Ding Ding Ding we have a winner! Spot on... PSU needs to completely overhaul its image and approach to keep up. Unfortunately the school will always be in a location that does not appeal to everyone.
I don’t see how Kraft survives this….
- Thread starter SRURock24
- Start date
As many of our beat guys have said, when is the last time you saw Pete Thamel put out a report about a program about to hire a coach and then afterwards it falls through. Almost never. Something went drastically wrong here. Some reports have even said there was a team meeting scheduled to announce Sitake's departure and that he had already backed off of some BYU recruits. Then all of the sudden after the news breaks BYU and their boosters have enough time to completely flip the script in under 24 hours? I get that Sitake has stronger ties to BYU than most other coaches have to their programs, so he's going to be willing to stay for less, but even considering that something went bad. Thamel, and many others, wouldn't report that he's about to be our coach otherwise. I don't know if it's as simple as Kraft didn't get a signature before going public or if it was something else. We may never find out.Preach, brotherWhen you have the deal in place and it leaks that the donors are scrambling to match you, you don't let your own arrogance and ego think that it can't be done by an impassioned fan base.
Kraft could have forced Kalani to announce that he was leaving but looked forward to the CGG first - I get why he didn't force Kalani's hand into an announcement, but Kraft didn't have to appease the request and a different exit strategy could have played out instead of *whiff*
I have no qualms with Kalani or Sexton's camp and don't understand the hate towards them from the PSU side (except bad spin). Kraft gave an opportunity for BYU to make a counter-offer for Kalani to consider. They made a damn good offer that didn't reach the same figures as PSU but showed substantial commitments for a program he was building into a top program in the Big12. He made his choice after having each party's final offer - the choice wasn't us, I get it but somehow Kraft never considered the possibility.
(Hey, remember when we all used to pound our chests about Paterno not moving on for more money or for the donations he made to the library? Hell, it completely ****** us in this search, but I have nothing but respect for where Kalani's values lie and think he's a dying breed in this sport - whether he would have fit at PSU, who is to say and we'll never know now (but the comments on his religion and not being a "culture" fit because of it are completely stupid and WE can do better than wanting to exclude any player or coach from being signed/hired because of religion)
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This is the entire problem with this whole board now, with everything grouped into topics. Nobody that hasn't stayed on top of a particular thread is joining in once it reaches many pages. The whole point of a message board is conversation, and this format discourages it.To be fair, the uber-thread has so many replies that’s I’ve skipped pages and pages of replies just to try and stay moderately current. A new thread is easier/quicker to get through.
On the other hand, its come to the point where original thought/content exists in about 1 of every 20 posts.
UCLA and Florida managed to hire coaches who have CCGs.
If Terry was expected to hold the recruiting class together because other schools did it then Kraft should be expected to be able to hire a CCG coach because other schools did it.
That's fair--I didn't say people couldn't be critical of Kraft
I'm just explaining the coach logic
Is it fair to say hs player logic would dictate not wanting to stay committed to a school without a coach?
and every other program that hired a coach in a ccg got it announced before said ccg game.
The $3M is a misnomer. That was the 2024 number. In 2025 he was making around $6M according to BYU insiders but it's difficult to get the exact figures because as a private university BYU doesn't have to release any information
And I explained why the coach wouldn't want that...its a simple concept you seem to be struggling with
It’s also fairly simple as to why a player might not want to remain committed to a school with no coach. Your retort is that other schools did it. If other schools do it, we can do it. F why the individuals involved may not want it.
FWIW:
1) 17 Colleges have already hired new coaches this year. Most of them in the matter of days (not weeks) after their job opened.
Assuming Cal (which just fired their coach last week) hired their new guy (Not sure if he signed yet or not, the DC from Oregon),
PSU is the ONLY major program without a coach - despite having 8 weeks (not 8 days) and a blank check to do so.
2) And the bit about CCG Coaches requiring potential new schools to "wait":
There are 18 coaches with teams in CCGs this weekend:
Six of them are not on any major programs wish list for a new coach:
Taylor (Western Michigan)
Martin (Miami Ohio)
Danielson (Boise St)
Kelly (Jacksonville State)
Mack (Kennesaw State)
Parker (Troy State)
Six of them "ain't going anywhere" but their current job:
Day (OSU)
Cignetti (IU)
Smart (UGA)
DeBoer (Alabama)
Elliot (Virginia)
McGuire (Texas Tech)
Of the remaining six:
Two could conceivably be approached about moving - but are both in their very first year at their current jobs, and to date no major programs have offered them (BTW: It is not unrealistic to think PSU might now be getting to the point of considering both of them):
Diaz (Duke)
Mullen (UNLV)
So, there are four realistic candidates for bigger jobs who are in CCGs.
