New coach

[PSUForever]

One thing to remember and this is not defending Kraft but he has not been the only one involved in this botched search. Others like the BOT and big money boosters who he has consulted with, the school president all are playing a part in embarrassing this great university. Kraft's job has to be hanging by a thread.

Next steps. Land one of these coaches being thrown out ASAP. Pay them enough to leave their current gig. This canNOT and shoukd NOT be this difficult. My God you would think we are Bucknell.

I think we need a GM also. Let the new coach take the lead on that. Kraft is proving he is not that competent.

Next, don't fire Kraft yet but he needs to be put on a performance improvement plan or whatever it is. This is ridiculous. Send him to a negotiating 101 class for crying out loud...Lol.

Here's the issue with Kraft. The new coach now may be thinking that Kraft is going to get fired at some point early in the new coach's tenure then a new AD comes on and doesn't like the new HC. Kraft has created a mess.

Perhaps the best thing to do now is have someone else take over this search for Kraft. So the relationship is not with Kraft. Then tell Kraft you botched this and we cannot have you at Penn State. You have 6 months and will he fired July 1st.

 

[VT00]

Rojas scrubbed his social medias of anything PSU a week ago. Are we supposed to believe his threat? All of this is making us look like a dysfunctional bunch. I hope it doesn’t scare away Campbell. I’m OK with Terry taking the job, but I’m also OK with the university believing that Matt Campbell is the better candidate.

Even if Smith were hired, I don't think it's a guarantee that Rojas is here next year.

 

[doctornick]

Just like we were off to the races after our 3 cupcakes to start the year with all our talent?

2026: Va, @ Clemson, @ Miami, GT, Pitt
2027: @ ND, @ Va, @ Lou, @ SMU, Clemson, Miami
2028: ND, Va, @ Miami, @ Pitt, FSU, Lou, SMU

Some of those teams probably won’t be that great but pretending 2 losses every year is doable is crazy. 2027 is going to be painful.

Also, he gets to be spiteful James against UMD the next few seasons... assuming he can be them (Maryland usually plays great in September before their annual collapse, so good luck)

 

[LMTLION]

Hire a top flight GM. I am not sure about Mullen but I lean toward more of a "ball coach" and not a CEO who loses every big game like we had before.

At this point if he’s not in the running to be our head coach, then hire Terry as the GM to satisfy all parties. Or hire him as a coordinator.

 

[EricLAllen]

Tommy Rees? Might as well just let Hackenberg have it.

 

[Psumatt85]

Rojas scrubbed his social medias of anything PSU a week ago. Are we supposed to believe his threat? All of this is making us look like a dysfunctional bunch. I hope it doesn’t scare away Campbell. I’m OK with Terry taking the job, but I’m also OK with the university believing that Matt Campbell is the better candidate.

FYI - how can you say the football program is not a dysfunctional bunch right now.

 

[PSUSignore]

I am old fashioned. I think that is a good thing, or I would be something else.

If Sitake gave Kraft his word or a handshake, and then went the other way, thats bad on his part. I know many of you think otherwise.

I have had men do a 180 on verbal promises they have made to me. I have always chosen to not do business with them again. Why? I don’t care what lawyers put into writing. Situations will always come up that fall in the cracks, and when they do character, trust, and past actions will cause good men to do the right thing. People lacking those qualities prove it by their actions. You are better off keeping them out of your business life.

It is bad on Sitake's part, yes. But a predictable outcome that Kraft should have been prepared for, considering the deep ties Sitake has to Provo/BYU. As a child the guy sat outside of the stadium listening to the BYU PA announcer with his father because they couldn't afford tickets or the TV coverage. He bleeds BYU. Getting him was always going to be extremely difficult, Kraft can't let it reach the point it did. He had to put in some real deadlines to avoid PSU being put into this situation, and he didn't.

 

[Skeeter41]

Actually I believe Terry's was simply acknowledging Joe for his 409 wins. Many fans wear those buttons on game day. Fans in Bama wear houndstooth hats and accessories to pay respects to Bear Bryant. I see nothing wrong with what Terry did.

Terry 100 percent knew wearing that button would cause a wave of old school PSU fans to throw him their support. No if, ands or buts about it - that was his plan.

 

[VT00]

then hire Terry as the GM to satisfy all parties.

He isn't a GM. He has no experience as a GM. His reputation is being a guy that the players like, so I don't see why he would want to be negotiating hundreds of thousands of dollars with 18-year-old's "agents".

He is a position coach.

