We know the Penn State offense will be fast.
And from what little we’ve seen of the Nittany Lion defense in practice, they’ve been furiously rushing off the edges – DE’s and DB’s alike.
Soon, the games themselves will be coming fast and furious. So hold on tight:
After going nine months without facing an on-the-field opponent (negative recruiting aside), beginning this Saturday, Penn State will play three for-real games in 15 days.
We’ll know a lot about the Nittany Lions quickly, after Kent State, Pitt and Temple. Bang, bang, bang. (Honestly, though, the Kent State game will tell us little: They were 3-9 last year and lost their last games of 2015 by a combined score of 140-31, although four of the five did have winning records.)
That troika is part of a six-game, 36-day span – from the season-opener to the Oct. 8 Homecoming game — that will comprise the first half of the Nittany Lions’ 2016 season. Following the first three games, they’ll face Michigan (in the Big House), then Minnesota and Maryland. A much-needed bye week follows.
Thus, after an offseason of new coordinators, negative recruiting claims and continued rebuilding of both the figurative and literal kinds, the answers — just like the games — will come in rapid-fire succession.
Just like that, and we’ll know how improved (or not) the offensive line is; how consistently effective (or not) Joe Moorhead’s offense is; just how much the D-line misses (or not) a cast of thousands who went on to play in the NFL; and whether Penn State is back (or not) to dominating the state.
PHASE 1 IS DONE
Beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, when the Nittany Lions kick off against Kent State in the season opener in Beaver Stadium, Phase 1 of the Franklin Era will have come and gone after an extended introduction and interesting indoctrination into Penn State.
Phase I began on Jan. 11, 2014, and lasted just shy of 32 months, with 14 victories and 12 losses. For which Franklin will have been paid approximately $12.14 million (including this Wednesday’s monthly pay day of $350k, as well as a cool million in bonuses for playing in two bowl games and keeping his job).
Or, just about $12,567 a day.
Franklin is 44.4% of the way through his six-year contract. And 43.7% of the way to the $27.75 million he’ll get from guaranteed money and assuming he makes it to a bowl game every year and is employed every Dec. 31 (that last number jumps to $750,000 if he’s the coach on the final day of his contract, Dec. 31, 2019).
Granted, so far it hasn’t been easy money.
Think of it as #combatpay. There were the harsh lingering realities of the Sanction Era on and off the field, half a hundred walk-ons, distracting court battles, new bosses at both president and athletic director, and a retooling of Penn State’s staff, roster, facilities and mindset. Surviving and thriving under those conditions required a full complement of context, perspective, patience, vision and faith. To his credit, Franklin had all five.
But. But…Phase 1 ends this Friday. What’s past will be prologue.
PHASE 2: 448 DAYS
The question now is, How good of a job did Franklin do in Phase 1 preparing for Phase 2, when he’ll really earn his money? And we’re not talking just about the 2016 season. Too small of a statistical sample.
The proof, instead, will be in a 448-day pudding.
The true taste test of the Franklin Era can only happen, at least, after the Nittany Lions play at Maryland on Nov. 25…in 2017. By then, they will have played a very challenging 25-game slate over the course of the next 15 months. Two games each against Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa and Pitt. And one each against Northwestern and Nebraska, both next season.
Phase 2 (15 months, 25 games) will be only half as long as Phase 1 (32 months, 26 games). At half the price. By comparison, it comes with a relatively cheap price tag, as far as Franklin is concerned: Only $5.84 million – counting bonuses.
And, really, it’s not about the money.
Or scandal or sanctions or the Joe Paterno retirement/injury/400 storylines. For the first time in a long time at Penn State, those 25 games will be all about football.
Welcome back. Hang on, it’s going to be a fast ride.
