The Lions' Pride

2012 9-4 w/ bowl win
2013 10-3 w/ bowl win
2014 11-3 w/ BCS bowl win (B1G champ)
2015 14-0 w/ BCS Title win over Alabama (B1G champ)

I'd call this success.

Ed D should have never been hired (if they were truly trying to build the program). He was hired because he was a PSU grad and cheap.

1. We need to be top 4 in the conference this year and be a legit title contender the following year. As for recruiting we need to get 60% of our "A" guys and fill our needs.

2. By signing day two years from now we'll know where the program is headed so that's my time table.

Coaches now either turn a program around in a year or two or they go away ... (Rich Rod stands up and so does Nick Saban/Urban Meyer).

What's your answer?

I like to see recruiting prowess as much as the next guy... top 10 classes would be great.

What I truly want to see is an increased competitive nature that manifests itself in the physicality of our play on the field and a continuation of intelligent and thoughtful young men off the field. When I look back to the teams that played in the 90's (that I remember), they had a confidence on the field that was evident to fans and opponents alike. It was a tangible thing that you can see and feel going into big games. I want to see our offense take chances in the passing game, at the same time knowing that they can line up against a great defense and run for 2 yards on 3rd down. I want to see receivers fight for every pass and come up with clutch catches consistently. I want to see back-up offensive lineman blow starting defensive lineman off the ball when called upon. I want to see corners line up across the line of scrimage from great receivers and compete tooth and nail for turnovers. I want to see creative defensive schemes that baffle QB's and opposing Offensive coordinators. I want linebackers that run in coverage with quick TE's and the next play knock big backs back into the backfield. I want safeties that make a couple of hits every week that make WR's who we have yet to play grimace in film study. I want to see the return of that swagger that we had, and have shown in moments but haven't truly had in years. I want wins over Ohio State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and blow outs when playing those that should be blown out. I want to continue to be proud of the players when they are interviewed because they speak with confidence in a manner that is still respectful and engrossing. I want the press that PSU receives because of its football team to trump the obstacles created by Jerry Sandusky in a positive way.

Bill O'Brien has my respect for coming here. When he reaches excellence the right way he will be a success.

Pete, lots of opinions here for the benchmark of BO'B's success. What are your answers to your questions?

For me
9-10 win seasons consistently, bowling at a .750 win rate
Actually competing with top 10 teams on the schedule/bowls
In the hunt for BIG10 titles
In the hunt for National Championships every 4ish years
And of course my pet peeve beating OSU every year for my personal reasons not related to football.

He's slippin....

1. Reasonable and achievable
2. Top 5 class is a tall order by any coach let alone a 2nd year coach. Why is this a criteria for the second year. I think a reasonable expectation is consistently in top 10 with an occasional slip to top 20. Everyone has an off year.
3. Agree, I put the 9-10 to accommodate the loss on things out of our control like adding time for Lloyd Carr (yea, I'm still pissed)
4. Agree
5. Agree sort of, getting to the show with the current poll/politics structure seems a challenge with no margin of error. My standard of "in the hunt" is top five in the country. BO'B can't control the polls, he can just win. PSU has had several undefeated seasons with no showing for National Championship
6. Agree but it is not measurable.
7. Agree but again hard to measure.
8. Personally, I need a higher value here, I really dislike OSU and UM is close behind.
9. Agree, but MNC every few years is 4-5-6ish years. Every few to me is 3 years, I don't think that is a reasonable goal.

B1G Championship and top 25 recruiting class majority of years. I'll give him 5 years, because I don't think he'll be here much longer than that.

I think if he succeeds, he'll get an offer from an NFL team and get out of town. If he fails, or is even mediocre, he'll get canned and we'll go after the big time guys Joyner couldn't reel in the first time.

High expectations are because we've been a sleeping giant for quite a while. While I love Joe dearly, and the way he went out is unfortunate, the waiting is over. The obstacle(s) are gone, its time to awake the giant.

Hopefully BOB can pull it off, but we'll see. Good thing he has a very accomplished staff to help him get there.

I had class last night!

Pete, I know the mantra you repeat about not lowering expectations and stuff, but you have to inject some realism at some point. The fact is, recruiting rankings on pretty much every site lean towards programs with more recruits.

Look at the top 10 recruiting classes on 247. Only 2 of them have fewer than 22 commits. We're supposed to have only about 20 open spaces in 2013, and that's with a lot of RS Jr's being asked to leave.

Look at LSU's class this year - 16/4* recruits, 6/3* and 1/2* - are you saying that would be unacceptable because it's only ranked 12th? aTm has 1/5*, 12/4*, 5/3* and 1/2* - is that really an unacceptable class because it's ranked 14th?

I have high expectations, but I also have realistic ones. As great as Meyer did, his class only barely ranked in the top 5.

I don't really have much of a problem with the rest of your expectations - they're high, but decently reasonable. But the recruiting classes are a little unrealistic. I know it's going to take a lot from BOB to win you over, but you seem to be setting up some unrealistic expectations specifically to say "I knew he wasn't good enough" when he fails to meet them.

1. Win on the field. Recruiting will then take care of itself in time.
2. Try to keep graduating players at a high clip.
3. Do things the right way.

I think some here are ignoring the huge elephant in the room and hoping it simply walks out the door, but PSU's name is MUD right now. It doesn't deserve to be, but it is. If this guy can get some decent recruits and keep PSU's ahead above water and compete for a BT title in the next 3-4 years (make the title game at least)....he's doing ok. Basically he has to ride this storm out and hopefully calmer waters are ahead for him and the school. MNC's right now..top 5 classes??? A little perspective right now isn't too much to ask for. Our top 4-5 recruits ran away as quick as they could from this and they were all PSU...think about that for a second or two. He's got a lot to overcome and while I hope he can simply go out and pluck who he wants....way to much dirt for other coaches to use currently.

Quickly here...bare after this year? Quite a bit of talent actually. '09 was solid, '10 was an excellent class and 11 has some nice pieces as well.