James Franklin to Penn State, what does it mean for the Big Ten?

[jdailey1981 155]

Living in Tennessee, I have seen what he has done for Vanderbilt. Took a lower end SEC football team and did wonders. Led them to back to back bowl games for the first time in Vandy's history...that being said, this could be a good hire in the stance of the Big Ten and their return to power as a football conference. Leaving an up and coming SEC team to coach at PSU, while on probation still, is gutsy, however here is what I see:

1. He will turn the program around.
2. Penn State could be a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten once off probation.
3. OSU may actually have competition now, and Buckeyes fans won't be able to gloat as much.

As much as I hate to say it, but he is a good hire, however, he can make other teams in the Big Ten raise the bar as well. I see this as a good move going forward, helping the Big Ten go the right way in a return to prominence. Now I just hope Kevin Wilson does something to help IUFB go the right way as well. He started going the right way last night...

[Hoosierfan2223 61]

I think he can help get Penn State back to what they were as well. I also think Wilson is the guy for IU football. I will say this, if Wilson can get a good DC, I can see us going 8-4, tbh

[Hoosierfan2223 61]

I honestly don't think the SEC is much better than the B1G. Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State are obviously very good teams. Nebraska wasn't bad either as they were able to beat Georgia in their bowl game. I can't see a program like Michigan staying like they are, and I feel they will be back to a perennial top 20 team in the country again. I think Oklahoma beating Alabama showed everyone that the SEC isn't some super conference that nobody else can compete against 

[JSHoosier 22,213]

I honestly don't think the SEC is much better than the B1G. Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State are obviously very good teams. Nebraska wasn't bad either as they were able to beat Georgia in their bowl game. I can't see a program like Michigan staying like they are, and I feel they will be back to a perennial top 20 team in the country again. I think Oklahoma beating Alabama showed everyone that the SEC isn't some super conference that nobody else can compete against 

I think part of that is the ESPN hype machine, and considering their SEC contract they have a financial reason to do it.

[jdailey1981 155]

That and the end of the BCS ends the coddling of the SEC. I was tickled to see Alabama and Auburn lose their games. Proved the SEC was not the best this year. I hope CKW gets a good DC is all I can say. I am ready for IUFB to go bowling!

[jdailey1981 155]

[quote name="Hoosierfan2223" post="29300" timestamp="1389479631"]I honestly don't think the SEC is much better than the B1G. Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State are obviously very good teams. Nebraska wasn't bad either as they were able to beat Georgia in their bowl game. I can't see a program like Michigan staying like they are, and I feel they will be back to a perennial top 20 team in the country again. I think Oklahoma beating Alabama showed everyone that the SEC isn't some super conference that nobody else can compete against [/quote]

S Carolina barely beat Wisconsin, however, OSU lost to Clemson. Once again showing OSU struggles against states south of the Mason Dixon line, however that is not what this is about. FSU was the only team that WASN'T a surprise this year. Anyone who said they honestly saw MSU beating OSU or Auburn beating Alabama had to have had some serious doubt in their head.

I am just ready to see the return of the Big Ten to football prominence again. I am tired of these SEC zealots calling us the "little ten joke conference"

[akhosrof 1,168]

I think saying James Franklin will turn around PSU is a little irrelevant. Bill O'Brien had that program going in a great direction. Both guys are great coaches and PSU was bound to contend for a B1G title whether Franklin or O'Brien was the coach. <br /><br />Now I think the real impact Franklin will have is on recruiting. Franklin is from PA and has extensive experience recruiting the Mid-Atlantic. Really this puts big pressure on the new guys, Rutgers and UMD as Franklin will probably mop up that area taking away their recruits.<br /><br /><br />Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners