There’ll be no loss for the Penn State football team this Saturday, and that’s probably a nice break for some after four losses in a row — with two more looming in No. 1 Ohio State (Nov. 1 in Columbus) and No. 2 Indiana (Nov. 8 in Happy Valley) when the team returns to action.
An off week allows the team more time to prepare and rest. It gives administrators more time to plan, search and strategize for the next coach. And it allows the fanbase more time to miss Happy Valley and get excited to return for that home game against IU, despite the home team’s record.
With James Franklin gone, it’s a time ripe with assumption, rumor and speculation around the football program.
Maybe the biggest thing people assume is that the Penn State job is a great opportunity.
Maybe that’s true. But are we sure?
Penn State Pros
On the positive side, Penn State has the second-largest stadium in the United States, the second-largest alumni contingent in the nation and the program’s fans show up no matter what.
The blue-and-white faithful almost religiously pack the stadium despite the weather and the on- or off-field situation. Heck, some of those people might be in Beaver Stadium more consistently and reliably in their place of worship (if they have one).
Penn State’s tradition-rich efforts make it one of college football’s blue bloods. The numbers are clear — 946 victories (seventh nationally), 56 postseason appearances (eighth), 33 postseason wins (fourth) and 104 first-team All-Americans (tied for seventh) — and athletic director Pat Kraft seems committed to provide full-on support for whomever gets selected in what might be a career-defining hire for him.
In addition, there has been consistent recruiting success. Pennsylvania and its neighboring states have talent, and Penn State has reliably pulled talent from Virginia, Florida and many other places through the years.
The program might not get the No. 1 or No. 2 class on an annual basis, but it certainly seems like there’s always seven- or eight-win talent on the roster. A team needs to win more games than that, obviously, but the cupboard is never bare, and a good coach should be able to make the difference. That’s the job, or at least part of it.
Plus, with Penn State’s facilities and the pay-for-play, NFL-lite feel of college football anymore, it’s the money that matters for many. Penn State has gotten better organized to pay players so it can compete on the field. Of course, investing to retain many key players for this season’s team did not go well.
By many measures, the Penn State job could be the best available position, among many, this season.
It feels like it’s possible to win and get more support than Florida, and certainly Arkansas. Plus, the job would come with better resources and a clearer path to success than places like Oklahoma State, Stanford, UCLA or Virginia Tech.
Penn State Cons
Still, are we sure the job is a no-brainer? A home for instant success? Or a home for any success in a while?
When the 12-team College Football Playoff was created, Penn State was the poster-child program for the process. After being good but not elite through the years and falling short of the previous four-team field, with a dozen teams in the mix it seemed like Penn State would waltz into the field every year.
Last year the program danced all the way to the national semifinals. This year, it’s been a two-left-feet look since the start.
Before this year, Penn State’s shortcomings and close-but-not-quite consistency were an issue with Franklin, and long before.
In the past decade and a half, Penn State has had five coaches, three athletic directors and just one football conference championship.
Penn State is 39 years removed from the most recent of its two national championships, and it has earned just four conference championships since it joined the Big Ten in 1993.
So, Penn State might be tradition-rich, but it’s not unquestionably ripe with success.
It’s not an easy job, especially in the top-heavy conference.
Early in Franklin’s tenure, it felt like the big challenge was winning three games. With a talented roster pretty much ensuring eight W’s, he needed to beat Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State on a regular basis. He never mastered that, of course, and the Big Ten has added Oregon.
These days the challenge is to not lose three games. With one or two losses in conference play, you can probably make the College Football Playoff field. Any more is not good — and three losses this season got Franklin fired.
Finally, while there might be alignment between the football program, the outside funding groups that boost name, image and likeness, and even university leadership, the Penn State fan base seems less than unified — unless the Franklin departure brought them together.
So, it’s a good job — a destination spot for the right coach with many necessary resources and support in place. It’s just not going to be an easy fix for whomever gets the job.
Assuming otherwise would be a mistake.
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