The coach wins a Big Game...and looks toward another

[Jerry]

Yeah, this qualifies as "big." I don't give a shit whether SMU was ranked 10 or 11...or what their ranking will end up being.

The fact is an 11-win team came to town to play in a do-or-die playoff game...with all the marbles on the line...and our team and coaching staff, led by our coach, whipped them soundly.

This on top of an 11-win regular season that saw us go to the conference championship game.

The truth is that despite the frustrations against Ohio State, the occasionally mystifying coaching decisions on the field, and the media narrative, Franklin has won a lot of "big games" over the years...and today he added one more...maybe the biggest.

Boise State is a challenge. I've seen their All-American running back play and he's the real deal. But the early line pegs us as 11.5-point favorites...and the record shows that we don't lose too many games at those odds. Hopefully that will continue to be the case.

Meanwhile, kudos to the team...to the staff...and to the head coach on a great season.

 

[LandoComando]

Yeah, this qualifies as "big." I don't give a shit whether SMU was ranked 10 or 11...or what their ranking will end up being.

The fact is an 11-win team came to town to play in a do-or-die playoff game...with all the marbles on the line...and our team and coaching staff, led by our coach, whipped them soundly.

This on top of an 11-win regular season that saw us go to the conference championship game.

The truth is that despite the frustrations against Ohio State, the occasionally mystifying coaching decisions on the field, and the media narrative, Franklin has won a lot of "big games" over the years...and today he added one more...maybe the biggest.

Boise State is a challenge. I've seen their All-American running back play and he's the real deal. But the early line pegs us as 11.5-point favorites...and the record shows that we don't lose too many games at those odds. Hopefully that will continue to be the case.

Meanwhile, kudos to the team...to the staff...and to the head coach on a great season.

Big is a game against an opponent with comparable or better talent that we're not favored by more than a score against

We're all happy we won. We don't need to pretend we just beat the Chiefs today. We beat a team should beat.

 

[Delcolion915]

Let me guess, Loado is piling on with troll shit and using "we" about 6 times per post? 😂

 

[heckmans]

Yeah, this qualifies as "big." I don't give a shit whether SMU was ranked 10 or 11...or what their ranking will end up being.

The fact is an 11-win team came to town to play in a do-or-die playoff game...with all the marbles on the line...and our team and coaching staff, led by our coach, whipped them soundly.

This on top of an 11-win regular season that saw us go to the conference championship game.

The truth is that despite the frustrations against Ohio State, the occasionally mystifying coaching decisions on the field, and the media narrative, Franklin has won a lot of "big games" over the years...and today he added one more...maybe the biggest.

Boise State is a challenge. I've seen their All-American running back play and he's the real deal. But the early line pegs us as 11.5-point favorites...and the record shows that we don't lose too many games at those odds. Hopefully that will continue to be the case.

Meanwhile, kudos to the team...to the staff...and to the head coach on a great season.

Not sure why you have to do this. Just enjoy the win. No need to oversell it.

Also, just curious what you define as a big win. You said there has been a lot of them. After 10 years, I assume there is at least 8-10 of them. Which ones qualify other than OSU 2016?

 

[LemonEars]

This was a BIG game because it was a college football playoff game. Our team did a great job and won the game. However, I don't think it exonerates Franklin from the allegation that he can't win games against great teams. SMU was not a great team. I don't think they are even a good team. Looking over our wins this year I think SMU was in the same class as Bowling Green. We beat SMU by 38-10 and beat Bowling Green by 34-27. Bowling Green's QB was much better than the SMU stiff. The ACC should not have any automatic bids to the playoffs unless the MAC gets automatic bids too. For football the ACC and MAC are equivalent.

 

[RickinDayton]

Big is a game against an opponent with comparable or better talent that we're not favored by more than a score against

We're all happy we won. We don't need to pretend we just beat the Chiefs today. We beat a team should beat.

No one is pretending they were a top five team but they are definitely top 15. PSU beat a very good team and it is a big win in a pressure situation (i.e., one & done now).

