New coach

[Itraindogs]

I guess I find it hard to believe him & his family are that miserable.

I can personally attest to the fact that no amount of money or job security can make up for a community not aligned with your values or your cultural comfort. You can make as much cash as you want but if all you have to spend it on is Cracker barrel or Arby's, and if you are conditioned to enjoying music other than country music there are places you would definitely be miserable. Trust me. I lasted 5 years teaching at a southern university and could not get out soon enough (bad form to reveal where).

 

[PSUForever]

The reality is PSU fans would not care about this guy if he was born in a different state and coached somewhere other than JMU. There are other G5 candidates out there for this position that are much more qualified than Chesney. Golesh and Sumrall immediately come to mind, but most PSU fans do not even mention them because there’s no emotional connection. This hire needs to be based on logic rather than emotion. There is nothing on Chesney’s résumé that should give anyone reasonable confidence that he will succeed at PSU. His other head coaching experience was at schools at or smaller than the student population size of my own high school. I hope the guy succeeds, but I don’t want him at PSU. Heck, I would take Terry Smith way before I would take Chesney.

He's as qualified as Golesh, Sumrall, Drinkwitz, Key and Lea. No doubt about it.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

And yet you keep coming back

To shame fools

 

[Itraindogs]

He's as qualified as Golesh, Sumrall, Drinkwitz, Key and Lea. No doubt about it.

Plus, it is not "emotional" when you see someone who has been successful in the NE where your recruiting footprint is strongest. Surely, he has done it with lower tiered players but he likely has relationships with coaches and high schools throughout the NE. Is that why you take him? No. But is identifying this variable "emotional"? No. It is also not emotional to give the man props for winning at JMU after Cignetti emptied the cupboards when he left; Dude is a winner. Is he a take at PSU? Maybe.

 

[SleepyLion]

I guess you have never been to Touscaloosa - makes Star College look cosmopolitan.

State College needs help looking cosmopolitan?

 

[VT00]

The reality is PSU fans would not care about this guy if he was born in a different state and coached somewhere other than JMU.

I don’t really agree with that. Both Drink and Satterfield landed Power Five jobs directly from App State. Same can be said for Napier coming from ULL (I'm aware that didn't work out)

What Chesney has accomplished at JMU so far—especially after inheriting a roster that was gutted following Cig's departure—might actually be more impressive than what he achieved during his stint at JMU.

 

[TheWizardofCamelot]

Imagine risking owing $49 million, losing every high profile commit you have, not to mention the players waiting to portal out, just to hire Bob Chesney and trot Grunk out there next year lol

Kraft really is toast. He imploded the program.

 

[SummitLion]

The reality is PSU fans would not care about this guy if he was born in a different state and coached somewhere other than JMU. There are other G5 candidates out there for this position that are much more qualified than Chesney. Golesh and Sumrall immediately come to mind, but most PSU fans do not even mention them because there’s no emotional connection. This hire needs to be based on logic rather than emotion. There is nothing on Chesney’s résumé that should give anyone reasonable confidence that he will succeed at PSU. His other head coaching experience was at schools at or smaller than the student population size of my own high school. I hope the guy succeeds, but I don’t want him at PSU. Heck, I would take Terry Smith way before I would take Chesney.

That's your opinion. I don't care where he is from. He took a dismantled JMU team that lost 20 players and 3 coaches, and has a good chance of making the playoffs. Why don't people understand how amazing this is?

 

[Midnighter]

Do you want Chesney or not?

Good with anyone on this list - beyond that, not as excited.

 

[84lion]

Kraft really is toast. He imploded the program.

Let's see who he hires. Then we can decide whether the program has "imploded" or has a future.

If he is able to get someone like DeBoer, then everything will be OK. If he gets Chesney, I'd say jury's out until we see what he can do. If it's someone like Rhule or fallback to Smith, then we can talk about "implosion."

