New coach

EricStratton-RushChairman

All-Conference
May 20, 2005
1,805
4,762
113
Did I say he was interviewed by Kraft? He will not be interviewed again this go around.
Ok, is that a foolish assumption on my part that the AD is the only person interviewing o new head football coach? You said he was interviewed. If not Kraft then by whom?

You have a bit of an uppity jackass tone to your last two posts... Is that really necessary?
 

Bwifan

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,406
4,183
113

Given both are SEC schools, and pressure cooker jobs to boot, I could see where DeBoer especially would be interested in moving north. I could see Elko doing it if his family wants it - I think TAMU is as much a pressure cooker as Bama.

Key seemed to shut down rumors of his leaving GT during a presser last week. Of course, that could all the coach-speak. I'd be pleased with any of those three - in this order: DeBoer, Elko, Key.
I am good with any of the 3...
 

Bwifan

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,406
4,183
113
Ok, is that a foolish assumption on my part that the AD is the only person interviewing o new head football coach? You said he was interviewed. If not Kraft then by whom?

You have a bit of an uppity jackass tone to your last two posts... Is that really necessary?
It's my question as well. Neeli and the BOT wouldn't be interviewing or involved yet. Neeli will only be involved at the end with finances being discussed. I can't see some junior level H.R. or assistant AD person doing the interview asking him why he feels he is a good candidate for the position. Not alumni or boosters will be involved so who exactly is doing the interviewing?
 

LB99

Heisman
Oct 27, 2021
8,403
11,542
113
Seems to me that Franklin was fired for not showing up this year.
That’s what everyone says but there are also some who say this was a make or break year before it started. There’s also the crowd that wanted him gone because he couldn’t beat OSU or Michigan. So, which is it? And why would you then hire Diaz and be content with 10 wins as someone else said?
 
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Oct 12, 2015
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Code:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="no" dir="ltr">Penn State trying to hire Mike Elko or Kalen DeBoer. <a href="https://t.co/ipK72qjnW3">pic.twitter.com/ipK72qjnW3</a></p>&mdash; Zach Seyko (@zach_seyko) <a href="https://twitter.com/zach_seyko/status/1988999543934115900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
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LB99

Heisman
Oct 27, 2021
8,403
11,542
113
It's my question as well. Neeli and the BOT wouldn't be interviewing or involved yet. Neeli will only be involved at the end with finances being discussed. I can't see some junior level H.R. or assistant AD person doing the interview asking him why he feels he is a good candidate for the position. Not alumni or boosters will be involved so who exactly is doing the interviewing?
Bob.
 

Fred8811

Freshman
Aug 27, 2006
136
69
28
The end of the 1st half was an absolute mess too and gave me flashbacks to the UCLA game. We started at the 25 with 2 timeouts and 0:38 left.

Grunk can’t find anyone so throws it to Singleton in the flat for 5, tackled inbounds at 0:30.

We hurry up to the line and don’t get the next play off until 0:19. You *have* to take a timeout after Singleton was tackled. 11 seconds wasted.

2nd down play is a pass to Dinkins for 4, tackled inbounds at 0:15. Timeout is taken at 0:09. 6 more seconds wasted.

3rd down is a run for 1, clock stops to move the chains at 0:05.

We hurry to the line and throw an 20+ out pattern that gets us to the IU 42 as time expires. Go to the locker room with 1 timeout unused.

If you assume the same sequence of plays, but a timeout called after the Singleton catch, we would have had time for 1, probably 2, more plays to get into FG range.
FG range?
A waste.
 

PSU4U

All-American
Aug 6, 2019
6,527
6,820
113
Ok, is that a foolish assumption on my part that the AD is the only person interviewing o new head football coach? You said he was interviewed. If not Kraft then by whom?

You have a bit of an uppity jackass tone to your last two posts... Is that really necessary?
There are interviews that have taken place that aren't in person interviews and probably not all done by Kraft. I mistook your tone so sorry for the jackass response.
 

PSUSignore

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
1,230
1,956
113
I am more interested for Hartline in what recruits he can flip rather than what existing players at OSU he can bring. Yes I doubt OSU starting WR's would leave. But if I am a top WR recruit I am looking awful hard at PSU if he heads there. I would want to be coached by Hartline. Admin wise he is type A personality. Those guys that really want to be a HC are always planning and have people in mind who they would want to be their coordinators and coaches.
Pretty much every coach at any major program is a type A personality with at least a little bit of egomaniac in them. The job and that level of competition is going to attract such personalities.
 
