It was a 5-point game with 8 minutes left

[ChiTownLion]

As Brock Huard said, Penn State's one of the youngest teams in college football and Michigan's veteran starters averaged 3.7 years in the program. UM also got a special exemption to avoid a disaster at the QB position.

Yet, we were still within 5 points with 8 minutes left in the game.

Look, it's called rebuilding for a reason. And we're not getting any special exemptions from the NCAA/B1G to accelerate the process. We're going to have to do it the old-fashioned way by stocking the roster with Saquon Barkley-type talents. And James Franklin is doing exactly that. To be fair, we're not supposed to be competing in games like this for another two years.

Would Penn State be better off with Nick Saban running the program? How about Mark Dantonio?

Take a look at these numbers for a little perspective:

Nick Saban
Michigan State
1995: 6–5–1
1996: 6–6
1997: 7–5
1998: 6-6
1999: 9-2

Mark Dantonio
Michigan State
2007: 7-6
2008: 9-4
2009: 6-7
2010: 11-2
2011: 11-3
2012: 7-6
2013: 12-1
2014: 11-2

Fact: James Franklin's first 3 years in the SEC were better than Saban's and Dantonio's in the Big Ten. Right now, he is overseeing the biggest rebuilding job in the history of major college football at Penn State University.

 

[lionlurker]

Although, it did not feel like a close game at any point.

 

[michnittlion]

As Brock Huard said, Penn State's one of the youngest teams in college football and Michigan's veteran starters averaged 3.7 years in the program. UM also got a special exemption to avoid a disaster at the QB position.

Yet, we were still within 5 points with 8 minutes left in the game.

Look, it's called rebuilding for a reason. And we're not getting any special exemptions from the NCAA/B1G to accelerate thd process. We're going to have to do it the old-fashioned way by stocking the roster with Saquon Barkley-type talents. And James Franklin is doing exactly that. To be fair, we're not supposed to be competing in games like this for another two years.

Would Penn State be better off with Nick Saban running the program? How about Mark Dantonio?

I say trust the process, and take a look at these numbers for a little perspective:

Nick Saban

Michigan State
1995: 6–5–1
1996: 6–6
1997: 7–5
1998: 6-6
1999: 9-2

Louisana State
2000: 8-4
2001: 10-3
2002: 8-5
2003: 13-1
2004: 9-3

Alabama
2007: 7-6
2008: 12-2
2009: 14-0
2010: 10-3


Mark Dantonio

Michigan State
2007: 7-6
2008: 9-4
2009: 6-7
2010: 11-2
2011: 11-3
2012: 7-6
2013: 12-1
2014: 11-2

Spin, spin, spin.

And as for those teams above, even in the rebuilding process they had SOME signature wins. Looking at only their first season, we have:

(1) Saban and MSU beat Michigan in 1995.
(2) LSU capped their 2000 season w/ a Peach Bowl win over a top-15 Georgia Tech team.
(3) Dantonio and MSU beat US in 2007,

Meanwhile, CJF's "signature win" over 2 seasons is either a bowl win over a mid-tier ACC team, a 13-7 win at Rutgers, a 24-23 win over UCF, or a home blowout of Illinois. AKA, a bunch of relative junk.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

agreed...and we gave up 2 td drives of 9 yds and 40 yds...people...relax...we will be fine. harbaugh is living a lie right now. he inherited a senior laden team...just wait till we have a groupd of senior laden guys. Seriously...we arent that far away...hang in folks. we have to!

 

[mn78psu83]

Spin, spin, spin.

And as for those teams above, even in the rebuilding process they had SOME signature wins. Looking at only their first season, we have:

(1) Saban and MSU beat Michigan in 1995.
(2) LSU capped their 2000 season w/ a Peach Bowl win over a top-15 Georgia Tech team.
(3) Dantonio and MSU beat US in 2007,

Meanwhile, CJF's "signature win" over 2 seasons is either a bowl win over a mid-tier ACC team, a 13-7 win at Rutgers, a 24-23 win over UCF, or a home blowout of Illinois. AKA, a bunch of relative junk.

Your argument is weak. Enough of your signature win nonsense. This is fact Count. 25-22-1 in his first 4 seasons with 7-5 as the best season.

