Mailbag: Kraft should nail football coaching hire
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Sorting through the blue and white mailbag:
Neil:
From national title contender to firing your head coach in three weeks, this has to be one of the biggest collapses in college football history.
I could be wrong, but to me, it seemed James had lost the locker room. The last two weeks just didn't look the same.
With that being said, it was time to go. We all knew this day was coming. Pat Kraft has to nail this hire, and I expect he will.
Prayers up for Drew.
Mike Allison
Altoona
Mike:
I can't disagree with one word you said.
Neil:
Why now? Most Lion fans knew that Coach Franklin's days were numbered regardless of the Northwestern loss.
By not allowing the coach, his players and future recruits to finish the season brings to mind the Paterno debacle, and we all saw how that affected the football program in its future years.
Few will debate whether James deserved another year, but we also must remember that he did accomplish many positive objectives that made the Lions a respectful football program.
Because of these untimely decisions in both the hiring and firing of our football coaches, I question the ability and transparency of our athletic director to make the proper decisions in moving our beloved Lions in the direction of an elite football program.
Dave Kule
Laporte
Dave:
Fair points, certainly.
I, too, would have preferred it wait until the end of the season, given the positives he did accomplish.
However, when it's obvious -- and it was -- and the main decision maker (Kraft) and administration are certain, you might as well get on with it, however painful the timing may be.
In that regard, leadership can be lonely.
But considering how the masses had turned, to bring him back potentially in the midst of a five-game losing streak could have been uglier than the last two weeks.
Neil:
You can buy a coach, but you can't buy coaching.
Knowles and Kotelnicki are huge disappointments.
Under Franklin, PSU became the school where OCs go to die, and Knowles' success at OSU was more players than coaching.
Bob Johnston
Mint Hill, N.C.
Bob:
I love your opening statement.
Neil:
The two plays that were major reasons for the loss to Northwestern: The Allar interception in the end zone and the fumbled punt.
With Allar out, the season is now up in smoke.
Bill Obert, Bedford
Bill:
A Cheech & Chong reference?
Neil:
The late Yogi Berra, when things were going bad, said: "We're lost, but we're making good time."
Mike Rendos
Lock Haven
Mike:
After all these years, Yogi was more known for his funny quotes than he was for his accomplishments on the field.
Which is pretty amazing considering he's third all-time in World Series home runs (12), trailing only Mickey Mantle (18) and Babe Ruth (15). He's also first in World Series career hits (71).
Neil:
Lack of effort on the players' parts? Could it be that big NIL money has made these 20-year-olds afraid of getting hurt by going all out and are instead going through the motions?
Big money has infected the college game from top to bottom.
Joe Maschue
Altoona
Joe:
The defense sure looked like it checked out the last two weeks.
Good morning, Neil:
I think everyone will be grateful for the job that Franklin has done. Is the devil you don't know better than the devil you do know?
Richard Goldfarb
Holland, Pa.
Good morning, Richard:
We will find out.
Dear Neil:
Fifty years ago, a professional wrestler called himself the Master of Disaster. Either he or the ghost of George Armstrong Custer has struck the Penn State football team.
Harlan Berger
Pleasant Gap
Harlan:
My personal favorite was Professor Tanaka.
Rudel will respond to brief questions and comments in Gameday. You can email him at nrudel@altoonamirror.com and follow him on X @neilrudel