 

[PSUForever]

Rojas scrubbed his social medias of anything PSU a week ago. Are we supposed to believe his threat? All of this is making us look like a dysfunctional bunch. I hope it doesn’t scare away Campbell. I’m OK with Terry taking the job, but I’m also OK with the university believing that Matt Campbell is the better candidate.

Any word on Chaz Coleman's status?

 

[LMTLION]

FYI - how can you say the football program is not a dysfunctional bunch right now.

It’s an unbelievable situation and yes, we are dysfunctional. This team clearly gave up earlier this season just like their coach did. And Terry did a great job getting them motivated, but they were still a number of them, not playing hard in the Rutgers game.

 

[PSUForever]

It is hard to believe the self-importance of this kid thinking he can coerce Penn State University on potentially a 100-million-dollar decision by threatening to quit their football team.

Nobody who has any influence over this process cares who Tony Rojas wants as the new head coach.

 

[Big_O]

Please no Rees or Patricia. I think I'd rather have Daboll. Definitely prefer Campbell to those.

Look at the Browns offense. Either the worst or near the worst in the league. Don’t think he would be a great candidate. Sure, right now he doesn’t have much to work with, but he certainly has not improved the offense one iota.

 

[NOYDB]

One thing we’ve learned about Franklin is that other than two games this year he is good at beating teams that have less talent. With his recruiting, most of the teams he plays in the ACC will have less talent. Also, the “meaningful” games in the ACC aren’t the same as meaningful games in the Big Ten. I’d rather have to beat Virginia or Duke (ACC finalists) versus beating OSU versus Indiana (Big finalists).

Narduzzi will whip his *** every year and I hope he does.

Unless BGJ gets about 20 new starters at VT, in the portal, they will struggle to be bowl eligible next year year

 

[LB99]

https://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-football/article313360870.html

SIAP - the CDT (grain of salt) is reporting that they “have expressed interest or had conversations with three notable names who are currently the focus of the search — Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell.” Also reporting that Smith is “on the outside looking in.”

Give me Campbell all day out of that group.

 

[PSUForever]

Ok , I’ll bite. So hiring Terry Smith( which I agree was a bad option until I realized we had a clueless AD), means it will be stipulated that the statue goes up, the stadium name is changed, the stadium experience videos and the agenda of the tv announcers who are not employed by Penn state all change,? Therefore, it is better to not have a 2026 class, and we might lose a large portion of players to the portal, this is all ok because it might be viewed as a small win for the fans of the winningest coach in college football history.
Just trying to ensure I’m clear.

It would be nice that the new coach every once in a while when the time is right recognizes we had a top 5 coach of all time named Joe Paterno leading the Penn State football program. He does not need to dwell on it but embrace it when it is the right time to do that. Beyond that I don't want the new coach getting involved in issues like the statue and changing the name to Paterno Field or whatever. He needs to be focused on winning games for us and winning BIG games for us. Something we have forgotten how to do. I believe this would be Joe's wishes as well.

 

[PSUSignore]

I don’t know about you, but if I was stuck in Iowa and given the opportunity to take a more prestigious position in a top conference and double my salary (and likely have the AD over a barrel with other demands), I think I’d swallow my pride and take the job.

The thing is these coaches are already rich. More money isn't always a motivator for someone that already makes a multi-million dollar salary. Also rural PA isn't much different than Iowa. Campbell has turned down plenty of interest before, he seems happy at ISU. I have heard before this season that PSU was one of the jobs that might interest him though.

 

[LionsAndBears]

Give me Campbell all day out of that group.

Campbell and Drinkwitz have been in my Top 3 from Day 1. If we get Campbell this process will somehow end successfully IMO(which ain't worth nothin').

 

[Jonathan Assbutt Jr.]

Give me Campbell all day out of that group.

Matt Patricia could work out nicely if not.

 

[djmccaslin]

If you are still typing the name "Deboer,"

Even if Smith were hired, I don't think it's a guarantee that Rojas is here next year.

The amount of social media 'stuff' from the current players is yet another reason why Smith should not be the coach IMHO. He spoke at length about his love for Penn State. These players are doing more harm than good for the school and team. Either he is unable to get them to tone this rhetoric down, he is encouraging it, or ignoring it--in all 3 cases, it says to me he's not nearly a leader as he has been claiming. I believe him in his words that he loves Penn State and owes Penn State a lot but it does not seem like he's been successful in imparting that to his players.

 

[PSUForever]

At this point if he’s not in the running to be our head coach, then hire Terry as the GM to satisfy all parties. Or hire him as a coordinator.