Nick Saban

Michigan State
1995: 6–5–1
1996: 6–6
1997: 7–5
1998: 6-6

 

[mtnlion]

This is a two prong problem. Yes PSU under Frankin will play better with more talent. However, this o-line has highly regarded recruits on it and they would be one of the poorest olines in the PSAC D2. They lack technique that is coached. Hackenburg lacks technique that is coached and Franklin looks bewildered on the sideline and it shows when he is trying to figure out time outs and the clock. If you don't have a handle on time management...your usually not to sharp at much else.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

Actually Penn State played well for some long stretches but you could see the maturity advantage that Michigan had. Just imagine John Reid and Barkley two and three years from now. Is Hack even 21 yet. If he is he can't be much past his birthday because he was an 18 year old starter in September of 2013. There is youth all over this roster and there are more Reids and Barkleys on the way.

 

[JR4PSU]

As Brock Huard said, Penn State's one of the youngest teams in college football and Michigan's veteran starters averaged 3.7 years in the program. UM also got a special exemption to avoid a disaster at the QB position.

Yet, we were still within 5 points with 8 minutes left in the game.

Look, it's called rebuilding for a reason. And we're not getting any special exemptions from the NCAA/B1G to accelerate the process. We're going to have to do it the old-fashioned way by stocking the roster with Saquon Barkley-type talents. And James Franklin is doing exactly that. To be fair, we're not supposed to be competing in games like this for another two years.

Would Penn State be better off with Nick Saban running the program? How about Mark Dantonio?

Take a look at these numbers for a little perspective:

Nick Saban
Michigan State
1995: 6–5–1 Year 1
1996: 6–6 Year 2
1997: 7–5
1998: 6-6
1999: 9-2
Louisana State
2000: 8-4 Year 1
2001: 10-3 Year 2
2002: 8-5
2003: 13-1
2004: 9-3
Alabama
2007: 7-6 Year 1
2008: 12-2 Year 2
2009: 14-0

Mark Dantonio
Michigan State
2007: 7-6 Year 1
2008: 9-4 Year 2
2009: 6-7
2010: 11-2
2011: 11-3
2012: 7-6
2013: 12-1
2014: 11-2.

Fact: James Franklin's first 3 years in the SEC were better than Saban's and Dantonio's in the Big Ten. Right now, he is overseeing the biggest rebuilding job in the history of major college football for Penn State University.

More than one game this season, including today, was not lost just by the players. The coaches are more at fault than are the young players. The coaches don't get a pass for bad game day coaching errors.

 

[RabidLion]

As Brock Huard said, Penn State's one of the youngest teams in college football and Michigan's veteran starters averaged 3.7 years in the program. UM also got a special exemption to avoid a disaster at the QB position.

Yet, we were still within 5 points with 8 minutes left in the game.

Look, it's called rebuilding for a reason. And we're not getting any special exemptions from the NCAA/B1G to accelerate the process. We're going to have to do it the old-fashioned way by stocking the roster with Saquon Barkley-type talents. And James Franklin is doing exactly that. To be fair, we're not supposed to be competing in games like this for another two years.

Would Penn State be better off with Nick Saban running the program? How about Mark Dantonio?

Take a look at these numbers for a little perspective:

Nick Saban
Michigan State
1995: 6–5–1 Year 1
1996: 6–6 Year 2
1997: 7–5
1998: 6-6
1999: 9-2
Louisana State
2000: 8-4 Year 1
2001: 10-3 Year 2
2002: 8-5
2003: 13-1
2004: 9-3
Alabama
2007: 7-6 Year 1
2008: 12-2 Year 2
2009: 14-0

Mark Dantonio
Michigan State
2007: 7-6 Year 1
2008: 9-4 Year 2
2009: 6-7
2010: 11-2
2011: 11-3
2012: 7-6
2013: 12-1
2014: 11-2.

Fact: James Franklin's first 3 years in the SEC were better than Saban's and Dantonio's in the Big Ten. Right now, he is overseeing the biggest rebuilding job in the history of major college football for Penn State University.

Absolutely true. Those who think we SHOULD be winning games like today are not worth the time as they are clearly thinking with their heart.

 

[BobPSU92]

Fire ChiTownLion!

 

[michnittlion]

Your argument is weak. Enough of your signature win nonsense. This is fact Count. 25-22-1 in his first 4 seasons with 7-5 as the best season.

