Ad strength undertakes to win the national title in football scranton Times-Tribune

Penn State Director of Athletics Pat Kraft again made it clear on Monday that he was able to pursue everything in the pursuit of national championships, especially in football.

Regardless of whether it is the defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to be the highest assistant coach in college football or to pay so much to return several star players that strength should do his department to help Nittany Lions.

“You don't come to Penn State Willy-Nill and say:” Let's see what happens, “said Kraft in his first public interview session with beat reporters.” We are here to win national championships and we will Make it right.

“When it comes to football, we are close. We will continue and continue and continue until we arrive where we want to be. “

Under James Franklin, the Nittany Lions (13-3) set up a school record for victories last season and won their first two college football playoff games before they were against emergency lady in the Orange Bowl, a national semi-finals last month Notre lady had lost.

Since then, Penn State has replaced the defensive coordinator Tom Allen by putting Jim Knowles away from the state of Ohio, Stan Drayton as a replacement for the running backs trainer Ja'juan Seider and paid several players with designs to return in 2025.

Kraft said that he did not hesitate when he agreed on a three-year contract for $ 9.1 million with Knowles, which is considered one of the cleated defensive heads in the country. Knowles replaced everyone who left orange bowl to become a defensive coordinator in Clemson.

“I will get the best coordinators we can,” he said. “The coordinators set the tone. It's James' team. James is the CEO. He did a masterly work to build the best employees in the country. You have to pay the market value, but we can afford it. Why should I change it briefly?

“For me it was a child's game with Jim Knowles. We will give ourselves the best chance to win. “

This includes paying star players such as Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant to return to Penn State for their fourth season instead of choosing the NFL design.

“I think James did it absolutely right,” said Kraft. “I think Ryan (day) did a really good job in Ohio State. Trust your assessment. Recruit the children you want to recruit that match your program and record them. That is why Ohio State won the national championship.

“They had some nice additions and we did the same, but their children are their culture. The young men in our changing room are phenomenal. “

Part of the money to pay these returning star players come from a settlement of the house against NCAA. The agreement, which is expected to be finally approved by a federal judge on April 7, will mean that NCAA schools directly compensate its own athletes.

It is estimated that this means around 20 to 25 million US dollars in the academic year 2025-26 for schools who decide to choose.

“We have the ability to help our teams at the top of sales participation,” said Kraft. This is a big advantage for us.

“I feel really good where we are. We can always be better. “

In the meantime, the Beaver Stadium of Penn State is subjected to a renovation project of 700 million US dollars, which should be completed before the 2027 football season.

Kraft warned that the stadium project on April 26 would be challenges for the blue and white game. While temporary seats are installed over the lower bowl on the west side, the east hall is doubled.

“The spring game will be a little interesting,” he said. “Interesting, I really don't know what it will look like.”

According to Kraft, the 7,400 temporary seats are installed on the west side by the company, which opened the temporary football stadium of Northwestern next to the Lake Michigan and the seating around the 16th hole in TPC Scottsdale, the place of waste management.

“These are the people who do production,” he said. “With the temporary seats, we will be really, very close to the capacity. I am really very, very satisfied with where we are. “

Originally published: February 25, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. EST