OT: D1

[IUPNation]

Considering Iowa State was a perennial doormat before he arrived and he didn’t have resources..not a bad hire…sometimes a boring one turns out better. Lame Kiffin won’t end well in Baton Rouge.

[Chuck Norris]

Considering Iowa State was a perennial doormat before he arrived and he didn’t have resources..not a bad hire…sometimes a boring one turns out better. Lame Kiffin won’t end well in Baton Rouge.

I wouldn’t necessarily consider it a boring hire. He didn’t strike when the iron was hot and I think maybe he wasn’t on all the short lists for opening this year because people just assumed he wasn’t leaving Iowa State because he hadn’t when he likely could have a number of times.

It was an awkward path to get there but in the end I think Penn State may have ended up with the absolute right guy.

[Fightingscot82]

I think it's a good hire. He's not the hottest coach right now or even the hottest he's been on the market, but he's a strong coach with a good track record. He's still under 50 and could be there long term or until the power brokers decide they won't sleep until they find the coach who can unseat Ohio State. Much higher downside than Terry Smith. Campbell must want out of Ames.

[IUPNation]

I think it's a good hire. He's not the hottest coach right now or even the hottest he's been on the market, but he's a strong coach with a good track record. He's still under 50 and could be there long term or until the power brokers decide they won't sleep until they find the coach who can unseat Ohio State. Much higher downside than Terry Smith. Campbell must want out of Ames.

State College is an upgrade over Iowa.

[IUPNation]

I wouldn’t necessarily consider it a boring hire. He didn’t strike when the iron was hot and I think maybe he wasn’t on all the short lists for opening this year because people just assumed he wasn’t leaving Iowa State because he hadn’t when he likely could have a number of times.

It was an awkward path to get there but in the end I think Penn State may have ended up with the absolute right guy.

He might be able to manage the JoePa Cultists.

[Chuck Norris]

I think it's a good hire. He's not the hottest coach right now or even the hottest he's been on the market, but he's a strong coach with a good track record. He's still under 50 and could be there long term or until the power brokers decide they won't sleep until they find the coach who can unseat Ohio State. Much higher downside than Terry Smith. Campbell must want out of Ames.

He was extremely loyal to Iowa State especially considering he had no ties to the school prior to getting hired. Despite all the turbulence of the last two months, Penn State is still a premiere brand in one of the two conferences that’s going to get multiple playoff bids every year. It’s a lot to pass up.

[Ship69]

The tractor better hurry because it sounds like the deal is about done. Given what’s transpired, I don’t think Penn State could’ve done any better. The guy stayed at Iowa State for 10 years despite being brought up in connection with practically every job opening in the last several years. And he signed a top 10 class, so assuming at least some of those guys jump with him the PSU signing day debacle may quickly be forgotten.

Top 10 class? The Athletic listed Iowa State's class at No. 50 in an article today. He'll likely bring some recruits with him, but his first year is likely going to be a crap show in any case. Getting hired after the early signing window meant he was unable to try and persuade any of Penn State's class for 2026 to stay with him. It's good he got himself a long-term contract because he's likely going to need a couple of years to build them out of the hole he created.

Whether the rabid Penn State fans will give him the time remains to be seen. I went up to a Penn State game against Northwestern in Franklin's first year. Franklin's problem was that Bill O'Brien, faced with scholarship limits due to Penn State's Sandusky sanctions, cleverly elected to recruit players at the skill positions while relying on walk-ons to supplement the team's depth on the lines.

This didn't work badly while O'Brien was there, but by the time Franklin came on the scene most of the scholarship linemen had graduated, and he was faced with a team that ha decent skill players, but little talent on the lines. When I was at the Northwestern game, Penn State's running game got stoned, and Hackenberg, their QB at the time, about got killed. PSU fans around me were unsparing in their criticism of Franklin and his play-calling, but the truth of the matter was that, hard as it was to believe, Northwestern was simply better than Penn State at that point. But the entitled PSU fans thought they should win just be showing up, undoubtedly the same mentality that went into Penn State's UCLA and Northwestern debacles this season.

