PSU to hire Pats OC, Bill O'Brien as HC

[cuseincincy]

hes in the 'running' for head football coach, not for prom king or student council president.

too many milk drinkers on this board.

good lord.

Oh Lord

Not sure what makes me a milk drinker?? Having to physically restrained from going after a player on the sideline is something that gets coaches fired, not hired.

Too many fire and brimstoners on this board.

 

[OrangePA]

No connection to PSU is the first right move they have made. Every other person they have brought in for anything has ties to PSU. O'Briens name has been rumored out there as the leader for a long time so I figure he was the guy all along and Shady was a back up maybe or nothing.

Hard for me to believe that Greg Schiano had a shot at that job.

 

[SU2NASA]

I have a feeling he's going to be Penn State's version of Rich Rodriguez's tenure at Michigan.

 

[MikeSU02]

Hard for me to believe that Greg Schiano had a shot at that job.

I agree. I have to imagine any "interest" was coming from GS's camp, rather than from PSU.

 

[Chip]

I have a feeling he's going to be Penn State's version of Rich Rodriguez's tenure at Michigan.

Could be even worse. Alums are blasting it and saying they're done with the program, I'm sure many local fans at that creepy place feel the same way.

Arrington might as well have said "Look, I know raping children is a big deal, but it's not THAT big of a deal".

 

[Orangello]

This. Obrien is simply a placeholder for 3 or 4 years for an elite coach that will swoop in and save the day once the toxicity of the Sandusky trial is cleaned up. No reputable coach was ever going to take that job with the present uncertainties. Penn state had no choice in the matter here. It's going to be a brutal 5 years (at least) in State College.

Hopefully we can get our shite together and lay a pasting on them in '13.

 

[rrlbees]

The PSU fans and ex-players aren't happy about this at all. Guys like Lavar Arrington are disassociating themselves from the university. Tells me they just don't get it and haven't figured out the magnitude of what has happened at PSU. Seems like they have a bigger attitude about who their football coach is going to be than what has happened there the past 2 decades or more.

 

[MikeSU02]

The PSU fans and ex-players aren't happy about this at all. Guys like Lavar Arrington are disassociating themselves from the university. Tells me they just don't get it and haven't figured out the magnitude of what has happened at PSU. Seems like they have a bigger attitude about who their football coach is going to be than what has happened there the past 2 decades or more.

This job search has been mishandled from the get go. Wrong people leading it.

 

[rrlbees]

This is a great take by Gregg Doyel

PSU

 

[SU2NASA]

Could be even worse. Alums are blasting it and saying they're done with the program, I'm sure many local fans at that creepy place feel the same way.

Arrington might as well have said "Look, I know raping children is a big deal, but it's not THAT big of a deal".

Definitely, could be. Reminds me a lot of players like Braylon Edwards coming out of the woodwork to blast the hire. Definitely fractured the alumni and fanbase.

 

[OrangePA]

I have a feeling he's going to be Penn State's version of Rich Rodriguez's tenure at Michigan.

A lot depends upon how the local media treats the guy.

Recall that Carr did not leave under the dark cloud that now hovers over Happy Valley.

The local Michigan medical - Michael Rosenberg - charged RR with unethical conduct - he really went after him - even though the charges were essentially bogus.

I do not see that happening with O'Brien.

It's true, however, that the PSU alums in my area are disappointed with the hire, though they seem to feel it was prompted by the school's inability to attract a high profile coach.

 

[MikeSU02]

A lot depends upon how the local media treats the guy.

Recall that Carr did not leave under the dark cloud that now hovers over Happy Valley.

The local Michigan medical - Michael Rosenberg - charged RR with unethical conduct - he really went after him - even though the charges were essentially bogus.

I do not see that happening with O'Brien.

It's true, however, that the PSU alums in my area are disappointed with the hire, though they seem to feel it was prompted by the school's inability to attract a high profile coach.

I think a lot is also going to depend on how well UM and OSU do. Hoke and Urban Meyer (much more so Meyer) are big time hires. PSU is not going to want to sit in the shadow as UM and OSU distance themselves from the rest of the pack.

BTW, I think MSU will be up there competing for the B1G title a lot as well.

 

[rrlbees]

I think a lot is also going to depend on how well UM and OSU do. Hoke and Urban Meyer (much more so Meyer) are big time hires. PSU is not going to want to sit in the shadow as UM and OSU distance themselves from the rest of the pack.

BTW, I think MSU will be up there competing for the B1G title a lot as well.

If they can't compete with OSU and UM, maybe they go to the ACC now?

Don't sleep on Wisky either.

 

[MikeSU02]

If they can't compete with OSU and UM, maybe they go to the ACC now?

Don't sleep on Wisky either.

True. Wisconsin looks to be in very good shape.