I don't see Terry as a GM type. I would like to do that because Terry has been so loyal but I don't see that fitting his skill set. I could be wrong as I am not close to any of this but just my perspective as a fan who closely follows the program.

 

[LB99]

Give me the football guy (Campbell) and pair him with elite resources.

Bingo. I agree. He’s a really good coach with limited resources at a program with no tradition.

 

[Big_O]

If you are still typing the name "Deboer,"

The amount of social media 'stuff' from the current players is yet another reason why Smith should not be the coach IMHO. He spoke at length about his love for Penn State. These players are doing more harm than good for the school and team. Either he is unable to get them to tone this rhetoric down, he is encouraging it, or ignoring it--in all 3 cases, it says to me he's not nearly a leader as he has been claiming. I believe him in his words that he loves Penn State and owes Penn State a lot but it does not seem like he's been successful in imparting that to his players.

The players are nothing but a group of paid mercenaries anymore. This is what NIL and the transfer portal has done.

 

[PSUSignore]

It is hard to believe the self-importance of this kid thinking he can coerce Penn State University on potentially a 100-million-dollar decision by threatening to quit their football team.

I don't blame him for stating his opinion, but like you said it doesn't carry much weight. Especially when we don't even know that he'll stay even if Terry is hired, because we can't put players on contracts thanks to the stupidity of CFB.

 

[LB99]

Tommy Rees? Might as well just let Hackenberg have it.

lol. I don’t get that. They thought Hartline and Stein weren’t ready, but Tommy Rees is?

 

[Chumboshifko1]

I would have hired Hartline or Chesney just like Kraft could have.

Go to the Penn State site, search email. You can find Kraft's and give him your instructions, Fudd.

 

[Nitanee1234]

The thing is these coaches are already rich. More money isn't always a motivator for someone that already makes a multi-million dollar salary. Also rural PA isn't much different than Iowa. Campbell has turned down plenty of interest before, he seems happy at ISU. I have heard before this season that PSU was one of the jobs that might interest him though.

As somebody who grew up in Ohio, I’d think he’d relish the idea of playing against Ohio State and Michigan.

 

[barry j fenchak]

KDB- never a conversation . Has Kraft just been playing in his office with plastic army men ?

Kalen DeBoer breaks silence on rumors linking him to Penn State job

.

www.on3.com

But rumor was that his bags were packed and he hated Tuscaloosa. WTF? I mean, the opportunity to live in Happy Valley and coach the premier CFB program in the country and get out of that second-rate Bama job. Yeah, that narrative made perfect sense.

How many of you dolts fell for that story? No coach in his right mind would make that choice without some serious mitigating circumstances.

Come on, lets see a show of hands of people that considered him a valid option. Idiots thinking that he would be the next PS HFC. And no, that one is not on Kraft, it is on you.

 

[PSUForever]

The thing is these coaches are already rich. More money isn't always a motivator for someone that already makes a multi-million dollar salary. Also rural PA isn't much different than Iowa. Campbell has turned down plenty of interest before, he seems happy at ISU. I have heard before this season that PSU was one of the jobs that might interest him though.

All these guys know they are like the 20th choice at this point so that clearly is working against us.

Campbell is from Ohio so maybe that helps us but he has been at ISU for 10 years maybe a little more while turning down good offers. The money increase is important but it probably won't seal the deal. Kraft has to SELL it to him. I thought Kraft knew how to do this but apparently he does not know how to sell Penn State very well.

 

[PSUForever]

If you are still typing the name "Deboer,"

The amount of social media 'stuff' from the current players is yet another reason why Smith should not be the coach IMHO. He spoke at length about his love for Penn State. These players are doing more harm than good for the school and team. Either he is unable to get them to tone this rhetoric down, he is encouraging it, or ignoring it--in all 3 cases, it says to me he's not nearly a leader as he has been claiming. I believe him in his words that he loves Penn State and owes Penn State a lot but it does not seem like he's been successful in imparting that to his players.

Don't blame Smith for that. He is a good guy and the players love him. He can't control their social media activity. I firmly believe he is not the right guy for our head coach position but he is a huge asset to Penn State. I sure hope Kraft is giving him the straight scoop, treating him with the respect he deserves while telling him there is a place for you in the Penn State football program and we will pay you very well (big salary increase) to stay a Nittany Lion.

 

[Alphalion75]

All these guys know they are like the 20th choice at this point so that clearly is working against us.

Campbell is from Ohio so maybe that helps us but he has been at ISU for 10 years maybe a little more while turning down good offers. The money increase is important but it probably won't seal the deal. Kraft has to SELL it to him. I thought Kraft knew how to do this but apparently he does not know how to sell Penn State very well.

