Rhule to Penn State?

LP1 said:
...with the exception of possibly Cignetti, none of those guys are any better than what they had.
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Not currently but I am anxious to see what Rhule can do when he sticks around a program longer than 3 years. I am hopeful that that's at Nebraska as there's life and optimism again...which has been absent for over a decade.
 
Rhule addressed rumors. I think it's about the best answer were going to get...talked about his fondness for Penn st. but how much he loves it here and that he came here for a reason and wants to be "a good father and coach." Additionally that yes he has a good relationship with Kraft but gushed about his relationship with Troy.
 
LP1 said:
...with the exception of possibly Cignetti, none of those guys are any better than what they had.
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Yep. I don't think there's any currently-employed coach that can be considered a noticeable upgrade over what they've done (other than Kirby Smart, but that's not happening).

Even the guys on the fringes of that - Dabo, Lanning, Kelly - would be a stretch to say their current state and history are legitimate upgrades.

Cignetti hasn't actually accomplished as much as a lot of them but he's right that he's won everywhere he's been (just hasn't been Power 4 very long) and what they've done the past 14 months is only behind a couple of guys.
 
Cornfed said:
Rhule addressed rumors. I think it's about the best answer were going to get...talked about his fondness for Penn st. but how much he loves it here and that he came here for a reason and wants to be "a good father and coach." Additionally that yes he has a good relationship with Kraft but gushed about his relationship with Troy.
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So, a bunch of stuff that sounds good but a long ways from "I'm not leaving."
 
Mavric said:
So, a bunch of stuff that sounds good but a long ways from "I'm not leaving."
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yeah... wasn't direct. I know it's unlikely but I hope we know one way or another sooner than later. I don't want to live in this world of ambiguity
 
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Cornfed said:
Rhule addressed rumors. I think it's about the best answer were going to get...talked about his fondness for Penn st. but how much he loves it here and that he came here for a reason and wants to be "a good father and coach." Additionally that yes he has a good relationship with Kraft but gushed about his relationship with Troy.
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Agreed with @Mavric, a word salad that was non-committal either way in the press conference. Obviously he is still coaching for us so he can't outwardly say, "yeah, I'm interested in that other job." Any other school/situation, I don't see him leaving. This one will be a huge stomach churner for him. Does he leave Nebraska on the upward trend, just as the groundwork is starting to show towards Top 10/15 status in the next year or so? Does he take a job with a lot of personal ties, but was just in the Top 10/15 status up until three weeks ago, but suddenly appears lost?

I believe Kraft would hire Rhule immediately if given a blank slate opportunity. I suspect (hope) that the boosters and administration will step in and force Kraft to pursue a perceived better option with Cignetti seeming to be the most obvious name right now. To go now, Rhule would be stepping in to a program with championship expectations immediately. Do I think he could do it? Sure. Do I think Penn State fans have the patience to let him retool things? I'm not so sure.

My hope is that he sees what happened to Frost when we were in the dumps and still couldn't get back to decent. Frost no longer views Nebraska as home and will be unlikely to attend anything Nebraska football related for years/decades. As of now, Rhule is largely admired by both bases, does he risk losing both if he leaves and things don't work out?
 
Cornfed said:
Rhule addressed rumors. I think it's about the best answer were going to get...talked about his fondness for Penn st. but how much he loves it here and that he came here for a reason and wants to be "a good father and coach." Additionally that yes he has a good relationship with Kraft but gushed about his relationship with Troy.
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Agreed - sensible response on his part.

I wouldn't hold it against him if he did have a desire to coach there.
Cornfed said:
yeah... wan't direct. I know it's unlikely but I hope we know one way or another sooner than later. I don't want to live in this world of ambiguity
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Unfortunately I don't think we will. Penn St. would be foolish to announce a new head coach during the season because of the new transfer portal rules (it basically opens up an immediate, temporary window for current players to transfer as soon as a new head coach is announced). The one caveat is if they hired someone who wasn't currently coaching OR if Dannen works out some kind of new contract agreement with Rhule mid-season.

But even then, Penn St. will probably wait to make an announcement after the regular season ends so they have a better chance to retain their current players.
 
The context was why he chose to come here in the first place. So "wanted" would be accurate.

But that's the fun we'll have until something is announced - and the first something to be announced being a contract extension isn't off the table.

 
Wistrom Disciple said:
My hope is that he sees what happened to Frost when we were in the dumps and still couldn't get back to decent. Frost no longer views Nebraska as home and will be unlikely to attend anything Nebraska football related for years/decades. As of now, Rhule is largely admired by both bases, does he risk losing both if he leaves and things don't work out?
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I know if it were me, I'd have very little interest coaching at my alma mater, and would prefer not to risk that relationship/history. I felt that way even before Frost coached here.
 
Word is that Penn State has a big booster (Buffalo Bills owner?) that is covering the buyout. That's probably the big wild-card here: do they have someone who's going to sponsor the check? Sounds like they might, and that means they'll want a name to go with the check.

But having the close relationship with the AD is also a wild-card. Without that, I'd think the chances are small. With that however...

 
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