College Football Nation: Tom Bradley
Most Big Ten coaches label their jobs with a capital D for destination. When a head coach arrives on a Big Ten campus, he usually isn't looking for his next stop. Big Ten fans take pride in this.
The league has been largely immune from the wandering-eye coaches who leave programs at inopportune times for the next big thing. Even the Big Ten programs that could be classified as stepping stones haven't been left in the lurch very often in recent years. While it's not shocking that a Big Ten coach hasn't jumped to a different college job, it's a bit of a surprise that the NFL hasn't plucked one away.
The last Big Ten coach to voluntarily leave his team at a less-than ideal time was Nick Saban, who ditched Michigan State for LSU on Nov. 30, 1999. Saban had led the Spartans to a 9-2 record, a No. 10 national ranking and berth in the Florida Citrus Bowl. Although then-Michigan State athletic director Clarence Underwood praised Saban for putting the program "back on solid ground," Saban's departure put the school in a tough situation. Less than a week after Saban's departure, Michigan State promoted longtime assistant Bobby Williams to head coach, a decision that didn't turn out well.
After flirting with several bigger-name programs during his time at Northwestern, Gary Barnett finally left to take the Colorado job on Jan. 20, 1999, just weeks before national signing day. Although Northwestern immediately named Barnett's replacement, Randy Walker, the drawn-out saga wasn't much fun, given what Barnett had meant to the school.
But since Saban and Barnett, the Big Ten hasn't had any coaches voluntarily leave at bad times. There have been some midseason firings (Tim Brewster at Minnesota, Williams at Michigan State) and some late firings (Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, Glen Mason at Minnesota), but in those cases the schools, not the coaches, made decisions that put themselves in tough situations.
The most recent instances of coaches leaving Big Ten programs in tough spots involved two men who certainly didn't walk away on their own terms.
After months of scrutiny stemming from the tattoo/memorabilia scandal and his attempted cover-up, Jim Tressel resigned his post as Ohio State's coach on Memorial Day of 2011. Tressel stepped down just three months before the season and with spring practice all wrapped up. Ohio State knew it would be without Tressel for the first five games of the 2011 season, but his resignation under pressure left the program scrambling.
The school named 37-year-old assistant Luke Fickell, who had never been a head coach before, to the top job. After six consecutive seasons of Big Ten titles (won or shared), Ohio State went 6-7 under Fickell last fall, its first losing season since 1988 and its first seven-loss season since 1897. Ouch.
But the ugliest and most untimely departure was yet to come. Five days after former Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky was arrested on child sex abuse charges, Penn State's board of trustees voted to fire longtime coach Joe Paterno. The date: Nov. 9. Penn State was 8-1 at the time, and 11 days earlier Paterno had recorded his 409th coaching victory, moving him past Eddie Robinson for the most wins in college football history. Hours before the board's decision, Paterno had announced he would retire following the season, his 46th as head coach. Instead, he was informed via telephone that his tenure was over, which triggered a backlash from Penn State students and fans.
The school promoted longtime assistant Tom Bradley to interim head coach. Bradley led the team during a hellish eight weeks that featured, among other things: a 1-3 record that knocked Penn State out of the Big Ten race; snubs by several bowl games who didn't want to deal with a p.r. nightmare; the announcement that Paterno had been diagnosed with lung cancer; a locker-room fight that left starting quarterback Matthew McGloin concussed and unable to play in the bowl; and a seemingly rudderless coaching search that took too long and put Bradley in an awkward situation.
In six months, two iconic Big Ten programs lost incredibly successful coaches under extremely messy circumstances.
A Big Ten coach bolting for an NFL job suddenly doesn't sound so bad.
The league has been largely immune from the wandering-eye coaches who leave programs at inopportune times for the next big thing. Even the Big Ten programs that could be classified as stepping stones haven't been left in the lurch very often in recent years. While it's not shocking that a Big Ten coach hasn't jumped to a different college job, it's a bit of a surprise that the NFL hasn't plucked one away.
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Icon SMIJim Tressel resigned after his involvement in the Ohio State tattoo/memorabilia scandal.
Icon SMIJim Tressel resigned after his involvement in the Ohio State tattoo/memorabilia scandal.
After flirting with several bigger-name programs during his time at Northwestern, Gary Barnett finally left to take the Colorado job on Jan. 20, 1999, just weeks before national signing day. Although Northwestern immediately named Barnett's replacement, Randy Walker, the drawn-out saga wasn't much fun, given what Barnett had meant to the school.
But since Saban and Barnett, the Big Ten hasn't had any coaches voluntarily leave at bad times. There have been some midseason firings (Tim Brewster at Minnesota, Williams at Michigan State) and some late firings (Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, Glen Mason at Minnesota), but in those cases the schools, not the coaches, made decisions that put themselves in tough situations.
The most recent instances of coaches leaving Big Ten programs in tough spots involved two men who certainly didn't walk away on their own terms.
After months of scrutiny stemming from the tattoo/memorabilia scandal and his attempted cover-up, Jim Tressel resigned his post as Ohio State's coach on Memorial Day of 2011. Tressel stepped down just three months before the season and with spring practice all wrapped up. Ohio State knew it would be without Tressel for the first five games of the 2011 season, but his resignation under pressure left the program scrambling.
The school named 37-year-old assistant Luke Fickell, who had never been a head coach before, to the top job. After six consecutive seasons of Big Ten titles (won or shared), Ohio State went 6-7 under Fickell last fall, its first losing season since 1988 and its first seven-loss season since 1897. Ouch.
But the ugliest and most untimely departure was yet to come. Five days after former Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky was arrested on child sex abuse charges, Penn State's board of trustees voted to fire longtime coach Joe Paterno. The date: Nov. 9. Penn State was 8-1 at the time, and 11 days earlier Paterno had recorded his 409th coaching victory, moving him past Eddie Robinson for the most wins in college football history. Hours before the board's decision, Paterno had announced he would retire following the season, his 46th as head coach. Instead, he was informed via telephone that his tenure was over, which triggered a backlash from Penn State students and fans.
The school promoted longtime assistant Tom Bradley to interim head coach. Bradley led the team during a hellish eight weeks that featured, among other things: a 1-3 record that knocked Penn State out of the Big Ten race; snubs by several bowl games who didn't want to deal with a p.r. nightmare; the announcement that Paterno had been diagnosed with lung cancer; a locker-room fight that left starting quarterback Matthew McGloin concussed and unable to play in the bowl; and a seemingly rudderless coaching search that took too long and put Bradley in an awkward situation.
In six months, two iconic Big Ten programs lost incredibly successful coaches under extremely messy circumstances.
A Big Ten coach bolting for an NFL job suddenly doesn't sound so bad.
Report: Rob Bolden staying at Penn State
May, 22, 2012
May 22
7:00
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
The rumor mill had been churning in high gear for the past several days that Penn State junior quarterback Rob Bolden would transfer.
But the Centre Daily Times reports that Bolden is staying with the Nittany Lions, quoting his high school position coach. Penn State officials also confirmed that Bolden was back on campus.
This, of course, is not the first time transfer rumors have swirled around Bolden. He seriously considered leaving after his freshman season, when he lost the starting job to Matt McGloin. Bolden started most of last season but rarely finished games and played less than McGloin, who took over the full-time starting job when Tom Bradley became interim head coach. Bolden did start the TicketCity Bowl for an injured McGloin but had a miserable day, completing just 7 of 26 passes and throwing three interceptions. For the season, he completed only 39.3 percent of his passes, tossing just two touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Bolden competed with McGloin and Paul Jones for the No. 1 job this spring with new coach Bill O'Brien giving everyone a clean slate. But by most accounts, Bolden appeared to have finished behind the other two guys. He did himself no favors by throwing three interceptions in the Penn State spring game.
It looks like Bolden is willing to tough it out and try to fight for playing time. While admiring his perseverance, you have to wonder if that's the best move for his career. Bolden simply hasn't shown the ability to be a top-flight quarterback the past two years, and he may find himself buried on the depth chart when freshman Steven Bench arrives. Penn State also has a commitment from Class of 2013 star quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Bolden may well be better off transferring to an FCS school where he could play right away, or even considering changing positions.
