New Penn State football coach Matt Campbell has already started to hit the ground running on establishing a new identity in State College after building and maintaining a foundation of consistency in Ames across the last decade.
In doing so, he knows a thing or two about team culture, chemistry and what a winning tradition looks like. He sat down with Josh Pate on t he "Pate Speaker Series" to unveil his vision.
“We’re going to have to prove it," Campbell said. "Words are great, but we’re going to have to prove it."
Penn State underachieved massively this past season, as it limped its way to a bowl game at 6-6 after beginning the year as the preseason No. 2 team in the nation before James Franklin was fired midseason after a berth in the College Football Playoff was no longer sustainable.
Campbell intends to ensure a repeat doesn't happen next fall.
“Toughness still wins in this sport. … Mentally and physically tough. We know how to build mental and physical toughness in a football team," Campbell said.
Toughness remains a key pillar, which is something Campbell wants to have his players master on a day-to-day basis.
"Our discipline has got us to play and beat the best of the best,” Campbell said. "Those values still reside in any championship football team and football program. That’s what’s going to have to reside at Penn State."
Campbell certainly has his work cut out for him, but if anything, if there's someone who has done a similar turnaround before, it's him. It just happens to be alongside the biggest job he's ever had in his coaching career.
For now, though it remains to be seen whether he's still ends up being the right man for the job. We will find out next fall.