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Cory Giger

PSU point-counter: Going to miss Michigan, Ohio State (Giger)

This week's question: What's your take on the new Big Ten schedule? By Cory Giger For the Mirror Penn State, and James Franklin in particular, certainly love that both Ohio State and Michigan will no longer be on the schedule every year, beginning in 2024. Without a doubt, not having to play the Buckeyes and Wolverines each season will help the Nittany Lions’ chances of making the 12-team College Football Playoff. That’s a given. But it still stinks, if you ask me. Games against Ohio State and Michigan have always been a blast. Everybody looks forward to them, they are usually ...

PSU fans should enjoy Iowa series

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com James Franklin snuck in a dig at the Big Ten office earlier this week when he noted how often the Nittany Lions play Iowa, “maybe the best team in the West (division) over our time here. We love that ... I know it’s random.” I like Franklin, ...

PSU point-counterpoint: What is your biggest reason for optimism with this team? (Giger)

Nittany Lions cannot waste coaching staff this year This is the best overall coaching staff James Franklin has had during his Penn State tenure, and there’s a lot of reason to be optimistic that the guys he’s surrounded himself with can help the program reach the next level. But it may need to happen this year, before one extremely vital member of the staff departs. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was a phenomenal hire by Franklin after Brent Pry left to become head coach at Virginia Tech. With all due respect to Pry, who did excellent work, Diaz just brings a different level of ...

What constitutes a successful season for the Nittany Lions?

Lions need to run table and finish with 11-2 mark By Neil Rudel I think it’s pretty simple. Win out to finish 11-2 and serve notice this could be a team to be reckoned with for the Big Ten championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff next year. On one hand, you can say it’s been a bounce-back year from the 11-11 mess of the last two seasons, but those were in no way the Penn State standard. Sweeping November would get the Lions to 10-2, but they don’t have a win to really brag about, and none remain on the remaining schedule. The Nits can’t afford to stub ...

PSU point-counterpoint: How should the quarterback situation be handled?

Clifford has lost right to be permanent starter By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com After last Saturday’s 44-31 loss to Ohio State, Sean Clifford lowered his career record vs. OSU and Michigan to 2-6, without a win over the Buckeyes. James Franklin has maintained loyalty to Clifford. After a shaky start at Michigan, which Clifford didn’t finish due to injury (leaving a QB question for the next game against Minnesota), Franklin said, “Sean has earned the right” to be the starter. That isn’t the case anymore. Not after Clifford was intercepted on the Lions’ ...

Will the expanded playoff field help Penn Sate become an elite program?

Not unless Nittany Lions can beat OSU, Michigan By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com OK, first off, to explain the wording of the question: James Franklin started it. Quick background: Following a gut-wrenching 27-26 loss to the Buckeyes in 2018 at Beaver Stadium — Ohio State’s second-straight one-point win (39-38) in the series — Franklin used his post-game forum to outline the difference between great and elite programs. He said the Lions “are a great program” and pledged to narrow that gap to become “elite.” In the emotional, raw moments of a tough loss ...