But maybe, just maybe, the light will go on for Bolden and he'll turn things around. Having him around certainly helps Penn State's depth at the position. And by staying put, Bolden is betting on himself.
But the Centre Daily Times reports that Bolden is staying with the Nittany Lions, quoting his high school position coach. Penn State officials also confirmed that Bolden was back on campus.
This, of course, is not the first time transfer rumors have swirled around Bolden. He seriously considered leaving after his freshman season, when he lost the starting job to Matt McGloin. Bolden started most of last season but rarely finished games and played less than McGloin, who took over the full-time starting job when Tom Bradley became interim head coach. Bolden did start the TicketCity Bowl for an injured McGloin but had a miserable day, completing just 7 of 26 passes and throwing three interceptions. For the season, he completed only 39.3 percent of his passes, tossing just two touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Bolden competed with McGloin and Paul Jones for the No. 1 job this spring with new coach Bill O'Brien giving everyone a clean slate. But by most accounts, Bolden appeared to have finished behind the other two guys. He did himself no favors by throwing three interceptions in the Penn State spring game.
It looks like Bolden is willing to tough it out and try to fight for playing time. While admiring his perseverance, you have to wonder if that's the best move for his career. Bolden simply hasn't shown the ability to be a top-flight quarterback the past two years, and he may find himself buried on the depth chart when freshman Steven Bench arrives. Penn State also has a commitment from Class of 2013 star quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Bolden may well be better off transferring to an FCS school where he could play right away, or even considering changing positions.
But maybe, just maybe, the light will go on for Bolden and he'll turn things around. Having him around certainly helps Penn State's depth at the position. And by staying put, Bolden is betting on himself.
PSU secondary goes through the motions
April, 6, 2012
Apr 6
1:45
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By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
The Hero position is history, and the Cover 3 is more of a schematic layer than an identity.
Penn State's secondary is going through some changes, and fans will notice some of them even before the ball is snapped.
"There's a lot of movement," safety Malcolm Willis said, "where in the past we were stationary before the ball was snapped. Now we have a lot of looks to give the offense and there is more activeness from the secondary, linebackers, and even the defensive line."
Tempo is the biggest change Willis has noticed this spring under new defensive coordinator Ted Roof. Penn State is operating faster on both sides of the ball, following Roof's mantra of being "multiply aggressive."
While Bill O'Brien's innovative offense undoubtedly will be welcomed in State College, Penn State's defense faces a more complicated challenge. Penn State has produced top 20 defenses in seven of the past eight seasons. The Lions ranked sixth nationally in pass efficiency defense in 2011 and have finished in the top 20 six times in the past eight seasons. They ran a no-frills scheme rooted in the Cover 3, productive front-seven players and strong fundamental play.
Roof understands this, telling ESPN.com in February, "Everybody in college football respects what they've done. At the same time, I don't know exactly what they've done. All I know is it's worked."
The key for Roof is to blend his ideas and not diminish a system that has been successful.
"He's implemented a lot of different things," said Willis, who recorded 33 tackles, an interception, a blocked kick and a fumble recovery in 2011. "Of course, the Cover 3 thing will be standard of past years. Not to say we don't have any Cover 3 things, but it's a lot of different looks we're having to learn and different techniques we're having to learn."
Penn State loses two multiyear starters at safety in Nick Sukay and Drew Astorino, who played the Hero position. Although Willis has extensive experience, starting in place of the injured Sukay in 2010, the Lions lack proven players in the secondary.
The Lions will be leaning on players such as Willis, cornerback Stephon Morris and even cornerback Adrian Amos, who stepped in as a true freshman last fall. Willis has been practicing at free safety this spring (Penn State is now going with the standard free safety and strong safety labels).
"I'm just trying to go out every day and get better and prove to the coaches that I'm a guy they should look to to lead the group," Willis said.
It starts with welcoming the changes, not resisting them.
"It's really exciting to get to do something different," Willis said, "make plays in space and prove that Penn State is a team that can play in all different kinds of looks."
Penn State's secondary is going through some changes, and fans will notice some of them even before the ball is snapped.
"There's a lot of movement," safety Malcolm Willis said, "where in the past we were stationary before the ball was snapped. Now we have a lot of looks to give the offense and there is more activeness from the secondary, linebackers, and even the defensive line."
[+] Enlarge
Rob Christy/US PresswireWithout proven playmakers in the secondary, the Nittany Lions need someone like Malcolm Willis to step up.
Rob Christy/US PresswireWithout proven playmakers in the secondary, the Nittany Lions need someone like Malcolm Willis to step up.While Bill O'Brien's innovative offense undoubtedly will be welcomed in State College, Penn State's defense faces a more complicated challenge. Penn State has produced top 20 defenses in seven of the past eight seasons. The Lions ranked sixth nationally in pass efficiency defense in 2011 and have finished in the top 20 six times in the past eight seasons. They ran a no-frills scheme rooted in the Cover 3, productive front-seven players and strong fundamental play.
Roof understands this, telling ESPN.com in February, "Everybody in college football respects what they've done. At the same time, I don't know exactly what they've done. All I know is it's worked."
The key for Roof is to blend his ideas and not diminish a system that has been successful.
"He's implemented a lot of different things," said Willis, who recorded 33 tackles, an interception, a blocked kick and a fumble recovery in 2011. "Of course, the Cover 3 thing will be standard of past years. Not to say we don't have any Cover 3 things, but it's a lot of different looks we're having to learn and different techniques we're having to learn."
Penn State loses two multiyear starters at safety in Nick Sukay and Drew Astorino, who played the Hero position. Although Willis has extensive experience, starting in place of the injured Sukay in 2010, the Lions lack proven players in the secondary.
The Lions will be leaning on players such as Willis, cornerback Stephon Morris and even cornerback Adrian Amos, who stepped in as a true freshman last fall. Willis has been practicing at free safety this spring (Penn State is now going with the standard free safety and strong safety labels).
"I'm just trying to go out every day and get better and prove to the coaches that I'm a guy they should look to to lead the group," Willis said.
It starts with welcoming the changes, not resisting them.
"It's really exciting to get to do something different," Willis said, "make plays in space and prove that Penn State is a team that can play in all different kinds of looks."
Grading the Big Ten coordinator hires
March, 1, 2012
Mar 1
4:00
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg and
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
The Big Ten saw an unprecedented number of coaching changes during the offseason, as three head coaches were dismissed, Wisconsin's staff lost six assistants and many other moves were made. Barring an unexpected change, only four teams -- Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern -- will return their full staffs intact for the 2012 campaign.
Although the coaching carousel hasn't quite reached its end, Big Ten teams have filled all of their coordinator vacancies for the coming season. The league will have 13 new coordinators at eight different programs.
It's time to pass out quick grades for the coordinator hires (co-coordinators are graded together):
ILLINOIS
Co-offensive coordinators Billy Gonzales and Chris Beatty
Previously: Gonzales was LSU's receivers coach and pass-game coordinator; Beatty was Vanderbilt's receivers coach
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: C
Gonzales and Beatty both are strong recruiters who should help bring talented players to Champaign, but they're both young and unproven as playcallers. They should bolster Illinois' receiving corps, but I'd expect a few growing pains on game days as they adjust to bigger roles with a unit that flat-lined late in the 2011 season.
Brian Bennett: B-
Both are energetic guys who should adapt well to Tim Beckman's style, and both were considered up-and-comers. But as Adam mentioned, neither had led an offense before, so it's hard to give this too high a grade yet.
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks
Previously: Co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Cincinnati
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: A-
After a very successful 2011 season, Illinois' defense is looking for continuity and Banks can provide it. His aggressive style and pressure packages should translate well for a unit that still has a lot of talent in the front seven with linebacker Jonathan Brown, defensive tackle Akeem Spence and others.
