James Franklin has again been exposed and it's getting boring.

[PSUCYCLING]

Of course not winning against OSU sux. But, big picture, the program is in its best shape since 1994. Every year since 1994, even in our good years, we lost a game where a glaring weakness was exposed.

Notre Dame is a very, very good team. Probably their best since 1993.

I thought the overall game plan was good. The team was prepared. You can complain about individual play calls, but you can do that for any game, We got off to a good start, the team didn’t make any clear boneheaded penalties like we saw against Boise, etc. The game came down to four plays:

- Allar missing Singleton at the goal line (the Eagles lost a game this year when Barkley dropped a similar pass that would have iced the Atlanta game)
- Notre Dame somehow recovering a fumble on their FG drive at the end of the first half
- the DB falling down on Notre Dame’s late TD
- Allar’s pick

Any of those plays go our way, Notre Dame fans are complaining about their turnovers and the refs and worried whether Freeman can win big.

 

[PSUPride1]

It's either he isn't being taught the fundamentals well and the staff isn't harping on it...or (and most likely), they are and he just doesn't have it upstairs. I think he is afraid in the pocket and doesn't see things quickly enough. He just doesn't seem to shake things off and move on to the next play...combined with being maddeningly inconsistent. You can't have that at QB.

I would love to know if he was reminded before that last drive to not take any unnecessary chances because we have OT. Smh

 

[scrivener]

The ball hit Nick in the hands. That should be a catch ten times or of ten. Sure, you can fault the QB but he has a lot going on. Nick has to catch that ball.

Allar is only 20 years old. He's made great plays all season. The great Riley Leonard, 4 year starter and transfer from Duke (who is 22) was only 15 of 23 with two INTs. The difference was a) he had WRs and b) PSU's defensive backfield fell down. Greathouse killed us with 7 receptions and 105 yards. He's only had 36 receptions for 464 yards all year. They had players step up at critical times. We did not.

Only 15/23...that is 65%...if Drew hit that last night, we win. No doubt...ND players stepped up and our guys played down as usual...they underperformed and made critical errors. Cam falling on his ass...Zane's hands to the face...Nick's 5 yard motion penalty was a killer...the dropped pass/bad throw to Nick in the 1st quarter...not getting either fumble...zero impact on special teams, terrible 3rd down execution on both sides of the ball....etc. We make plays to lose...it's annual in big games and it is the JF special. So, yes, there are many problems along with Drew..but he is one of them.

 

[PSUPride1]

The ball hit Nick in the hands. That should be a catch ten times or of ten. Sure, you can fault the QB but he has a lot going on. Nick has to catch that ball.

Allar is only 20 years old. He's made great plays all season. The great Riley Leonard, 4 year starter and transfer from Duke (who is 22) was only 15 of 23 with two INTs. The difference was a) he had WRs and b) PSU's defensive backfield fell down. Greathouse killed us with 7 receptions and 105 yards. He's only had 36 receptions for 464 yards all year. They had players step up at critical times. We did not.

The singleton pass was horrible. He threw the ball behind Singleton and at his knees. That's the last place you want to put the ball with the back running away from you. Drew's job and what he gets paid a lot of money for is too throw a catchable ball in that critical spot and to not give the ball away at critical times. He gets an F in both areas.
John Schaffer was shredded after the Oklahoma game in 85 and rightfully so and he wasn't paid a dime. Drew is basically a paid athlete and he was horrible last night. Let him own the criticism he deserves.
Same for Franklin. We are considered frauds in big games and he gets paid 10 million a year for that not to be the case.

 

[bvillebaron]

Joe was undefeated and untied multiple times. He did everything he could do but be VOTED championships. Beat the biggest and best programs on the biggest stages multiple times. When he was at his best, the schedule was its toughest - toughest in nation (much tougher than any Big10 schedule), in fact.

