For those doubting PSU’s historical standing in modern football:
- Thread starter MacNit
- Start date
Yep let’s hope we get back to that high level.
I used these same figures last year while trying to explain how prior to Tressel becoming O$U's HC and Paterno started to slip in the early 2000's, PSU was generally thought of as the better program nationally.
When PSU joined the Big 10, the consensus was that they would be the top team. Seeing these numbers, I understand why. They received a poor welcome and resentment still seems to linger. It was their conference, not ours, and we weren’t really welcomed. Joining the Big brought benefits, but also negatives. It is essential to be in a power conference today, but we lost our autonomy.
This can’t be right. We were never very good according to many here and should be grateful for our current 11 win every other year Golden Age Franklin has blessed us with.
On the contrary...#8 is very good. This year #7 is even better. I'm very pleased with 11-2. The debate centers around those who proclaim "we deserve better."This can’t be right. We were never very good according to many here and should be grateful for our current 11 win every other year Golden Age Franklin has blessed us with.
Yeah, but the coaches were paid less then, so.......there's that.....This can’t be right. We were never very good according to many here and should be grateful for our current 11 win every other year Golden Age Franklin has blessed us with.
For those of us who lived it, we were always included in the National Championship discussion during the 70s, 80s and 90s. Not many programs can boast of such a long successful run.
That's nice and all but ... so?
What happened nearly 75 years ago in college football isn't very relevant to today. How does PSU stack up, compared to the rest of college football, over the latter half of that time frame (which itself isn't all that relevant, but at least more relevant than 1950)?
Here's some relevant PSU-coaching related winning percentages if we want to hop in the wayback machine:
Paterno First 23 years: 0.79477
Paterno Second 23 years: 0.69894
Engle 16 years: 0.67949
Franklin 9 years: 0.68421
Franklin last 7 years: 0.72727
O'Brien 2 years: 0.62500
Paterno first 9 years: 0.84653
Paterno second 9 years: 0.7844
Paterno third 9 years: 0.7243
Paterno fourth 9 years: 0.73395
Paterno fifth 9 (10) years: 0.65487
Paterno 1966-1986: 0.81633
Paterno 1987-2011: 0.68893
Franklin 7 years period included in case you want to give Franklin a little slack for taking over during sanctions, after PSU's near-program-death experience (maybe you don't, and that's cool, too ... he's had some stinker years after that, as well, as we all know). Paterno's last 9 year period is actually 10 years, because it didn't divide evenly.
Let's take a closer look at:
Paterno 1987-2011: 0.68893
Franklin 9 years: 0.68421
That's Paterno's last 25 years v. Franklin's entire tenure, to date.
Throw in O'Brien's obviously heavily asterisked 0.62500, and that's PSU football over the last 36 years.
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I think PSU has worked it's way back to having 10-11 win seasons on a fairly consistent basis going forward. I"m very happy with that. The better recruiting and coaching changes keep building this program little by little. However, I still don't have confidence yet that the right players or coaches are in place to get us into a top 5 program. Even though that's only a few ranking spots away from #7, the talent and on-field production between PSU and teams like GA, OSU, ALA and recently MCH seems to be significant. One thing is for sure in this era of college football. If you can't score 40-50 points against playoff caliber teams, you aren't going to win a national championship. If it weren't for the 12-team playoff coming soon, PSU would be on the outside of any 4-team playoff spot for the foreseeable future.
What do you mean it didn’t divide evenly? Did you struggle with simple division in school? If the maths part is too difficult LionJim will be happy to help. Since he retired LionJim actually severed one of his own fingers just so he could fool around with digits. Or else find a good accountant, he’ll make the numbers be whatever you want them to be. God, I hate rounding.
By saying it didn't divide evenly, I mean it didn't divide evenly. Did you struggle with words in school? 46 years, divided by 5. I had 1 as a remainder, so it was dumped into the final bucket. Pretty straightforward.
Exactly. We were the first team to go Undefeated on the big ten in 25 years and we did that in just our 2nd year. We also were the first big team ever to go 12-0. They were pissed and jealous. So none of them voted for us to be national champions.
A little touchy their hotdog? It was a joke. Next time I’ll enclose it with happy faces
as heads up.
So paterno had a better win percentage in his last 25 “bad” years than franklin in his 9. So what is your argument. Franklin needs to step up?
I think Franklin and this team are ready to career it this year with 1 loss overall or go undefeated. It is his best chance and we are hoping for it to happen and we will be there In full support.
think the thread is just saying those that want to rewrite history can’t do that and discount our past.
Fixed it for you.
As for the OP, cherry picking a time period where PSU is on top doesn't prove anything. Yes we all know PSU historically is very, very good, one of the top programs. We not historically THE top program however.
Yeah, but the coaches were paid less then, so.......there's that.....
Good point. Better bang for your buck.
There are no extremes some aren't willing to entertain in order to discredit Franklin. That's what is at the very center of this debate.
4 top ten finishes in 7 years.....yeah but what about 11-11.
3 NY6 Bowl victories in 7 years....meaningless games
4 11 win seasons in the last 7 years......yes but we can't consistently beat Ohio State and Michigan
........we deserve better.......blah blah blah......look what WE ARE paying? CJF is #13 so he deserves a raise!