Nick Saban

Michigan State
1995: 6–5–1
1996: 6–6
1997: 7–5
1998: 6-6

Ah, a Nick Saban vs. James Franklin comparison. OK.

You get measured how you do against the big boys.

Nick Saban takes over at Toledo: in year #1 they go from a mid-tier MAC team to MAC Champions. They beat their rival, Bowling Green.

Nick Saban takes over at MSU: in year #1 he beats his biggest rival, Michigan. In Saban's 5 years: Notre Dame, U-M, OSU and PSU were their biggest rivals and the big boys. He would have an aggregate winning record against them: 9-7.

James Franklin takes over at PSU: OSU, U-M and MSU are the biggest rivals and the big boys. Through 24 games in Happy Valley, James Franklin has an aggregate record of 0-5 against them.

 

[mtnlion]

Win? I just wanted to see the line get some push. The QB look like a QB the punt returner to know where he is at and the offense to make the D at least sweat in the redzone...and a play come in from the sideline in 30 seconds or less during crunch time.

 

[Yboby]

As poorly as PSU played in many aspects two plays had a very significant impact on the outcome.

The first was the 3rd and 10 completion by Michigan late in the first half for a long first down on a very difficult catch. Absent that PSU is leading 10-7 at halftime at worst.

The second was the muffed punt by PSU that led to the short Michigan TD. Absent that too and PSU is leading 16-7 late in the game.

Sure it's all wishful thinking but those two plays were huge.

 

[HazletonLion]

Gillikin punter & Nordin kicker will vastly change the dynamic of this team next year.
They can't get here quick enough!

 

[mn78psu83]

Ah, a Nick Saban vs. James Franklin comparison. OK.

You get measured how you do against the big boys.

Nick Saban takes over at Toledo: in year #1 they go from a mid-tier MAC team to MAC Champions. They beat their rival, Bowling Green.

Nick Saban takes over at MSU: in year #1 he beats his biggest rival, Michigan. In Saban's 5 years: Notre Dame, U-M, OSU and PSU were their biggest rivals and the big boys. He would have an aggregate winning record against them: 9-7.

James Franklin takes over at PSU: OSU, U-M and MSU are the biggest rivals and the big boys. Through 24 games in Happy Valley, James Franklin has an aggregate record of 0-5 against them.

Yes. And Nick Saban's signature bowl record at MSU:

December 29, 1995 Independence L LSU 26 45
December 31, 1996 Sun L Stanford 0 38
December 25, 1997 Aloha L Washington 23 51

 

[canuckhal]

Ah, a Nick Saban vs. James Franklin comparison. OK.

You get measured how you do against the big boys.

Nick Saban takes over at Toledo: in year #1 they go from a mid-tier MAC team to MAC Champions. They beat their rival, Bowling Green.

Nick Saban takes over at MSU: in year #1 he beats his biggest rival, Michigan. In Saban's 5 years: Notre Dame, U-M, OSU and PSU were their biggest rivals and the big boys. He would have an aggregate winning record against them: 9-7.

James Franklin takes over at PSU: OSU, U-M and MSU are the biggest rivals and the big boys. Through 24 games in Happy Valley, James Franklin has an aggregate record of 0-5 against them.

By your logic, Saban must have had signature loses too. Was MSU on sanctions at that time that decimated the depth on their roster? Did Saban have a scholarship punter and kicker or at least one that was a true junior? Did he have to play freshman linebackers? Saban is a great coach. Jury is out on Franklin. Let's see where he is in years 4 and 5, not year 2.

 

[michnittlion]

By your logic, Saban must have had signature loses too. Was MSU on sanctions at that time that decimated the depth on their roster? Did Saban have a scholarship punter and kicker or at least one that was a true junior? Did he have to play freshman linebackers? Saban is a great coach. Jury is out on Franklin. Let's see where he is in years 4 and 5, not year 2.

"Signature losses"? OK, let's define that as a loss to a team with both (a) a losing record, and (b) a crappy coach.

1995: 5 losses at MSU, only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 4-5-2 Wisconsin, coached by Barry Alvarez.

1996: 5 losses at MSU, again only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 5-6 Louisville, coached by Ron Cooper (bad coach).

1997: 5 losses at MSU, again only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 5-7 Northwestern, coached by Gary Barnett.

