New coach

LMTLION

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Mar 20, 2008
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Interesting article about which coaches would possibly leave their alma mater. It mentions Lea and Sitake as good fits for PSU. Sitake is the BYU coach who seems to have flown under the radar. He seems like a really interesting dude and a great coach. But I’m not sure if PSU was shown any interest at all
 

psuno1

Senior
Feb 4, 2004
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Valid questions--based on what is being said:

His wife doesn't like Texas and wasn't thrilled leaving Duke to go to A&M

He sees the Big Ten as easier to navigate and Penn State as a program that should/could be in the playoff yearly

The SEC going to 9 conference games just made his life way more difficult--having to play Texas, LSU and (I think) Mizzou yearly was arguably the worst draw of any SEC team. Next year he has to play those 3 plus Bama, South Carolina, Tennessee and Oklahoma. They also play ASU in a non-conference game. Compare that to our schedule

Elko apparently never saw A&M as a destination job--just a better opportunity to showcase what he was capable of accomplishing.
If that is the case- He will be announced as PSU's new head coach right after A%M is out of the playoff.
 
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BobPSU92

Heisman
Aug 22, 2001
41,419
30,852
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If that is the case- He will be announced as PSU new head coach right after A%M is out of the playoff.

If Elko wants the PSU job, he needs to show it. He needs to crap the bed at a&m. Get out of there early and start recruiting for us.

(My phone first autocorrected Elko to Elmo. Maybe that’s a sign. Elmo would be a good fit with PSU’s leaderers.)
 

Itraindogs

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Nov 28, 2024
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Interesting article about which coaches would possibly leave their alma mater. It mentions Lea and Sitake as good fits for PSU. Sitake is the BYU coach who seems to have flown under the radar. He seems like a really interesting dude and a great coach. But I’m not sure if PSU was shown any interest at all
Sitake is a dynamite coach and if he was not a Mormon I would have banged the drum for him earlier, but the article does not account enough, in my opinion, for what it means to belong to the Mormon community. I don't see Sitake leaving BYU ever (think LaVell Edwards).

 
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PSU Yinzer

Redshirt
Jan 7, 2018
6
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Sitake is a dynamite coach and if he was not a Mormon I would have banged the drum for him earlier, but the article does not account enough, in my opinion, for what it means to belong to the Mormon community. I don't see Sitake leaving BYU ever,
FWIW, Cael Sanderson is Mormon and has made it work in State College, balancing personal life & career. Everyone’s different though, of course.
 

PSU4U

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Aug 6, 2019
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Think it might be different for athletics but I really have no idea. Money talks the loudest but who knows how much more is needed to pull them away.
The quiet word is that Kraft has been given the go ahead to go get who he wants. This is Kraft's decision even though he has 4-5 people in his ear.

Brohm for instance, his base salary is $5,981,057 it could take double that to get him. IMO that makes getting Key much simpler and from a financial perspective more preferable. I keep going back to the fact that Key was the 1st PS contact and the conversation has really never subsided. Does that mean there's a better chance it's going to be Key? I give up.

I think this is the order of preference with Elko more than likely off the board IMO, but Elko gone is just MO.

Brohm
Key
Drinkwitz
Lea
 

PSU4U

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Living here in metro Atlanta, this is really the first I've heard of Key, although GT plays 2nd fiddle to the Dawgs for obvious reasons. I hadn't realized that Key was part of one of the Alabama championship teams. Last year, he did beat Florida State (#10) to open the season, and Miami (#4) later on in the season. Overall records have been decidedly mediocre until this year - although looking at the schedule so far, the 8-1 record is hardly surprising - the biggest win is against Clemson (#12 at the time, now unranked). Given that GT is his alma mater, I'm a bit surprised he'd want to coach at PSU (the climate change alone is going to be a huge culture shock). Why PSU is evidently so hot on him is odd to me, other than the 8-0 start and "flavor of the week."
A good bit of it is the coaching tree he comes from the fact that he's a no nonsense tough HC and his southern recruiting contacts.

He doesn't run Silly Farm offenses which is helpful in the Big 10. Other than Brohm they see Key's style as an excellent fit for playing in the Big Ten.
 

Itraindogs

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The quiet word is that Kraft has been given the go ahead to go get who he wants. This is Kraft's decision even though he has 4-5 people in his ear.

Brohm for instance, his base salary is $5,981,057 it could take double that to get him. IMO that makes getting Key much simpler and from a financial perspective more preferable. I keep going back to the fact that Key was the 1st PS contact and the conversation has really never subsided. Does that mean there's a better chance it's going to be Key? I give up.