That's a point. I'm on a fixed income and I can't afford these salary increases for James.
Now we agree.This can’t be right. We were never very good according to many here and should be grateful for our current 11 win every other year Golden Age Franklin has blessed us with.
Buckle up because there's almost certainly a new contract/extension in his future - likely after going 6-0 and right before the Ohio State game this year.
Because Ohio State will promptly kick our ears in after the week's worth of distraction.
And you know that's the reason OSU will win? LOL
It has nothing to do with their better roster.
Geez. Tough crowd. Number 1 for 50 years in win percentage and you have to tear it down. Half glass empty kinda guy.
Well when do you expect him to ask for and be granted a raise? After a so so season. Oops sorry that already happened my bad. Actually I don’t care how much he makes, it’s the prolonged drama of the event that annoyed me. Because it was totally unnecessary, Sandy and the Fat Man handled out raises to anyone just for showing up, and that itself may not have been a crucial criteria.
My argument is the same as it's been every time this topic comes up ... that Franklin's continuing the general success rate that has existed at PSU for quite some time (if Franklin posted one more win in his time here, he'd have a higher winning % than Paterno had in his last 25 years, despite dealing with the scandal/sanctions fall out).
There are folks who want to create some fake Xanadu that existed before Franklin got here ... and laud Paterno, and bash Franklin, according to this lie. And there's no need for it. It just creates drama and bitterness when there need be none.
What Paterno did the first half of his career here was phenomenal. No other way to put it. He logged what is, for most, a more than satisfying (to put it mildly) career in that first half of his tenure alone. Legendary.
BUT ...
That was a long, long time ago, amidst a vastly different college football landscape than exists today. He set a standard so high, even he couldn't come close to living up to it in the second half of his career ... which was also long enough to be a complete career for most.
But folks want to lump it all together into some great mythical time that is still relevant today, and should still be a bar against which we should judge current coaches/teams.
Be friggin happy we have a program that has had this level of success, post crippling scandal, with our recruiting base basically evaporating (or, more correctly, moving south and west, outside of our region).
Franklin will be on his 5th with his next one. So, four in nine years to date. With one win over OSU. The good news is his 'price per win' is staggering.
I think everyone gets that it's good enough for you as a fan and you enjoy trolling everyone. So, keep it up!
These kinds of threads are funny to me. I enjoy them and like hearing everyone's opinions.
It's like a weekly "State of the Union" on where the program currently sits in historical perspective.
I always wonder if other fanbases across the country have the same types of discussions that we have here ad nauseum. I assume they do.
Imagine being a Nebraska or Texas fan. Texas won a National Championship rather recently (if 2005 is considered "recent") but I'd say neither program is where PSU currently sits today as far as on-field success. I'll bet their (older) fans have a really tough time maintaining interest when comparing to the glory years.
It's like a weekly "State of the Union" on where the program currently sits in historical perspective.
I always wonder if other fanbases across the country have the same types of discussions that we have here ad nauseum. I assume they do.
Imagine being a Nebraska or Texas fan. Texas won a National Championship rather recently (if 2005 is considered "recent") but I'd say neither program is where PSU currently sits today as far as on-field success. I'll bet their (older) fans have a really tough time maintaining interest when comparing to the glory years.
Also Midnighter, Dec. 9, 2022:
"It’s all funny money anymore. Matt Rhule has done zero at Nebraska and makes more. My biggest issue with Franklin outside of some boneheaded playcalling was his contract, and now guys who’ve done nothing are being paid like money grows on trees. I have zero doubt Franklin will get another raise and extension within two years. Just doesn’t matter anymore."
What do you get from James Franklin for $7.5 million? - Page 2 - On3
Coach Franklin is one of the highest, if not the highest, paid coaches in the B1G. $7 million guaranteed and $500,000 bonus retention in 2022. So it is fair to ask if Penn State is getting what it is paying for since hiring him in 2014? You be the judge. #1. 10 win season this year. The...
Looks like he is coming to kick someone's ***.You’re welcome everyone.
Why don't you admit that you are simply using any pretense to spew your distain for Franklin?
Have some courage and be honest.
His contract status has no impact on me. If he leaves, PSU will replace him with another top notch coach. If players on the roster are unhappy if he leaves.....they will enter the portal and be replaced when the new coach gets situated (with his own portal recruits).
He wins at about the same % as PSU has won over it's history
He produces top 10 teams
He hasn't driven away the fanbase 90k plus season ticket holders
You just don't like him. I can understand that. All this other stuff is nonsense.
I hope he does leave. I want to be here when the
"We deserve better crowd" shows me the coach who will consistently beat Ohio State and Michigan......and not sell his soul to do it.
Again, I have not paid a single penny (price per win) for any PSU victory.....what are you paying? Sure glad you are not a fan of MSU or Texas AM....wonder what their price per victory is? How childish. Do you go to the Coaching Carousel Deli and ask what their price for victory is? LOL
Greatest educator/coach in history. No one on a PSU message board ever criticized himYou’re welcome everyone.
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