 

[Ram20]

Imagine risking owing $49 million, losing every high profile commit you have, not to mention the players waiting to portal out, just to hire Bob Chesney and trot Grunk out there next year lol

Im good with it, lets roll!

 

[donaldfair71]

Im good with it, lets roll!

Heck yeah.

 

[84lion]

I can personally attest to the fact that no amount of money or job security can make up for a community not aligned with your values or your cultural comfort. You can make as much cash as you want but if all you have to spend it on is Cracker barrel or Arby's, and if you are conditioned to enjoying music other than country music there are places you would definitely be miserable. Trust me. I lasted 5 years teaching at a southern university and could not get out soon enough (bad form to reveal where).

I graduated from Penn State and immediately got a job in metro Atlanta. I knew nothing and no one in the area and was rather homesick, and looked to move for many years. Eventually, I came to enjoy the nice weather and things around town, and after awhile it became "home." And, eventually, I met my wife (we've been married over 20 years and have two children), which I never would have done had I moved. But I agree, if you aren't happy where you are, you don't care about the money or whatever. Although, I did have several job offers that I declined, seemed to me at the time like going from the frying pan into the fire. Everyone has to make that decision, which might be easier (or tougher) if family is involved.

 

[Fred8811]

They gotta trot somebody - might as well be the Grunkster.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

Kraft really is toast. He imploded the program.

Relax Francis

 

[NittanyBoy88]

Half the people act like we should just fold the program now and you’re blaming Kraft for firing the guy who is responsible for the mess that someone needs to clean up. If we made it out of 2012 this is nothing. If Drink or Chesney are fall back options we’ve got it pretty damn good. Relax!

 

[psuno1]

Half the people act like we should just fold the program now and you’re blaming Kraft for firing the guy who is responsible for the mess that someone needs to clean up. If we made it out of 2012 this is nothing. If Drink or Chesney are fall back options we’ve got it pretty damn good. Relax!

The dark years 2000-2004 were way worse on the field than 2011 and 2012.

 

[PSU4U]

Let's see who he hires. Then we can decide whether the program has "imploded" or has a future.

If he is able to get someone like DeBoer, then everything will be OK. If he gets Chesney, I'd say jury's out until we see what he can do. If it's someone like Rhule or fallback to Smith, then we can talk about "implosion."

Terry Smith won't let anything implode. Also, Bendapudi is firmly in the Terry Smith to HC camp. That is some special support. It most likely won't be Smith but Kraft could do a lot worse, or you could have Franklin.

If Kraft made a mistake, it was not having his HC on board before Franklin landed at VT.

 

[DaytonRickster]

Im good with it, lets roll!

I would be good with Chesney being hired.

 

[Lil Nicky Scarfo]

Of course. I grew up in Suburban Philadelphia but retired from the USAF here in the Dayton area (Beavercreek). Wright-Patterson AFB (outside of Dayton) was my last duty assignment.
Schmidt and one of the all-time great Olympians, Edwin Moses were both from Dayton. College football hall of fame and former Eagles RB Keith Byers also from Dayton and Kirk Herbstreit (ABC Football color commentator) is from Centerville (Dayton burb)

I still remember that great Keith Byars run with one shoe on

 

[donaldfair71]

Terry Smith won't let anything implode. Also, Bendapudi is firmly in the Terry Smith to HC camp. That is some special support. It most likely won't be Smith but Kraft could do a lot worse, or you could have Franklin.

If Kraft made a mistake, it was not having his HC on board before Franklin landed at VT.

Tech forced that though, I don’t put that on Kraft.

 

[DaytonRickster]

They gotta trot somebody - might as well be the Grunkster.

Hopefully it is a QB who fits the scheme unlike what PSU had been through several times under CJF.

 

[DaytonRickster]

I still remember that great Keith Byars run with one shoe on

Classic. Keith does some limited radio spots on the local ESPN station.

 

[SummitLion]

He has not done severe damage…over react much?