Brian Bennett: B+
Vic Koenning declined to stay, and Jon Tenuta took the job for about 20 minutes before deciding to stay at NC State. As a third choice, Banks is a really nice hire and a better fit, in my opinion, than Tenuta would have been. After a tough first year with a Cincinnati defense lacking depth and experience, Banks did a great job turning that unit around in 2011. At Illinois, he merely needs to keep it going.
INDIANA
Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell
Previously: Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Arizona
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B+
Littrell wasn't the reason Arizona made a coaching change in 2011, as his offense ranked third nationally in passing (370.8 ypg) and 15th in total yards (465.2 ypg). He comes from the fertile Mike Leach coaching tree and should help Indiana's offense become more balanced behind promising quarterback Tre Roberson.
Brian Bennett: A
It isn't easy to hire big-name coaches at Indiana, but Kevin Wilson got a good one as Littrell was left looking for a gig. The addition of Littrell already helped the Hoosiers land promising quarterback Nathan Sudfeld on the recruiting trail.
IOWA
Offensive coordinator Greg Davis
Previously: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas (didn't coach in 2011)
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B
Davis is an experienced coach who has coordinated offenses at the highest level and won a national title at Texas. He should help James Vandenberg's development at quarterback. The concern is he has been predictable at times and had his most recent success in a spread system, which Iowa likely won't use.
Brian Bennett: C+
Davis oversaw some record-breaking offenses at Texas, but he won't have the same kind of blue-chip talent at Iowa. Then again, in Kirk Ferentz's system, he won't be asked to generate 50 points per game. He's great with quarterbacks, and Ferentz will feel comfortable with a veteran coach who'll keep things simple. But to hire a guy who'd been out of football for a year was not very exciting for a program that probably could have used a battery recharge.
Defensive coordinator Phil Parker
Previously: Defensive backs coach at Iowa
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B
Parker knows the Hawkeyes' personnel and brings an energetic personality to the defense, but he's not the big-splash addition some were hoping for after Norm Parker's retirement. Phil Parker has coached defensive backs forever but has yet to serve in a coordinator role. It'll be interesting to see how much he actually tweaks the scheme in Iowa City.
Brian Bennett: B-
Parker knows the Hawkeyes defense in and out, and I doubt much will change with the approach now that he is in charge. There was a curiously long time between Norm Parker's retirement and his successor's appointment, and Phil Parker has never been a coordinator before, so that brings my grade down a notch.
NEBRASKA
Defensive coordinator John Papuchis
Previously: Defensive line coach and special teams coordinator, Nebraska
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B
Papuchis is a rising star and most likely a head coach in the near future. While I'm tempted to give him a higher grade, he hasn't been a playcaller and is just four years removed from being a football intern at LSU. Inexperience is the only main drawback here.
Brian Bennett: B-
Like Adam said, the grade level is held down here by a lack of previous experience. But every coordinator has to start somewhere, and Bo Pelini has been really high on Papuchis, who has done excellent work everywhere he's been put to use so far. Any growing pains should be offset by the knowledge Pelini can impart as a defensive-minded head coach.
OHIO STATE
Offensive coordinator Tom Herman
Previously: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Iowa State
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B+
Herman is regarded as a rising star and a sharp offensive mind who, with the help of Urban Meyer, will inject some life into a bland Ohio State offense. The only potential drawbacks are that he hasn't proven himself in a big-time job like Ohio State, and Iowa State's offensive numbers from 2011 don't exactly jump off the page.
Brian Bennett: B-
Ohio State fans were probably expecting a bigger name when Meyer promised to bring in the best staff in the country. But Meyer has an eye for offensive talent and will be heavily involved in the offensive game planning himself. Though Herman hasn't done it on a major stage, he'll be working with a lot more talent in Columbus, and this grade could easily prove to be an A in the future.
Defensive coordinator Luke Fickell and co-defensive coordinator Everett Withers
Previously: Fickell was Ohio State's head coach; Withers was North Carolina's head coach
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: A-
There's a lot to like about this pair, as both men return to coaching defense after being put in awkward positions last season. It'll be interesting to see how Fickell fares as the primary defensive playcaller. Withers has a few blotches on his résumé (Minnesota 2007) but brings a lot of experience to the table.
Brian Bennett: A
The head-coaching experience both men got last year should only help their development as coaches, and both are excellent recruiters. My only concern is whether there are too many cooks in the kitchen, but there's no reason to believe that Fickell and Withers won't get along and accept their roles. If so, this should work out really well.
PENN STATE
Defensive coordinator Ted Roof
Previously: Defensive coordinator at Auburn (briefly took Central Florida defensive coordinator job in December)
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: C+
While I loved what Roof did at Minnesota in 2008, his exit from Auburn after some struggles there raises a few red flags. The good news is he steps into a very good situation with Penn State's defense, and he has three good assistants: Larry Johnson, Ron Vanderlinden and John Butler, two of whom (Johnson and Vanderlinden) are holdovers from the previous staff.
Brian Bennett: C
Roof has some very bright spots on his long résumé, but he's also been a serial job-changer whom Auburn fans couldn't wait to see leave town despite the national title. Bill O'Brien could have retained Tom Bradley or promoted Johnson and probably done just as well, if not better. But he has a previous relationship with Roof, so the trust factor should be high.
PURDUE
Defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar
Previously: Defensive coordinator for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: C
Both the change and the hire surprised me a bit, and Tibesar is a bit of a wild card coming back to college football from the CFL. He knows how to face the spread offense, a primary reason Danny Hope hired him, and had some success in Montreal. But his previous FBS stop at Kansas State resulted in some struggles (117th-rated defense in 2008).
Brian Bennett: C-
If Tibesar pans out as a successful defensive coordinator, perhaps Hope will start a trend of teams looking to the Great White North for assistant coaches. I'll give Hope some credit for making an unconventional choice, but I'm a little skeptical about just how well the CFL experience will translate to college.
WISCONSIN
Offensive coordinator Matt Canada
Previously: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northern Illinois
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B
Canada has extensive coordinator experience, including four seasons in the Big Ten at Indiana, but he has been primarily a spread coach in recent seasons. While he had success running a pro-style system during his first stint at Northern Illinois (2003), he'll have to make some adjustments. The good news: he inherits a lot of talent and understands his main job is to keep the momentum going.
Brian Bennett: B-
I was surprised that Bret Bielema didn't chose someone who was a pro-style disciple through and through given his strong comments about not changing the offense much after Paul Chryst left. As Adam said, Canada knows his stuff and has done some good work as a coordinator. But anytime a coach has to adjust his style to a larger system and not the other way around creates a seed of doubt.
Although the coaching carousel hasn't quite reached its end, Big Ten teams have filled all of their coordinator vacancies for the coming season. The league will have 13 new coordinators at eight different programs.
It's time to pass out quick grades for the coordinator hires (co-coordinators are graded together):
ILLINOIS
Co-offensive coordinators Billy Gonzales and Chris Beatty
Previously: Gonzales was LSU's receivers coach and pass-game coordinator; Beatty was Vanderbilt's receivers coach
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: C
Gonzales and Beatty both are strong recruiters who should help bring talented players to Champaign, but they're both young and unproven as playcallers. They should bolster Illinois' receiving corps, but I'd expect a few growing pains on game days as they adjust to bigger roles with a unit that flat-lined late in the 2011 season.
Brian Bennett: B-
Both are energetic guys who should adapt well to Tim Beckman's style, and both were considered up-and-comers. But as Adam mentioned, neither had led an offense before, so it's hard to give this too high a grade yet.
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks
Previously: Co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Cincinnati
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: A-
After a very successful 2011 season, Illinois' defense is looking for continuity and Banks can provide it. His aggressive style and pressure packages should translate well for a unit that still has a lot of talent in the front seven with linebacker Jonathan Brown, defensive tackle Akeem Spence and others.
Brian Bennett: B+
Vic Koenning declined to stay, and Jon Tenuta took the job for about 20 minutes before deciding to stay at NC State. As a third choice, Banks is a really nice hire and a better fit, in my opinion, than Tenuta would have been. After a tough first year with a Cincinnati defense lacking depth and experience, Banks did a great job turning that unit around in 2011. At Illinois, he merely needs to keep it going.
