Mailbag: PSU program has peaked under Franklin

October 11, 2025

I’ve been saying for years James Franklin has taken Penn State football as far as he can. Little did I know it would be in reverse. What hurts is how it appears that the team, coaches, administration are indifferent to mediocrity. Players seem indifferent and definitely not disciplined (ie: throwing the ball in end zone by the tight end caused PSU to kickoff from 20). This team needs some tough love — like 12 weeks at Paris Island or Fort Jackson S.C. I thought 12 years ago and hearing Denny Douds, the longtime East Stroudsburg head coach speak highly of his ex-quarterback, ...

Rudel’s PSU prediction causes concern

August 9, 2025

After reading Neil Rudel’s column on Monday, I write today with serious concerns about his health. Has he missed doctor appointments or perhaps missed or expired medications that have affected him so badly that he actually predicted a 12-0 regular season for the Penn State football team? Or has the snake-oil head football coach finally gotten into his head and marginalized a once brilliant sports editor/reporter? OK, I’m going to try and believe that it’s nothing more serious than a missed eye appointment that caused Rudel to miss Ohio State and Oregon on this year’s printed ...

Pirates’ lack of energy needs addressed

May 3, 2025

I watched the Pirates on Tuesday, April 15. They were playing the Nationals, and I could not believe the team’s lack of energy. There were errors and missed plays — easy plays — and no direction of who is in command on the field. When there’s a fly ball to the outfield, somebody has got to take charge. We learned that in Little League, when I played for Cadle & Fornwalt at the Altoona Little League field before the highway and 17th Street came in. Also, on offense, the entire team is not performing. Sometimes you would see maybe one or two players get in a slump but the ...

Basketball season has been quite the downer

February 22, 2025

This past high school basketball season brought back memories of 50 years ago. Many of the games this year, especially the girls games, were very lopsided with wins of 30, 40 and 50 points. Does this mean the competition is so weak or are some of the teams that outstanding? Altoona boys were at one time one of the best teams in the state. The last few years, they’ve been one of the worst teams in the state. There was a time when Hollidaysburg could not compete with Altoona. That’s no longer the case. College basketball is also being ruined. In the past, Saint ...

Johnston was in a league of his own

February 8, 2025

I was saddened to see the recent passing of Dick Johnston. In the winter of 1962 during my seventh grade year at iconic Roosevelt Junior High School, I can vividly recall the first time I watched Coach Jim Rice’s Roughrider basketball team in action. I was absolutely astounded by the shooting and ball-handling prowess of an eighth-grade guard named Dickie Johnston. Some of my fondest memories as an Altoona High student and Mountain Echo sports editor involved watching Johnston play at the Jaffa Mosque and other venues throughout Central Pennsylvania. His outside shooting ...

Franklin’s remarks need some coaching

February 1, 2025

I would like to see Pat Kraft have a discussion with James Franklin about his press conferences and comments. Franklin very rarely actually talks about football, and his continual banter about the other team’s players and coaches is really off-putting. I get that he wants to tell everyone he studies the opponent, and how good they are, but he need not tell us about how he knows and has worked with seemingly everyone in the profession. And have a little emotional intelligence. I know he is smart and uses his voice to ask for things he wants in the program. That’s all well ...