1998: 6 losses at MSU, again only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 5-6 Minnesota, coached by Glen Mason.

1999: 2 losses at MSU, none to teams w/ losing records.

So that's 1 "signature loss." The Louisville game in 1996.

CJF already has 2 "signature losses" --- e g., losses to teams that had losing records AND ALSO had crappy coaches (Brady Hoke/Tim Beckman). It was very close to 3 such losses, but the Randy Edsall game escapes this definition.

So even by this metric, CJF is nowhere near Nick Saban.

 

[Ian]

Franklin's third year is all on him and his coaches. Its his team next year and if they come out of the gates with a weak, slow, unathletic offensive line and terrible special teams, as we have witnessed the last two years, he will be out. It will especially go south if they lose to sPitt. The impact of sanctions is over. Last year and this year was expected to be the bottom and it has been. I will be happy with an 8-5 record this year, after a 7-6 mark last year. No less than 9-3 in 2016 or the $4 million that is spent on Franklin will be better spent on a more high profile coach.

 

[canuckhal]

"Signature losses"? OK, let's define that as a loss to a team with both (a) a losing record, and (b) a crappy coach.

1995: 5 losses at MSU, only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 4-5-2 Wisconsin, coached by Barry Alvarez.

1996: 5 losses at MSU, again only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 5-6 Louisville, coached by Ron Cooper (bad coach).

1997: 5 losses at MSU, again only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 5-7 Northwestern, coached by Gary Barnett.

1998: 6 losses at MSU, again only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 5-6 Minnesota, coached by Glen Mason.

1999: 2 losses at MSU, none to teams w/ losing records.

So that's 1 "signature loss." The Louisville game in 1996.

CJF already has 2 "signature losses" --- e g., losses to teams that had losing records AND ALSO had crappy coaches (Brady Hoke/Tim Beckman). It was very close to 3 such losses, but the Randy Edsall game escapes this definition.

So even by this metric, CJF is nowhere near Nick Saban.

Nice job of deflection by only responding to the first sentence of my post.

 

[canuckhal]

Franklin's third year is all on him and his coaches. Its his team next year and if they come out of the gates with a weak, slow, unathletic offensive line and terrible special teams, as we have witnessed the last two years, he will be out. It will especially go south if they lose to sPitt. The impact of sanctions is over. Last year and this year was expected to be the bottom and it has been. I will be happy with an 8-5 record this year, after a 7-6 mark last year. No less than 9-3 in 2016 or the $4 million that is spent on Franklin will be better spent on a more high profile coach.

The impact of sanctions are over? That is wishful thinking. Please explain so.

 

[Concealed Carry]

As Brock Huard said, Penn State's one of the youngest teams in college football and Michigan's veteran starters averaged 3.7 years in the program. UM also got a special exemption to avoid a disaster at the QB position.

Yet, we were still within 5 points with 8 minutes left in the game.

Look, it's called rebuilding for a reason. And we're not getting any special exemptions from the NCAA/B1G to accelerate the process. We're going to have to do it the old-fashioned way by stocking the roster with Saquon Barkley-type talents. And James Franklin is doing exactly that. To be fair, we're not supposed to be competing in games like this for another two years.

Would Penn State be better off with Nick Saban running the program? How about Mark Dantonio?

Take a look at these numbers for a little perspective:

Nick Saban
Michigan State
1995: 6–5–1 Year 1
1996: 6–6 Year 2
1997: 7–5
1998: 6-6
1999: 9-2
Louisana State
2000: 8-4 Year 1
2001: 10-3 Year 2
2002: 8-5
2003: 13-1
2004: 9-3
Alabama
2007: 7-6 Year 1
2008: 12-2 Year 2
2009: 14-0

Mark Dantonio
Michigan State
2007: 7-6 Year 1
2008: 9-4 Year 2
2009: 6-7
2010: 11-2
2011: 11-3
2012: 7-6
2013: 12-1
2014: 11-2.

Fact: James Franklin's first 3 years in the SEC were better than Saban's and Dantonio's in the Big Ten. Right now, he is overseeing the biggest rebuilding job in the history of major college football for Penn State University.

CJF is neither. Remember. It's who you have around you.

 

[michnittlion]

Nice job of deflection by only responding to the first sentence of my post.

When one can't argue empirical facts, wave your hands and talk nebulously about "sanctions."

