I’m of the opinion that this is precisely what the university wants…lest we look like the football factory the media portrayed us to have in years gone by.
Be careful what you wish for
- Thread starter Felber
- Start date
Nnnnnnnnn, I’m not sure I’d go that far. University is putting a boatload of money into football, as it always has. We’re a “different” kind of football factory, but in reality we still are one.
What the PSU administration want is to keep the stadium filled. Probably think/thought that 10-2 would do it. though that was short-sighted, certainly now with the addition of the new teams from the west.
Two issues:
1) Today’s game plan was more about not losing rather than trying to win. Keep the game close until the 4th quarter and hope OSU makes a mistake.
2) The players didn’t have that special edge today. They looked a little flat and outmuscled by a more physical team.
1) Today’s game plan was more about not losing rather than trying to win. Keep the game close until the 4th quarter and hope OSU makes a mistake.
2) The players didn’t have that special edge today. They looked a little flat and outmuscled by a more physical team.
Yes, Franklin is 0-10 on the road vs. top ten teams, and he has been the underdog/lower ranked team in each of those games, which means the other team was better than we were every time.
During the Franklin era at PSU, 3 teams have won a Big Ten title, and 5 teams have won a national championship. So 11 teams have not won a Big Ten title in that span and 128 teams have not won a national championship in that span. So for those calling for Franklin to be fired I have a few questions: 1) Does that mean that the other 11 Big Ten coaches and the other 116 FBS coaches should all be fired since they have accomplished the same or less than Franklin has? 2) If Franklin is fired today, who are you hiring to replace him? (I don't know of any coaches with as good of a resume that he has, who are not already coaching better teams.) 3) If we made the College Football Playoff 2 or 3 years of Franklin's tenure, but didn't win the national championship, would you still want him fired? It seems like you would based on the argument that so many of you put out there (not winning it all is accepting mediocrity). 4) If you would want him fired in the scenario posed in #3, wouldn't that mean that Harbaugh should also be fired? I doubt you will find 1 Michigan fan who wants Harbaugh fired today. 5) It took Joe Paterno 17 years to win a national championship, would you have wanted him fired after 10? I can't believe you would have accepted that level of mediocrity of 16 years without winning it all! Just one more thing . . . 6) Does this idea that if you aren't the best then you are accepting mediocrity pervade your everyday lives? For example, I work in education in a county that has 36 high schools, should the principals of 35 of those high schools be fired each year because they are not the top school in the district?
I will admit that I am a James Franklin supporter. I certainly don't agree with every decision he makes, but he is the coach who is paid to make them, not me. I would love to have a conversation with someone who thinks that firing Franklin is going to help this Penn State team, so they could try to help me understand that logic. To me it makes no sense.
During the Franklin era at PSU, 3 teams have won a Big Ten title, and 5 teams have won a national championship. So 11 teams have not won a Big Ten title in that span and 128 teams have not won a national championship in that span. So for those calling for Franklin to be fired I have a few questions: 1) Does that mean that the other 11 Big Ten coaches and the other 116 FBS coaches should all be fired since they have accomplished the same or less than Franklin has? 2) If Franklin is fired today, who are you hiring to replace him? (I don't know of any coaches with as good of a resume that he has, who are not already coaching better teams.) 3) If we made the College Football Playoff 2 or 3 years of Franklin's tenure, but didn't win the national championship, would you still want him fired? It seems like you would based on the argument that so many of you put out there (not winning it all is accepting mediocrity). 4) If you would want him fired in the scenario posed in #3, wouldn't that mean that Harbaugh should also be fired? I doubt you will find 1 Michigan fan who wants Harbaugh fired today. 5) It took Joe Paterno 17 years to win a national championship, would you have wanted him fired after 10? I can't believe you would have accepted that level of mediocrity of 16 years without winning it all! Just one more thing . . . 6) Does this idea that if you aren't the best then you are accepting mediocrity pervade your everyday lives? For example, I work in education in a county that has 36 high schools, should the principals of 35 of those high schools be fired each year because they are not the top school in the district?
I will admit that I am a James Franklin supporter. I certainly don't agree with every decision he makes, but he is the coach who is paid to make them, not me. I would love to have a conversation with someone who thinks that firing Franklin is going to help this Penn State team, so they could try to help me understand that logic. To me it makes no sense.
Franklin isn’t the reason we’re perennially top ten. We would be with almost any coach - just way too many intangibles for Penn State not to be (facilities, tradition, fan base, recruiting area, revenue, etc.). And no matter who PSU hires their track record post Paterno is very good. Both OB and Franklin were blockbuster hires when made - but how much longer do you give Franklin? If your ceiling is NYD bowl there are lots of guys who can get you that and maybe more.
That said, Franklin still has probably five more years before anyone seriously considers a buyout. Unless people just stop going to games, which is unlikely given how masochistic we are….
I’ll take a stab at it. First, to your analogy. Can we say that the reason those schools aren’t better is directly because of the principal? If yes, then yes, firing them should be considered.