100% of them HAVE dealt with the new job issue BEFORE any CCG:
Three of the four have TAKEN new jobs - obviously, without "waiting until after the games"
Sumrall (Tulane)
Morris (North Texas)
Chesney (James Madison)
And the fourth was, obviously, very much in play for PSU - BEFORE their supposedly critical game that they would have to "wait" for - but turned down PSU's big money offer:
Sitake (BYU)
Literally zero realistic candidates "waited" until after their CCGs. 3 of the 4 already announced they were moving on, and the fourth said "Thanks, but no thanks" to PSU, BEFORE their CCG game.
The "our targets are still playing, and thus can't be signed yet" is the ultimate red herring/BS excuse.
Abjectly silly, when one looks at the facts.
1) 17 Colleges have already hired new coaches this year. Most of them in the matter of days (not weeks) after their job opened.
Assuming Cal (which just fired their coach last week) hired their new guy (Not sure if he signed yet or not, the DC from Oregon),
PSU is the ONLY major program without a coach - despite having 8 weeks (not 8 days) and a blank check to do so.
2) And the bit about CCG Coaches requiring potential new schools to "wait":
There are 18 coaches with teams in CCGs this weekend:
Six of them are not on any major programs wish list for a new coach:
Taylor (Western Michigan)
Martin (Miami Ohio)
Danielson (Boise St)
Kelly (Jacksonville State)
Mack (Kennesaw State)
Parker (Troy State)
Six of them "ain't going anywhere" but their current job:
Day (OSU)
Cignetti (IU)
Smart (UGA)
DeBoer (Alabama)
Elliot (Virginia)
McGuire (Texas Tech)
Of the remaining six:
Two could conceivably be approached about moving - but are both in their very first year at their current jobs, and to date no major programs have offered them (BTW: It is not unrealistic to think PSU might now be getting to the point of considering both of them):
Diaz (Duke)
Mullen (UNLV)
So, there are four realistic candidates for bigger jobs who are in CCGs.
100% of them HAVE dealt with the new job issue BEFORE any CCG:
Three of the four have TAKEN new jobs - obviously, without "waiting until after the games"
Sumrall (Tulane)
Morris (North Texas)
Chesney (James Madison)
And the fourth was, obviously, very much in play for PSU - BEFORE their supposedly critical game that they would have to "wait" for - but turned down PSU's big money offer:
Sitake (BYU)
Literally zero realistic candidates "waited" until after their CCGs. 3 of the 4 already announced they were moving on, and the fourth said "Thanks, but no thanks" to PSU, BEFORE their CCG game.
The "our targets are still playing, and thus can't be signed yet" is the ultimate red herring/BS excuse.
Abjectly silly, when one looks at the facts.
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The 30 for 30 show on this search will be fascinating.
Manny Diaz is in year 2 at Duke , but otherwise real good info hereFWIW:
1) 17 Colleges have already hired new coaches this year. Most of them in the matter of days (not weeks) after their job opened.
Assuming Cal (which just fired their coach last week) hired their new guy (Not sure if he signed yet or not, the DC from Oregon),
PSU is the ONLY major program without a coach - despite having 8 weeks (not 8 days) and a blank check to do so.
2) And the bit about CCG Coaches requiring potential new schools to "wait":
There are 18 coaches with teams in CCGs this weekend:
Six of them are not on any major programs wish list for a new coach:
Taylor (Western Michigan)
Martin (Miami Ohio)
Danielson (Boise St)
Kelly (Jacksonville State)
Mack (Kennesaw State)
Parker (Troy State)
Six of them "ain't going anywhere" but their current job:
Day (OSU)
Cignetti (IU)
Smart (UGA)
DeBoer (Alabama)
Elliot (Virginia)
McGuire (Texas Tech)
Of the remaining six:
Two could conceivably be approached about moving - but are both in their very first year at their current jobs, and to date no major programs have offered them (BTW: It is not unrealistic to think PSU might now be getting to the point of considering both of them):
Diaz (Duke)
Mullen (UNLV)
So, there are four realistic candidates for bigger jobs who are in CCGs.