He won big games all over the place…at home, ON THE ROAD (including against teams rated #1), at top tier bowls:

Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, USC, Nebraska, Miami FLA, Pitt (when they were an annual Top 10 team or better), LSU, Alabama.

Franklin is good at his job and has garnered some good results - but not at a top tier level that a blue blood program like Penn State has been used and has the potential.

Paterno was one of the best coaches of all-time and has the record in the biggest games to back it up.

I would love to know if he was reminded before that last drive to not take any unnecessary chances because we have OT. Smh

No I’m sure he wasn’t because as all of you haters know Franklin is incompetent.

 

[Bob2022]

Look at Paterno's record in big games since joining the Big Ten.

He beat 2 top-5 opponents in this ENTIRE Big Ten tenure -- and they were both overrated. Michigan in 1994, and a shit Arizona team in 1999.

We romanticize the past a bit too much here.

Now......joe gets the benefit of the doubt given his record in big games BEFORE coming to the Big Ten. But Penn State football after that '94 season was a clear step down from the elite. James Franklin is merely continuing that.

Exactly, Joe was I believe 95-54 including the 12-0 year in the big ten, hardly elite.

 

[bvillebaron]

It’s time! Well beyond time!

So just keep in place out of fear.

Joe’s bowl record is #1. Comparing him to Franklin is a joke. Do you even watch the games. Do you comprehend why we lose almost 95 % of our big games?

Marisa is correct.

Joe played Ohio State a few times back in 70s and 80. Took #1 Ranked O$U to woodshed ON THE ROAD. Did same on Fiesta Bowl. Even beat them on road in 2000s when he was past his prime. Either our back-up QB!

Where is Frankin’s equivalent win?

Joe has dozens of them. Frankin? Not a single one.

Don’t peddle such nonsense.

No bigger Paterno fan than me but consider the following: (1) it took Paterno 17 years to win a Natty while playing as an independent and thus an easier schedule than after joining the Big Ten; (2) he didn’t inherit a program crippled by sanctions; (3) Paterno never won a Natty or even played in one after Penn State joined the Big Ten (and I do think they were jobbed in 1994). Sorry if this offends you.

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

 

[Lion_Backer]

No bigger Paterno fan than me but consider the following: (1) it took Paterno 17 years to win a Natty while playing as an independent and thus an easier schedule than after joining the Big Ten; (2) he didn’t inherit a program crippled by sanctions; (3) Paterno never won a Natty or even played in one after Penn State joined the Big Ten (and I do think they were jobbed in 1994). Sorry if this offends you.

We were 'jobbed' more times than just 1994 my friend.

There were pivotal games that we routinely lost to the big 2 when we 1st joined this league that helped prevent us from asserting domination in the B1G and the associated recruiting and perception of the program that goes along with it.

Plus Joe wasn't getting any younger and the rules of the game were changing.

JMO.

 

[Lion84]

Last night wasn’t on Franklin.

It was his QB that failed. Again!

If Drew thinks he’s ready for the NFL, he’s nutso. Drew turtles up in most every big game. In the NFL he will face professionals every single week. He is so not ready for that.

I agree with this - this one at least wasn't on him BUT I do blame him for the horrid state of the WR room - our WR's got zero separation last night and that is due to talent and coaching and that needs to be fixed by him. I am not letting Allar off the hook but he played well enough for us to win.

 

[91Joe95]

Give me a break. Franklin does a good job. Some of our 1960s to 1980s teams would probably not have have done as well if they had to play Michigan and Ohio State every year.

Heck, we lost to Nebraska at home in 1982 if replay is in place. We got a lot of home cooking back then. We probably weren't beating them at the end of the year if a playoff was in place. SMU was 11-0-1 and might have beaten us as well.

Our 1986 team in addition to Miami finished ahead of 1-loss Oklahoma. Do we beat them in a playoff? I doubt it. Joe couldn't beat Bear or Barry Switzer.

I'm glad we have our mythical national championships to fall back on. But it's a fine line. Did Joe become a worse coach after 1986? Or did his competition level increase? He had one unbeaten season and one 11-1 season after that.

