What criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football?

[Nitknee]

So that would mean 8-4 Purdue had a great year in ‘00.

And PSU had a great year in ‘16 losing 3 games that included losing to Pitt and blowing a late lead vs. 3-loss USC?

Interesting choice of words considering what had been defined as greatness.

haven‘t done it since. i was on the field when Barkley caught his touchdown.
Pretty special year considering where the program was! We haven’t done it since 2016 either. Need to start to win your conference on a more regular basis before thinking you are going to be anything nationally.,

 

[CVLion]

When I get tickets to at least one game in our corporate suite at the Beav. And it’s a win.

 

[GrimReaper]

Agree. Interesting that the playoffs are technically NOT bowl games, so the NY6 is round 2. Lose in round 1, and strictly technically speaking, the team does not get to a bowl game. In essence, round 1 is a major bowl without the bowl designation.
I guess 4 on-campus bowls is a way to look at it. The Happy Valley Bowl has a nice ring to it. The host school marketing opportunities are endless!

Wouldn't be surprised if eventually the first two rounds, maybe even three. aren't hosted by participating schools. Bowl organizing committees are going to be disappointed in the fall off of economic benefit to their communities that will result from the new playoff format.

 

[Nitt1300]

You know, some people would say a good year for Penn State is 3 wins and Franklin getting fired.

but they "don't hate" Franklin

 

[LaJollaCreek]

but they "don't hate" Franklin

No, No, No, they just want to win more and if you say it enough online it becomes true. There is zero chance that firing a known good coach can backfire and it only has an upside.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

"as it's always been" used to be 12 (max), maybe 11, wins for the "National Champion" (11 game regular season and a bowl game)

Now is going to be 17 (max) and probably at least 15 or 16 wins for a "National Champion"

Equal standards of "number of wins", comparing eras of 11 games + 1 bowl game era - vs now being as many as 18, and at least 16 games to win a championship, doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?

Last year - BEFORE even expanding the post-season - there were 8 teams that had 12 or more wins, and another 4 that had 11........ and those numbers will go up significantly with the expanded post-season.

10 wins - for a program that wants to consider itself a blue-blood - isn't going to mean much.

Tell that to Nebraska which hasn't had a 10-win season since 2012 and hasn't had a winning season since 2016.

 

[marshall23]

I hope PSU finds 70 million and buys out CJF after this season.. Then spends 100 million to bring in the coach who then only has to win more than 10 games per year, beat Ohio State and Michigan at least half the time and makes the playoffs 3 times in 5 years. The new coach will achieve all of this with the current NIL situation at PSU. I would wager a considerable sum that some here would be bitching about something by year 2. WE DESERVE BETTER!

 

[Mufasa94]

haven‘t done it since.

I don’t think they did it then as going 0-2 vs other major conference teams is an odd representation of greatness. Just found it interesting that someone who used greatness about that used the negative connotation “participation trophy” comment about every other team.

Pretty special year considering where the program was! We haven’t done it since 2016 either.

It was unexpected and arguably the most entertaining (good and bad) season in decades. That said, I care about the results of all the PSU games, not just a selective 75%-85% of them. 2016 was not the most successful PSU season in the past decade.

Need to start to win your conference on a more regular basis before thinking you are going to be anything nationally.,

Before this upcoming year, you had to win the combo of in-conference/OOC games before you were going to be anything nationally.

 

[Nitknee]

I don’t think they did it then as going 0-2 vs other major conference teams is an odd representation of greatness. Just found it interesting that someone who used greatness about that used the negative connotation “participation trophy” comment about every other team.

It was unexpected and arguably the most entertaining (good and bad) season in decades. That said, I care about the results of all the PSU games, not just a selective 75%-85% of them. 2016 was not the most successful PSU season in the past decade.

Before this upcoming year, you had to win the combo of in-conference/OOC games before you were going to be anything nationally.

Agree to disagree

 

[Nitknee]

I don’t think they did it then as going 0-2 vs other major conference teams is an odd representation of greatness. Just found it interesting that someone who used greatness about that used the negative connotation “participation trophy” comment about every other team.

It was unexpected and arguably the most entertaining (good and bad) season in decades. That said, I care about the results of all the PSU games, not just a selective 75%-85% of them. 2016 was not the most successful PSU season in the past decade.

Before this upcoming year, you had to win the combo of in-conference/OOC games before you were going to be anything nationally.

Our OOC record has been just fine!

 

[BW Lion]

Tell that to Nebraska which hasn't had a 10-win season since 2012 and hasn't had a winning season since 2016.

I'm going to bookmark your post for the 2025 season.

 

[BW Lion]

Our OOC record has been just fine!

This photo generally represents PSU's OOC schedules

 

[Alphalion75]

What criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football? There are those that feel nothing less than a national championship is satisfactory. I place those morons with unrealistic expectations on ignore immediately. Is it a NY 6 Bowl game? A NY 6 bowl win? A Big 10 Championship? A top-10 ranking? Beating Ohio State? A 10-win season? Making the college football playoff? Making it to the Big 10 Championship Game? A combination of the aforementioned?

