbidden subject for him. Franklin did some good things at PSU, but 99.9% of the fanbase is thrilled he’s gone.
You probably should let your mental health nurse know it’s time for your daily meds.Anotherpost.
Oh look another keyboard warrior eating hot pockets in his mom's basementAnother
In the urinal would be more appropriate.
The amount of videos of lettermen and football alumni stating how they feel welcome now was astounding to me. I didn't realize there was such a large gap in the last coaching staff and the lettermen. Media talked this week about how they now have so much more access to the players, coaches and practices. The media said Franklin made it about him and never wanted the PSU past brought up. Campbell is embracing the past and the alumni. It's great to see the lettermen feeling happy and welcomed once again
I read articles and listened to some interviews with former players. Yeah, it’s not that Franklin explicitly banned Paterno era lettermen. James just didn’t make them feel welcome and didn’t make any overtures to the different generations as Campbell has. The lettermen greatly appreciate the love from Campbell and reintegration into the PSU football family. Again, I am one that greatly appreciated what James did to bring the program out of the abyss of the sanctions. I just wish he would’ve been more accommodating to our past and more active in helping to bring the entire PSU football family back together. It would’ve gone a long way in his relationship with the fanbase. Will be better off with Campbell, but I wish Franklin well at VT.
Very well stated and my thoughts exactly. I wish JF well and thank him for his efforts at PSU. I think we have a much better match now for PSU and its lettermen going forward.
LOL, was gonna say the same thing. Hell, maybe in the Experience Room they can have one of the old p|ss troughs that are hopefully being removed as the restrooms get renovated. Just keep it still operational, with the plaque mounted inside. So many alums could “Experience” what they’ve wanted to do for a long time now
I hope there can be a video of Coach Paterno’s speech to the Board. You all know what I’m talking about. Also, there was a Sports Illustrated cover story on HCJVP from circa 1968 that really described the man and his philosophy. “The idea is to have some fun so who needs to be Number One?” Yes, I’m aware that HCJVP came to obsess over winning a National Championship, but that article still speaks to me about the sort of man he was. It would be nice to have the cover framed and on the wall, perhaps a few excerpts.
And, if anyone wants to ***** about Franklin, this is not the thread in which to do it. We’ve been waiting for over a decade for Paterno to be appropriately honored, amazing that we can’t focus on this.
And, if anyone wants to ***** about Franklin, this is not the thread in which to do it. We’ve been waiting for over a decade for Paterno to be appropriately honored, amazing that we can’t focus on this.
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Well… I personally have thought for a long time that if they ever did bring back something honoring Joe’s legacy — be it the return of the statute or something else — that it would be best for it to be inside the museum, not back outside the stadium. Only because, sadly, there will likely be ignorant a$$holes who try to vandalize things
As for the statue specifically, I agree with the poster who said they were at peace with it possibly never coming back. Not only did Joe not especially love it, I personally was never particularly enamored with its look (the #1 finger most of all.) I also kind of feel like putting back up the exact same statue would be like rebuilding exactly the same twin WTC towers would have been — the statue went down amidst a horrible confluence of events, and seeing the exact same one again, to me would have been too tied to the memory and feeling of that sh|tstorm — unfairly distracting the mind from the actual purpose of honoring all the great things Joe did.
All JMO of course
”Ovaltine...Have you ever had this stuff? Why do then call it Ovaltine?…”
According to the lettermen I've talked with, the difference is more or less 'superficial style' (Franklin) vs. 'sincere substance' (Campbell). Franklin publicly welcomed the lettermen, but in reality, didn't spend much time with them, didn't get to know them. He didn't understand the strength of the bond that the Lettermen's Club fostered - he put in token appearances at best at those events. He didn't make time for the lettermen when they did visit.
I heard from more than one prominent letterman that now when they visit, there is someone there to greet them, to show them around, to make sure they got some time with whoever they'd like to speak with. It's truly a warm, embracing welcome "home". Campbell is making the effort to get to know them and their families, and that had not been happening under James.
Franklin's insecurities came to the fore as he continued to lose the biggest games season after season. That made him want to separate entirely from any of PSU's past, and have people focus first and foremost on the many good things he was accomplishing on the field and within the football program. He had a different style in that regard. Campbell seems to - so far - be far more secure in his own persona, and realizes the strength and goodwill he can foster with Lettermen and alumni to help build his program in his genuine approach. People who meet him recognize that immediately.
One example of this is the Adaptive Athletics fund raiser, July 2025 vs July 2026. There was one person from ICA at the 2025 event, Guy Gadowski, who was the keynote speaker. There was an entire panel of past lettermen, who spent time mingling with the audience and advocating strongly for the Adaptive Athletes. Imo, James missed an opportunity to connect with an audience of supporters who were willing to financially support the PSU athletic causes they care about.
