Looking ahead

psu0408

All-Conference
Oct 28, 2004
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I guess I'll stay on topic instead of turning this into another Kraft v. Franklin thread. Rocco's performance was the worst by a starting QB I can remember since the Rob Bolden days. The staff ran off a capable QB with eligibility in Grunk to sign the most experienced QB in CFB. 3rd and 7-10 yards and the staff would rather run it and punt than let their handpicked guy throw a pass. They played not to lose, and lost.

Teams are going to stack the box, send pressure and force Rocco to make accurate throws. Does Mauser have anything designed to counter other teams sending pressure? Instead of running the ball on 3rd and long, how about a WR screen, RB screen or a swing pass.

The RB by committee experiment needs to end. Peoples needs to be RB1 moving forward. Seems like every first drive, they try to force the run with Hansen, and they end up punting or kicking FG.

At this point, it wouldn't surprise me if they finished the season 5-7 or they ended up 9-3. Washington just lost to Minnesota. With Michigan, Underwood looks like a bust, and they "lost" to Western Michigan and Iowa. Lincoln Riley is on the hot seat at USC, game is at home, and they gave up 35 to a bad Rutgers team. That said, if PSU loses 2 or 3 out of the next 3 games, it's time to seriously consider turning it over to Manske to see if he can actually be the guy next year, or if they need to overpay someone out of the portal to run the offense.
 

Big_O

All-Conference
Jun 28, 2001
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Or being in or near a major city for sponsorship/NIL $$$. We're so used to thinking of Columbus as a "cowtown", for example, and forget that it's the 14th or 15th largest city in the country with major business HQs like Nationwide and Wendy's (and Scotts and Honda US nearby). Chase Bank has a major presence too. That helps propel NIL dollars for tOSU. Ditto Texas--Austin is a lot bigger than most folks think and is in the same range as Columbus.
Plus all the Insurance companies. And White Castle to boot.

Columbus is a stealthy big money white collar city with plenty of money to spend on the O$U football program.
 
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KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
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It’s shocking how bad this offense looks without Howard. They lose all of their dimension. No targets. Becht looks like a true freshman that switched to QB from slot receiver.

We’re in huge trouble the rest of the way.

After suffering this loss where the offense accounted for 6 points, we now have to go on the road to Northwestern, who absolutely drubbed Colorado into jelly, and fought Indiana all the way, narrowly losing by a 1-score margin.

Anyone who thinks next week’s game a is a likely win simply is not paying attention.

USC is right out. That’s an L.

Michigan sucks this year, but we won’t beat them on the road.

There’s a very real chance that after week-7, we’re sitting at 3-4 with 0 conference wins.

Purdue and Maryland are the only two “likely wins” for the remainder of the schedule based on what we witnessed today. Minnesota and Rutgers… coin flips.

So, we’re looking at a distinct possibility for a 5-7 season, maybe as “good” as 7-5. But again— it’s all dependent on Howard playing. Peoples needs to be RB1 going forward. No one else needs to see significant playing time except to give Peoples a break.
Colorado is very bad but I agree we lose to Northwestern
Have you watched Michigan or USC. USC almost lost to Rutgers. Michigan should have lost to directional Michigan. We could lose both but hardly a given especially if Howard returns
How the hell is Rutgers leaning towards a loss for you--stop overreacting kids--this is like trying to have a rational discussion with a toddler.
7-5 is still a step forward from last year, right?
 

KingLando

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Nov 29, 2021
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I keep hearing this, but no one says why?? Franklin wanted to stay, most of the players loved Franklin, he had a GREAT recruiting class lined up, he had just lost in the final four game the year before......... I think James was a victim of his own success. He had us so close to beating OSU, and winning titles that somehow people thought that was easy. We are about to see how hard it is to get that close.
As a Steelers fan, you should comprehend players loving a coach isn't a reason to keep him
When did he have us winning titleS?
A change was needed--whether it works or not will be determined in time but you don't keep a coach out of fair. If so, Georgia wouldn't be Georgia
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
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Why does he suck? WE fired him and its ok to say that was the wrong move. He is closer to the playoffs then we are and he is at VT. That is all we need to know
LOL--did you watch Va Tech yesterday or last week? The only reason they might be closer to the playoff is that the ACC is really bad
 

retsio

Senior
Feb 18, 2003
362
847
93
I keep hearing this, but no one says why?? Franklin wanted to stay, most of the players loved Franklin, he had a GREAT recruiting class lined up, he had just lost in the final four game the year before......... I think James was a victim of his own success. He had us so close to beating OSU, and winning titles that somehow people thought that was easy. We are about to see how hard it is to get that close.
Franklin saw other coaches revised contracts and wanted another extension with a raise. -- He went over Kraft's head to the Pres and was rebuffed by Kraft - then fired .... good ending to his ego. You try that and see if you can get retained by your company.
 