INDIANA
Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell
Previously: Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Arizona
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B+
Littrell wasn't the reason Arizona made a coaching change in 2011, as his offense ranked third nationally in passing (370.8 ypg) and 15th in total yards (465.2 ypg). He comes from the fertile Mike Leach coaching tree and should help Indiana's offense become more balanced behind promising quarterback Tre Roberson.
Brian Bennett: A
It isn't easy to hire big-name coaches at Indiana, but Kevin Wilson got a good one as Littrell was left looking for a gig. The addition of Littrell already helped the Hoosiers land promising quarterback Nathan Sudfeld on the recruiting trail.
IOWA
Offensive coordinator Greg Davis
Previously: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas (didn't coach in 2011)
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B
Davis is an experienced coach who has coordinated offenses at the highest level and won a national title at Texas. He should help James Vandenberg's development at quarterback. The concern is he has been predictable at times and had his most recent success in a spread system, which Iowa likely won't use.
Brian Bennett: C+
Davis oversaw some record-breaking offenses at Texas, but he won't have the same kind of blue-chip talent at Iowa. Then again, in Kirk Ferentz's system, he won't be asked to generate 50 points per game. He's great with quarterbacks, and Ferentz will feel comfortable with a veteran coach who'll keep things simple. But to hire a guy who'd been out of football for a year was not very exciting for a program that probably could have used a battery recharge.
Defensive coordinator Phil Parker
Previously: Defensive backs coach at Iowa
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B
Parker knows the Hawkeyes' personnel and brings an energetic personality to the defense, but he's not the big-splash addition some were hoping for after Norm Parker's retirement. Phil Parker has coached defensive backs forever but has yet to serve in a coordinator role. It'll be interesting to see how much he actually tweaks the scheme in Iowa City.
Brian Bennett: B-
Parker knows the Hawkeyes defense in and out, and I doubt much will change with the approach now that he is in charge. There was a curiously long time between Norm Parker's retirement and his successor's appointment, and Phil Parker has never been a coordinator before, so that brings my grade down a notch.
NEBRASKA
Defensive coordinator John Papuchis
Previously: Defensive line coach and special teams coordinator, Nebraska
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B
Papuchis is a rising star and most likely a head coach in the near future. While I'm tempted to give him a higher grade, he hasn't been a playcaller and is just four years removed from being a football intern at LSU. Inexperience is the only main drawback here.
Brian Bennett: B-
Like Adam said, the grade level is held down here by a lack of previous experience. But every coordinator has to start somewhere, and Bo Pelini has been really high on Papuchis, who has done excellent work everywhere he's been put to use so far. Any growing pains should be offset by the knowledge Pelini can impart as a defensive-minded head coach.
OHIO STATE
Offensive coordinator Tom Herman
Previously: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Iowa State
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B+
Herman is regarded as a rising star and a sharp offensive mind who, with the help of Urban Meyer, will inject some life into a bland Ohio State offense. The only potential drawbacks are that he hasn't proven himself in a big-time job like Ohio State, and Iowa State's offensive numbers from 2011 don't exactly jump off the page.
Brian Bennett: B-
Ohio State fans were probably expecting a bigger name when Meyer promised to bring in the best staff in the country. But Meyer has an eye for offensive talent and will be heavily involved in the offensive game planning himself. Though Herman hasn't done it on a major stage, he'll be working with a lot more talent in Columbus, and this grade could easily prove to be an A in the future.
Defensive coordinator Luke Fickell and co-defensive coordinator Everett Withers
Previously: Fickell was Ohio State's head coach; Withers was North Carolina's head coach
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: A-
There's a lot to like about this pair, as both men return to coaching defense after being put in awkward positions last season. It'll be interesting to see how Fickell fares as the primary defensive playcaller. Withers has a few blotches on his résumé (Minnesota 2007) but brings a lot of experience to the table.
Brian Bennett: A
The head-coaching experience both men got last year should only help their development as coaches, and both are excellent recruiters. My only concern is whether there are too many cooks in the kitchen, but there's no reason to believe that Fickell and Withers won't get along and accept their roles. If so, this should work out really well.
PENN STATE
Defensive coordinator Ted Roof
Previously: Defensive coordinator at Auburn (briefly took Central Florida defensive coordinator job in December)
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: C+
While I loved what Roof did at Minnesota in 2008, his exit from Auburn after some struggles there raises a few red flags. The good news is he steps into a very good situation with Penn State's defense, and he has three good assistants: Larry Johnson, Ron Vanderlinden and John Butler, two of whom (Johnson and Vanderlinden) are holdovers from the previous staff.
Brian Bennett: C
Roof has some very bright spots on his long résumé, but he's also been a serial job-changer whom Auburn fans couldn't wait to see leave town despite the national title. Bill O'Brien could have retained Tom Bradley or promoted Johnson and probably done just as well, if not better. But he has a previous relationship with Roof, so the trust factor should be high.
PURDUE
Defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar
Previously: Defensive coordinator for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: C
Both the change and the hire surprised me a bit, and Tibesar is a bit of a wild card coming back to college football from the CFL. He knows how to face the spread offense, a primary reason Danny Hope hired him, and had some success in Montreal. But his previous FBS stop at Kansas State resulted in some struggles (117th-rated defense in 2008).
Brian Bennett: C-
If Tibesar pans out as a successful defensive coordinator, perhaps Hope will start a trend of teams looking to the Great White North for assistant coaches. I'll give Hope some credit for making an unconventional choice, but I'm a little skeptical about just how well the CFL experience will translate to college.
WISCONSIN
Offensive coordinator Matt Canada
Previously: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northern Illinois
Grades
Adam Rittenberg: B
Canada has extensive coordinator experience, including four seasons in the Big Ten at Indiana, but he has been primarily a spread coach in recent seasons. While he had success running a pro-style system during his first stint at Northern Illinois (2003), he'll have to make some adjustments. The good news: he inherits a lot of talent and understands his main job is to keep the momentum going.
Brian Bennett: B-
I was surprised that Bret Bielema didn't chose someone who was a pro-style disciple through and through given his strong comments about not changing the offense much after Paul Chryst left. As Adam said, Canada knows his stuff and has done some good work as a coordinator. But anytime a coach has to adjust his style to a larger system and not the other way around creates a seed of doubt.
Michael Mauti mounts another comeback
February, 21, 2012
Feb 21
10:30
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
Michael Mauti felt no pain when his left knee buckled last Sept. 24 during the Eastern Michigan game. At least, no physical pain.
The Penn State linebacker instinctively knew that he had torn his ACL, though he didn't want to believe it. As he sat on the trainer's table with a towel on his head, he thought about another season lost to injury, another long road to recovery looming ahead.
"It was a tough time for me," Mauti told ESPN.com. "It was frustrating, because it was more unexpected than anything."
Mauti missed the 2009 season when he tore his right ACL in preseason practice, and injuries slowed him down in 2010. He came into 2011 finally feeling fully healthy and looking forward to a big season. Instead, his left knee, one that had never given him any trouble before, betrayed him.
"When the doctor got in there for the surgery, he said there was just a weakness there," Mauti said. "He told me I'd be better off by having it fixed."
That was small solace to a player whose promising career keeps getting stalled by injuries. But Mauti has never been one to believe in self pity, and his coaches made sure he didn't wallow after the latest setback.
Soon after his surgery, Mauti took on a new role. Then-defensive coordinator Tom Bradley put him in charge of signaling in calls from the sideline during practice.
"I was out there standing right next to him every day at practice doing those signals," Mauti said. "That definitely kept me plugged in. I had no choice but to get out there and do whatever I could to help my team win."
Mauti also delivered a moving speech on behalf of the current Penn State players at Joe Paterno's memorial. He hopes to have a more active role with this year's team.