One other empirical fact: we beat Wisconsin twice, including 1 year where they won the B1G, under sanctions.

 

[canuckhal]

When one can't argue empirical facts, wave your hands and talk nebulously about "sanctions."

One other empirical fact: we beat Wisconsin twice, including 1 year where they won the B1G, under sanctions.

What you neglect are that so called "empirical facts" have to be interpreted in the context in which they exist. You are comparing apples and oranges.

 

[mn78psu83]

When one can't argue empirical facts, wave your hands and talk nebulously about "sanctions."

One other empirical fact: we beat Wisconsin twice, including 1 year where they won the B1G, under sanctions.

You mean like the facts of Saban's mediocre coaching record at MSU?

 

[michnittlion]

What you neglect are that so called "empirical facts" have to be interpreted in the context in which they exist. You are comparing apples and oranges.

Huh? Are you saying that is false to say "PSU went a combined 3-0 against Michigan and Wisconsin in 2012-2013, a period of time in which PSU football was under NCAA sanctions."?

It's kind of unfair to benchmark CJF against Nick Saban, he is an all-time great. I'm only doing that benchmarking against Saban because some folk in this thread brought Saban in.

But it is NOT unfair to benchmark CJF against Bill O'Brien. And CJF benchmarks poorly against O'Brien.

 

[canuckhal]

Huh? Are you saying that is false to say "PSU went a combined 3-0 against Michigan and Wisconsin in 2012-2013, a period of time in which PSU football was under NCAA sanctions."?

It's kind of unfair to benchmark CJF against Nick Saban, he is an all-time great. I'm only doing that benchmarking against Saban because some folk in this thread brought Saban in.

But it is NOT unfair to benchmark CJF against Bill O'Brien. And CJF benchmarks poorly against O'Brien.

Sure it is. O'Brien had juniors and seniors in his years and the cupboard was bare for Franklin. Not blaming O'Brien as it was result of sanctions and a couple of our best players headed to the NFL early. If you want to compare Franklin to others in year 4 onwards, I'll go along with that.

We agree that Saban comparison is silly, but Chitown point is well taken. You have to give Franklin some time before crapping all over him.

 

[Westcoast24]

agreed...and we gave up 2 td drives of 9 yds and 40 yds...people...relax...we will be fine. harbaugh is living a lie right now. he inherited a senior laden team...just wait till we have a groupd of senior laden guys. Seriously...we arent that far away...hang in folks. we have to!

Living what lie again? Cmon.

 

[kgilbert78]

Although, it did not feel like a close game at any point.

It did when we went ahead in the second quarter....

 

[kgilbert78]

"Signature losses"? OK, let's define that as a loss to a team with both (a) a losing record, and (b) a crappy coach.

1995: 5 losses at MSU, only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 4-5-2 Wisconsin, coached by Barry Alvarez.

1996: 5 losses at MSU, again only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 5-6 Louisville, coached by Ron Cooper (bad coach).

1997: 5 losses at MSU, again only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 5-7 Northwestern, coached by Gary Barnett.

1998: 6 losses at MSU, again only 1 to a team w/ a losing record. At 5-6 Minnesota, coached by Glen Mason.

1999: 2 losses at MSU, none to teams w/ losing records.

So that's 1 "signature loss." The Louisville game in 1996.

CJF already has 2 "signature losses" --- e g., losses to teams that had losing records AND ALSO had crappy coaches (Brady Hoke/Tim Beckman). It was very close to 3 such losses, but the Randy Edsall game escapes this definition.

So even by this metric, CJF is nowhere near Nick Saban.

Right now, the teams we lost to are a combined 37-7 this season with a 10-1 MSU coming up (and some of those losses were against each other). You know, sometimes the other guy is good.

 

[michnittlion]

Right now, the teams we lost to are a combined 37-7 this season with a 10-1 MSU coming up (and some of those losses were against each other). You know, sometimes the other guy is good.

Sure --- sometimes the other guy is good. Yes.

Problem is --- we currently are doing the combination of no wins over good teams and losses to bad teams. For instance, CJF is 0-3 in his career against B1G coaches that would get fired within 1 calendar year of that game!

 

[canuckhal]

PSU is playing in the toughest division in college football. We have lost games and have been competitive. I think that is that where we are right now, which is further ahead than where I thought we would be, although I wish we were much further along. The fan in me has to deal with the realist in me.

