Second-guessing Campbell hiring simply way too premature
PSU point/counterpoint
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Should PSU have hired someone other than Matt Campbell?
No, I'm not at all ready to say Penn State made a mistake by hiring Matt Campbell.
And I think everybody who does ought to settle down and take a breath.
Since when, in what world, should there be a definitive declaration that somebody isn't -- or is -- going to be successful after just three Big Ten games?
Especially when that person lost a recruiting class due to no fault of his own because of the timing of his hiring, the fluid transfer portal and an unregulated world of college football. The main reason the Nittany Nation was even optimistic about this season is two-fold: 1) Because James Franklin was gone; 2) Because the Big Ten gifted the Lions the softest schedule in the league, avoiding Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon.
That's on top of the non-conference schedule -- left by James Franklin and sanctioned by Pat Kraft -- that built a false sense of security.
And still, most only predicted the Lions in the 9-3 range.
Now: Campbell is not off to a good start, no question.
His in-game management has raised concerns. He's called timeouts when he shouldn't and hasn't called them when he should.
His strategy has been questionable - whether trying to coast with a 17-0 lead against Wisconsin or not putting enough pressure on USC quarterback Jaylen Maiava.
Some of his explanations are puzzling.
The 0-3 start has shifted conversations to shoulda, woulda, coulda scenarios.
As the search was dragging on last year, I wrote that hiring associate head coach Terry Smith would have been a logical bridge to better solidify the roster. He maybe could have kept Ethan Grunkemeyer.
But that ship sailed with Smith being viewed as more of a BandAid than a long-term answer.
PA native Bob Chesney's name has come up. While he's done great work so far at UCLA, let's not get carried away with wins over Purdue, Maryland and an Oregon team on its third quarterback.
Besides, Campbell had a better resume than Chesney. Will he be a better coach? Check back in later November or, better yet, in 2028.
I know this sounds like a broken record, but transitions require patience. New hires need and deserve an acclimation period.
Penn State got tired of Franklin and vice versa. After 12 seasons, change was in order.
A lower-key individual was welcome, someone who didn't brag about doing back handsprings out of bed, blowing up balloons at birthday parties and didn't need to recruit out of a helicopter.
Campbell checks many boxes. He's humble, he's likeable, he respects the past, and he's a culture builder.
That takes longer than just throwing another $20 million at a roster that could care less about Penn State and doesn't share its values.
Ohio State is spending $50-plus million on its roster, but does that mean Penn State (which is currently spending about $30 million) should, too? If it's just about who spends the most, what's the point?
Penn State has won two national championships, and none in 40 years, though the system screwed the 1994 team.
If it doesn't outprice its fan base (another subject for another day) Penn State will survive without having to win an arm's race -- even if Kraft, its out-front athletic director, eventually won't.
Campbell wants to develop a program his way -- through relationships, a sense of community and a foundation of high school recruiting.
He's got an eight-year contract, so he's not going anywhere, and Penn State owes it to him -- and itself --- to provide every opportunity to make this work.
Just like it did for the last guy.
Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.