I think this is the order of preference with Elko more than likely off the board IMO, but Elko gone is just MO.

Brohm
Key
Drinkwitz
Lea
Solid list, as is the ranking. Key would surely improve line play and help introduce more toughness to the program. Question of course is what the offense looks like at the skill position without Haynes King running the show. Same can be said about Lea, What does Vandy look like without Pavia.
 
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Navion N8865H

Sophomore
Oct 27, 2021
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"The quiet word is that Kraft has been given the go ahead to go get who he wants. This is Kraft's decision even though he has 4-5 people in his ear."
I can confirm this is true. Neeli has given Pat the authority to make the hire. It is whomever Pat and his tight advising group decide on, that's the bottom line.
 
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WaffleShopper

Senior
Sep 20, 2023
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The quiet word is that Kraft has been given the go ahead to go get who he wants. This is Kraft's decision even though he has 4-5 people in his ear.

Brohm for instance, his base salary is $5,981,057 it could take double that to get him. IMO that makes getting Key much simpler and from a financial perspective more preferable. I keep going back to the fact that Key was the 1st PS contact and the conversation has really never subsided. Does that mean there's a better chance it's going to be Key? I give up.

I think this is the order of preference with Elko more than likely off the board IMO, but Elko gone is just MO.

Brohm
Key
Drinkwitz
Lea
I think Elko is a pipe dream but to be honest I said the same about Franklin when we wanted him from Vandy. Elko is a little different though since it’s A&M not Vandy and we’d have to wait a very long time before getting a commitment.

Brohm is locked in as a Louisville guy but this is probably his first opportunity to coach a team that could legitimately win a championship. Does he actually think he can win one at Louisville? Would he be happy staying where he is long term a la Ferentz with no hope of a NC?
 
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donaldfair71

Senior
Jul 4, 2005
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Yes but I don't see that happening.
You're right, more unlikely now than likely, but it's hilarious that the sky was falling for them in September and they're a terrible official call from having beaten the only unbeaten left in the league, and a terrible fumble away from another win. Would be 5-3 and 3-1 in the league.
 
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Connorpozlee

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Aug 29, 2013
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I think Elko is a pipe dream but to be honest I said the same about Franklin when we wanted him from Vandy. Elko is a little different though since it’s A&M not Vandy and we’d have to wait a very long time before getting a commitment.

Brohm is locked in as a Louisville guy but this is probably his first opportunity to coach a team that could legitimately win a championship. Does he actually think he can win one at Louisville? Would he be happy staying where he is long term a la Ferentz with no hope of a NC?
He could come to Penn State for a few years for a massive payday, hope to hit on a championship, then be back in Louisville right after. Or get the payday, fail and get fired and be back in Louisville right after. He is adored in Louisville. He will be able to go back there any time he wants to.
 
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bbrown

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
12,274
25,222
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Solid list, as is the ranking. Key would surely improve line play and help introduce more toughness to the program. Question of course is what the offense looks like at the skill position without Haynes King running the show. Same can be said about Lea, What does Vandy look like without Pavia.
There is another Gorilla in the room for Lea, at least for me, but does he bring his OC...insert ominous music...Tim Beck with him?
Vandy is also spending at a rate it never did when James was there and Franklin's overall recored was better.
Just a few other things for thought.
 
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DaytonRickster

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May 29, 2001
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Diaz and Chesney are my current 1a and 1b choices. Next would be Drink and after that Hartline. All of this is subject to change based on the latest podcast or youtube video! The suspense is rough as we see the recruiting classes fall apart and the team stink it up each week.
Although I think Elko would be a homerun, I just can't see that happening. I also think Key, Lea, and Drinkwitz either stay where they are or move to other southern teams. Deboer I don't think iis in play.
Thus, Diaz or Chesney and I think they could stabilize the situation and rebuild with toughness.
 

DaytonRickster

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May 29, 2001
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Interesting article about which coaches would possibly leave their alma mater. It mentions Lea and Sitake as good fits for PSU. Sitake is the BYU coach who seems to have flown under the radar. He seems like a really interesting dude and a great coach. But I’m not sure if PSU was shown any interest at all
Had no thought of the BYU HC. I wonder if Kraft has reached out? Lea would also instill toughness again to PSU.
If I had to guess I would think the following would be willing to come to PSU:
- Chesney
- Diaz
- Lea
- Hartline
- Brohm

Is the BYU HC a wild card that no one knows about?
 

Lion84

Senior
Oct 7, 2021
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I think its easier to name who hasn’t been mentioned as a favorite for the PSU job than who hasn’t - I was mentioned early but the damn background check a screwed me.