 

[knickslions]

Not sure why you have to do this. Just enjoy the win. No need to oversell it.

Also, just curious what you define as a big win. You said there has been a lot of them. After 10 years, I assume there is at least 8-10 of them. Which ones qualify other than OSU 2016?

Not sure why you have to criticize someone excited over a very solid playoff win. Just enjoy the win

 

[Jerry]

Big is a game against an opponent with comparable or better talent that we're not favored by more than a score against

We're all happy we won. We don't need to pretend we just beat the Chiefs today. We beat a team should beat.

Blah blah blah, Lando.

Dude, we all know where you're coming from.

 

[Jerry]

Not sure why you have to do this. Just enjoy the win. No need to oversell it.

Also, just curious what you define as a big win. You said there has been a lot of them. After 10 years, I assume there is at least 8-10 of them. Which ones qualify other than OSU 2016?

Look it up, Heck. It's all right there on the record.

 

[knickslions]

Look it up, Heck. It's all right there on the record.

All he does is criticize. He is a lando jr

 

[Jerry]

This was a BIG game because it was a college football playoff game. Our team did a great job and won the game. However, I don't think it exonerates Franklin from the allegation that he can't win games against great teams. SMU was not a great team. I don't think they are even a good team. Looking over our wins this year I think SMU was in the same class as Bowling Green. We beat SMU by 38-10 and beat Bowling Green by 34-27. Bowling Green's QB was much better than the SMU stiff. The ACC should not have any automatic bids to the playoffs unless the MAC gets automatic bids too. For football the ACC and MAC are equivalent.

OK, well you can look at it that way.

And I can look at it another way.

 

[The Spin Meister]

Luv ya man…. But gotta call BS on the BG comparison. Our team is far better than that very early season version. This team would foot stomp BG now.

And the weather absolutely hurt the ‘stangs. For people not used to it it is downright brutal. On 50-60d it definitely would have been a different game

 

[AWS1022]

Yeah, this qualifies as "big." I don't give a shit whether SMU was ranked 10 or 11...or what their ranking will end up being.

The fact is an 11-win team came to town to play in a do-or-die playoff game...with all the marbles on the line...and our team and coaching staff, led by our coach, whipped them soundly.

This on top of an 11-win regular season that saw us go to the conference championship game.

The truth is that despite the frustrations against Ohio State, the occasionally mystifying coaching decisions on the field, and the media narrative, Franklin has won a lot of "big games" over the years...and today he added one more...maybe the biggest.

Boise State is a challenge. I've seen their All-American running back play and he's the real deal. But the early line pegs us as 11.5-point favorites...and the record shows that we don't lose too many games at those odds. Hopefully that will continue to be the case.

Meanwhile, kudos to the team...to the staff...and to the head coach on a great season.

They were a top 10 team…ranked 10 and seeded 11.

 

[OKLionFan]

Yeah, this qualifies as "big." I don't give a shit whether SMU was ranked 10 or 11...or what their ranking will end up being.

The fact is an 11-win team came to town to play in a do-or-die playoff game...with all the marbles on the line...and our team and coaching staff, led by our coach, whipped them soundly.

This on top of an 11-win regular season that saw us go to the conference championship game.

The truth is that despite the frustrations against Ohio State, the occasionally mystifying coaching decisions on the field, and the media narrative, Franklin has won a lot of "big games" over the years...and today he added one more...maybe the biggest.

Boise State is a challenge. I've seen their All-American running back play and he's the real deal. But the early line pegs us as 11.5-point favorites...and the record shows that we don't lose too many games at those odds. Hopefully that will continue to be the case.

Meanwhile, kudos to the team...to the staff...and to the head coach on a great season.

Well said.

 

[saturdaysarebetter2]

Hey Franklin haters, is a playoff game a big game? Win or go home. Elimination. Season ends. Seems to me that meets the definition of a big game. Win or elimination. Big Game James is undefeated in playoff games.

 

[AWS1022]

Hey Franklin haters, is a playoff game a big game? Win or go home. Elimination. Season ends. Seems to me that meets the definition of a big game. Win or elimination. Big Game James is undefeated in playoff games.