Mauti says his knee feels great right now, and he's planning to start cutting and doing agility exercises in the next week or so. But his previous rehab taught him that he needs to take things slow and build the muscles in his leg before trying to do too much. So he'll be very limited still for Penn State's spring practices.
"There's no rush, really," he said. "I'm thinking when we get into May and June, there will be pretty much no restrictions on anything."
Mauti has shown what he can do when healthy. In 2010, he finished fifth on the team with 67 tackles despite some nagging injuries. He was off to a strong start last season, recording 13 tackles against Alabama and grabbing a key interception at Temple the week before his torn ACL.
With him back in the fold, the Nittany Lions could have one of the strongest linebacking corps in the Big Ten and the country in 2012. Gerald Hodges had a breakout campaign in 2011, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors, and Glenn Carson also returns at middle linebacker after his first full season of starting.
"I really think the sky's the limit for us," Mauti said.
They will have to learn a new defensive system for the first time in their careers, and new coordinator Ted Roof will have all new terminology. But Mauti is confident that he and his teammates can pick it up quickly, because he says the style is not too different and that the defensive veterans "have pretty good football IQs and know what they're doing."
Mauti will mostly be watching and observing this spring. But by the fall, he expects to be back on the field making an impact. And maybe he'll finally catch a break with his health and end his career with a bang.
"This is my last go-round here, so I'm taking every day and making the most out of it," he said. "I only get one more shot at this thing. I'm really excited about where Penn State is going, and I'm happy to be a part of the transition. I just want to help us win some games."
The Penn State linebacker instinctively knew that he had torn his ACL, though he didn't want to believe it. As he sat on the trainer's table with a towel on his head, he thought about another season lost to injury, another long road to recovery looming ahead.
"It was a tough time for me," Mauti told ESPN.com. "It was frustrating, because it was more unexpected than anything."
[+] Enlarge
Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesMichael Mauti won't see much action this spring as he continues to rehab his knee, but he expects to be 100 percent this fall.
Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesMichael Mauti won't see much action this spring as he continues to rehab his knee, but he expects to be 100 percent this fall."When the doctor got in there for the surgery, he said there was just a weakness there," Mauti said. "He told me I'd be better off by having it fixed."
That was small solace to a player whose promising career keeps getting stalled by injuries. But Mauti has never been one to believe in self pity, and his coaches made sure he didn't wallow after the latest setback.
Soon after his surgery, Mauti took on a new role. Then-defensive coordinator Tom Bradley put him in charge of signaling in calls from the sideline during practice.
"I was out there standing right next to him every day at practice doing those signals," Mauti said. "That definitely kept me plugged in. I had no choice but to get out there and do whatever I could to help my team win."
Mauti also delivered a moving speech on behalf of the current Penn State players at Joe Paterno's memorial. He hopes to have a more active role with this year's team.
Mauti says his knee feels great right now, and he's planning to start cutting and doing agility exercises in the next week or so. But his previous rehab taught him that he needs to take things slow and build the muscles in his leg before trying to do too much. So he'll be very limited still for Penn State's spring practices.
"There's no rush, really," he said. "I'm thinking when we get into May and June, there will be pretty much no restrictions on anything."
Mauti has shown what he can do when healthy. In 2010, he finished fifth on the team with 67 tackles despite some nagging injuries. He was off to a strong start last season, recording 13 tackles against Alabama and grabbing a key interception at Temple the week before his torn ACL.
With him back in the fold, the Nittany Lions could have one of the strongest linebacking corps in the Big Ten and the country in 2012. Gerald Hodges had a breakout campaign in 2011, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors, and Glenn Carson also returns at middle linebacker after his first full season of starting.
"I really think the sky's the limit for us," Mauti said.
They will have to learn a new defensive system for the first time in their careers, and new coordinator Ted Roof will have all new terminology. But Mauti is confident that he and his teammates can pick it up quickly, because he says the style is not too different and that the defensive veterans "have pretty good football IQs and know what they're doing."
Mauti will mostly be watching and observing this spring. But by the fall, he expects to be back on the field making an impact. And maybe he'll finally catch a break with his health and end his career with a bang.
"This is my last go-round here, so I'm taking every day and making the most out of it," he said. "I only get one more shot at this thing. I'm really excited about where Penn State is going, and I'm happy to be a part of the transition. I just want to help us win some games."
Tom Bradley's tribute to Joe Paterno
January, 22, 2012
Jan 22
3:30
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Tom Bradley played for Joe Paterno, coached on Paterno's staff for more than 30 years and took over for Paterno following Paterno's firing on Nov. 9. Bradley, who served as Penn State's defensive coordinator from 2000-2011, issued the following statement on Paterno's passing earlier Sunday.
Bradley said on "SportsCenter" earlier today that Paterno will "go down as the greatest college football coach of all time."
Here's Bradley's tribute:
Words seem to pale in a moment such as this. The terms "icon" and "legend" have often been used to describe Joe Paterno. Certainly, he was both within the world of college athletics. But to those of us who played for him, to those of us who coached with him and to those of us who had the privilege to call him a friend, Joe Paterno was much more.
To me, he was my mentor for 37 years, and the lessons that I learned from him as a player, coach and friend will live on with me forever. It was Coach Paterno who saw what I could be and helped me to realize that potential. He was a tremendous teacher not because he knew all of the answers but because he challenged us to find the answers for ourselves. He made us better men than we believed we could be -- both on and off the field. And when we lost our way or became unsure of ourselves, it was Coach Paterno who was there to encourage us, guide us and remind us that we must always strive to succeed with honor.
Coach Paterno never believed his role as "coach" ended after practice, or when the fourth quarter wound down or when a student-athlete graduated. He was a coach for life. I am deeply grateful to have had Coach Paterno in my life. He was the epitome of class and his spirit will live on in all of us who had the great honor of knowing him and running out of the tunnel with him on so many autumn Saturdays.
My thoughts and prayers are with Coach Paterno's devoted wife, Sue, his son Jay, with whom I coached so many years, and with the entire Paterno family during this sad and difficult time.
A look back at Joe Paterno's life (1926-2012)
January, 22, 2012
Jan 22
12:45
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno died earlier Sunday at 85 in State College, Pa., after battling lung cancer diagnosed in November. Paterno spent 46 seasons as Penn State's coach before being fired Nov. 9 in the wake of the sex-abuse scandal. He's the winningest coach in major college football history with 409 victories, and he captured two national championships.
Let's look back at Paterno's extraordinary life ...
Dec. 21, 1926: Joseph Vincent Paterno is born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He's the first child born to Angelo and Florence Paterno, who would have three more children.
Spring 1950: Paterno graduates from Brown University, where he played quarterback and defensive back.
May 27, 1950: New Penn State head coach Rip Engle tabs Paterno, his former quarterback at Brown, as an assistant coach. Paterno, who had planned to attend law school at Brown, works with the Nittany Lions quarterbacks.
Oct. 27, 1962: Paterno receives his first game ball from the team as Penn State beats Cal 23-21 in Berkeley, Calif.
Summer 1964: Paterno is named Penn State's associate head coach and the heir apparent to Engle when Engle retires.
Feb. 19, 1966: A day after Engle announces his retirement, Paterno is named Penn State's head coach. He agrees to an annual salary of $20,000.
Sept. 17, 1966: Paterno records his first win in Penn State's season opener, a 15-7 triumph against Maryland at Beaver Stadium.
Dec. 7, 1968: Paterno's Penn State team beats Syracuse at Beaver Stadium to record its first unbeaten regular season since 1947 and its first-ever 10-win campaign.
Jan. 1, 1970: Paterno's Penn State squad beats Missouri in the Orange Bowl to record its second consecutive 11-0 season. But the Lions finish No. 2 in the final polls behind Texas, which beat Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. President Richard Nixon declares Texas as the national champion.
Sept. 19, 1970: Penn State sets a record for consecutive wins (23) and consecutive games without a loss (31) as it thumps Navy 55-7 at Beaver Stadium.
Sept. 26, 1970: Paterno's Penn State team falls 41-13 to Colorado, suffering its first loss since Oct. 7, 1967.