100% of them HAVE dealt with the new job issue BEFORE any CCG:
Three of the four have TAKEN new jobs - obviously, without "waiting until after the games"
Sumrall (Tulane)
Morris (North Texas)
Chesney (James Madison)
And the fourth was, obviously, very much in play for PSU - BEFORE their supposedly critical game that they would have to "wait" for - but turned down PSU's big money offer:
Sitake (BYU)
Literally zero realistic candidates "waited" until after their CCGs. 3 of the 4 already announced they were moving on, and the fourth said "Thanks, but no thanks" to PSU, BEFORE their CCG game.
The "our targets are still playing, and thus can't be signed yet" is the ultimate red herring/BS excuse.
Abjectly silly, when one looks at the facts.
If memory serves, Paterno had a contract inked with the New England Patriots back in the day, but later tore it up to stay at Penn State. Granted, it appears that the BYU braintrust put on a hard court press to keep Sitake, but, as they say, stuff happens. I does seem that Kraft showed his lack of skills as an AD in this instance, though.
I believe they gave him overnight to think about it, but Paterno changed his mind and told them he was staying at Penn State the next morning.
Yeah, he never inked any contract and then reniged on it - that's complete bs. What he did do was turn down a lot more $$$ from the Giants, to stay at PSU. Put a-holes on this board try to spin one of the most honorable football coaches to ever live as acting dishonorably and without integrity. Complete bs and the diametric opposite is the actual facts.
Rumor I’ve seen is that Kraft turned down Urban who had expressed some interest. Don’t know if that’s true, but if so given the current situation………
Think about it... Most coaches have worked the grind and come from humble beginnings. Eventually you rise to head up a P5 program and make a few million dollars a year, after moving your family 10 times in the last 12 years seeking that next promotion.
So you land somewhere and have some success as a HC and make a "modest" $3-4M. Then PSU or another school offers you $10M. Your current employer bumps you to $6-8M.
Is it really worth another move when you've already built something, are having success, and are already making more money than someone from humble beginnings could ever need?
I'm just thinking that more $$$ has a diminishing return once you hit a certain point, for MOST people.
My $0.02. (Not adjusted by an opposing offer).
Good thing we have another thread on this.
Hey, we have more of a backup plan in discussing this mess with Kraft than he had in the actual coaching search.
Not only a huge salary and bonus increase, but a piece of the ownership as well. I'm guessing PSU gave him a little more money after he decided to stay, but an inconsequential amount even then. (I think his salary at the time was around $30,000? Good salary at the time, but not anywhere close to what he offered in New England).
It takes great integrity and ethics to make such a decision, imo. It would have been, and still is, so easy to justify taking that to yourself.
Right. Smith should have been able to keep the class together better and Kraft should have hired someone and announced earlier this week (even if said HC has a game this weekend). Both things can be true.
I've seen Pete put out reporting about Joe that you'd expect from mainstream media idiots. So like most of them, he is fake news.
Great post, I continue to mention this in the thread. 2 things have changed in the landscape that are working against PSU. 1, now seemingly 40-50 schools can pay a generational salaries to the head coach they want to retain. It used to be, there may only be 5 or 10 schools that could double or triple your salary, so yeah, BYU can pay you $9M and Penn State $11M...its not life changing difference. Secondly, the expanded playoffs now mean it is at least theoretically possible to make the playoffs and reach the mountain top at 30-40 programs. I'll add a related bonus, if your school is committed to funding NIL, you can stay competitive and pursue the playoffs. Again, that is a seismic shift from even just 10 years ago whereby there was only 5-10 schools that had the resources/tradition to actually get the kind of players that could challenge for championships. Its not that the Penn State job isn't desirable, its just so many others now are.
We are talking about coaching search news here. Thamel is on top of those reports just about always, similar to Shefter with NFL news.
I don't think you can fire him in the middle of the coaching search, that only makes the job less appealing to an incoming coach as know they don't know who their AD will be. But I don't think Kraft did himself many favors this week.
As Temple fan who watched Kraft botch both our FB & BB hires, lie about the progress of a campus stadium and accomplish virtually nothing during his tenure with us, I’m delighted to watch developments in HV
What’s worse, not knowing who your AD is, knowing your AD is Kraft, or knowing that you AD needs to be fired and will change soon?
Fair point. Also coaching candidates don't like him then keeping him isn't doing any good either. IDK.
im in sales. Guy I used to work with said it all the time for 4 years during pipeline reviews. First time I’ve used it in a decade.
Anyone who thinks the BoT and others aren't involved is a fool.