Can Penn St. be immediately competitive post-probation?

etv78 · February 5, 2014, 6:48pm

Seems like Penn St hasn’t collapsed under the Sandusky sanctions. Can they be reasonably competitive once the probation ends?

Munch · February 5, 2014, 6:53pm

Define “reasonably competitive”.

etv78 · February 5, 2014, 7:01pm

Duh! “Reasonably competitive”-contending for mid-tier bowls. Mid-tier=Citrus, Peach, Gator, etc.

Munch · February 5, 2014, 7:08pm

Is this directed at me or yourself?

etv78 · February 5, 2014, 7:09pm

Myself.

Munch · February 5, 2014, 8:24pm

Well, the Citrus Bowl was (records are pre-bowl) Louisville (11-1) - Miami (9-3), the [del]Peach[/del] Chick-Fil-A Bowl was Texas A&M (8-4) - Duke (10-3), and the Gator Bowl was Nebraska (8-4) - Georgia (8-4). Penn St. was 7-5 this season, and 8-4 last season. Seems to me they’re already reasonably competitive.

etv78 · February 5, 2014, 10:34pm

I agree. (Haven’t followed them as closely lately). I can’t wait until they are “Final Four” worthy again.

R.P.McMurphy · February 5, 2014, 10:57pm

It looks like they had a relatively successful recruiting class. Signing day is today.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/teamrank/2014/all/all

PastTense · February 5, 2014, 10:57pm

Let’s consider two other questions:

How long before they could win the Big 10?
How long before they could win the national title?

etv78 · February 5, 2014, 10:59pm

Good questions PT.

astorian · February 5, 2014, 11:10pm

They’ve already had two better than expected years under Bill O’Brien, and new coach Franklin is a very solid football man.

LONG term, I think they can contend for the Big Ten again in 3 or 4 years. Franklin can bring in some very good players before that, but he won’t have the DEPTH to do more than make second/third-tier bowls until then.