Next, you treat this as though not “winning it all” is the fans complaint. That isn’t the bar everyone is so upset about not meeting. It’s almost never winning our most important games, for a decade now. Our program is historically on par with Ohio State and Michigan, yet we’ve watched Ohio State stay firmly ahead of us for 10 years, and Michigan go from behind us to plainly ahead. Those of us done with Franklin aren’t saying we have to win the Big Ten or National Title annually, but it should at least be possible sometimes, and with Franklin, it is not.
The attitude of 9-10 wins is awesome and we should be happy would have Mark Richt still happily coaching Georgia. Of course there is risk to firing someone like Franklin or Richt, but there’s also upside. For me and most that done with Franklin, we know Penn State’s floor could drop by firing him, but that’s okay when we know we’ve already hit Franklin’s ceiling, and it means never beating a great team or winning our biggest games.
Joe went undefeated in years three and four and finished second in the AP poll both years. Just harder to win a NC back then.
Also, the Paterno analogy is way off. First, he was building a program, not inheriting a blue blood. Second, he had multiple undefeated teams in that stretch you’re talking about. Hardly mediocrity. Stop winning the argument against this strawman fan that says we have to win the national title annually. That’s not what anyone is saying.
Does Franklin override MY play calls? Also, to me, he coaches these games as not to lose. He stays in a comfort zone offensively whether it works or not.
Anyone else feel the culture needs to be more about hating the other team than loving your teammates?
This team is just not wired for toughness and that comes from the top. Great guy. Great ambassador for PSU. Great recruiter. Not an inspirational leader.
We’re not Illinois, Purdue, etc. None of those teams fill a 100K paying what we do for a head coach (except for Sparty, but they learned a lesson).
James is not awful by any stretch, but clearly not elite. While I’m sad we can’t beat tOSU, and the better UM teams we’re seeing, it’s the losses to so-so MSU, Iowa, Northwestern, Illinois and Minnesota teams that actually bother me more.
I think there’s a little too much focus on measurables, and less on scrap.
I think there’s a little too much focus on measurables, and less on scrap.
Corrupt BOT screwed over the program when they hired Sandy…and museum Eric….
After the top ten games we end up looking like this.....
When we are at the water cooler we expect to be looking like this.....
Maybe we should just be happy with this....
When we are at the water cooler we expect to be looking like this.....
Maybe we should just be happy with this....
And with that said don't be surprised if they struggle against Indiana on Saturday.
What changes does he need to make Mr. Coaching Genius? Please enlighten us all.
Apples and oranges. He would t have reached the “pinnacles” he did in a conference or in today’s game. Success with honor wouldn’t have gone over well with NIL.
Understand, Joebot has been lying in wait for this game all season so he can bash the coaching staff.
He’s not around when the team posted wins, but get that one loss on the road to the #3 team in the nation, and he comes like a tidal wave.
OL
How you you avoid apples and oranges in a comparison that spans decades of change in the game? Good coaching and sound decisions were a hallmark of Paterno’s for many years. When you see three trick plays that quickly were snuffed out, as in yesterday’s game, you know that desperation has overcome a solid game plan. Franklin and Yurcich have settled on an offensive plan that’s much too easy for quality opponents to combat. And if Allar continues to succumb to adversity on the road, it’s time to sit him down until he gets rid of the jitters. His emotional post-game Q&A session was of the kind that I hope I never see again.
I saw that good coaching and sound decision making lose a lot of games to OSU, Michigan and Iowa. Can we please stop with the selective memory.
Let Franklin know the guy with the most wins in college football history coached at PSU.
other 116 FBS coaches should all be fired since they have accomplished the same or less than Franklin has?
see this is 9-2 mentality all wrapped up perfectly in half a sentence. If we apply the new UNOFFICIAL Rick rule, the sentence would be clearer like this: I’m happy to lose to OSU and MICH every year with the other 116 FBS……
We discussed the rick rule not even 24 hours ago.
see this is 9-2 mentality all wrapped up perfectly in half a sentence. If we apply the new UNOFFICIAL Rick rule, the sentence would be clearer like this: I’m happy to lose to OSU and MICH every year with the other 116 FBS……
We discussed the rick rule not even 24 hours ago.
He has had enough time.
We are spinning our wheels.
Time for someone new to get a chance.
The next guy won’t live up to the expectations of many either, so there’s that.
This, exactly. A friend of mine who is a UGA alum texted me yesterday after the game and outright told me our coach is Mark Richt II. Perfect analogy IMO.
The math and numbers don't lie. The odds of us deviating so far away from the mean is mind blowing. We should beat Ohio State 2-3 times every decade. We should be splitting wins with Michigan. We should be winning Top 25 matchups at more than twice the rate Franklin has. Something is very wrong at Penn State. Franklin either stinks or he's a sleeper agent for Ohio State.
Last time I checked Franklin can’t hold a gun to a kid’s head and make him go to PSU. Franklin recruited Harrison and McCord for that matter hard.
The comparisons to Joe are pointless. Different era, different coach, etc. Notice how in no other sport at PSU is the current coach compared to predecessors. The measurement should be against what is expected of the football program in today's environment.
Penn State didn’t lose yesterday because of a lack of toughness. Just stop. They lost because of poor offensive play calling and lack of execution especially by the QB.
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