He may or may not have done severe damage to the program, but he does have one of the worst records against top 10 programs in history, and that is a fact.

 

[LB99]

I would be good with Chesney being hired.

Really?

 

[Blair10]

They gotta trot somebody - might as well be the Grunkster.

Grunk is a Franklin recruited player. I would be shocked if he is the starter next year. The new coach will more than likely upgrade the QB position and get a couple real WRs for the 2026 season.

 

[LMTLION]

I don’t really agree with that. Both Drink and Satterfield landed Power Five jobs directly from App State. Same can be said for Napier coming from ULL (I'm aware that didn't work out)

What Chesney has accomplished at JMU so far—especially after inheriting a roster that was gutted following Cig's departure—might actually be more impressive than what he achieved during his stint at JMU.

He coached at Holy Cross only two years ago (7-4 then.) That program is the size of a high school program. Drink had p4 experience and in fact was on auburn’s staff when they won a natty. No comparison there at all. Hiring Chesney is admitting we struck out on real candidates.

 

[NittanyBoy88]

He coached at Holy Cross only two years ago (7-4 then.) That program is the size of a high school program. Drink had p4 experience and in fact was on auburn’s staff when they won a natty. No comparison there at all. Hiring Chesney is admitting we struck out on real candidates.

Who are the “real candidates” you speak of?

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

I would be good with Chesney being hired.

There was no need to create complete and total instability months before he could even legitimately move quickly on any top targets (i.e., immediately after the season ended). Tell me, precisely what has Krafty The Clown gained by firing Franklin so early in the season? Because he most definitely is responsible for creating the very bad, and unnecessary, situation where Franklin is at his new home within weeks of his firing and will have a long head-start on whoever the new PSU Coach is at bringing PSU's players and recruits to VaTech.

 

[PSUForever]

Let's see who he hires. Then we can decide whether the program has "imploded" or has a future.

If he is able to get someone like DeBoer, then everything will be OK. If he gets Chesney, I'd say jury's out until we see what he can do. If it's someone like Rhule or fallback to Smith, then we can talk about "implosion."

The reality is we won't know what kind of hire Kraft made for a couple years even if it is DeBoer.

 

[MacNit]

He has not done severe damage…over react much?

Ok…rattle off all of his big game wins? Or better yet, a big road win? After 11 GD years. Severe damage. Lose to a high school team like a rudderless, coachles UCLA.

This is Penn State. Not Rutgers.

 

[MacNit]

Let's see who he hires. Then we can decide whether the program has "imploded" or has a future.

If he is able to get someone like DeBoer, then everything will be OK. If he gets Chesney, I'd say jury's out until we see what he can do. If it's someone like Rhule or fallback to Smith, then we can talk about "implosion."

Not only who he hires…but what are the results. Does he get 11.5 years?

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

Ok…rattle off all of his big game wins? Or better yet, a big road win? After 11 GD years. Severe damage. Lose to a high school team like a rudderless, coachles UCLA.

This is Penn State. Not Rutgers.

Yet you ignore how teams like FSU or LSU have done with their coaching hires.... Gee, do tell, has Franklin done better than a lot of other coaches who have been in situations where, according to you, it's easy to pile up wins??? Norvell's record at FSU is now 38-33. Franklin has averaged playing like 2 true top 5 teams a year at PSU (i.e., teams who actually finish the season in Top 5). Since you're such a freaking mensa - please do list this long list of coaches with more than 4 wins against true Top 10 opponents??? Worst record in CFB history??? You do realize that teams like Rutgers (or also-rans in SEC) play the top b1g/SEC teams every year - so you think a coach like Schiano (or Fleck at minny) has a better record against the Top 5 and Top 10 than Franklin? There are tons of D1A coaches with 0-fers against the true Top 5 and Top 10, you're out-of-your pea-brain with all your bs about Franklin having the worst record in CFB History against top 5 and top 10.