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PSUSignore

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
1,230
1,956
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I simply do not understand the love affair some have with Hartline to PS as a HC. At best he's an at-risk hire a 50-50 hire. This is not the time for a 50-50 guy at all. As I've said before it's not going to be Hartline or they would have hired him already, he said if offered he would take the job. He like Meyer wasn't offered and imo won't be offered.
Every candidate that's been named, aside from Freeman, Elko and Deboer is a 50/50 hire, it's just something PSU has to deal with now. This was always the argument against firing a coach that typically won 9-10 games a season. The risk of doing so didn't outweigh the reward once you factor in the likelihood of finding a guy that would be better. None of the surefire homerun coaches - Day, Smart, Saban - were ever a possibility to hire and the next tier who we have apparently reached out to will be difficult to pry away from their current programs. That leaves you with a pool of candidates that all have risks, the most common one being that they have the same flaw as Franklin... they struggle as an underdog against top opponents.

Does Kraft want a high ceiling, or high floor, from his next hire? We just fired a guy with a high floor, so the assumption is he would want a high ceiling guy. The flipside is all of the high ceiling guys are also have a low floor, except for those 3-4 premium guys that PSU has zero chance of hiring.
 

Connorpozlee

All-American
Aug 29, 2013
2,793
5,366
113
That’s what everyone says but there are also some who say this was a make or break year before it started. There’s also the crowd that wanted him gone because he couldn’t beat OSU or Michigan. So, which is it? And why would you then hire Diaz and be content with 10 wins as someone else said?
I don’t know anything beyond what I see. Well, I suppose what I read in here as well. I know this team looked way, way, way, off through the ridiculously easy out of conference schedule. Not much better since. That tells me looking for a ten win coach was not something to expect anymore from Franklin. He was done.
 

PSUSignore

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
1,230
1,956
113
Whoever it is Kraft needs to get a move along if he doesn't have a commitment from someone yet. Will be interesting to see when the new HC is announced how long they agreed to the move before it was announced to the public.
We will never learn that information, it will be kept private. The next coach might not even be willing to make such a commitment until their current season is over, which is what makes this difficult given the big swing candidates and them all being poised for a playoff run. There might be some wink wink type agreements with an agent or something, who knows. The stupidity of the CFB calendar creates this nonsense and now puts these coaches and ADs in an impossible situation.
 
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PSUForever

Senior
Feb 17, 2007
722
668
93
Every candidate that's been named, aside from Freeman, Elko and Deboer is a 50/50 hire, it's just something PSU has to deal with now. This was always the argument against firing a coach that typically won 9-10 games a season. The risk of doing so didn't outweigh the reward once you factor in the likelihood of finding a guy that would be better. None of the surefire homerun coaches - Day, Smart, Saban - were ever a possibility to hire and the next tier who we have apparently reached out to will be difficult to pry away from their current programs. That leaves you with a pool of candidates that all have risks, the most common one being that they have the same flaw as Franklin... they struggle as an underdog against top opponents.

Does Kraft want a high ceiling, or high floor, from his next hire? We just fired a guy with a high floor, so the assumption is he would want a high ceiling guy. The flipside is all of the high ceiling guys are also have a low floor, except for those 3-4 premium guys that PSU has zero chance of hiring.
The analysis to be done on guys like Key, Drinkwitz and Lea are how are they different/better than what Franklin was in 2014? So are they showing something more than what Franklin showed while at Vandy. Franklin got hired for this miraculous turnaround at Vandy and therefore it was..."Wow, he did that at Vandy well he is going to kill it here." Are these three the same or are there differences we can see in studying their teams and their performances that may give us some insight to say they are doing better things than what Franklin did?

The other thing is get a guy in who can develop an offensive line and a power game on both sides of the ball. I like Key for that. By the way, does Haynes King have any eligibility left?
 