Campbell seems like a good hire, but for his sake he'd better produce ASAP. As for Penn State, they'd better give him a little time to produce a winner. Another unsightly mid-season firing would not be good for the already tarnished image.

[IUPNation]

Top 10 class? The Athletic listed Iowa State's class at No. 50 in an article today. He'll likely bring some recruits with him, but his first year is likely going to be a crap show in any case. Getting hired after the early signing window meant he was unable to try and persuade any of Penn State's class for 2026 to stay with him. It's good he got himself a long-term contract because he's likely going to need a couple of years to build them out of the hole he created.

Whether the rabid Penn State fans will give him the time remains to be seen. I went up to a Penn State game against Northwestern in Franklin's first year. Franklin's problem was that Bill O'Brien, faced with scholarship limits due to Penn State's Sandusky sanctions, cleverly elected to recruit players at the skill positions while relying on walk-ons to supplement the team's depth on the lines.

This didn't work badly while O'Brien was there, but by the time Franklin came on the scene most of the scholarship linemen had graduated, and he was faced with a team that ha decent skill players, but little talent on the lines. When I was at the Northwestern game, Penn State's running game got stoned, and Hackenberg, their QB at the time, about got killed. PSU fans around me were unsparing in their criticism of Franklin and his play-calling, but the truth of the matter was that, hard as it was to believe, Northwestern was simply better than Penn State at that point. But the entitled PSU fans thought they should win just be showing up, undoubtedly the same mentality that went into Penn State's UCLA and Northwestern debacles this season.

Campbell seems like a good hire, but for his sake he'd better produce ASAP. As for Penn State, they'd better give him a little time to produce a winner. Another unsightly mid-season firing would not be good for the already tarnished image.

There was no portal then and Campbell has a nice payroll so he can get players looking for cash and a spot. High school recruits are just one piece of the puzzle these days.

[Chuck Norris]

Top 10 class? The Athletic listed Iowa State's class at No. 50 in an article today. He'll likely bring some recruits with him, but his first year is likely going to be a crap show in any case. Getting hired after the early signing window meant he was unable to try and persuade any of Penn State's class for 2026 to stay with him. It's good he got himself a long-term contract because he's likely going to need a couple of years to build them out of the hole he created.

Whether the rabid Penn State fans will give him the time remains to be seen. I went up to a Penn State game against Northwestern in Franklin's first year. Franklin's problem was that Bill O'Brien, faced with scholarship limits due to Penn State's Sandusky sanctions, cleverly elected to recruit players at the skill positions while relying on walk-ons to supplement the team's depth on the lines.

This didn't work badly while O'Brien was there, but by the time Franklin came on the scene most of the scholarship linemen had graduated, and he was faced with a team that ha decent skill players, but little talent on the lines. When I was at the Northwestern game, Penn State's running game got stoned, and Hackenberg, their QB at the time, about got killed. PSU fans around me were unsparing in their criticism of Franklin and his play-calling, but the truth of the matter was that, hard as it was to believe, Northwestern was simply better than Penn State at that point. But the entitled PSU fans thought they should win just be showing up, undoubtedly the same mentality that went into Penn State's UCLA and Northwestern debacles this season.

Campbell seems like a good hire, but for his sake he'd better produce ASAP. As for Penn State, they'd better give him a little time to produce a winner. Another unsightly mid-season firing would not be good for the already tarnished image.

You’re correct. I think all the different coaches I’ve been reading about sort of melded together. This recruiting class is being hailed as possibly Iowa State’s best ever, but it’s not rated top 10.

Everything you said is exactly what every coach faces when they take a job with a blue blood program. Some succeed with it, some don’t. Franklin, despite the rough ending, had a very good run at Penn State. Campbell, based on his resume to date, didn’t simply jump at the first chance to “move up”. He could’ve done it well before now.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Top 10 class? The Athletic listed Iowa State's class at No. 50 in an article today. He'll likely bring some recruits with him, but his first year is likely going to be a crap show in any case. Getting hired after the early signing window meant he was unable to try and persuade any of Penn State's class for 2026 to stay with him. It's good he got himself a long-term contract because he's likely going to need a couple of years to build them out of the hole he created.