January 1973: Paterno agrees to become head coach, general manager and part owner of the NFL's Boston Patriots. His four-year contract included $1.4 million in compensation. But on the day he was scheduled to fly to Boston to accept the job, he had a change of heart and remained at Penn State.
Dec. 13, 1973: John Cappelletti becomes the first Paterno player and the first Penn State player to win the Heisman Trophy. He delivers an emotional speech dedicating the trophy to his brother, Joey, who was battling leukemia.
Nov. 7, 1976: Paterno records his 100th victory as Penn State beats North Carolina 41-20 in State College.
Oct. 15, 1977: Paterno misses his first game as Penn State's head coach because his 11-year-old son, David, had been injured the day before in a trampoline accident. Offensive coordinator Bob Phillips and defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky coach Penn State to a win at Syracuse.
Jan. 1, 1979: Paterno's team plays for its first national championship as No. 1 Penn State takes on No. 2 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Trailing 14-7, Penn State is stopped short of the goal line on fourth down from the 1 as Alabama prevails.
March 1, 1980: Paterno becomes Penn State's athletic director, succeeding Ed Czejak, and remains the school's football coach. Paterno would relinquish the AD title two years later when Jim Tarman took over.
Jan. 1, 1983: Penn State beats Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to record its first national championship under Paterno.
1984: Paterno and his wife, Sue, establish the Paterno Libraries Endowment with gifts totaling more than $120,000.
Jan. 2, 1987: Paterno's Lions shock No. 1 Miami to win the Fiesta Bowl and their second national championship. A goal-line stand in the final minute seals the win.
Dec. 22, 1986: Sports Illustrated names Paterno as its "Sportsman of the Year."
Sept. 5, 1987: Paterno records his 200th career victory as Penn State beats Bowling Green at Beaver Stadium. Afterward, he tells reporters, "I may live to be 100, but I'll never be around for another 100 victories."
Aug. 18, 1988: Paterno seconds the presidential nomination of Vice President George H.W. Bush at the Republican National Convention in New Orleans.
Nov. 19, 1988: Penn State falls at Notre Dame to finish 5-6, marking Paterno's first losing season as Lions coach.
Sept. 5, 1993: Penn State plays its first game as a member of the Big Ten Conference and beats Minnesota 38-20.
Jan. 2, 1995: Penn State beats Oregon in the Rose Bowl to complete a 12-0 season but finishes No. 2 in the polls behind Nebraska, which is declared national champion. The Lions record their fifth and final undefeated season under Paterno.
Sept. 30, 1995: Paterno coaches his 500th game as a member of the Penn State staff (assistant and head coach) as the Lions lose to Wisconsin.
1997: Paterno, his wife, Sue, and their family make a $3.5 million gift to Penn State for several academic programs and university projects.
April 1997: Ground is broken for the construction of the Paterno Library at Penn State.
Sept. 12, 1998: Paterno records his 300th coaching win as Penn State beats Bowling Green 48-3 at Beaver Stadium.
Sept. 8, 2000: The Paterno Library, which took $34.4 million to build, is dedicated.
Oct. 27, 2001: Paterno becomes the winningest major college football coach as he records his 324th career victory, moving him past Paul "Bear" Bryant. Penn State rallies from a 27-9 deficit to beat Ohio State, marking the biggest home comeback in team history.
Nov. 21, 2004: The day after Penn State suffered its fourth losing season in five years, four university administrators went to Paterno's house. They discussed his future and the program's future. Paterno ultimately remained in place and guided Penn State to a Big Ten championship and an Orange Bowl victory the next season.
May 16, 2006: Paterno is elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Nov. 11, 2006: Paterno misses his second and final game as Penn State's coach while recovering from surgery on his left leg, which had been injured the previous week during a game at Wisconsin.
Dec. 29, 2007: Paterno's 500th game as Penn State's head coach takes place as the team rallies from a 14-0 deficit to beat Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl.
July, 19, 2008: Paterno is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., along with 16 players and three coaches.
Sept. 20, 2008: Paterno surpasses Bobby Bowden as major college football's winningest coach as Penn State beats Temple 45-3.
March 5, 2010: The Maxwell Football Club announces the creation of the Joseph V. Paterno award, given to a college football coach who has had a significant impact on his university, players, community and state.
Nov. 6, 2010: Paterno records his 400th career win as Penn State rallies to beat Northwestern at Beaver Stadium. The Lions score 35 unanswered points to record the largest home comeback in Paterno's tenure.
Dec. 22, 2010: The NCAA presents Paterno with the Gerald R. Ford award, given to individuals who display significant leadership in the role of advocate for intercollegiate athletics.
Oct. 30, 2011: Paterno records his 409th career win, eclipsing Eddie Robinson's Division I coaching victories record, as Penn State tops Illinois 10-7. It is his 548th game coached at Penn State.
Nov. 5, 2011: Former longtime Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is arrested and charged with 40 counts of sexually abusing boys.
Nov. 9, 2011: Paterno announces he will retire at the end of the season in the wake of the sex-abuse scandal, saying in a statement, "This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more." That evening, Penn State's Board of Trustees votes to dismiss Paterno as coach and makes the announcement at an emotionally charged news conference.
Nov. 12, 2011: Assistant Tom Bradley leads Penn State in its first game since Paterno's firing and since the sex-abuse scandal broke. Players from Penn State and Nebraska gather at midfield for an emotional pregame prayer. Nebraska holds off a Penn State rally to win 17-14.
Nov. 18, 2011: Paterno's son Scott, announces Paterno has been diagnosed with a treatable form of lung cancer. He says Paterno's "doctors are optimistic he will make a full recovery."
Jan. 13, 2012: Paterno is admitted to the hospital for observation because of complications from his lung cancer treatments.
Jan. 21, 2012: A Paterno family spokesman says Paterno is in serious condition after further complications from lung cancer treatments.
Jan. 22, 2012: Paterno's family announces that Paterno has died. "His loss leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled," the family said in a statement.
Let's look back at Paterno's extraordinary life ...
Dec. 21, 1926: Joseph Vincent Paterno is born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He's the first child born to Angelo and Florence Paterno, who would have three more children.
Spring 1950: Paterno graduates from Brown University, where he played quarterback and defensive back.
May 27, 1950: New Penn State head coach Rip Engle tabs Paterno, his former quarterback at Brown, as an assistant coach. Paterno, who had planned to attend law school at Brown, works with the Nittany Lions quarterbacks.
Oct. 27, 1962: Paterno receives his first game ball from the team as Penn State beats Cal 23-21 in Berkeley, Calif.
Summer 1964: Paterno is named Penn State's associate head coach and the heir apparent to Engle when Engle retires.
[+] Enlarge
Rob Christy/US PresswireJoe Paterno won 409 games and took the Nittany Lions to 37 bowl games and two national championships.
Rob Christy/US PresswireJoe Paterno won 409 games and took the Nittany Lions to 37 bowl games and two national championships.Sept. 17, 1966: Paterno records his first win in Penn State's season opener, a 15-7 triumph against Maryland at Beaver Stadium.
Dec. 7, 1968: Paterno's Penn State team beats Syracuse at Beaver Stadium to record its first unbeaten regular season since 1947 and its first-ever 10-win campaign.
Jan. 1, 1970: Paterno's Penn State squad beats Missouri in the Orange Bowl to record its second consecutive 11-0 season. But the Lions finish No. 2 in the final polls behind Texas, which beat Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. President Richard Nixon declares Texas as the national champion.
Sept. 19, 1970: Penn State sets a record for consecutive wins (23) and consecutive games without a loss (31) as it thumps Navy 55-7 at Beaver Stadium.
Sept. 26, 1970: Paterno's Penn State team falls 41-13 to Colorado, suffering its first loss since Oct. 7, 1967.
January 1973: Paterno agrees to become head coach, general manager and part owner of the NFL's Boston Patriots. His four-year contract included $1.4 million in compensation. But on the day he was scheduled to fly to Boston to accept the job, he had a change of heart and remained at Penn State.
