The Penn State Nittany Lions officially named former Iowa State Cyclones coach Matt Campbell as their new leader in State College Monday, but the road leading up to the eventual announcement was anything but smooth.
Late last week, a YouTube channel named "Dead Air Sports" obtained audio from Nittany Lions AD Pat Kraft that quickly went viral in the hours before they officially zeroed in on Campbell. It was anything but PG-friendly, as Kraft openly criticized now-former coach James Franklin, labeled the Oregon Ducks "frauds" and revealed his nervousness around a potential dismissal in State College should Franklin's replacement flop.
In a recent media scrum, Kraft took time to address the audio with an apology yet didn't double down on any prior statements made.
"What I will tell you about that is that I’m embarrassed," Kraft told reporters. "I apologize to anybody that I may have offended with that video that leaked,”
According to ESPN's Max Olson, between "9-10" players were to have been part of the supposed private meeting with Kraft.
It appears the program has moved on, as Campbell issued a statement expressing excitement for being given the opportunity to turn Penn State around.
“I am incredibly honored to join Penn State University as its next head football coach,” Campbell said. "This is one of the blue bloods of college football, and this program’s history and tradition are unmatched. I look forward to building on that foundation by developing student-athletes on and off the field, competing for championships and continuing the legacy of excellence that defines Penn State."
We'll see how long the pairing lasts. For now, though, Penn State may have an image problem it will need to solve fairly quickly.