 

[VaNtyLion]

Ah, a Nick Saban vs. James Franklin comparison. OK.

You get measured how you do against the big boys.

Nick Saban takes over at Toledo: in year #1 they go from a mid-tier MAC team to MAC Champions. They beat their rival, Bowling Green.

Nick Saban takes over at MSU: in year #1 he beats his biggest rival, Michigan. In Saban's 5 years: Notre Dame, U-M, OSU and PSU were their biggest rivals and the big boys. He would have an aggregate winning record against them: 9-7.

James Franklin takes over at PSU: OSU, U-M and MSU are the biggest rivals and the big boys. Through 24 games in Happy Valley, James Franklin has an aggregate record of 0-5 against them.

Good thing Saban never took over a team reduced by sanctions. Oh, that's right...it happened at Alabama where he went 7-6 in their first year back to full strength on a roster that never went below 78 scholarships the prior 3 years. Those wins in that first year?

Western Carolina
Vanderbilt
Arkansas
Houston
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Colorado

I'm missing a "signature win" in there....and btw, Bama lost to Louisiana Monroe that season.

 

[canuckhal]

Sure --- sometimes the other guy is good. Yes.

Problem is --- we currently are doing the combination of no wins over good teams and losses to bad teams. For instance, CJF is 0-3 in his career against B1G coaches that would get fired within 1 calendar year of that game!

And we lost to the national champion in OT and would probably have won if not for two blown calls. So not sure your point. We are not playing on an equal playing field yet, but you seem to keep going there. I"m done with this, but have fun.

 

[olelion]

Spin, spin, spin.

And as for those teams above, even in the rebuilding process they had SOME signature wins. Looking at only their first season, we have:

(1) Saban and MSU beat Michigan in 1995.
(2) LSU capped their 2000 season w/ a Peach Bowl win over a top-15 Georgia Tech team.
(3) Dantonio and MSU beat US in 2007,

Meanwhile, CJF's "signature win" over 2 seasons is either a bowl win over a mid-tier ACC team, a 13-7 win at Rutgers, a 24-23 win over UCF, or a home blowout of Illinois. AKA, a bunch of relative junk.

Playing PSU is so easy.. Generally speaking, If they're on the road, just hang 17 points and you win. If they're at home hang 20. They stink

 

[michnittlion]

Good thing Saban never took over a team reduced by sanctions. Oh, that's right...it happened at Alabama where he went 7-6 in their first year back to full strength on a roster that never went below 78 scholarships the prior 3 years. Those wins in that first year?

Western Carolina
Vanderbilt
Arkansas
Houston
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Colorado

I'm missing a "signature win" in there....and btw, Bama lost to Louisiana Monroe that season.

Tennessee won the SEC East in 2007 and finished the season ranked #12. Definitely a better win than ANY win CJF has recorded at any point in his career (PSU or Vanderbilt).

 

[81b&w]

So even by this metric, CJF is nowhere near Nick Saban.

Why don't you do yourself a big favor and go hang out on the Alabama board where people appreciate the statistical bj's you give Saban

 

[Ranger Dan]

Although, it did not feel like a close game at any point.

I disagree.. for most of the first half I thought we were right with them and there were some momentum swings in the second half that made me thing we might catch them. We just couldn't score a TD from inside the 10 yard line. Credit for this goes to Michigan, and criticism to our O Line. Other than that, I thought our defense kept us in the game for 50 minutes.

 

[VaNtyLion]

Tennessee won the SEC East in 2007 and finished the season ranked #12. Definitely a better win than ANY win CJF has recorded at any point in his career (PSU or Vanderbilt).

So you'd be content if we beat Michigan but dropped the Buffalo game? Right

 

[michnittlion]

So you'd be content if we beat Michigan but dropped the Buffalo game? Right

Yes. That hypothetical scenario would at least show CJF has the ability to win a big game, to beat a big boy foe.

It is what it is. CJF has one career (PSU + Vanderbilt) victory against a team ranked at the time of the game, and zero career victories against teams that finish the season in the top 25.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

Living what lie again? Cmon.

he inherited a great line...both sides...is he killing it on the recruiting trail? not really....let's give franklin a chance. harbaugh didnt inherit a team in the midst of sanctions...