Our talent composite was far less than ND's, but we were right there and have a good shot at being back in the playoff next year.

If you're firing Franklin who ya got to replace him? Cause he better be a sure bet. The Fortune 500 thing means little. We have enough alumni we're bound to have some CEOs . It doesn't take many to lead the list. We don't lead the country. We trail Stanford.. How many billionaire alumni do we have? Not enough for this new age of college football.

Give it a rest with Joe. He would have killed it in this era with the big schollie limits, NIL with his fundraising abilities, and being able to grab a player in the portal to fill a need. And since kids can move on and still get a degree for free, he could cut kids free and know they were still getting their needs met.

 

[91Joe95]

Franklin cannot win the big games that we need him to. Plain and simple. Absolute fact. It really is a nightmare as a loyal longtime fan. It's like every big game for Franklin is reliving the '79 Sugar Bowl. Joe learned from that game and had huge success after that. Franklin is stuck in perpetuity with every big game playing out like that awful '79 Sugar Bowl, just the same bad movie with different yet all terrible endings.

Let's be honest, its much easier to seem relevant these days with the expanded playoffs. Even last year, a 2 loss team is merely nachos in the press box.

 

[Obliviax]

The singleton pass was horrible. He threw the ball behind Singleton and at his knees. That's the last place you want to put the ball with the back running away from you. Drew's job and what he gets paid a lot of money for is too throw a catchable ball in that critical spot and to not give the ball away at critical times. He gets an F in both areas.
John Schaffer was shredded after the Oklahoma game in 85 and rightfully so and he wasn't paid a dime. Drew is basically a paid athlete and he was horrible last night. Let him own the criticism he deserves.
Same for Franklin. We are considered frauds in big games and he gets paid 10 million a year for that not to be the case.

Nope. If a ball hits you in both hands, you've got to catch it. Was it a great or good pass? No. But Nick's gotta catch that ball. Both he and Allar need to take some blame.

 

[91Joe95]

It's either he isn't being taught the fundamentals well and the staff isn't harping on it...or (and most likely), they are and he just doesn't have it upstairs. I think he is afraid in the pocket and doesn't see things quickly enough. He just doesn't seem to shake things off and move on to the next play...combined with being maddeningly inconsistent. You can't have that at QB.

I'm not convinced the staff harps on fundamentals and discipline the way they should for a lot of areas on the team. The lack of attention to detail is like a broken record.

 

[PurposePitch]

The ball hit Nick in the hands. That should be a catch ten times or of ten. Sure, you can fault the QB but he has a lot going on. Nick has to catch that ball.

I could throw you that pass 1,000 times and, even knowing it's coming, you wouldn't catch it.

People are insane with what they think receivers can and should come up with. When you're running one way, with an easy path to a TD in that direction, so you know you're going to continue going that way, and expect the ball up and in front of you, and the ball ends up behind you on your back knee, it's almost impossible to adjust to that throw, and do so in a timely fashion. Catching it back shoulder? Good catch. Catching it on your back hip? That's a great catch. Your back knee? Almost impossible.

Receivers have gotten so good (with the help of gloves), and they've made such spectacular catches ... every now and then ... that dummies now think those types of catches should be made with regularity.

I still remember when Gesicki was a young player at PSU, and he failed to make only like 2 catches ... 1 he should have had, and the other was REALLY challenging (he had to high point it in traffic and change his body direction) ... and all these tools were writing him off as a flop who didn't have hands. But you could see he had hands and just didn't make the grab. Idiots.

 

[PurposePitch]

Nope. If a ball hits you in both hands, you've got to catch it. Was it a great or good pass? No. But Nick's gotta catch that ball. Both he and Allar need to take some blame.

LOL. Complete and utter nonsense. It didn't hit him in both hands ... he contorted himself so that both hands were there. I can throw you passes where you can get both hands to touch the ball, but you have ZERO chance of completing the catch. Such a stupid phrase that casuals have adopted and abused through the years.