Dec. 13, 1973: John Cappelletti becomes the first Paterno player and the first Penn State player to win the Heisman Trophy. He delivers an emotional speech dedicating the trophy to his brother, Joey, who was battling leukemia.
Nov. 7, 1976: Paterno records his 100th victory as Penn State beats North Carolina 41-20 in State College.
Oct. 15, 1977: Paterno misses his first game as Penn State's head coach because his 11-year-old son, David, had been injured the day before in a trampoline accident. Offensive coordinator Bob Phillips and defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky coach Penn State to a win at Syracuse.
Jan. 1, 1979: Paterno's team plays for its first national championship as No. 1 Penn State takes on No. 2 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Trailing 14-7, Penn State is stopped short of the goal line on fourth down from the 1 as Alabama prevails.
March 1, 1980: Paterno becomes Penn State's athletic director, succeeding Ed Czejak, and remains the school's football coach. Paterno would relinquish the AD title two years later when Jim Tarman took over.
Jan. 1, 1983: Penn State beats Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to record its first national championship under Paterno.
1984: Paterno and his wife, Sue, establish the Paterno Libraries Endowment with gifts totaling more than $120,000.
Jan. 2, 1987: Paterno's Lions shock No. 1 Miami to win the Fiesta Bowl and their second national championship. A goal-line stand in the final minute seals the win.
Dec. 22, 1986: Sports Illustrated names Paterno as its "Sportsman of the Year."
Sept. 5, 1987: Paterno records his 200th career victory as Penn State beats Bowling Green at Beaver Stadium. Afterward, he tells reporters, "I may live to be 100, but I'll never be around for another 100 victories."
Aug. 18, 1988: Paterno seconds the presidential nomination of Vice President George H.W. Bush at the Republican National Convention in New Orleans.
Nov. 19, 1988: Penn State falls at Notre Dame to finish 5-6, marking Paterno's first losing season as Lions coach.
Sept. 5, 1993: Penn State plays its first game as a member of the Big Ten Conference and beats Minnesota 38-20.
Jan. 2, 1995: Penn State beats Oregon in the Rose Bowl to complete a 12-0 season but finishes No. 2 in the polls behind Nebraska, which is declared national champion. The Lions record their fifth and final undefeated season under Paterno.
Sept. 30, 1995: Paterno coaches his 500th game as a member of the Penn State staff (assistant and head coach) as the Lions lose to Wisconsin.
1997: Paterno, his wife, Sue, and their family make a $3.5 million gift to Penn State for several academic programs and university projects.
April 1997: Ground is broken for the construction of the Paterno Library at Penn State.
Sept. 12, 1998: Paterno records his 300th coaching win as Penn State beats Bowling Green 48-3 at Beaver Stadium.
Sept. 8, 2000: The Paterno Library, which took $34.4 million to build, is dedicated.
Oct. 27, 2001: Paterno becomes the winningest major college football coach as he records his 324th career victory, moving him past Paul "Bear" Bryant. Penn State rallies from a 27-9 deficit to beat Ohio State, marking the biggest home comeback in team history.
Nov. 21, 2004: The day after Penn State suffered its fourth losing season in five years, four university administrators went to Paterno's house. They discussed his future and the program's future. Paterno ultimately remained in place and guided Penn State to a Big Ten championship and an Orange Bowl victory the next season.
May 16, 2006: Paterno is elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Nov. 11, 2006: Paterno misses his second and final game as Penn State's coach while recovering from surgery on his left leg, which had been injured the previous week during a game at Wisconsin.
Dec. 29, 2007: Paterno's 500th game as Penn State's head coach takes place as the team rallies from a 14-0 deficit to beat Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl.
July, 19, 2008: Paterno is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., along with 16 players and three coaches.
Sept. 20, 2008: Paterno surpasses Bobby Bowden as major college football's winningest coach as Penn State beats Temple 45-3.
March 5, 2010: The Maxwell Football Club announces the creation of the Joseph V. Paterno award, given to a college football coach who has had a significant impact on his university, players, community and state.
Nov. 6, 2010: Paterno records his 400th career win as Penn State rallies to beat Northwestern at Beaver Stadium. The Lions score 35 unanswered points to record the largest home comeback in Paterno's tenure.
Dec. 22, 2010: The NCAA presents Paterno with the Gerald R. Ford award, given to individuals who display significant leadership in the role of advocate for intercollegiate athletics.
Oct. 30, 2011: Paterno records his 409th career win, eclipsing Eddie Robinson's Division I coaching victories record, as Penn State tops Illinois 10-7. It is his 548th game coached at Penn State.
Nov. 5, 2011: Former longtime Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is arrested and charged with 40 counts of sexually abusing boys.
Nov. 9, 2011: Paterno announces he will retire at the end of the season in the wake of the sex-abuse scandal, saying in a statement, "This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more." That evening, Penn State's Board of Trustees votes to dismiss Paterno as coach and makes the announcement at an emotionally charged news conference.
Nov. 12, 2011: Assistant Tom Bradley leads Penn State in its first game since Paterno's firing and since the sex-abuse scandal broke. Players from Penn State and Nebraska gather at midfield for an emotional pregame prayer. Nebraska holds off a Penn State rally to win 17-14.
Nov. 18, 2011: Paterno's son Scott, announces Paterno has been diagnosed with a treatable form of lung cancer. He says Paterno's "doctors are optimistic he will make a full recovery."
Jan. 13, 2012: Paterno is admitted to the hospital for observation because of complications from his lung cancer treatments.
Jan. 21, 2012: A Paterno family spokesman says Paterno is in serious condition after further complications from lung cancer treatments.
Jan. 22, 2012: Paterno's family announces that Paterno has died. "His loss leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled," the family said in a statement.
3-point stance: Hiring assistant coaches
January, 17, 2012
Jan 17
5:00
AM ET
By
Ivan Maisel | ESPN.com
Now that hiring season for head coaches is complete, here are three items about hiring assistants:
1. It’s two weeks before signing date and Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian already has the best class ... of new assistant coaches. Sarkisian hired line coach Tosh Lupoi from Pac-12 North rival California, Lupoi’s alma mater and only employer. Lupoi, known for his recruiting prowess, joins new coordinator Justin Wilcox and linebacker coach Peter Sirmon, both of whom who came from Tennessee.
2. Alabama head coach Nick Saban likes coaches who know what he expects, which is why he just hired Tennessee defensive line coach Lance Thompson … for the third time. Thompson went with Saban to Alabama in 2007 and left for Knoxville three years ago, which means Thompson missed both of the Crimson Tide’s BCS titles (he won a ring with Saban and LSU in 2003). Out of the eight jobs that Thompson has held since 1995, Saban and George O'Leary (at Georgia Tech and UCF) each have hired him three times.
3. If you are looking for an example of grace and class in a difficult situation, read Tom Bradley’s statement after 37 years as a student, player and coach at Penn State. Jay Paterno, Joe’s son, also said goodbye after playing for his father and spending 17 years on his staff. I can't help but think, after all these years and all that stability, they are finally learning how the rest of the business lives -- at the whim of the head coach and his record.
1. It’s two weeks before signing date and Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian already has the best class ... of new assistant coaches. Sarkisian hired line coach Tosh Lupoi from Pac-12 North rival California, Lupoi’s alma mater and only employer. Lupoi, known for his recruiting prowess, joins new coordinator Justin Wilcox and linebacker coach Peter Sirmon, both of whom who came from Tennessee.
2. Alabama head coach Nick Saban likes coaches who know what he expects, which is why he just hired Tennessee defensive line coach Lance Thompson … for the third time. Thompson went with Saban to Alabama in 2007 and left for Knoxville three years ago, which means Thompson missed both of the Crimson Tide’s BCS titles (he won a ring with Saban and LSU in 2003). Out of the eight jobs that Thompson has held since 1995, Saban and George O'Leary (at Georgia Tech and UCF) each have hired him three times.
