Penn State looking at Bill O'Brien as top head coach candidate - New England Patriots Forums

**Ian** · 01-01-2012, 09:46 AM

Per ESPN. Interesting.

***Joker*** · 01-01-2012, 09:47 AM

that's the last place I'd want to begin my head coaching career....

***BelichickFan*** · 01-01-2012, 09:50 AM

This was Shefter's tweet :

AdamSchefter Adam Schefter
Patriots OC Bill O’Brien has emerged as a leading candidate, if not the leading candidate, to be hired as Joe Paterno’s successor at Penn St

I wonder what we would do. I still think Pat Hill could be a sleeper to replace him if he leaves, I think Brian Ferentz could be the next young guy to take over but he's awfully young.

**Ian** · 01-01-2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joker

that's the last place I'd want to begin my head coaching career....

That's a program that is going to need quite a personality and someone incredible to turn it around. Part of me wonders if they'll ever be able to shake that stigma after everything that happened there. I'm guessing that whatever the contract is that's offered, the $$ amount is going to be pretty big - and it would need to be to get anyone to go there. But if they offer it to him, I'm sure it'll be quite a raise compared to what he's making now.

Ochmed Jones · 01-01-2012, 09:52 AM

What would be the lure of happy valley for O'Brien? Would the school give him the time and patience to clean that place out and start fresh?

***BelichickFan*** · 01-01-2012, 09:55 AM

The other issue for a college job is O'Brien could leave us tomorrow if he wanted to. He couldn't for an NFL job.

KDPPatsfan85 · 01-01-2012, 09:56 AM

I thought this guy was in the running.

http://twitgoo.com/38v1u

***Joker*** · 01-01-2012, 09:58 AM

Never mind that it's Penn St. for a moment...he's an OC in the NFL...tell me, how many people remember Al Groh now that he's a college coach? If O'Brien has a shot to be named an NFL head coach, he'd have to be under the influence to sign a college contract...unless he's just not cut out for coaching in the NFL like a certain Alabama H.C.
To put himself in the glare of the media spotlight following Joe Paterno and THAT legacy just reeks of career suicide to me...just my opinion, however...

scout · 01-01-2012, 10:02 AM

It is a top 20 college coaching position. In a few years, the program will be all about winning the big 10 versus the scandal. Even though your replacing a legend, he's dropped so low that he no longer is close to the likes of a Bear Bryant or even a Bobby Bowden. I think more depends on sanctions from the NCAA, which I'm not sure is looking into the situation. Ohio State got Myers and that school got hit pretty hard by sanctions. I would not discount O'Brien going there.

**Ian** · 01-01-2012, 10:02 AM

The more I think about it, the more I even wonder if someone like Belichick could even erase that stigma, no matter how much they win. That's just one of the ugliest stories in the history of college sports...it's just horrific.