 

[MacNit2.0]

Of course not winning against OSU sux. But, big picture, the program is in its best shape since 1994. Every year since 1994, even in our good years, we lost a game where a glaring weakness was exposed.

Notre Dame is a very, very good team. Probably their best since 1993.

I thought the overall game plan was good. The team was prepared. You can complain about individual play calls, but you can do that for any game, We got off to a good start, the team didn’t make any clear boneheaded penalties like we saw against Boise, etc. The game came down to four plays:

- Allar missing Singleton at the goal line (the Eagles lost a game this year when Barkley dropped a similar pass that would have iced the Atlanta game)
- Notre Dame somehow recovering a fumble on their FG drive at the end of the first half
- the DB falling down on Notre Dame’s late TD
- Allar’s pick

Any of those plays go our way, Notre Dame fans are complaining about their turnovers and the refs and worried whether Freeman can win big.

Lots of truth in here. If it was a one-off I think this argument would have more sympathy.

As far as programs being in as good of since 1994, I think most would disagree on that.

They have shown zero sign so that they can win any tough game against a worthy opponent. And certainly not on the road.


Hell even Northern Illinois has one of those!

 

[bmejnes]

I am happy for what the team did this year! Did it end the way any PSU fan wanted?? Hell, no!
The team was missing ONE stud WR from being a national champion. I expect PSU to be in the same position next year.

Let’s have a great off season and come back even better!

 

[McCloudersportLion]

He's doin a damn good job but I coulda used a lil less poatato-head babble b4 the game about lecturing about how ND needs to join a conference. Bad mojo and a dumb thing to argue about as ND would give an atomic wedgie to anybody in the ACC and be sitting out rd 1 amyway. Not as spud-league bad the sack a lumpy potatos I saw with the "Jesus vs JoePa" shirt on in the stands, but still terrible mojo , especially compounded on the fairy dust factor of Lee Corso doin his leprchaun jig.

 

[voltz99]

The magic of a place like Penn State is that we know what winners look like. We understand what it takes to make championship caliber teams and individuals. In fact, we strive to that end. It's ingrained in our culture. We lead the country in Fortune 500 CEOs. We've witnessed countless all-Americans (both academic and athletic), and we understand when an individual or group does not measure up.

We've sort of known this about James Franklin for a while now, and we've been at best "slow to react", and at worse negligent, to what we've seen. I'll probably take some push back on this but the word I would most associate with James Franklin now is "politician". I'm sorry if some of you think that's harsh but that's my opinion. At least he graduated from used car salesman.

There is a new age dawning or perhaps being reborn. Let's call it a resurgence of American exceptionalism. The "managed decline" peddlers of the past are waning. We have an opportunity to embrace our roots and reject the marginalized expectations of dying ideologies.

James Franklin has not embraced the full tradition of Penn State. In fact, he appears to be capitalizing on its "managed" decline. At a minimum, he doesn't seem to properly motivate the young people under his care or demonstrate our principles. At worst he neglects the basic principles of graduation rates, academic exceptionalism and high achieving academic standards. He's had too many scandals, excuses, historic and record failures and time and time again has failed to establish the requisite mental toughness in those under his care. It's not that he loses, it's that he seems to have abandoned the principles that once made us great.

He also happens to be the complete polar opposite of our past leader, JVP. He's a terrible game day, X&O Coach. It is apparent its not something he can learn and what is more problematic is that he doesn't seem interested in what made us successful in the first place which is really unforgivable. His inclinations seem to be the opposite of our culture and cannot continue. Plain and simple.

Exposed as a top 4 team. The coaches you wanted did not even make the playoffs.

Ps. Nobody got assaulted in the showers

 

[Waltwam]

The magic of a place like Penn State is that we know what winners look like. We understand what it takes to make championship caliber teams and individuals. In fact, we strive to that end. It's ingrained in our culture. We lead the country in Fortune 500 CEOs. We've witnessed countless all-Americans (both academic and athletic), and we understand when an individual or group does not measure up.