PSUForever

Senior
Feb 17, 2007
722
668
93
The analysis to be done on guys like Key, Drinkwitz and Lea are how are they different/better than what Franklin was in 2014? So are they showing something more than what Franklin showed while at Vandy. Franklin got hired for this miraculous turnaround at Vandy and therefore it was..."Wow, he did that at Vandy well he is going to kill it here." Are these three the same or are there differences we can see in studying their teams and their performances that may give us some insight to say they are doing better things than what Franklin did?

The other thing is get a guy in who can develop an offensive line and a power game on both sides of the ball. I like Key for that. By the way, does Haynes King have any eligibility left?
I looked up King and he turns 25 in early January. Wow. Scratch that hope off that he would come with Key if that was the new coach.
 

PSUSignore

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
1,230
1,956
113
That’s what everyone says but there are also some who say this was a make or break year before it started. There’s also the crowd that wanted him gone because he couldn’t beat OSU or Michigan. So, which is it? And why would you then hire Diaz and be content with 10 wins as someone else said?
All of the above? My guess (no inside info) is that Kraft wasn't thrilled with losing the top 2 games each year, but could live with it. However 2025 likely came with added pressure, either from Kraft and/or boosters, because of the injection of NIL money to keep this year's roster intact and the looming stadium renovation that will be a heavy reliance on selling out high margin premium luxury seating to generate revenue. Assuming reports of Franklin trying for an extension are true, Kraft may have told him let's see how 2025 plays out given the returning team we had in place, putting more pressure on 2025 being a make or break year. Then if Franklin went behind Kraft's back for the extension that leash probably got a bit shorter. Sprinkle in a loss to Oregon, and Kraft is now paying close attention because of all of the above and we still end up with the same old big game result, only this time it was a game were most of the intangibles favored PSU: more experienced roster, home game, Oregon travelling 3 time zones, night game, PSU finally favored, Oregon new starting QB, etc. Add in a loss to UCLA where a first time OC had 3 days to prepare and outcoached the PSU staff, a team that looked like they gave up, and yet another example of Franklin letting a big game lead to multiple losses, and now Kraft might be considering taking action. Next you get one of the most toxic home losses ever for PSU against a Big 10 bottom-dweller and again a team that looked like they gave up. Now you've forced Kraft to act immediately rather than waiting any further. Perhaps after UCLA Kraft decided it was time to move on from Franklin, but the NW game accelerated the plan.

This is all speculation on my part, but seems realistic.
 

WVilleLion23

All-Conference
Oct 27, 2022
1,056
1,497
82
All of the above? My guess (no inside info) is that Kraft wasn't thrilled with losing the top 2 games each year, but could live with it. However 2025 likely came with added pressure, either from Kraft and/or boosters, because of the injection of NIL money to keep this year's roster intact and the looming stadium renovation that will be a heavy reliance on selling out high margin premium luxury seating to generate revenue. Assuming reports of Franklin trying for an extension are true, Kraft may have told him let's see how 2025 plays out given the returning team we had in place, putting more pressure on 2025 being a make or break year. Then if Franklin went behind Kraft's back for the extension that leash probably got a bit shorter. Sprinkle in a loss to Oregon, and Kraft is now paying close attention because of all of the above and we still end up with the same old big game result, only this time it was a game were most of the intangibles favored PSU: more experienced roster, home game, Oregon travelling 3 time zones, night game, PSU finally favored, Oregon new starting QB, etc. Add in a loss to UCLA where a first time OC had 3 days to prepare and outcoached the PSU staff, a team that looked like they gave up, and yet another example of Franklin letting a big game lead to multiple losses, and now Kraft might be considering taking action. Next you get one of the most toxic home losses ever for PSU against a Big 10 bottom-dweller and again a team that looked like they gave up. Now you've forced Kraft to act immediately rather than waiting any further. Perhaps after UCLA Kraft decided it was time to move on from Franklin, but the NW game accelerated the plan.

