Penn State AD quick to praise Matt Campbell
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In terms of years for the Penn State staff, athletic director Pat Kraft has had a pretty rough one. Whether it be the decision to fire James Franklin and the subsequent fallout or overseeing renovations to Beaver Stadium, he hasn't had much time to breathe. However, fans will be happy to know that in new head coach Matt Campbell, he has found somebody he can trust.
"I think he is the absolute perfect person at the perfect time for Penn State football," Kraft said during Big Ten media days. The road to get him to Happy Valley wasn't necessarily easy, but the fact that Kraft is giving Campbell a vote of confidence after a highly rigorous coaching process is very telling. Not only did Kraft need someone who could usher in a new era of Penn State football, but he also needed someone willing to buy in and build a solid culture with a new-look squad.
Campbell got to work right away in doing so by bringing in a whopping 55 transfers. An even more impressive feat was retaining 55 players despite the change. While some may say that bringing in a lot of players may take time to gel, it's also a testament to what Campbell is already doing in Happy Valley to foster a sense of community.
"I believe that [Campbell] understands what it means to be, and the importance of the role of, the head football coach at Penn State, and he doesn't take that lightly," Kraft said. "I think he has built a culture in a very short time that our fans, our alumni, everybody will be very, very proud of. And they will be an incredibly competitive, tough, physical football team."The season ahead could be one filled with success for the Nittany Lions, if they play their cards right. It could also be one that tests a lot of fans' patience if it goes wrong. Still, when your AD is this effusive about his new head coach, there is every right for fans to have a sense of optimism before the season starts.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State AD quick to praise Matt Campbell
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