We've sort of known this about James Franklin for a while now, and we've been at best "slow to react", and at worse negligent, to what we've seen. I'll probably take some push back on this but the word I would most associate with James Franklin now is "politician". I'm sorry if some of you think that's harsh but that's my opinion. At least he graduated from used car salesman.

There is a new age dawning or perhaps being reborn. Let's call it a resurgence of American exceptionalism. The "managed decline" peddlers of the past are waning. We have an opportunity to embrace our roots and reject the marginalized expectations of dying ideologies.

James Franklin has not embraced the full tradition of Penn State. In fact, he appears to be capitalizing on its "managed" decline. At a minimum, he doesn't seem to properly motivate the young people under his care or demonstrate our principles. At worst he neglects the basic principles of graduation rates, academic exceptionalism and high achieving academic standards. He's had too many scandals, excuses, historic and record failures and time and time again has failed to establish the requisite mental toughness in those under his care. It's not that he loses, it's that he seems to have abandoned the principles that once made us great.

He also happens to be the complete polar opposite of our past leader, JVP. He's a terrible game day, X&O Coach. It is apparent its not something he can learn and what is more problematic is that he doesn't seem interested in what made us successful in the first place which is really unforgivable. His inclinations seem to be the opposite of our culture and cannot continue. Plain and simple.

If you're going to blame Franklin for not preparing the team, then you have to give him credit for the play of guys like Abdul Carter for playing lights out. And for wondering why guys like Allar don't reach the same standard?

 

[YYZ86]

I would love to know if he was reminded before that last drive to not take any unnecessary chances because we have OT. Smh

Statements like this always baffle me. Smh. I’m sure the OC, QB coach, and JF all told him to throw late down the middle to a covered receiver in PSU territory.

 

[LandoComando]

Matt Rhule? Nick Saban? Urban Meyer? How about Bill Belichick? I mean,... how bad do you want it???

I'll give you a break because but you obviously don't dream big enough or have expectations higher than "existence". Our graduation rates are in the bottom tier now not only of our conference but of the nation overall. How did that happen?? 1 and 19 in big games is embarassing. I could care less about top 10, top 8 top 4 etc, it doesn't matter. He was outcoached once again in a big spot. He had a superior team. He's not head CEO of the football team or head Communications Director of the athletic program.... he's the head coach. He's a good recruiter and a terrible game day coach and it is beyond possible that it will ever change.

I was inboard until your first answer was Matt Rhile then the credibility was gone. Pure nonsense

 

[LandoComando]

respectfully disagree...so if my expectations are unrealistic for a so called 5 star qb to be in the low to mid 50's for his comp pct against two G5 schools (sorry a new ACC team in SMU), an Oregon team with a terrible defense, and a ND squad with half of it's starters out on D, then I guess I am unrealistic. Drew has been terrible this last month...hard to argue that. I rewatched his low throw to Nick again last night like 10 times...doesn't step into it, just all arm...sorry, that can't happen at this stage. He got bailed out by two flags last night or he would have thrown two terrible INT"s in the endzone...

We have a QB problem in big games...of which Drew hasn't won any vs comparable blue bloods for two years now. Obviously our WR issue is paramount...but Drew by every measure the last four games has been a liability. He misses too many throws...the wheel route to Nick, the pass over the middle late to Wallace was awful...I just don't see it, but maybe 2025 he puts it together, who knows.

There were 6 officials drops against Boise. He should be in the high 60s/low 70s.
SMU--the wind/cold was a factor...see SMU's QB

 

[MacNit2.0]

If you're going to blame Franklin for not preparing the team, then you have to give him credit for the play of guys like Abdul Carter for playing lights out. And for wondering why guys like Allar don't reach the same standard?

I missed it - did PSU win?

 

[Waltwam]

I missed it - did PSU win?

