Penn State Football "WE ARE" or "WHO ARE WE"

 I wanted to share a few thoughts on the direction of PSU football, the search of a new head coach and the cost of chasing championships, both the dollars and the possible loss of identity. The person to answer all these questions and responsible for whatever happens will be Dr. Pat Kraft PSU's AD.

I would like to use Texas A&M as one of my examples. Both Texas A&M and PSU have so much in common. Many will tell you these two universities are considered two of the top universities when it comes to after graduation. Their alumni network of hiring graduates from their schools rank Texas A&M #1 and PSU #2 by far . Next these two schools football programs are rich in tradition and it is this tradition that gives these two programs their identity, it is something recruits want to be a part of, it is something that the student body can be a part of and it is. something the communities of College Station and State College are proud of . Both these Football programs had stability with their head coach's and that was another thing recruits liked when being recruited. Both schools were almost always in Bowl games as well as nationally ranked. 

This is where they started to differ, well until this year. Back in 2011 Coach Mike Sherman  of Texas A&M had a off year posting a 6W 6L year still in a bowl. The money people (Boosters) were not happy with 6&6. They were not happy not being in the conversation or controversies (before college playoffs) of who's #1 in the nation. So Dec, 1 2011 they fired Coach Sherman a program builder, a great recruiter, always put together a very talented staff and consistently was in the top three or four for player graduation rate and top player GPA. Sound familiar yet  ? Wait there's more, So the coaching carousel starts with a national #1 or bust. Coach Sherman, Coach Sumlin, Coach Fisher and current coach Mike Elko. So congrats to Head Coach Elko of  Texas A&M, they are currently 9-0 ranked #3 in the nation. 

What did it take to get there? Four Head Coaches, 93.2 million dollars in Head Coach buyout money, Lost Program identity, (Coach Elko has restored that) and recruits weighing lack of coaching stability.

It took 14 years to get back to winning after firing a winning coach that pulled a program from one that no one across the country was talking about to being one nationally talked about, to being one feared when other schools saw them on their secluded and one high school student athlete's dreamed of be recruited by.

So that is the cost of  a university letting big money push their sports program around. This is what happens to coaches that save a program (what have you done for me lately)  

Dr.6 Kraft Please look for the qualities your last coach had. Penn State Football has never in my lifetime (63 years) done anything but generate dollars for the school embraced their boosters while reminding them being part of PSU football was honor not a right. Yes I said that and mean it. 

The second thing about looking for a  new head football coach. Their record today would be the last thing that would have a bearing on me hiring them. One name I read a lot about is Coach Cignetti of Indiana. First Coach is having a great season, he had a solid 2024 with 11 win's . I will remind you Coach Tom Allen was a very strong recruiter and the foundation for Indiana football was there. Coach Cignetti came in using the transfer portal and NIL to add to it and has done a great job. PSU is a different beast, it's like managing Yankees or coaching the Cowboy. The next coach has to9 be a master at recruiting, and quickly be able to convey that to what remains of current recruits and new recruits. 

While there is a sense of urgency to get a new Head Coach quickly, getting the right head coach is more important than speed.

I am a diehard Penn State fan, I always have been and will always be. I won't talk about yesterday, but I will say don't loose sight on the importance of tradition , embracing it as the programs strength and identity. #WE ARE!!