To me, it's been a 10-win season with a NY6 bowl game and even more so with a NY6 bowl win, and beginning in 2024, to me it's now a 10-win season and making the college football playoff. Sign me up for that every year.

Which schools had the most good years (10 wins & a bowl game win (not necessarily NY6) or playoff win) since 1950? And before you think that sounds easy, keep in mind there have been 74 football seasons played since 1950.

27 – Alabama (’52, ’61, ’62, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’86, ’91, ’92, 94, ’96, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ‘23) not including ’93 and ’05 both vacated.

20 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’71, ’80, ’83, ’92, ’97, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’07, ’08, ’12, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’19, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

20 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’86, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’96, ’99, ’05, ’09, ’17, ’19, ‘22)

19 – Oklahoma (’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’85, ’86, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’10, ’11, ’13, 16, ’21) (’54 & ’56 consecutive bowl appearances prohibited by conference.)

17 – Florida State (’77, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99, ’10, ’12, ’13, ’16, ‘22)

17 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’13, ’16)

15 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’80, ’82, ’84, ’86, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’00, ’03, ’09)

16 – Ohio State (’54, ’68, ’73, ’86, ’93, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’18, ’21)

15 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’69, ’72, ’75, ’81, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’18)

14 – Clemson (’78, ’81, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’19, ’21)

14 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’87, ’96, ’01, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’10, ’13, ’18. ’19, ’22, ‘23)

13 – Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’15, ’17, ’19, ‘23)

13 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’87, ’89, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’01, ’04, ’07, ‘22)

12 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Florida (’93, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’01, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’18, ’19)

10 – Oregon (’00, ’01, ’08, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’19, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’99, ’05, ’06, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17)

9 – Auburn (’72, ’74, ’83, ’86, ’89, ’97, ’04, ’06, ’10)

9 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’01, ’03)

9 – Michigan (’80, ’85, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’02, ’11, ’15, ‘23)

7 – UCLA (’82, ’87, ’88, ’97, ’05, ’13, ’14)

Care to toughen up the criteria?
Which schools had the most very good years (1 loss or less & a major bowl game or playoff win) since 1950?

18 – Alabama (’61, ’62, ’65, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’92, ’09, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’20, ’21)

12 – Oklahoma (’53, ’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’83, ’86, ’00)

(’54 and ’56 could not make consecutive bowl appearance as conference champion.)

12 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’03, ’04, ’08)

11 – Ohio State (’54, ’57, ’68, ’73, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’14, ’15, ’18, ’20)

(’61 opted not to go to Rose Bowl and in ’10 wins were vacated)

10 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’68, ’69, ’72, ’81, ’04, ’05, ’08)

9 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’81, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ‘23)

8 – Florida State (’87, ’88, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’97, ’99, ’13)

8 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’80, ’83, ’02, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

8 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’82, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99)

8 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’82, ’86, ’94, ’05)

7 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’00, ’01)

7- Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’92, ’93)

(’53 and ’66 Notre Dame chose to not go to a bowl game)

6 – Clemson (’50, ’81, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’ 19)

5 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’62, ’03, ’19)

5 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’85, ’89, ’98)

4 – Auburn (’83, ’87* tie in Sugar Bowl, ’04, ’10)

4 – Florida (’96, ’06, ’08, ’09)

4 – Michigan (’64, ’92, ’97, ‘23)

3 – Arkansas (’64, ’68, ’77)

3 – Michigan State (’53, ’55, ’13)

(’66 could not go to the Rose Bowl consecutive years as conference champion.)

3 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’17)

So what criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football?

Lots of wins.

 

[Mufasa94]

Our OOC record has been just fine.

It wasn’t in the 2016 season you described as great.

 

[Midnighter]

 

[Nitknee]

It wasn’t in the 2016 season you described as great.

You are right, we lost to Pitt and then beat them 3 out of 4 years. Loved to win a National Championship again but need to win the Big Ten or at least come in 2nd for that to happen!
Wish all our sports were as good as wrestling but they aren’t. I would take a Big Ten Championship every 3 or 4 years in any of our sports as being a competitive program and satisfied.
i noticed you never said what you considered a good season, just don‘t want Big Ten Championships!

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Winning the big every 3-4 years would 100% satisfy me. It would open a whole new world of national relevancy

 

[BobPSU92]

It’s not what you make. It’s what you save. What does the Top 10 Expenditures list look like? Are we elite at pissing it away?

 

[Midnighter]

It’s not what you make. It’s what you save. What does the Top 10 Expenditures list look like? Are we elite at pissing it away?

We’re due for a raise/contract extension for Franklin soon. Just hang in there!

 

[GrimReaper]

It’s not what you make. It’s what you save. What does the Top 10 Expenditures list look like? Are we elite at pissing it away?