No, but he showed up many on this board who thought they'd never make the final 4!

 

[MacNit2.0]

No, but he showed up many on this board who thought they'd never make the final 4!

He showed nothing new…beating SMU? Boise? Please.

That was a function of bad seeding in expanded playoffs. Would have never been selected as top 4

Won’t get that lucky again.

Lost to a team that could not beat Northern Illinois on their home field.

Yawn.

Exposed yet another time to the entire world CFB. Another step backwards.

 

[royboy]

He showed nothing new…beating SMU? Boise? Please.

That was a function of bad seeding in expanded playoffs. Would have never been selected as top 4

Won’t get that lucky again.

Lost to a team that could not beat Northern Illinois on their home field.

Yawn.

Exposed yet another time to the entire world CFB. Another step backwards.

You're stuck on this. Endless posts trashing Franklin and saying the same stuff.

Pick another team to root for. Or just get a life.

 

[Waltwam]

He showed nothing new…beating SMU? Boise? Please.

That was a function of bad seeding in expanded playoffs. Would have never been selected as top 4

Won’t get that lucky again.

Lost to a team that could not beat Northern Illinois on their home field.

Yawn.

Exposed yet another time to the entire world CFB. Another step backwards.

13 teams lost to ND after NIU. You can only play the teams put in front of you. PSU didn't pick the teams they played in the playoffs.

 

[MacNit2.0]

You're stuck on this. Endless posts trashing Franklin and saying the same stuff.

Pick another team to root for. Or just get a life.

Your are stuck on responding to my posts. Suggest you take your own advice.

I keep seeing the same old excuses.

Looking for a change and see the program back to being a true blueblood.

Competing hard, smart with class, and respect for our opponents. You may not remember but this WAS Penn State football.

Enough of the underachieving clown show.

 

[ryoder1]

LOL. Complete and utter nonsense. It didn't hit him in both hands ... he contorted himself so that both hands were there. I can throw you passes where you can get both hands to touch the ball, but you have ZERO chance of completing the catch. Such a stupid phrase that casuals have adopted and abused through the years.

It would have been a spectacular catch not impossible but extremely difficult. Blame goes to Allar not Nick. And thay was huge. We get 7 there then ND needs a TD on their last drive (not the one after the terrible pick but the one before that) since they would be down 4. We keep them out and win 28-24. Dang what a blown opportunity. Cost us the game.

 

[PurposePitch]

Your are stuck on responding to my posts. Suggest you take your own advice.

I keep seeing the same old excuses.

Looking for a change and see the program back to being a true blueblood.

Competing hard, smart with class, and respect for our opponents. You may not remember but this WAS Penn State football.

Enough of the underachieving clown show.

OK, Sandusky.

But the world has moved on from what happened 40 years ago. No one longs for the days of yore but creepy creepsters. Time to reprogram yourselves, Joebots.

 

[PSUPride1]

We were 'jobbed' more times than just 1994 my friend.

There were pivotal games that we routinely lost to the big 2 when we 1st joined this league that helped prevent us from asserting domination in the B1G and the associated recruiting and perception of the program that goes along with it.

Plus Joe wasn't getting any younger and the rules of the game were changing.

JMO.

Exactly.

 

[manilion]

It’s actually comical to listen to. It’s even funnier reading people here defend Franklin. Bottom line, Franklin’s ability puts fear in no one. And his fans(even here) don’t believe he can win a big game.

 

[PurposePitch]

It’s actually comical to listen to. It’s even funnier reading people here defend Franklin. Bottom line, Franklin’s ability puts fear in no one. And his fans(even here) don’t believe he can win a big game.

Damn. And all we're left with is a program that, thanks to the previous regime, had to rise from the ashes to become a team that advanced to the national semifinals, and should have advanced to the natty. That Franklin guy sucks for making this a program to be proud of, and a national concern, once again. And, as far as we know, our DC is keeping his hands off little boys' private areas.