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sr108

Sophomore
Jan 13, 2004
10,748
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The second winningest coach in Penn State football history wasn't good enough for you....noooooo.
He’s gone, done deal, sealed his own fate when he told everyone that he had the best players and best coaching staff that he had since being named head coach. Then lost to UCLA and Northwestern. Don’t understand why everyone keeps bringing him up. Criticize Campbell all you want but it’s not his fault Franklins gone. IMO, the issue is talent. Campbell was hired too late in the game. We lost an entire recruiting class. Campbell had no choice but to bring his players with him. Going forward we are looking at mediocrity no matter who the coach is until we have the NIL money to bring in competitive talent. And until we have the NIL money, no big name coach is going to be interested in coming here. There was a reason Kraft struck out with all the big names he tried to get.
 

Big_O

All-Conference
Jun 28, 2001
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Unfortunately Wisky has shown the way to beat Penn State. Load the box and dare Becht to beat you with the pass. A 40% completion percentage is not going to scare anyone. Looking into the future, Penn State does not have the offensive talent to scare anyone in the B10. Things could get very difficult for the rest of the season and it’s going to be a struggle to beat anyone if the offense continues to play the way they did against the Badgers.

And what happened to all the TE’s? Hardly any throws to them for them supposedly being a main part of the offense.
 

Marshall2323

All-American
Aug 7, 2024
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Franklin saw other coaches revised contracts and wanted another extension with a raise. -- He went over Kraft's head to the Pres and was rebuffed by Kraft - then fired .... good ending to his ego. You try that and see if you can get retained by your company.
Franklin was 16th highest paid after finishing 5th. His agent did his job.The way Kraft handled it, he ended up paying off the entire staff (Franklin's) making Terry Smith the highest paid position coach in America and hiring a whole new coaching staff (which he said was a bigger salary pool than before). Oh and he ended up giving Franklin a 9 million dollar parting gift. Try that kind of deal in your business. But at least it's paying off. LOL
 
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Marshall2323

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Aug 7, 2024
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He’s gone, done deal, sealed his own fate when he told everyone that he had the best players and best coaching staff that he had since being named head coach. Then lost to UCLA and Northwestern. Don’t understand why everyone keeps bringing him up. Criticize Campbell all you want but it’s not his fault Franklins gone. IMO, the issue is talent. Campbell was hired too late in the game. We lost an entire recruiting class. Campbell had no choice but to bring his players with him. Going forward we are looking at mediocrity no matter who the coach is until we have the NIL money to bring in competitive talent. And until we have the NIL money, no big name coach is going to be interested in coming here. There was a reason Kraft struck out with all the big names he tried to get.
Losing to Wisky wasn't an NIL issue.
 
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sr108

Sophomore
Jan 13, 2004
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Losing to Wisky wasn't an NIL issue.
Really? NIL equals talent, sure didn’t look like we were more talented than Wisconsin. Other than Koby and Rojas, who are the blue chip talents on this team? Certainly not the running backs, the WRs were average yesterday. Wisconsin had no trouble covering our vaunted TE room. The corners played well I suppose, until they ran out of gas.
 
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KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
7,445
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Unfortunately Wisky has shown the way to beat Penn State. Load the box and dare Becht to beat you with the pass. A 40% completion percentage is not going to scare anyone. Looking into the future, Penn State does not have the offensive talent to scare anyone in the B10. Things could get very difficult for the rest of the season and it’s going to be a struggle to beat anyone if the offense continues to play the way they did against the Badgers.