 

[MacNit]

Yet you ignore how teams like FSU or LSU have done with their coaching hires.... Gee, do tell, has Franklin done better than a lot of other coaches who have been in situations where, according to you, it's easy to pile up wins??? Norvell's record at FSU is now 38-33. Franklin has averaged playing like 2 true top 5 teams a year at PSU (i.e., teams who actually finish the season in Top 5). Since you're such a freaking mensa - please do list this long list of coaches with more than 4 wins against true Top 10 opponents??? Worst record in CFB history??? You do realize that teams like Rutgers (or also-rans in SEC) play the top b1g/SEC teams every year - so you think a coach like Schiano (or Fleck at minny) has a better record against the Top 5 and Top 10 than Franklin? There are tons of D1A coaches with 0-fers against the true Top 5 and Top 10, you're out-of-your pea-brain with all your bs about Franklin having the worst record in CFB History against top 5 and top 10.

I’ll answer you 87 questions if you answer my 2 questions, Handleman.

 

[Ram20]

There was no need to create complete and total instability months before he could even legitimately move quickly on any top targets (i.e., immediately after the season ended). Tell me, precisely what has Krafty The Clown gained by firing Franklin so early in the season? Because he most definitely is responsible for creating the very bad, and unnecessary, situation where Franklin is at his new home within weeks of his firing and will have a long head-start on whoever the new PSU Coach is at bringing PSU's players and recruits to VaTech.

I think there was one underappreciated aspect of relieving Franklin early in the year and it has to do with the buyout. If Kraft has planned to fire him at the end of the year, it makes it tough for james to land a new gig and pay down that buyout. If james loses to iowa, osu, and indiana as we did(and would have with him), does VT really come calling? Instead of the fawning coverage about how good of a coach he is and how unfairly treated he was by penn state, he gets these losses tied around his neck and resume. He was so thin skinned, you know there was going to be embarrassing press conferences, fan interactions, just a bad look for him and the program. By cutting bait, Kraft kept Franklin's reputation relatively in tact making him marketable to a program big enough to materially pay down that buyout. In this case, VT. The question is, once Franklin goes 5-7 or 6-6 does anyone want him?

 

[BobPSU92]

The losses to ucla and northwestern were embarrassing, and Franklin had no answers after both games. He offered no resolve, nothing meaningful to fix it. He appeared lost. What else could Kraft do?

(The above ignores the rumor that there already was tension between Franklin and Kraft over the former’s handling of a request for an extension during the previous offseason.)

 

[Alphabets]

The losses to ucla and northwestern were embarrassing, and Franklin had no answers after both games. He offered no resolve, nothing meaningful to fix it. He appeared lost. What else could Kraft do?

(The above ignores the rumor that there already was tension between Franklin and Kraft over the former’s handling of a request for an extension during the previous offseason.)

This. Franklin had to go, he gave up on the team. The players knew it as well. Rudderless.

 

[LMTLION]

Who are the “real candidates” you speak of?

Coaches with p4 experience as an hc or asst- Deboer, Drink, Key, Lea, Campbell, Terry. I do not dislike Chesney. I am intrigued by his candidacy and if he somehow got our job I would obviously root like hell for him. I just think he is too risky in the moment of time. We cannot have someone that needs training wheels for the first two years learning power football. I like Deboer and Drink. If we win out convincingly I may change my preference to Terry.

 

[Nitt1300]

Terry Smith won't let anything implode. Also, Bendapudi is firmly in the Terry Smith to HC camp. That is some special support. It most likely won't be Smith but Kraft could do a lot worse, or you could have Franklin.

If Kraft made a mistake, it was not having his HC on board before Franklin landed at VT.

Kraft forgot to walk softly and carry a big stick.

 

[Bvillebaron]

Moorhead was one of the few offense coordinators who managed to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes twice. Once with PSU and once with Oregon where his offense dismantled OSU in Columbus in 2021 35-28.

35-28 is a “dismantling”?