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What is the biggest challenge facing the program now?
My grandfather, the late Morris Harris, once told us, "You only have one chance to make a first impression."
He didn't invent the saying, but I had not heard it before. (This was in the 1960s).
Which brings us to Matt Campbell.
Since becoming the Nittany Lions' head coach in December, Campbell has checked every box. He was a welcome change from James Franklin. He showed humility and appreciation for all parts of the Penn State program --its history, its legends (yes, Joe Paterno), its lettermen, its community.
And then he started the Big Ten season.
The biggest challenge facing the program right now is how quickly Campbell can establish a much higher level of competitiveness than the Lions have shown so far.
Because what we've seen in the 0-2 start to the conference season is downright alarming.
The defense has been poor, and the offense has been worse. The special teams have been pedestrian (reliable kicker Ryan Barker even missed a couple), and the coaching hasn't had answers. The staff has been outschemed to start games and halves and seems to lack some sideline fire.
If you count the late touchdown pass to Chase Sowell against Northwestern, the Lions have one TD drive in two Big Ten games. That's it.
The defense set up two TDs vs. Wisconsin then collapsed and would have been better off going to a matador competition in Evanston on Friday as Northwestern rushed for 413 yards -- 30 yards or more four times, 20 or more six times, 10 or more 12 times.
That is all up to Campbell to fix and soon because football success affects so much inside and outside of the university and Central PA.
There's no question Campbell was put in a difficult position by his late hiring, with Franklin taking a dozen players to Virginia Tech along with others in this free-agent NIL market/debacle going elsewhere.
And there's no question athletic director Pat Kraft, who mangled the search and has become a polarizing figure with price increases and his overall comportment, finds himself on a seat much hotter than Campbell's.
Perhaps for his own future, Kraft is obviously hoping Campbell and the Lions can shake off their first two losses and become a team the Nittany Nation can feel good about.
That was anything but the case on Friday night and paled even next to the 2003-04 teams -- which went 7-16 and only won three Big Ten games but were usually competitive.
At Northwestern, which has a good team, the Lions didn't look like they could beat many Power-4 teams. If any.
The two dozen transfers from Iowa State are mostly upperclassmen and familiar with Campbell and his staff so it was thought the combination would spell some success. So far, it has not.
Social media, per usual, is losing its mind, but no hire can be fairly judged for two-three years, and a measure of calm is needed.
Other Penn State coaches have started slowly. Joe Paterno lost six of his first 11. Bill O'Brien lost his first two before regrouping. Franklin's first two seasons were 7-6.
The scary part is senior quarterback Rocco Becht is struggling and leaves after this season anyway. The roster, like most, will be transient, compounding the climb.
But it's still way over the edge to suggest Campbell is the wrong choice --- just as it would be too early to conclude he's on his way to Big Ten prominence if he had started 2-0.
This job, in this era, is going to be a project, and coaching transition typically brings a step or two back before it moves forward.
And here's a sobering fact about Penn State: It has lost nine of its last 12 Big Ten games.
Matt Campbell can't be blamed for that although, at least on the field, he's
already lost his chance to make a good first impression.
Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.