Against a top 10 team as well.

 

[manilion]

No one is pretending they were a top five team but they are definitely top 15. PSU beat a very good team and it is a big win in a pressure situation (i.e., one & done now).

lol. SMU has beaten ZERO top 25 teams. This is not a top 15 team, not this year and not any year. They were exposed yesterday.

 

[PSU4U]

Not sure why you have to do this. Just enjoy the win. No need to oversell it.

Also, just curious what you define as a big win. You said there has been a lot of them. After 10 years, I assume there is at least 8-10 of them. Which ones qualify other than OSU 2016?

When comparing Franklin to OSU and or MI Franklin has done as much with the level of talent he has had as can be expected and far better than most other coaches would have done. Looking at what he inherited at PS and where the program is today is nothing short of fantastic and he has built it the right way. He has had to fight the effects of the sanctions fans dirty officials/referees AD's BOT's and the admin in general as well as other teams who were paying recruits before it was legal as well as the negative recruiting. In spite of all that opposition he has advanced the program to new heights. As much as some want to make him the scape goat, he hasn't been the problem.

 

[bdroc]

Yeah, this qualifies as "big." I don't give a shit whether SMU was ranked 10 or 11...or what their ranking will end up being.

The fact is an 11-win team came to town to play in a do-or-die playoff game...with all the marbles on the line...and our team and coaching staff, led by our coach, whipped them soundly.

This on top of an 11-win regular season that saw us go to the conference championship game.

The truth is that despite the frustrations against Ohio State, the occasionally mystifying coaching decisions on the field, and the media narrative, Franklin has won a lot of "big games" over the years...and today he added one more...maybe the biggest.

Boise State is a challenge. I've seen their All-American running back play and he's the real deal. But the early line pegs us as 11.5-point favorites...and the record shows that we don't lose too many games at those odds. Hopefully that will continue to be the case.

Meanwhile, kudos to the team...to the staff...and to the head coach on a great season.

I don't know much about Boise but I think its going to take more than a great RB to beat PSU. Their QB is going to have to make some plays to keep PSU defenders off balance.

Boise played a weak schedule. The only thing that scares me is that they played Oregon tough.

 

[Jerry]

Not sure why you have to do this. Just enjoy the win. No need to oversell it.

Also, just curious what you define as a big win. You said there has been a lot of them. After 10 years, I assume there is at least 8-10 of them. Which ones qualify other than OSU 2016?

Sorry, didn't mean my previous response to be smart-alecky in any way.

The record will show that I'm not some kind of cheerleader who never criticized Franklin. But neither am I a nay-sayer who does nothing but criticize him.

He's won 100 games as Penn State coach. He's had, what, six seasons with 10 wins or better. He's won the Fiesta, Cotton, and Rose Bowls. He's now won a playoff game. You don't compile a record like that without some big wins against good teams.

Right, his record against Ohio State sucks -- the two 1-point losses where we squandered significant leads in the 4th quarter were backbreakers -- but there's more to the story than that.

You know, I'm not saying this about you, but I almost get the feeling that there's a small embittered portion of our fan base that would have preferred us to lose yesterday so they could spend all day today doing their tired Big-Game-James shtick.

Personally, I'm pretty excited about the win and excited about playing Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. This is a tremendous opportunity for the team and the program.

 

[AWS1022]

Sorry, didn't mean my previous response to be smart-alecky in any way.

The record will show that I'm not some kind of cheerleader who never criticized Franklin. But neither am I a nay-sayer who does nothing but criticize him.

He's won 100 games as Penn State coach. He's had, what, six seasons with 10 wins or better. He's won the Fiesta, Cotton, and Rose Bowls. He's now won a playoff game. You don't compile a record like that without some big wins against good teams.

Right, his record against Ohio State sucks -- the two 1-point losses where we squandered significant leads in the 4th quarter were backbreakers -- but there's more to the story than that.

