Well deserved criticism.  Actually made a few more head scratchers during the game as well. 

Imagine that.  So technically PSU fans now must put Franklin and Saban in the same sentence.    

I am cool with "trick" plays when THEY make sense.  But a fake punt early in the first quarter against a relatively good football team ( Kentucky) made no sense at all to me. What I am not cool with is taking the ball out of the hands of your BEST player that has a proven track record of making big plays. IMO, "trick" plays are for teams that do not have the confidence or are such an underdog, this is their only option to try to win a game.  Saban was in a uncharted waters and made a several bad decisions Monday night.  He was looking for options to win a game that was out of control. 

Where I get twisted with JF is with his decisions to think on his feet at a crucial time.  I will not go as far to say that made the wrong call(s), but I think he could have used better judgement against Ohio State and Kentucky on both late 4th down calls.  In both situations, he had choices.  Against Ohio State he had the option of trying to catch them off guard with design play or keep the ball in McS hands and let HIM beat them with his feet or pass.  Against Kentucky, he had an option of kicking the FG, hoping the D could hold Kentucky or keeping the ball in McS hands and letting him beat them with his feet or a pass - inside the 20 yard line.

Basically, and I am sure I am not explaining myself correctly, I think McS was the best option in both situations.  Ohio State and Kentucky's defenses were both gassed in the fourth quarter and McS had the chance of beating them more so vs the calls JF made....IMO.

With that said, along with the players developing, coaches develop too and I am sticking with JF another season because I truly believe he wants to be an Elite coach.  He is a very bright person and in the scheme of things, he has not made THAT many questionable calls during his time at PSU.  Penn State has  a lot of good talent coming back next year and at a 100-1 to make the CFP title game......I might just put $10 on that bet! 

Mountain man, hindsight is 20-20. No way you have ever been a coach. I doubt you even played the game.  It is wonderful that you are giving JF another year. His wife and children appreciate your patience. 

I am an expert....can't you tell! LOL. As for JF's family, I doubt they will starve if I fire him him at the end of next season!

I get frustrated because I honestly believe Penn State has fielded some very good teams the last three years and they were a play call or two from having even better outcomes. I get the 20/20 thing, and I know it is much easier to call the shots from the bleachers or recliner....after the fact.  JF needs to play the game like a well oiled machine and stop some of the nonsense stuff and he will be fine....like the Tommy S junk at the beginning of the Ohio State game this year for example. He can win, recruit and brings energy to his team.  He is close to being a great coach and I hope he stays around for a long time.  BUT, like many of us, I too spend a decent amount of $$ to support this program so I feel I am entitled to bust his chops from time to time.  

GO State!!

Posted by: MtNittanyLion

I am an expert....can't you tell! LOL. As for JF's family, I doubt they will starve if I fire him him at the end of next season!

I get frustrated because I honestly believe Penn State has fielded some very good teams the last three years and they were a play call or two from having even better outcomes. I get the 20/20 thing, and I know it is much easier to call the shots from the bleachers or recliner....after the fact.  JF needs to play the game like a well oiled machine and stop some of the nonsense stuff and he will be fine....like the Tommy S junk at the beginning of the Ohio State game this year for example. He can win, recruit and brings energy to his team.  He is close to being a great coach and I hope he stays around for a long time.  BUT, like many of us, I too spend a decent amount of $$ to support this program so I feel I am entitled to bust his chops from time to time.  

 

GO State!!

Well said....got it. 

Saban screwed up. Should have played Hurts second half. Bama fans don't care though. They will never criticize Saban. It's called follow the leader. The same goes with politics... Follow the leader.

I myself was rooting for Bama.

Posted by: STEAKY

Saban screwed up. Should have played Hurts second half. Bama fans don't care though. They will never criticize Saban. It's called follow the leader. The same goes with politics... Follow the leader.

I myself was rooting for Bama.

well, the guy has won five national titles in 10 years so you really can't blame Alabama fans for trusting him 🤣

I can’t question the coach who has led PSU to three straight top 20 rankings for the first times since the nineties.  

As for the OSU call. The ball was NEVER out of mcsorely hands.  When he and miles lined up they both read the DEs playing outside. That took away trace faking and going wide. They read the LBs playing wide and man leaving a hole in the middle. Trace made the call to go up the middle.  It was there. What they didn’t know was the DE would run a twist plugging that hole AND Gonzalez went straight up field not blocking anyone. That is why the play failed.  Poor blocking and a twist by Marshall. They’d run the same play before successfully.  OSU was looking zone read until a last second call. Trace also saw man over coverage and new that 4th and 5 is a very low percentage pass.  As for the bowl game the bowl game either way the defense had to make a stop. If they score KY had four minutes with the ball. Defense didn’t make the stop.  

Exactly right Murray. I thought is was a good play call Ohio st just had guys to step up when they needed a big play. 

I told y’all all coaches make bad calls Saban just has 4* and 5* studs at every position 3 deep to overcome ‘em most of the time but Clemson was just to good to make mistakes and win the game.