This is all speculation on my part, but seems realistic.
He at least we are not UF which “invested” twice the NIL money and was still falling short. Lol
 

PSUForever

Senior
Feb 17, 2007
722
668
93
All of the above? My guess (no inside info) is that Kraft wasn't thrilled with losing the top 2 games each year, but could live with it. However 2025 likely came with added pressure, either from Kraft and/or boosters, because of the injection of NIL money to keep this year's roster intact and the looming stadium renovation that will be a heavy reliance on selling out high margin premium luxury seating to generate revenue. Assuming reports of Franklin trying for an extension are true, Kraft may have told him let's see how 2025 plays out given the returning team we had in place, putting more pressure on 2025 being a make or break year. Then if Franklin went behind Kraft's back for the extension that leash probably got a bit shorter. Sprinkle in a loss to Oregon, and Kraft is now paying close attention because of all of the above and we still end up with the same old big game result, only this time it was a game were most of the intangibles favored PSU: more experienced roster, home game, Oregon travelling 3 time zones, night game, PSU finally favored, Oregon new starting QB, etc. Add in a loss to UCLA where a first time OC had 3 days to prepare and outcoached the PSU staff, a team that looked like they gave up, and yet another example of Franklin letting a big game lead to multiple losses, and now Kraft might be considering taking action. Next you get one of the most toxic home losses ever for PSU against a Big 10 bottom-dweller and again a team that looked like they gave up. Now you've forced Kraft to act immediately rather than waiting any further. Perhaps after UCLA Kraft decided it was time to move on from Franklin, but the NW game accelerated the plan.

This is all speculation on my part, but seems realistic.
That all seems reasonable. The core of the issue was Franklin consistently stunk to high heaven in winning big games. As you suggest, this had to have stuck in the craw of Krafty, big money boosters and of course many fans. For 2025, all chips were moved to the center of the table for a big run this year and then he fails miserably. Same bad movie plays out vs Oregon, he should have won it but blows it @ home in front of a huge, supportive WO crowd. The team looks atrocious on offense for 3 quarters like they didn't even have a game plan. One of his worst big game losses. The fan base all turned on him by the time the NW loss rolled around or probably the UCLA loss except some of his family members that frequent this board. It was so toxic and embarrassing that something had to be done ASAP.
 

Catch1lion

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,886
4,374
113
This thing has taken more twists and turns than a little. Kraft's people have been doing a fantastic job of chumming the waters to keep people misdirected and they have plenty of people knowingly facilitating all the misdirection.
We are doing our part on the board here to help with misdirection.
 
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Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,588
3,067
113
That’s what everyone says but there are also some who say this was a make or break year before it started. There’s also the crowd that wanted him gone because he couldn’t beat OSU or Michigan. So, which is it? And why would you then hire Diaz and be content with 10 wins as someone else said?
And how did Diaz do against OSU and Michigan when he was at PSU? And if people are going to say that wasn’t his fault it was Franklin’s, then the wins weren’t because of Diaz either so he really accomplished nothing while he was here, so why would we want to hire him?
 

PaForest75

Freshman
Oct 20, 2025
49
52
18
The fan base all turned on him by the time the NW loss rolled around or probably the UCLA loss except some of his family members that frequent this board.

And it even took them several weeks.

I just can't imagine what it would be like now if he was still here. Every talk show would be an hour of laughing about how PSU can't afford to pay him to leave. Every game would be 3 hours of a half empty stadium booing, throwing stuff, probably lining up outside after the game to heckle him. All the while, the team would be getting trounced every week. At least now with it over with, they have shown some fight in these last few games.
 

Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,588
3,067
113
And it even took them several weeks.

I just can't imagine what it would be like now if he was still here. Every talk show would be an hour of laughing about how PSU can't afford to pay him to leave. Every game would be 3 hours of a half empty stadium booing, throwing stuff, probably lining up outside after the game to heckle him. All the while, the team would be getting trounced every week. At least now with it over with, they have shown some fight in these last few games.
Your argument is based on nothing by saying they would get trounced every week. They were one stop away from winning every game he lost this season…that’s hardly getting trounced. They got trounced against OSU and Franklin wasn’t there.
 

Fred8811

Freshman
Aug 27, 2006
136
69
28
Odd facts -

Golish was born in Moscow, Russia and looks like he just got out of a Ukraine trench. Awesome.

He was the Offensive Coordinator at Tennesee, and named OC of the year for 2022 by 247Sports.

Broke all TN offensive records.

Sign him up Pat.
 
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Mufasa94

Senior
Jan 9, 2009
1,052
885
113
Attaboy. Last three years were 11 wins, 10 wins, 13 wins and the bitching and moaning from you and your ilk was louder than ever.
I challenge you to provide the posts of mine complaining about Franklin’s success in any of the seasons from ‘22-‘24.