You know, I'm not saying this about you, but I almost get the feeling that there's a small embittered portion of our fan base that would have preferred us to lose yesterday so they could spend all day today doing their tired Big-Game-James shtick.

Personally, I'm pretty excited about the win and excited about playing Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. This is a tremendous opportunity for the team and the program.

Even though those folks didn’t get to see us lose as they would want, they can fall back on trashing our opponent to minimize the importance of the win because that’s what they do.

 

[manilion]

When comparing Franklin to OSU and or MI Franklin has done as much with the level of talent he has had as can be expected and far better than most other coaches would have done. Looking at what he inherited at PS and where the program is today is nothing short of fantastic and he has built it the right way. He has had to fight the effects of the sanctions fans dirty officials/referees AD's BOT's and the admin in general as well as other teams who were paying recruits before it was legal as well as the negative recruiting. In spite of all that opposition he has advanced the program to new heights. As much as some want to make him the scape goat, he hasn't been the problem.

Ah no! He has lost to many teams he should have beaten. And has not beaten any teams that would be considered an upset. By measure of quality wins and loses he is a net negative.

 

[manilion]

Sorry, didn't mean my previous response to be smart-alecky in any way.

The record will show that I'm not some kind of cheerleader who never criticized Franklin. But neither am I a nay-sayer who does nothing but criticize him.

He's won 100 games as Penn State coach. He's had, what, six seasons with 10 wins or better. He's won the Fiesta, Cotton, and Rose Bowls. He's now won a playoff game. You don't compile a record like that without some big wins against good teams.

Right, his record against Ohio State sucks -- the two 1-point losses where we squandered significant leads in the 4th quarter were backbreakers -- but there's more to the story than that.

You know, I'm not saying this about you, but I almost get the feeling that there's a small embittered portion of our fan base that would have preferred us to lose yesterday so they could spend all day today doing their tired Big-Game-James shtick.

Personally, I'm pretty excited about the win and excited about playing Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. This is a tremendous opportunity for the team and the program.

I glad he won yesterday but let’s not say it wasn’t in any way expected. Just like the next opponent. He is what he is, a quality coach that recruits well. Mostly due to the Penn State brand. He beats 90 percent of the teams he should but don’t beat anyone with equal or more talent.

 

[AWS1022]

I glad he won yesterday but let’s not say it wasn’t in any way expected. Just like the next opponent. He is what he is, a quality coach that recruits well. Mostly due to the Penn State brand. He beats 90 percent of the teams he should but don’t beat anyone with equal or more talent.

And he recruited well at Vandy mostly because of the brand as well (eye roll).

 

[manilion]

And he recruited well at Vandy mostly because of the brand as well (eye roll).

And he recruited well at Vandy mostly because of the brand as well (eye roll).

No also. He beat Zero top teams at Vandy. Look it up for yourself. Sometimes a coach gets lucky with the schedule and he surly did.

 

[bono47]

The biggest issue with a portion of the fanbase, in my opinion, is that Penn State for most of our lives was one of the giants who beat the Bamas, OSUs, Michigans, etc., at a .500 clip. PSU appeared to be on par with the heavyweights. PSU doesn't beat heavyweights anymore. The national championship is what mattered. Not 10 win seasons or pats on the back for winning a game in Minneapolis after almost blowing it. Not consolation prizes for losing by 7 to OSU at home.

PSU never has the spotlight now. Always on the outside looking in. To that line of thinking, PSU has to get to Georgia/ND and win or this season is more of the same. 12 wins but losses to OSU, Oregon and Boise/ND/Georgia would indicate that PSU isn't a true big boy but more of a top 15 team. It is inconsistent with where PSU used to be and what the program's standards/goals were.

 

[Jerry]

Even though those folks didn’t get to see us lose as they would want, they can fall back on trashing our opponent to minimize the importance of the win because that’s what they do.

Yup, that seems to be the fallback position for this crowd.

Meanwhile, it's not going too well for some of the coaches who at various times were cast by these same people as supposed saviors of the program: Rhule, Fickell, and others.