And what happened to all the TE’s? Hardly any throws to them for them supposedly being a main part of the offense.
To be honest--this is what everyone has done all season against us yet people wonder why the run game hasn't been better
 

Marshall2323

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Aug 7, 2024
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Really? NIL equals talent, sure didn’t look like we were more talented than Wisconsin. Other than Koby and Rojas, who are the blue chip talents on this team? Certainly not the running backs, the WRs were average yesterday. Wisconsin had no trouble covering our vaunted TE room. The corners played well I suppose, until they ran out of gas.
What about the bigger badder run stuffing DTs everyone has been hyping? The LBs and Safeties all conference quality brought from ISU? The starting LB and "Canadian " Bacon?😎
 
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Steelers1

Sophomore
Sep 29, 2025
91
173
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LOL--did you watch Va Tech yesterday or last week? The only reason they might be closer to the playoff is that the ACC is really bad
Who is favored right now us or VT on a neutral field? The fact that we probably don't know who would be favored tells the story. VT won 3 games last year. I knew we would fall, but I just didn't realize how quickly we would fall
 

Steelers1

Sophomore
Sep 29, 2025
91
173
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Franklin saw other coaches revised contracts and wanted another extension with a raise. -- He went over Kraft's head to the Pres and was rebuffed by Kraft - then fired .... good ending to his ego. You try that and see if you can get retained by your company.
So which guy would our "company" have been wise to keep, Franklin or Kraft??
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
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Who is favored right now us or VT on a neutral field? The fact that we probably don't know who would be favored tells the story. VT won 3 games last year. I knew we would fall, but I just didn't realize how quickly we would fall
We're probably a small favorite
We only won 6 games--how far did we fall from 6-6? Still a decent shot we're better
You recall the same time last year we lost to UCLA and we're 2-2, right?
 

Steelers1

Sophomore
Sep 29, 2025
91
173
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We're probably a small favorite
We only won 6 games--how far did we fall from 6-6? Still a decent shot we're better
You recall the same time last year we lost to UCLA and we're 2-2, right?
Do you recall the year prior when we were in the Big ten title game? Or when we were one play away from the National Title Game. Just a hunch but I think it may have been wise to stick with the guy who built us to that point over ten years. Yes he had a bad TWO WEEK stretch. Lost in OT to a great Oregon team and then lost two bad games. NO CHANCE YOU FIRE THAT GUY unless you have a LOCK for a better coach in your back pocket.
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
7,445
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Do you recall the year prior when we were in the Big ten title game? Or when we were one play away from the National Title Game. Just a hunch but I think it may have been wise to stick with the guy who built us to that point over ten years. Yes he had a bad TWO WEEK stretch. Lost in OT to a great Oregon team and then lost two bad games. NO CHANCE YOU FIRE THAT GUY unless you have a LOCK for a better coach in your back pocket.
We aren't discussing 2 years ago--we're discussing where we were last year, rgiht?
He didn't get fired because he lost 3 games--he got fired because he went all in on two coordinators and asked for additional NIL money then went behind the ADs back to get more money. Of course he was fired--he knew he deserved it following the NW game when he looked around the sadium.
Georgia hired Smart without knowing he'd be better--you make moves when they're necessary
All we have to do is go 7-5 this year and we improved.
 

Marshall2323

All-American
Aug 7, 2024
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Ya he only lost to a terrible UCLA team then followed it up with a loss to northwestern with as he said the best team ever. Hes rightfully gone and it’s time to move on. It’s funny you waited until a loss to start posting your nonsense again like you always do.
He also had a 13 win season with 2 playoff wins,a conference title and won a Rose, Fiesta and Cotton Bowl. 5 top 10 finishes. I noticed you left those out. Since you mentioned loses, he never lost to Wisky.
 

JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws

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Jun 26, 2025
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Who is favored right now us or VT on a neutral field? The fact that we probably don't know who would be favored tells the story. VT won 3 games last year. I knew we would fall, but I just didn't realize how quickly we would fall

Nothing wrong with Campbell losing to a decent team in a hard fought game..... but falling @Home to a bad Wisconsin team via a complete and utter collapse and awful coaching job is not acceptable. This was Wisconsin's first Road Win in 2 1/2 years - Fickell was 10-17 overall in b1g play @Wisconsin coming into this game. Fickell was 4-9 in b1g Road Games in his first 3 seasons at Wisconsin coming into this game! PSU was leading 17-0 @Home before an utter collapse and coaching choke-job. This loss was not acceptable given what Campbell and his hand picked roster are being paid. Utterly unacceptable and Kraft should be held accountable for his mismanagement the last 2 years.
 

Rocco3

Junior
Mar 25, 2022
187
224
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He already has more wins at VT than VT had last year and it's his first year there. They don't have unrealistic expectations like Penn State genius fans do.
Outside of Miami the ACC sucks mud. That league is even worse than the Big 12. As far as He is concerned, I'd rather have Emer Fudd as the HC after the sh-- he pulled here as he prepared to go out the door willingly be the way.
 
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