Mort:O'Brien to Penn State done.

[patsfaninpa]

I get that, but these aren't normal circumstances. And if they were BOB wouldn't have a shot at the job. Which raises the question for me, why take it at all? Particularly since you left the college ranks to have a shot at the NFL... What suddenly caused you to shift focus so radically?

I was wondering who the other candidates were and stumbled across this article in the Times from Monday. After reading it it sounds like the orthopedic surgeon heading up the search team ran out of steam or was overwhelmed and settled for the placeholder. I just wonder if the fact that the placeholder settled for being that doesn't mean his shot at an NFL career is over - and maybe he knew that going in and decided to grab for whatever he could when any HC opportunity knocked. Hey, for all we know (since his contract hadn't been extended) maybe he was gone either way or had a feeling the team would be persuing Josh whether he went to Penn State or not... Our last DC didn't pan out and it had nothing to do with being lured away by a better gig. He ended up as a position coach in Baltimore.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/03/s...h-not-inspiring-confidence.html?_r=2&emc=eta1

He wasn't PSU's first choice. Munchak was once they knew they couldn't get a top level college coach. Jacksonville was interested in O'Brien. He may have been a hotter commodity than we think. Once upon a time Nick Saban left Belicick's staff for Michigan St. Ferentz left NFL staff for Iowa. Time will tell as to whether he can do the job. Honestly, it's not as difficult as you think to win in college. PSU won the Big 10 in 2005 and 2008 with a coach who literally had nothing to do with day to day preparation.

 

[stcjones]

While I don't consider this a huge loss whatsoever, I do feel that the TIMING of allowing this transaction to occur PRIOR to the SB run for the Pats...to be wrong. Obviously, there are going to be many players on this team that have strong connections to Obrien. He seems like a great guy....fiery competitor etc. Players seem to like the guy as part of the team and probably don't want to see him leave from a "personal" standpoint. How that affects them I am not sure......but I don't think BB would allow this whole thing to happen PRIOR to the Pats finishing their journey to the SB this year....if he didn't think the team could handle it.

Now that having been said, I am not sorry to see Bill go. His playcalling is often predictable and non creative (when not changed at the LOS by Brady) He is not that meaningful to this team the way a creative Genius like Belichick or Payton is......those coaches are EXTREMELY hard to replace obviously. Brady is almost impossible to replace both as QB....and as "offensive coordinator" (don't even want to think about that day...)

Not too surprised. Good for him. And good for the Patriots if you ask me. I just wonder how this will impact our Super Bowl run.

I wonder who's next in line?

Just a little side note... who updates Wikipedia so quickly and intensely? Rrrright after this was announced, bam, it's already updated on his wiki page (which is pretty sparse and doesn't get a ton of hits anyway btw). Just strange lol.

 

[stcjones]

I agree with you here....especially the "Penn State COULDN'T wait 5 weeks?" part.....The timing is not right, fair to the players, or professional on BOB's part.....He will not be missed,.....but doing this sh$t to the organization in the MIDST of their playoff run....is bush league and unprofessional.

Sorry, just came home after a long night and caught the news on NFL Network, have yet to read the thread. But any coach who enters into the playoffs as the #1 seed at the highest level of his chosen sport and MISSES PRACTICE FOR PERSONAL GAIN should be "released" immediately. Doesn't matter if other coaches have done it in the past. How the hell would it be taken if a FA was interviewing with a non-playoff team on the same day.

Complete garbage. Certainly Penn State could wait 5 weeks.

 

[highlander2190]

Waking up to this news at first upset me just because I thought it would be a distraction in our superbowl run. Listening to espn though and what some people were saying made me change my mind though. It sounds like its going to be a hard time for BOB. He not only has to deal with the reputation that Penn state now has, but has also got to win over the alum who don't really want him there. Mike Golic said that the best and only way he can change that school around and win people over, is through winning. Now Golic meant that for college football games, but I also see that as motivation for BOB to win this superbowl. I mean nothing would get your recruits up if you are the OC of the team that won the superbowl.

So although we are losing another OC there are 2 good things I can take out of this happening:
1. More motivation for BOB to get us to and win the superbowl
2. Another connection for BB at the college level to give us better insight for the players at that school that will fit our mold.

 

[patsfaninpa]

PSU can't wait 5 weeks. National signing day is Feb 1st. They should have had a coach after the reg. season ended. He's 5 weeks behind where he should be. Waiting any longer would kill their recruiting class. Actually, have a decent one. A couple of kids from Mass. Brent Williams - DE in 80's kid. Camren. A lb. And, a teammate of his Armani Reeves - cb.

 

[Lifer]

Penn State is a cesspool. The way everyone there behaved after this all broke, the crying for JoPa. Even the prayer was more about Paterno and for the college than it was for the kids. Im a Nebraska fan for life after they beat Pedophile State that week. How anyone there could give two craps about "what Bowl are we going to" or not having the sense to shut up about talking up the school in the aftermath. People there knew, did nothing, many more got abused. A Hell of a lot more important than your effin football program.

 

[upstater1]

O'Brien's mentor says he's ready » Sports » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

Belichick thought very highly of O'Brien

This article brings more perspective than I can. I was not a fan of O'Brien's, but what the hell do I know?