But fans are fans. It's the same in the Ohio State fan base. A lot of them were screaming for Day's scalp after his latest loss to Michigan. Yeah, forget the 67-10 record...four top-5 finishes...just fire his ass.

Totally delusional. I don't know, maybe if his team had not shown up last night, there'd have been a conversation, but as I expected, they went into the game with something to prove...and did. Poor Oregon. Helluva reward for going undefeated.

 

[LandoComando]

Dear God--we all know what SMU is. We all know what Boise State is
Enjoy the win and stop trying to make it out that be just beat the 86 Canes or 94 Huskers. We beat a team that would be a middle of the road Big Ten team--like I said all along--they're comparable to Illinois
Illinois would be them by about 9 out of 10 times--maybe more.

 

[91Joe95]

Is there any PSU fan who didn't expect to win yesterday? It's the playoffs, so it's important. Anything past those two points seems irrelevant to me.

 

[Jerry]

The biggest issue with a portion of the fanbase, in my opinion, is that Penn State for most of our lives was one of the giants who beat the Bamas, OSUs, Michigans, etc., at a .500 clip. PSU appeared to be on par with the heavyweights. PSU doesn't beat heavyweights anymore. The national championship is what mattered. Not 10 win seasons or pats on the back for winning a game in Minneapolis after almost blowing it. Not consolation prizes for losing by 7 to OSU at home.

PSU never has the spotlight now. Always on the outside looking in. To that line of thinking, PSU has to get to Georgia/ND and win or this season is more of the same. 12 wins but losses to OSU, Oregon and Boise/ND/Georgia would indicate that PSU isn't a true big boy but more of a top 15 team. It is inconsistent with where PSU used to be and what the program's standards/goals were.

Yup, that's an excellent point and I think you put your finger on the real issue: the longing for a return to the Glory Years.

But the Glory Years were a long time ago and in fact they came to a close well before Joe's tragic end. I'd make it 1994. Joe knew the score. Remember his infamous declaration that fans should "lower their expectations."

By the way, it's an interesting coincidence that Notre Dame's Glory Years, which spanned more decades than ours, ended around the same time, and their fans have also been pining for a return to that era ever since.

Unfortunately, times have changed. The game has changed. Joe's departure ushered in a round of outrageous sanctions designed to kill the program. I mean, it's a miracle that not only did they not kill the program, but the program bounced back...not all the way...but further than anyone could have predicted.

Anyway, it is what it is. We finally caught a break from the football gods with this playoff draw and I for one am going to enjoy it rather than spend my time poor-mouthing our opponents, downgrading our wins, and dreaming of a return to a mythical past.

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

Dear God--we all know what SMU is. We all know what Boise State is
Enjoy the win and stop trying to make it out that be just beat the 86 Canes or 94 Huskers. We beat a team that would be a middle of the road Big Ten team--like I said all along--they're comparable to Illinois
Illinois would be them by about 9 out of 10 times--maybe more.

I have no idea what Boise State is or is not. All I know is that in the second week of the season they lost to Oregon by a FG. They're playing in neutral territory but out of PSU's time zone. It's indoors which I think would favor Penn State. Lion's fans will travel better. I could see anything from a close Boise win to a Lions blowout, so think most likely result is a close but comfortable win for the Lions.

 

[voltz99]

The biggest issue with a portion of the fanbase, in my opinion, is that Penn State for most of our lives was one of the giants who beat the Bamas, OSUs, Michigans, etc., at a .500 clip. PSU appeared to be on par with the heavyweights. PSU doesn't beat heavyweights anymore. The national championship is what mattered. Not 10 win seasons or pats on the back for winning a game in Minneapolis after almost blowing it. Not consolation prizes for losing by 7 to OSU at home.

PSU never has the spotlight now. Always on the outside looking in. To that line of thinking, PSU has to get to Georgia/ND and win or this season is more of the same. 12 wins but losses to OSU, Oregon and Boise/ND/Georgia would indicate that PSU isn't a true big boy but more of a top 15 team. It is inconsistent with where PSU used to be and what the program's standards/goals were.

