From the best I can decipher on this thread everyone agrees Franklin has hit the ceiling. The debate is whether we can ever get a National Championship with a different coach.
I think we can. It won't be easy but it is possible and not possible like Indiana can possibly win a NC possible.
I believe our troubles beating OSU and more broadly "the big game" is a cultural disconnect with Franklin and the roots of Penn State football. I think if you ask many of the star lettermen from the Paterno era; Blackledge, Millen. Ham, Fusina, Cefalo, Guman, Warner, MRob, Parlevechio, Bauer. Conlan, Dozier on and on that they would say Franklin has underperformed and we need to get a coach who instills more of a culture of toughness, grit and being mentally strong. Franklin's teams do not embody this. Our offensive line has been lousy for years, some improvement but not up to PSU great standards. Our defensive line is not great. We seemingly wilt in big moments. To the point now you just wait for us to fail in the clutch. It pains me to write this but I believe these are the brutal facts.
If we move on from Franklin is there a chance we turn into Nebraska? Maybe. That is certainly a risk.
Look at it this way. If you are Pat Kraft are you happy with Franklin producing for the next ten years what he has done say the last seven? Win 9-10 games but not in the running for a NC. I know a lot of the people on this board think that is great and is not only Franklin's ceiling but Penn State football's ceiling. I completely disagree.
Do you think if Todd Blackledge asked Pat Kraft tomorrow what are his goals for Penn State football he is going to tell him...."Win 9 or 10 games and win a bowl game but we will not realistically win a national championship." Hell no. Call me unrealistic, a dreamer, whatever but I firmly believe Penn State can climb that mountain again. And not in the too distant future. It needs a new leader who can make us elite. We are ready for it.