Penn State alum pumps breaks on hype train after Week 1 shutout

James Franklin's tenure at Penn State led the program through a challenging time, but a split with the coach has now proven beneficial. Franklin's influence is already evident at Virginia Tech, where they secured a dominant 73-3 victory in their Week 1 opener. Similarly, Penn State's Matt Campbell delivered a strong season opener with a 45-0 triumph over Marshall on Saturday.

The two coaches were likened by one college football commentator, stating, "This ain't James Franklin's Penn State." A former Nittany Lions linebacker, Jason Cabinda, took to social media to express his satisfaction with the team's performance, but acknowledged that they faced Marshall. Cabinda maintained he didn't intend any slight to his former school, but suggested the team should face stiffer competition before judging their true caliber.

While there's no denying the significance of a win against Marshall, the game served as a marked improvement from the Nittany Lions' recent performances. The new Penn State squad appeared determined to send a strong message, and they succeeded in doing so. Campbell's no-nonsense approach and focus on winning games sets him apart from Franklin, but it remains to be seen how the coach's tenure with the Nittany Lions will ultimately compare.