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Penn State football, head coaches and running a business -- yes, they actually tie together.
I get asked almost daily what I think about the Penn State football situation, so here we go.
Let's start with my qualifications.
For starters, I've probably missed three games since 1972.
More importantly, while I did not complete a pass as the 13-year-old starting quarterback for the Curtis Park 12-and-under team, I did parlay that role into an assistant coaching job under Coach Mark Nartatez and then into a head-coaching role.
Our secret? Aggressive out-of-town recruiting and leaning heavily on the 13-year-olds.
And as the president of a small professional services firm, I see a lot of parallels between running a business and running a major college football program in 2025.
Now let's talk James Franklin.
Personally, I think James was a terrific CEO. One of his biggest responsibilities was hiring great coordinators -- knowing full well that if they were great, they'd be gone in two-three years.
That's the job.
I actually liked his last two hires at the time: Andy Kotelnicki and Jim Knowles, stolen directly from the defending national champion, Ohio State.
In hindsight, those two hires probably cost Franklin his job. Their performance was, let's say, suboptimal. And we'll never know how much control James had (or should have had) over either side of the ball. But ultimately, he's judged by results, and the results weren't there.
Where the business parallel comes in: Glue.
Every good organization has something invisible but powerful holding it together -- call it culture, call it chemistry, call it glue.
James was excellent at that part: Glue with his assistants, glue with players and families, glue across the program.
The real problem?
I don't think Pat Kraft understood the importance of that glue in today's college football world. James should have been allowed to finish the season, or at least stay until Kraft had his exact replacement in hand.
Because here's the thing: Removing the glue without knowing exactly where you're buying the next batch -- and whether it's even in stock -- can be worse than the death penalty era.
Glue is critical in college football. Remove it, and you better have a fresh tube ready to go.
Otherwise, everything falls apart faster than my 12-and-under passing game.
Simon Ziff
New York
(The writer is a native of Philipsburg.)
Finances will dictate future success
The rebuilding of the future Nittany Lions' football program will consist of many factors but none more important than money.
From the hiring of a new coach or the elevation of Terry Smith, who sincerely loves Penn State football and would probably work for minimum wage, to the transfer portal where the enticement of the many skilled players depends on the financial offering they are receiving, to the future Lion recruits who most likely along with their agent will carefully scan the NIL financial projections before they commit to the football program.
The allegiance of the players from the Joe Paterno era is long gone and will never be repeated.
Today's college athletic programs are closer to becoming more professional looking than the bygone days of mostly amateurism.
The multitude of the many devoted fans and donors of Lion football will not only be asked for their continued loyalty but to look a little deeper into their wallets and pocketbooks.
Dave Kule
Laporte
Streilein left mark on local volleyball
I would like to wish a legend in our local volleyball community a happy retirement.
Ken Streilein has served as a coach, official, official evaluator, club director, rules interpreter and volleyball guru to so many for nearly 40 years.
His knowledge of the game and his dedication to helping others on the court and officiating the court has moved volleyball forward in our region.
Ken has been a quiet, sensible, kind leader we all have gone to for advice, and he has done so much for all.
Ken has taught me so much and left such a lasting legacy in our community.
Joe Skura
Gallitzin