The expectations for Penn State are a bit different from what they were a year ago at this time, but the standards remain the same. It’s not about being just good enough anymore, as it’s about finally getting to the top and winning at the level this program is expected to.
If there’s been one issue with Penn State in recent years, it has been its inability to win big games. No matter what, Penn State couldn’t get the job done when it mattered most and that’s a major issue.
Josh Pate, a media member who always has a lot of good to say about Penn State, thinks that could change under Matt Campbell.
Campbell built a lot of good during his time at Iowa State, but he’ll have new expectations like never before. Coaching at Penn State, compared to Iowa State, is like coaching in the big leagues and in T-ball. The game is just different.
“Matt Campbell was a really good but underrated coach at Iowa State,” Pate said. “Because you couldn't really achieve at Iowa State what you could at Penn State, I think this is going to sort of turbo boost his reputation... he's got to win big games that's what Penn State didn't do, everybody knows that... I think he's going to win there. I think that he can compete for a national championship there. Not this year, just in general.
"So if he just goes in there and wins big games, like if they were to go to Michigan ... and win on the road this year, that'd be a big deal," Pate said on his show. "That would be a signature moment that maybe you haven't gotten all that much under James Franklin."
At Iowa State, winning eight or nine games would be viewed as a major success. At Penn State, anything short of a national championship is often viewed as a disappointment. Not that Campbell has to come in and win it right away, but he has to win the games that Franklin couldn’t for this to be different.
There are some tough shoes to fill here, too. While Franklin didn’t win the big games, he won in every other moment for the most part.