The issue is many fans forget the 20 years after the glory years. They now act like the glory years went til 2014.. the glory years ended in 1994.

When was joes last win vs Alabama?

The glory years were over when joe started losing to toledo.

Ps. Joe had a losing record vs OSU and Michigan. That record included the glory years. He even had a losing record vs Iowa.

 

[LandoComando]

I have no idea what Boise State is or is not. All I know is that in the second week of the season they lost to Oregon by a FG. They're playing in neutral territory but out of PSU's time zone. It's indoors which I think would favor Penn State. Lion's fans will travel better. I could see anything from a close Boise win to a Lions blowout, so think most likely result is a close but comfortable win for the Lions.

They're a MWC team that we're 10.5 point favorites against on a neutral site
Oregon struggled with Idaho week 1--they're not the same Oregon team now
But, yes, we win--comfortably.

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

The issue is many fans forget the 20 years after the glory years. They now act like the glory years went til 2014.. the glory years ended in 1994.

When was joes last win vs Alabama?

The glory years were over when joe started losing to toledo.

Ps. Joe had a losing record vs OSU and Michigan. That record included the glory years. He even had a losing record vs Iowa.

I still have PTSD from watching Dave Benfatti getting trucked over and over.

 

[b&w1987]

Big is a game against an opponent with comparable or better talent that we're not favored by more than a score against

We're all happy we won. We don't need to pretend we just beat the Chiefs today. We beat a team should beat.

Every silver lining has a dark cloud.

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

They're a MWC team that we're 10.5 point favorites against on a neutral site
Oregon struggled with Idaho week 1--they're not the same Oregon team now
But, yes, we win--comfortably.

I'm definitely putting money on Lions to cover, but not betting the house. 😂 I'm wary of Lions shooting themselves in the foot to keep the game closer than it probably should.

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

Think this is a fairly big test of JF's coaching abilities. Without knowing anything about Boise State, I'm pretty sure everyone would say Lions have a talent advantage. Question is can JF keep team from underestimating Boise? Can he keep the team focused? Can he prep the team so they come out swinging?

 

[PSU4U]

You know, I'm not saying this about you, but I almost get the feeling that there's a small embittered portion of our fan base that would have preferred us to lose yesterday so they could spend all day today doing their tired Big-Game-James shtick.

"Personally, I'm pretty excited about the win and excited about playing Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. This is a tremendous opportunity for the team and the program."

YES!

You know, I'm not saying this about you, but I almost get the feeling that there's a small embittered portion of our fan base that would have preferred us to lose yesterday so they could spend all day today doing their tired Big-Game-James shtick.

Personally, I'm pretty excited about the win and excited about playing Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. This is a tremendous opportunity for the team and the program.

 

[WaffleShopper]

Think this is a fairly big test of JF's coaching abilities. Without knowing anything about Boise State, I'm pretty sure everyone would say Lions have a talent advantage. Question is can JF keep team from underestimating Boise? Can he keep the team focused? Can he prep the team so they come out swinging?

"Yes" to all 3. Our RBs are as healthy as ever, the weather will be perfect for Drew, and Franklin has the team playing loose and aggressive. Barring some horrible luck or a bad injury we will be fine.

 

[PSU4U]

This was a BIG game because it was a college football playoff game. Our team did a great job and won the game. However, I don't think it exonerates Franklin from the allegation that he can't win games against great teams. SMU was not a great team. I don't think they are even a good team. Looking over our wins this year I think SMU was in the same class as Bowling Green. We beat SMU by 38-10 and beat Bowling Green by 34-27. Bowling Green's QB was much better than the SMU stiff. The ACC should not have any automatic bids to the playoffs unless the MAC gets automatic bids too. For football the ACC and MAC are equivalent.

Believe it or not it's all about the recruiting! If you're a great recruiter that will overcome most coaching questions.

Take away the terrible calls and we probably beat Oregon, so we are very close even given the absolute talent discrepancies. The bad calls and no calls in the Oregon game were criminal and that's why those Officials (all of them) were called on the carpet.