Whether the rabid Penn State fans will give him the time remains to be seen. I went up to a Penn State game against Northwestern in Franklin's first year. Franklin's problem was that Bill O'Brien, faced with scholarship limits due to Penn State's Sandusky sanctions, cleverly elected to recruit players at the skill positions while relying on walk-ons to supplement the team's depth on the lines.

This didn't work badly while O'Brien was there, but by the time Franklin came on the scene most of the scholarship linemen had graduated, and he was faced with a team that ha decent skill players, but little talent on the lines. When I was at the Northwestern game, Penn State's running game got stoned, and Hackenberg, their QB at the time, about got killed. PSU fans around me were unsparing in their criticism of Franklin and his play-calling, but the truth of the matter was that, hard as it was to believe, Northwestern was simply better than Penn State at that point. But the entitled PSU fans thought they should win just be showing up, undoubtedly the same mentality that went into Penn State's UCLA and Northwestern debacles this season.

Campbell seems like a good hire, but for his sake he'd better produce ASAP. As for Penn State, they'd better give him a little time to produce a winner. Another unsightly mid-season firing would not be good for the already tarnished image.

That 'hole' is going to get deeper.

The team wanted Terry. Many will go down with James the minute the season ends (after the garbage bowl).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It took an extra day, but Lane got the signature of the nation's No. 1 high school recruit last night.

I wonder what that cost (officially or unofficially).

[CHIP72]

I’ll be attending the Big Five Classic (college basketball) today in Philadelphia and have my Villanova hat with me (along with hats for each of the other five Big Five/City Six teams) but on the trip northeast to the City of Brotherly Love I have my Lehigh hat on.

There are only four teams in college football the Wildcats could play when I wouldn’t root for them…and Lehigh is one of them. Go Mountain Hawks!

[EyeoftheHawk]

Regarding Penn State, recruiting classes, etc. Signing day has never been less important than it is these days. Teams with the financial resources to do so can completely rebuild themselves through the portal. Not all are successful as was mentioned above. Saying that, this is one of the main reasons I don’t care for today’s world of college football. Teams that make major changes should expect to have at least a season or two of struggle due to loss of players alone.

When Bill O’Brien took over after Paterno he went 8-4 and 7-5 respectively. James Franklin was 7-6 and 7-6. They couldn’t reload like Campbell can do now. Although he still has some things to overcome, it wouldn’t shock me at all if Penn State went 10-2 next year. The schedule certainly sets up for it with the toughest game being on the road at Michigan in Week 5.

[Chuck Norris]

Regarding Penn State, recruiting classes, etc. Signing day has never been less important than it is these days. Teams with the financial resources to do so can completely rebuild themselves through the portal. Not all are successful as was mentioned above. Saying that, this is one of the main reasons I don’t care for today’s world of college football. Teams that make major changes should expect to have at least a season or two of struggle due to loss of players alone.

When Bill O’Brien took over after Paterno he went 8-4 and 7-5 respectively. James Franklin was 7-6 and 7-6. They couldn’t reload like Campbell can do now. Although he still has some things to overcome, it wouldn’t shock me at all if Penn State went 10-2 next year. The schedule certainly sets up for it with the toughest game being on the road at Michigan in Week 5.

Yep. Every player that leaves just creates a spot for another one to come in. And Terry Smith is staying so that should help the transition somewhat

[IUPNation]

You’re correct. I think all the different coaches I’ve been reading about sort of melded together. This recruiting class is being hailed as possibly Iowa State’s best ever, but it’s not rated top 10.

Everything you said is exactly what every coach faces when they take a job with a blue blood program. Some succeed with it, some don’t. Franklin, despite the rough ending, had a very good run at Penn State. Campbell, based on his resume to date, didn’t simply jump at the first chance to “move up”. He could’ve done it well before now.

James Tenandtwo had two elite seasons and the first one he lucked out thanks to one blocked kick…and Wisconsin wasn’t that good as winner of the BIG West.

Otherwise he was always a bridesmaid…and lijj my e the third or fourth one at that.