Last reporting year, ICA's surplus was a whopping $126k (you can calculate the piss velocity on your own). It's debt increased by $85mm (and it hasn't seriously gotten started bingeing).

 

[GrimReaper]

We’re due for a raise/contract extension for Franklin soon. Just hang in there!

 

[PSUJam]

We’re due for a raise/contract extension for Franklin soon. Just hang in there!

 

[PSUJam]

 

[BobPSU92]

Always trailing Tosu.

 

[BobPSU92]

Last reporting year, ICA's surplus was a whopping $126k (you can calculate the piss velocity on your own). It's debt increased by $85mm (and it hasn't seriously gotten started bingeing).

Kraft has us on the fast track to the top bottom. Let’s not forget that Sandy got it all started. Credit Debt where credit debt is due owed.

 

[Nitt1300]

We’re due for a raise/contract extension for Franklin soon. Just hang in there!

 

[GrimReaper]

Kraft has us on the fast track to the top bottom. Let’s not forget that Sandy got it all started. Credit Debt where credit debt is due owed.

In the video of the BoT meeting on the Beaver Stadium renovation, there was immediate silence on Lubrano's question about what happens if the debt can't be serviced. Finally, Boom Boom stepped up and....punted. All I can say is that she needs a lot of work on her flexibility.

 

[Connorpozlee]

I would call 10-2 a good year for Penn State. Maybe even 9-3.

 

[Mufasa94]

You are right, we lost to Pitt and then beat them 3 out of 4 years.

The subject was 2016, those other three years are irrelevant to that.

Loved to win a National Championship again but need to win the Big Ten or at least come in 2nd for that to happen!

Have to perform well in the OOC games also. Especially when the playoffs start.

i noticed you never said what you considered a good season,

I replied to your description of greatness and have avoided the “good” season topic as I believe there are varying levels of good, pretty good, and very good that is in the eye of the beholder and very subjective.

I will say PSU hasn’t had a great season since ‘94. Losing the last game would eliminate the possibility of achieving that description.

just don‘t want Big Ten Championships!

I challenge you to provide the quote where I wrote that.

 

[Nitknee]

The subject was 2016, those other three years are irrelevant to that.

Have to perform well in the OOC games also. Especially when the playoffs start.

I replied to your description of greatness and have avoided the “good” season topic as I believe there are varying levels of good, pretty good, and very good that is in the eye of the beholder and very subjective.

I will say PSU hasn’t had a great season since ‘94. Losing the last game would eliminate the possibility of achieving that description.

I challenge you to provide the quote where I wrote that.

you win! Do me a favor put me on your ignore list so I don‘t have. to justify my posts to you!

 

[Midnighter]

C'mon, I don't hate Franklin. He's just the Kirk Ferentz of Penn State.

Anyways, I'm out on Franklin good/bad/meh discussion until the season starts (unless there is something substantive to discuss). I'm not budging and you guys aren't either. Fine with me - I'm not one to tell others how to express or engage their fandom with Penn State. See you in other threads.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

C'mon, I don't hate Franklin. He's just the Kirk Ferentz of Penn State and both are cool with 8-4.

 

[LaJollaCreek]

I didn't realize the B1G west had 2 top 5 teams in it every year. Well really just one most of the time, but UM did the last few years, but were mediocre for the 2 decades prior. Thank goodness 12am will take a break from his fire JF crusade. The same one 12am admitted couldn't fire or wasn't going to happen right now after the last 2 years and the current contract. Imagine spamming the board for months with the same crap and then saying yeah...I'm out, I don't like the environment I basically created. Maybe he doesn't want to win as much today as yesterday...but I'll take it.

 

[Midnighter]

C'mon, I don't hate Franklin. He's just the Kirk Ferentz of Penn State and both are cool with 8-4.

Kirk Ferentz has had some solid years bro.

 

[PSUJam]

I know this is off topic but check out where EB ended up after everyone was wondering why he wasn't getting a NFL HC job.

UCLA Football Adds Eric Bieniemy to Coaching Staff - UCLA

Two-time Super Bowl champion will serve as associate head coach and offensive coordinator.

uclabruins.com

 

[Midnighter]

I know this is off topic but check out where EB ended up after everyone was wondering why he wasn't getting a NFL HC job.

UCLA Football Adds Eric Bieniemy to Coaching Staff - UCLA

Two-time Super Bowl champion will serve as associate head coach and offensive coordinator.

uclabruins.com

What was the reason for not getting an NFL job? Good pick up for UCLA. He must have some issues - he’s toxic for HC jobs.

 

[PSUJam]

What was the reason for not getting an NFL job? Good pick up for UCLA. He must have some issues - he’s toxic for HC jobs.

Not sure. He certainly has interviewed quite a bit. I think he does have a bit of an off the field past. I guess that's OK if you're an assistant but not a HC.