 

[rrlbees]

O'Brien confirms rumor himself.

OBrienPSU Bill O'Brien

I understand the frustration some may have here. You should know that I have a tremendous amount of respect for Tom Bradley.
2 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply
Retweeted by @TeddyGreenstein

 

[Reilly35]

According to Mort and other twitterers. Announcement Saturday.

Since he's going to coach the Pats through the playoffs which could be the Super Bowl Feb. 5th and after signing day there could be more Penn State recruits jumping ship. He'd be smart to keep Larry Johnson since he's the big recruiter on the staff and therefore may be able keep the present recruits locked in.

 

[rrlbees]

O'Brien confirms rumor himself.

OBrienPSU Bill O'Brien

I understand the frustration some may have here. You should know that I have a tremendous amount of respect for Tom Bradley.
2 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply
Retweeted by @TeddyGreenstein

Ha. One PSU person now saying that it is a fake account although it has about 400 followers in less than a couple hours.

 

[bnoro]

Ha. One PSU person now saying that it is a fake account although it has about 400 followers in less than a couple hours.

It's completely fake. Debunked by Boston media.

 

[rrlbees]

Now there is rumor that O'Brien will have to keep a couple of the PSU coaches like Johnson and Vanderlin (sp?) and can hire the rest of the staff himself. I thought PSU had "gotten it". Guess not.

 

[MikeSU02]

Now there is rumor that O'Brien will have to keep a couple of the PSU coaches like Johnson and Vanderlin (sp?) and can hire the rest of the staff himself. I thought PSU had "gotten it". Guess not.

Losing LJ would have severe ramifications in terms of recruiting and retention of a lot of players. If O'Brien is going to coach through the playoffs, I am assuming that whoever is in charge of maintaining the program right now needed the assurance of keeping LJ and Vanderlin. No way can O'Brien come in after signing day and can every single coach.

Not saying it is right, because I think they need to clean house in full to really start anew, but I think the people leading this charge think they can salvage this previous idea of PSU football.

But make no bones about it, if LJ is out, so are a lot of other players.

 

[Chip]

Now there is rumor that O'Brien will have to keep a couple of the PSU coaches like Johnson and Vanderlin (sp?) and can hire the rest of the staff himself. I thought PSU had "gotten it". Guess not.

Part of the problem Penn State created was to have Bradley as a candidate in the first place. They knew he could never be the hire, so they went through that song and dance to keep the former players happy. When in reality everyone knew there was no way they could keep him.

I'm not believing that rumor just yet. I think it will be a staff wipeout. Jay Paterno being first. Which won't disappoint any PSU fan.

 

[MikeSU02]

Part of the problem Penn State created was to have Bradley as a candidate in the first place. They knew he could never be the hire, so they went through that song and dance to keep the former players happy. When in reality everyone knew there was no way they could keep him.

I'm not believing that rumor just yet. I think it will be a staff wipeout. Jay Paterno being first. Which won't disappoint any PSU fan.

They can get rid of a lot of the staff and still maintain most of the team. If they get rid of LJ, I think there will be a lot of players trying to get a waiver from the NCAA to play immediately at a new team.

 

[cuseincincy]

Now there is rumor that O'Brien will have to keep a couple of the PSU coaches like Johnson and Vanderlin (sp?) and can hire the rest of the staff himself. I thought PSU had "gotten it". Guess not.

Johnson was likely hired by Sandusky and at least worked under him for 3-4 years and has also seen him around the program for the past 13 years also. How can they keep him? Vanderlinden may not have worked with Sandusky but again, he's been a defensive coach there for 11+ seasons so...

 

[rrlbees]

Losing LJ would have severe ramifications in terms of recruiting and retention of a lot of players. If O'Brien is going to coach through the playoffs, I am assuming that whoever is in charge of maintaining the program right now needed the assurance of keeping LJ and Vanderlin. No way can O'Brien come in after signing day and can every single coach.

Not saying it is right, because I think they need to clean house in full to really start anew, but I think the people leading this charge think they can salvage this previous idea of PSU football.

But make no bones about it, if LJ is out, so are a lot of other players.

No doubt. I knew LJ when he was just coaching pop warner (johnny unitas) and then HS in MD. He is a great recruiter and kids love him. I always felt he was on the "dark" side of recruiting a bit but still...

 

[Cusefan95]

No doubt. I knew LJ when he was just coaching pop warner (johnny unitas) and then HS in MD. He is a great recruiter and kids love him. I always felt he was on the "dark" side of recruiting a bit but still...

If Paterno had retired gracefully in 2004 instead of using up every ounce of his political clout to hang on to the job, this story would have had 1% of the coverage it got - and wouldn't have had a huge impact on PSU football. So while Joe Pa was the guy that built up PSU football, maybe someday people will look back on him as the guy that killed it.