In 2026, Campbell and Terry Smith joined a number of other head coaches, asst. coaches, and staff, and all made themselves available for photos and a brief chat. Terry Smith gave the keynote, and he had the audience's attention with his great talk and plea for helping the Adaptive program raise money to reach their goals. The lettermen panel was highly entertaining. But they unselfishly kept the focus on the purpose of the event, while there was no visible support in previous years.
I can appreciate what James did while he was here, and still be happy that his time had come to an end. I don't carry the same level of respect for him as I did for Joe. And truth be told, I had been ready for Joe's time to be over, just wanted it to be on his own terms. I'm going to be patient with Campbell, as I was with James, and hope/expect that his genuine, sincere approach gets our internal culture back on the right track sooner than later.
I'm with you on this, CV. Spot on, imo.Well… I personally have thought for a long time that if they ever did bring back something honoring Joe’s legacy — be it the return of the statute or something else — that it would be best for it to be inside the museum, not back outside the stadium. Only because, sadly, there will likely be ignorant a$$holes who try to vandalize things
As for the statue specifically, I agree with the poster who said they were at peace with it possibly never coming back. Not only did Joe not especially love it, I personally was never particularly enamored with its look (the #1 finger most of all.) I also kind of feel like putting back up the exact same statue would be like rebuilding exactly the same twin WTC towers would have been — the statue went down amidst a horrible confluence of events, and seeing the exact same one again, to me would have been too tied to the memory and feeling of that sh|tstorm — unfairly distracting the mind from the actual purpose of honoring all the great things Joe did.
All JMO of course
And is CV = Cumberland Valley? Mechanicsburg native/MHS alum here.
Great post. Well stated and really seems to be what many lettermen are now saying. They kept quiet while JF was still here, now that he is gone many are talking about the difference of feeling welcomed back. Thankful for what JF did during his time here but couldn't get up that last run on the ladder. Really rooting for Campbell as PSU moves forward.
Have to admit, I am still a little stunned that PSU did this. Happy but still a little shocked.
Thanks my friend!
And yep, you got it. I, my sisters, my son, a nephew and a niece are all CV graduates, with another nephew and niece currently attending CVSD. (My ex-wife went to MHS haha.) Among those CV grads, four of us also went on to PSU degrees.
Yes, same feeling here. I have been able to repress my cynicism enough to appreciate the great man being honored. Is it enough? Surely not, but I’m surfing this wave.
Who are those lettermen of whom you speak and where and when did you interview them? Nothing in your post remotely supports your claim that Franklin would oppose this exhibit. Franklin paid homage to Paterno at his initial press conference. As far as your 99.9% comment when did you take a poll? Franklin brought back Connors and other former players as coaches and administrators.
Yes for us this is step 1... several more steps to go but we will enjoy this for now.
Check social media its not hard. Go to fight on state or basic blues and many others...... Joe Nastasi just was interviewed and his son is now playing at PSU. He talks about how its different now with Campbell, that Campbell embraces the history of PSU. He is nice and doesn't bash JF but let's everyone know the lettermen feel welcomed again and they appreciate that. It's not a knock necessarily on JF just 2 different approaches. JF didn't really embrace or want to talk about the past, while Campbell loves it when alumni visit. This post was to celebrate what PSU did for the Paterno family not make it into a pissing match between people about JF. Let's celebrate something good and long overdue.
The Scumbots past and present are trying to squirm away from their come-up-ins. Slowly but surely, they will slither their way back to the middle.
99.9... this is a scientific poll or just the fanboy point of view. Project the percentage should PSU lose vs Wisky.
The bandwagon is crowded for the coach who hasn't coached LOL
espn finally picked up on it. It is currently a headline on their home page.
www.espn.com
Penn State to open 'Paterno Family Football Experience'
Penn State is opening the Paterno Family Football Experience Room in the All-Sports Museum inside Beaver Stadium on Thursday that will celebrate the Nittany Lions' football history, the school said.
www.espn.com
They need to slowly turn it into a museum for Paterno; videos of speeches, documents, trophies, etc. Could extend it more broadly to all coaches but really, Paterno deserves a lot more (and I'm not an apologist by any means).
So don't watch.It's going to be painful to watch this puppy love die.
ND, Ohio State and Oregon lost two games last year. Anybody with a brain knows that PSU is going to lose games this season and should be prepared for it. Unless this team plays totally listless football like they did for most of the first two months last season, or looks totally chaotic, I would hope that people don't jump off of the bandwagon because of some losses.
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Yeah but I thought Kraft said the “standard” was winning Big and National Championships. Hmmm
PSU came within one game of playing for a NC in 2024 with a team that had lost two games before the playoffs. In college football these days, the majority of teams that make the playoffs is going to have multiple losses.
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