 

[Garbanza]

Besides alum parents, citizens of pennsylvania and the surrounding areas....how exactly will recruiting go? If I were a parent of a blue chip kid, scholarship bound, etc., football player there would be NO WAY IN HELL he would accept a scholarship from Penn State. Penn State is a horrid place that turned a blind eye to the abuse of at risk children. Eff Penn State, the administration, the culture and the boosters.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Penn State is a cesspool. The way everyone there behaved after this all broke, the crying for JoPa. Even the prayer was more about Paterno and for the college than it was for the kids. Im a Nebraska fan for life after they beat Pedophile State that week. How anyone there could give two craps about "what Bowl are we going to" or not having the sense to shut up about talking up the school in the aftermath. People there knew, did nothing, many more got abused. A Hell of a lot more important than your effin football program.

To most college grads. Their alma mater is more important than whatever professional sports team they follow. It's great sitting next to fans who want to drink and beat up guys wearing the opponents jersey. At college tailgates, when you see someone with the other schools colors on, you invite them over for a beer. Talk about the game, families, careers, etc. I find that experience much more satisfying that the atmosphere at pro games.

PSU alums are proud that the football program has a tremendous graduation rate and still succeeded on the field. Something many schools can't claim. Joepa bleeped up by not doing more. He basically fired him after the 1998 incident where the police and DA knew about it. And they did not press charges. Sandusky wasn't coaching any longer in 2002 when the McQuery incident happened. He actually should have retired about 2000 when he wasn't physically up to it any longer.

 

[upstater1]

He wasn't PSU's first choice. Munchak was once they knew they couldn't get a top level college coach. Jacksonville was interested in O'Brien. He may have been a hotter commodity than we think. Once upon a time Nick Saban left Belicick's staff for Michigan St. Ferentz left NFL staff for Iowa. Time will tell as to whether he can do the job. Honestly, it's not as difficult as you think to win in college. PSU won the Big 10 in 2005 and 2008 with a coach who literally had nothing to do with day to day preparation.

I think you're right. They were holding out for Munchak and were willing to wait to step up to the plate and belt one out of the park. Instead, they hit a bunt single.

 

[upstater1]

I've heard they've got some nice shower facilities.

Jokes about that? Nice

 

[NEP4Life]

When BoB is ****canned in two years, does he come back here?

 

[Deus Irae]

When BoB is ****canned in two years, does he come back here?

While the details haven't come out yet, I've got to imagine that BOB has made sure to get a lot of contractual guarantees under the circumstances.

 

[Deus Irae]

Kraft confirmed a PFT report that O’Brien would remain with the team through the playoffs before heading off to State College during a conversation with Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. The owner also said that the team had the contractual right to block O’Brien from leaving by matching the contract offer, but that they didn’t exercise it.

Robert Kraft confirms Bill O’Brien will stay through playoffs | ProFootballTalk

 

[upstater1]

Robert Kraft confirms Bill O’Brien will stay through playoffs | ProFootballTalk

$1.5 to $2 million for an OC is a lot of money.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Some PSU folks not happy.

"I will put my Butkus (Award) in storage. I will put my Alamo Bowl MVP trophy in storage," (linebacker LaVar ) Arrington said. "Jerseys, anything Penn State, in storage. Wherever [interim coach] Tom Bradley goes, that's the school I will start to put memorabilia up in my home. I'm done. I'm done with Penn State. If they're done with us, I'm done with them."

Former All-American linebacker Brandon Short was also critical of the choice.

"I don't want to be affiliated with the university if they don't choose a Penn State guy because of our standards, our graduation, all the things that have been important... it's no longer Penn State, so we might as well be in the SEC," he said.

So apparently the scandal involving sexual abuse of boys, in a culture that turned a blind eye, is nowhere near as insulting as hiring a coach outside of that culture. Well, good luck BOB.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Some PSU folks not happy.





So apparently the scandal involving sexual abuse of boys, in a culture that turned a blind eye, is nowhere near as insulting as hiring a coach outside of that culture. Well, good luck BOB.

Pretty amazing, isn't it? BOB has his work cut out for him.

Maybe these guys would like Sandusky as interim HC while on bail, made permanent if he can beat the rap. I mean, he's as PSU as it gets, right? I'm sure he has a handle on graduation rates.

 

[drew4008]

Ouch, those are some harsh comments. C'mon though, who does Penn State think they are? You have more reputable and historic programs hiring from "outside of the tradition" every year and there isn't this kind of backlash. They need to check themselves.

 

[NEP4Life]

Some PSU folks not happy.





So apparently the scandal involving sexual abuse of boys, in a culture that turned a blind eye, is nowhere near as insulting as hiring a coach outside of that culture. Well, good luck BOB.

This is why nobody IMO would touch the Penn State job, given the current situation, and why BoB is basically being set up to fail. He's a transitional coach with no connection to JoePa and the scandal, who will run the program until things settle down and the school can bring in a "Penn State" guy.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Ouch, those are some harsh comments. C'mon though, who does Penn State think they are? You have more reputable and historic programs hiring from "outside of the tradition" every year and there isn't this kind of backlash. They need to check themselves.

They're delusional, IMO. If ever a program needed to go outsider it's PSU right now.