something overlooked re: PSU and spending lately

[ApexLion]

Less than 10 points separate the top two institutions in the final Learfield Directors' Cup fall standings for Division I with North Carolina leading the way with 422.50 total points.

North Carolina took home the women's soccer title and earned top 10 finishes in women's field hockey and men's cross country.

Rounding out the top five is Stanford in second with 413.00 points, along with – Penn State (third, 335.00 points), BYU (fourth, 311.50 points) and Virginia (293.50 points).

Krafty wants to win this. No doubt he also makes a $1M bonus if he does.

 

[MtNittany]

I would hope he'd want to win it for more than $$$. Apparently there's a million dollars stuffed behind the cushions of every couch in Old Main anyway.

 

[TheBigUglies]

It is interesting how they are spending money on new buildings, stadium upgrade, new coaches(I know athletic budget is separate from overall budgets) etc. But out of the other side of the mouth we are hearing budget problems, commonwealth campuses may close, yada yada yada...

 

[MtNittany]

It is interesting how they are spending money on new buildings, stadium upgrade, new coaches(I know athletic budget is separate from overall budgets) etc. But out of the other side of the mouth we are hearing budget problems, commonwealth campuses may close, yada yada yada...

The future of secondary education COULD mirror the future of college football. The strong stay strong, but the weak get left behind. PSU will survive. I don't see how all the current branch campuses and other failing former teacher colleges do though.

If they would get back to teaching teaching and nursing and add in trades, that could be a path forward I guess.

 

[PSUFTG]

PSU Learfield cup standings over the last 20+ years:

PSU typically does better in the Fall (and, seemingly every year, adds another 100 points from the wrestling program in the winter. Yeah!!), and drops off in the Spring. Shouldn't surprise anyone, if they have any knowledge of the overall sports programs.
(Last year they were 6th after fall.... finished 23rd for the year. So, a little better positioning going into winter)

I don't know how many people care about Learfield, but better to be #1 than #30.
Aside from the last 2 years under Barbour, last year was PSU's worst ever, so a lot of room for improvement (FWIW, Increased ICA spending has thus far been inversely proportional to Learfield placement - which should, again, surprise no one given where the money goes).
The big downward driver under Barbour was the large decline in women's sports points. Why? Who knows?

Last year's final numbers:
23.24FinalDI (PDF) - National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
Penn State’s No. 23 Finish in Learfield Cup Standings Not So Krafty | State College, PA

From the article linked above:

TIM CURLEY (average 14th):
2003 – 5th;
2004 – 13th;
2005 – 20th;
2006 – 15th;
2007 – 21st;
2008 – 9th;
2009 – 19th;
2010 – 11th;
I don't know why there are no numbers for 2011. Took the info from the attached article
2012 – 12th.

DAVE JOYNER (average 8th):
2012 – 12th;
2013 – 6th;
2014 – 5th.

SANDY BARBOUR (average 20th):
2015 – 8th;
2016 – 20th;
2017 – 8th;
2018 – 12th;
2019 – 13th;
2020 – Covid;
2021 – 39th;
2022 – 43rd.

PATRICK KRAFT (average 19th):
2023 – 15th;
2024 – 23rd.

As more and more schools drop "non-revenue" sports moving forward, the dynamics of "Learfield" will likely change a lot.

 

[BobPSU92]

Less than 10 points separate the top two institutions in the final Learfield Directors' Cup fall standings for Division I with North Carolina leading the way with 422.50 total points.

North Carolina took home the women's soccer title and earned top 10 finishes in women's field hockey and men's cross country.

Rounding out the top five is Stanford in second with 413.00 points, along with – Penn State (third, 335.00 points), BYU (fourth, 311.50 points) and Virginia (293.50 points).

Krafty wants to win this. No doubt he also makes a $1M bonus if he does.

Kraft: I have to spend money to make money.

 

[SleepyLion]

Kraft: I have to spend money to make spend money.

fify