Get Cael involved.

 

[fastlax16]

Just like we were off to the races after our 3 cupcakes to start the year with all our talent?

2026: Va, @ Clemson, @ Miami, GT, Pitt
2027: @ ND, @ Va, @ Lou, @ SMU, Clemson, Miami
2028: ND, Va, @ Miami, @ Pitt, FSU, Lou, SMU

Some of those teams probably won’t be that great but pretending 2 losses every year is doable is crazy. 2027 is going to be painful.

nothing about 2027 is particularly painful outside of @Nd. I’d take any of those schedules over ours.

Franklin has a winning record against teams ranked 11-25.

 

[A2nit]

Hilarious.

At this point why not and bring his kid…

 

[rigi19040]

Get Cael involved.

What did Cael do at Iowa State? 0 championships.

 

[Psumatt85]

It’s an unbelievable situation and yes, we are dysfunctional. This team clearly gave up earlier this season just like their coach did. And Terry did a great job getting them motivated, but they were still a number of them, not playing hard in the Rutgers game

But rumor was that his bags were packed and he hated Tuscaloosa. WTF? I mean, the opportunity to live in Happy Valley and coach the premier CFB program in the country and get out of that second-rate Bama job. Yeah, that narrative made perfect sense.

How many of you dolts fell for that story? No coach in his right mind would make that choice without some serious mitigating circumstances.

Come on, lets see a show of hands of people that considered him a valid option. Idiots thinking that he would be the next PS HFC. And no, that one is not on Kraft, it is on you.

It’s the only thing that would justify the apparent malfeasance . I said several times I don’t think it is true, but otherwise, Kraft has done an f - job

 

[MtNittany]

What DO we care about? That he resurfaced the issue as regards JoePa's culpability as regards Sandusky, unannounced, by wearing that 409 pin on National TV vs. Nebraska.

Who's "we?" It's weird how the most accomplished (outside of national titles) coach in all of football has just been erased. You just admitted that you've erased him.

Why? Because the media or the BOT told you to? Ingrained it in you?

I guess Lavar was right. There is a huge divide between JVP lettermen (and their fans) and CJF lettermen (and their fans).

 

[searay26]

All these guys know they are like the 20th choice at this point so that clearly is working against us.

Campbell is from Ohio so maybe that helps us but he has been at ISU for 10 years maybe a little more while turning down good offers. The money increase is important but it probably won't seal the deal. Kraft has to SELL it to him. I thought Kraft knew how to do this but apparently he does not know how to sell Penn State very well.

He can help sell it by saying he can also double Campbell's assistant's salaries too, and the average NIL for the players is about 10X more at Penn State versus Iowa State. Might be good for the players that would come with him.

 

[PSU4U]

There's got to be more to the story between Kraft and Franklin then. I can't see Franklin being this upset just over not getting a new contact last year and getting fired, he knows that's part of the business. Some other factors must have happened behind the scenes to break the so-called alignment Franklin had been touting.

Was rejected by Kraft on his contract extension the was rejected by the BOT when Franklin went around Kraft trying to get that extension. At that point Kraft began micromanaging Franklin watching every practice and being on the sideline of every game. At that point the battle was on. Franklin began sabotaging the recruiting class before he got fired taht was corroborated by at least two recruits dad's/parents. Sexton had prearranged a verbal deal with VT that Franklin agreed to though it wasn't Final until afterwards. PS knows exactly what went down on telling the recruits to drop their commitments to PS because at least two sets of parents informed them. You can probably guess who those two families were though I don't know they were the two for sure. You can't make this stuff up. Is there a lawsuit there? I have no idea, but I would hope so and hope it happens. Now Franklin either directly or through his surrogate's interfered with almost every candidate for the PS job seeking them out degrading Kraft the university and the way Franklin was supposedly wrongly treated and how he was held back from success. All of this info can be obtained elsewhere and its free info.

 

[PSU4U]

Terry 100 percent knew wearing that button would cause a wave of old school PSU fans to throw him their support. No if, ands or buts about it - that was his plan.

Great politics imo. Terry's no easy trick. Good For Him!

 

[rigi19040]

Who's "we?" It's weird how the most accomplished (outside of national titles) coach in all of football has just been erased. You just admitted that you've erased him.

Why? Because the media or the BOT told you to? Ingrained it in you?

I guess Lavar was right. There is a huge divide between JVP lettermen (and their fans) and CJF lettermen (and their fans).

You wont be happy til Joe's corpse is propped up on the sidelines on Saturdays.