Co-hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin of The Times-Tribune in Scranton wind down the second season of the Penn Stated podcast with a look ahead to training camp opening in a month. But, they also celebrate Independence Day with an honest look at the realities the program and its head coach are facing. In the opening segment, the hosts discuss the stories they're looking at closest as camp approaches, with each picking one of the new coordinators. They wind down with a look at the role coaching plays at Penn State, why it's so important and how difficult James Franklin's job realistically is t ..read more

The Penn Stated podcast returns with discussion about expansions, and contractions. The Board of Trustees' approval to spend up to $690 million on the long-awaited renovation of Beaver Stadium dominates the discussion between hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin of The Scranton Times-Tribune, with both expressing concerns over the project and also recognizing its necessity. In the second half, they talk about Penn State baseball's sudden rise to prominence over the past week in the Big Ten tournament, signaling a potential turnaround for the program under first-year coach Mike Gambino. But as i ..read more

Fresh off the weekend's NFL Draft, Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin took some time this week to discuss the landing spots for eight Nittany Lions chosen and the plight of some who weren't. Who went earlier than anticipated? What does the influx of Penn State players taken higher in the middle rounds than anticipated say about the program -- positively, or negatively? Penn State had twice as many players selected as Ohio State...what does that say about the 2023 season? And, does the order in which the players were ultimately selected matter much? It probably does to James Frankl ..read more

Well, the changes in the wide receiver room that most expected to see in the Blue-White Game last week started to take shape a few days before. Former top target KeAndre Lambert-Smith is in the transfer portal, and so is another veteran, Malick Meiga, who could have contributed toward replacing him. The question now for Penn State is, what's next at a position that has caused plenty of consternation in recent months? Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss Lambert-Smith's departure, and perhaps more importantly, how the coaching staff plans to replace his production. Is it goin ..read more

Sam Fremin will be on the desk on Saturday, but Penn Stated co-host Donnie Collins will be at Beaver Stadium for his "favorite" day of the year, the Blue-White Game at 2 p.m. on Saturday. But both hosts think this game has a chance to be one of the most educational spring-practice-ending games in recent memory. On this week's episode of Penn Stated, the hosts break down the positions to watch in Saturday's game, led by a group of talented but inexperienced cornerbacks and a receiving corps that underachieved and underwhelmed in 2023. Which players in that group have the best chance to stand ou ..read more

It's finally over. And we're not just talking about the All-James Franklin team, either. As spring practice inches closer to the annual Blue-White Game at Beaver Stadium on April 13, Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin open this week's podcast by breaking down the most interesting storylines of the spring to this point...and how they can manifest themselves in the spring-closing scrimmage next weekend. How much of new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki's offense should fans expect to see in the Blue-White Game? Who are some of the players at key positions who need to have big games? Can ..read more

As spring practice started in the last week, much of the conversation revolved around two position switches: The oft-talked-about move of Abdul Carter from linebacker to defensive end, and sophomore safety Mekhi Flowers' much-less-bandied-about move to receiver. Head coach James Franklin said during a press conference last week that both moves were precipitated by player request, which of course piqued the interest of both Penn Stated hosts, Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin. Is that indicative of a shift in philosophy for coaches who are more likely now to give a player what he wants to keep him ..read more

With the latest round of betting odds on who will win the 2024 Big Ten football championship coming out this week, Penn State finds itself in a typical position: Behind both Ohio State and Michigan, with Oregon having better odds as well, at least when it comes to public perception. But, is that necessarily an accurate way to look at how the Big Ten is shaping up this fall? On this week's edition of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss the odds, and why the Nittany Lions might be in a better position than many might think to finally break through at the top of t ..read more

It sure seems that way, if the reaction to Penn State's typically benign "competitors of the day" for winter workouts is any indication.  With backup quarterback Beau Pribula practically sweeping the honor from quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien in the early going during workouts, many commenters on social media are wondering if that gives the sophomore any edge in a potential quarterback battle with starter Drew Allar this spring. Well, Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin have some news for those of you looking forward to the backup quarterback knocking off the incumbent. It is ..read more

Another week has passed, and college football has changed even more. That's the story of the game now, and it will continue to be for the foreseeable future. On this week's episode of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss Bill O'Brien to Boston College, Chip Kelly to Ohio State, and more moves that wouldn't have been expected in college football as recently as just a few years ago. They also talk about James Franklin's thoughts on the subject from his winter workouts press conference on Tuesday. What is the one area that needs to be fixed most for the health of t ..read more