Michael T. Mondak speaks to the Penn State Board of Trustees... again

To the members of the Penn State University Board of Trustees:

Since my last post in the style of an open letter to you back in November, what the Penn State Nittany Lions football team has accomplished in the 2024 season has been spectacular.

During the past few seasons, I heard so many naysayers say:

  • Coach James Franklin can't win the big games.
  • Coach James Franklin can't beat this opponent, Coach James Franklin can't beat that opponent.
  • Coach James Franklin must go.
I call bullshit on these assumptions from the naysayers after what I have observed during this College Football Playoff, even if it does not eventually result in a national championship.  Coach James Franklin can win the big games.  Penn State can be a serious contender for a national championship in football.  This year's team came too far to hear the same assumptions year in and year out.  We won 13 games this season, setting a new program record.  And it is a safe bet that we are going to win yet another Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the best college football team on the east coast this season in addition to the Governor's Victory Bell that we have already retained as well as the trophy from the Fiesta Bowl that we have won for the eighth time in as many trips to Arizona.  (Frankly, I would not mind if we played in the Fiesta Bowl every season, since we will only win it anyhows.)

The success of the 2024 team can be a building block for what is to come in the 2025 season.  And we could see more success in the years beyond next season.  So it's time for the naysayers to refrain from making assumptions following the success of the 2024 campaign.

Michael T. Mondak '10 Bus Shen

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Michael T. Mondak speaks to the Penn State Board of Trustees

Members of the Penn State University Board of Trustees: I write this open letter to you on behalf of the Nittany Nation.  We are fans, students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni scattered throughout the world.  This university has the world's largest alumni base and passionate Nittany Lions fans of all athletic teams offered by the university. After what happened last Saturday afternoon against evil Ohio State, aka college football's version of the Kremlin, at Beaver Stadium, I have been on social media seeing members of the Nittany Nation once again making critical comments about head football coach James Franklin reiterating comments made by the members of the media that are saying that he cannot win the biggest games in the last 11 years since his arrival in State College.  They believe that James Franklin needs to be terminated in order for us to be national championship contenders.  I believe that the entire fanbase has a problem as they do not clearly ...
Read more

Michael T. Mondak speaks about a new proposal on the local news

I have seen videos on YouTube where some local television stations have what is called a Surprise Squad on their local newscasts.  These efforts are done in partnership with local businesses (e.g., car dealerships, banks or credit unions).  These Surprise Squads honor individuals (e.g., military veterans, first responders, loyal volunteers or young children) who have freely given of themselves to assist others or are in need of things to make their lives easier or to boost their morale.  The Squad could also help people pay for gas or groceries during the holiday season or pay tribute to a military veteran who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. However, in Pennsylvania and Ohio, there has been no attempt to establish such a Surprise Squad, not even in Pittsburgh or in Cleveland or in Youngstown.  If one of the local television stations in Youngstown formed a Surprise Squad, then it might be done in partnership with Dunkin’ Donuts, Diane Sauer Chevrolet, Hun...
Read more