3. If you are looking for an example of grace and class in a difficult situation, read Tom Bradley’s statement after 37 years as a student, player and coach at Penn State. Jay Paterno, Joe’s son, also said goodbye after playing for his father and spending 17 years on his staff. I can't help but think, after all these years and all that stability, they are finally learning how the rest of the business lives -- at the whim of the head coach and his record.
Notes from O'Brien's Penn State intro
January, 7, 2012
Jan 7
1:31
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
For the first time since Feb. 19, 1966, Penn State has introduced a new head football coach. Bill O'Brien is the new man in charge, and he conducted himself well during his first public appearance in the new job. He was energetic and confident and hit on most of the issues Penn State fans needed to hear.
O'Brien, 42, received a five-year contract that will pay him $950,000 annually plus a five percent annual increase and performance incentives not to exceed $200,000 per year. The deal includes $1 million annually from TV and radio, and $350,000 from Nike. Total compensation: $2.3 million.
Before getting to the notes, O'Brien finished his opening remarks with a letter he wrote addressed to the Penn State football community, portions of which had expressed outrage at his hiring and the search process.
It reads:
Here are some notes:
More to come on O'Brien's hiring ...
O'Brien, 42, received a five-year contract that will pay him $950,000 annually plus a five percent annual increase and performance incentives not to exceed $200,000 per year. The deal includes $1 million annually from TV and radio, and $350,000 from Nike. Total compensation: $2.3 million.
Before getting to the notes, O'Brien finished his opening remarks with a letter he wrote addressed to the Penn State football community, portions of which had expressed outrage at his hiring and the search process.
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Rob Christy/US PresswireNew Lions coach Bill O'Brien said he has "a lot of confidence" in his ability to lead Penn State through "what some people would say is a tough time right now."
Rob Christy/US PresswireNew Lions coach Bill O'Brien said he has "a lot of confidence" in his ability to lead Penn State through "what some people would say is a tough time right now.""We respect the right to one's opinions, beliefs and contributions to Penn State. We admire one's loyalties to Penn State, Penn State football, its grand tradition, coach [Joe] Paterno and all of its football staffs, and present and former players. We respectfully request the opportunity to earn your trust through communication and field it through our abilities, ethics, beliefs, work ethic and commitment to Penn State. In time, you will find that we have more common interests and goals than not.
"We are now with you. You should be proud of Penn State's numerous accomplishments. You should be proud of Penn State's football program. You should love this school. You are why we love to be here. We want you to know that you will always be welcome and are part of our program because we are Penn State."
Here are some notes:
- O'Brien plans to assemble a staff in the next 2-3 days, but he confirmed that current Lions defensive line coach Larry Johnson will be a part of it. Johnson, the team's top recruiter and an excellent position coach, served as co-defensive coordinator with Ron Vanderlinden after Tom Bradley took over the head-coaching duties in November. O'Brien will meet with the other current assistants during the next few days. Keeping Johnson is a good move.
- It doesn't appear as though Bradley will remain on staff (no big surprise), and Bradley issued a statement Saturday saying Penn State has his full support going forward. Classy remarks from "Scrap."
- O'Brien discussed Paterno in his opening remarks, saying he grew up following Penn State football. He loved the "helmets, the uniforms, the black cleats, no names on the back of the jerseys, and also because of the man on the sidelines." O'Brien added that there "will never be enough words to say what he did for this program." O'Brien looks forward to meeting Paterno as soon as possible.
- O'Brien said he will take the NCAA exam today or Sunday that will then allow him to contact Penn State recruits. He emphasized the importance of securing Penn State's verbally committed recruits and making a push in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio and the Washington D.C. area -- "our bloodlines."
- While his assistants will be on the road, O'Brien himself will be splitting time between Penn State and the New England Patriots, much like Charlie Weis did with the Patriots and Notre Dame in 2005 during the Patriots' Super Bowl run. "There’s no way I can stand up in front of our football team and our recruits and talk about loyalty and commitment and then leave the Patriots at the start of a playoff run," he said. "... I will also continue any break I have to make sure I am full-time as much as I can for Penn State." This will be tricky, but it's hard to fault O'Brien for finishing the job with the Pats. Johnson will lead Penn State's recruiting efforts during the next few weeks.
- O'Brien didn't mention Jerry Sandusky or the sex-abuse scandal directly but acknowledged he has "a lot of confidence in my ability to lead us through what some people would say is a tough time right now." He said there were a lot of tough questions asked and answered from both sides during the interview process and praised acting AD Dave Joyner and president Rodney Erickson. Asked why he can lead Penn State through a tough time, O'Brien replied, "I believe in myself. I believe in Penn State. I believe in the academic diversity of Penn State. I obviously believe in the football traditions here and the past football successes. What is there not to sell about Penn State?"
- O'Brien said Penn State will be multiple on defense and continue to reflect the program's tradition on that side of the ball. The offense will be game-plan-oriented. "The offensive philosophy will be to find out what our players do best ... and put them in position to take advantage of these strengths," he said. O'Brien says he'll call offensive plays, at least for the first year.
- O'Brien wasn't part of a Friday night conference call with Lions players -- he spent the time preparing for the news conference -- but will meet with them Sunday at 5 p.m. ET. Classes start Monday. This meeting can't happen soon enough, in my view.
- Joyner said he was receptive to the Letterman's Club members and others who wanted to give input on the coaching search. Former Penn State player Brandon Short told media outlets Friday that Joyner hadn't been receptive to the program's alums. As for the secrecy of the search, Joyner said, "We conducted this search very similar to normal academic searches for a dean for a chair of a department."
- O'Brien on being a first-time head coach: "Everybody’s got to start somewhere, and what better place to start than Penn State? I know there's many challenges ahead. I'm going to surround myself with really good people."
- On current boss Bill Belichick: "He allows his coaches to coach, to be creative, to come up with their own play designs and their own game plans. He’s the most challenging guy I’ve ever worked for, and I’ve learned so much from him."
- On Patriots quarterback Tom Brady: "He’s a special, special guy, and a special friend of mine, and he always will be. We have a unique relationship. It was like two brothers ... so there were times when things got heated, and most of that was probably my fault."
More to come on O'Brien's hiring ...
Penn State fans should give Bill O'Brien a chance.
Remember that he left a pretty good job, working with one of the most successful franchises in sports, to step into a potentially no-win situation in State College. He wanted you, even if you don't think you want him. While we'll learn much more about O'Brien in the coming days and weeks, it's clear the guy doesn't shy away from a challenge.
He deserves the benefit of the doubt, and I think a portion of Nittany Nation, especially those not blindly loyal to Joe Paterno, will give it to him. The more Penn Staters who take the approach of former Lions star linebacker Paul Posluszny, the better.
Much of the ire Thursday night and Friday has been directed at the school's administration, and for good reason. After a search that lasted nearly two months and inspired more confusion than confidence, the Penn State brass has a much steeper climb to win back the trust of alumni, former players and fans.
Penn State looked very much like a school that hadn't replaced a football coach since 1966 and had never conducted a football coaching search in the modern era. Most coaching searches take 10-14 days. They're structured and swift. The athletic director leads the way, and a search firm often is involved. Sometimes, information is actually confirmed. Imagine that.
Penn State, meanwhile, used an acting AD (Dave Joyner) and formed a search committee nearly three weeks after the school's trustees fired Paterno on Nov. 9. Ultimately, Joyner and his former Penn State wrestling teammate, Ira Lubert, a search committee member and a respected businessman, drove the search essentially by themselves. Joyner was tight-lipped during the protracted process.
He's right. It might have been faster and more organized.
Yes, the circumstances were unique and incredibly difficult. Yes, former athletic director Tim Curley and former president Graham Spanier deserve blame for putting the school in a bind. Yes, the Penn State job isn't nearly as appealing as it was before the sex-abuse scandal broke and the school fired Paterno.
But Penn State still looked unprepared to replace its 85-year-old coach.
Joyner set deadlines that came and went. According to USA Today, Joyner had little interest in getting input from former Penn State players who wanted to be involved. The committee talked with internal candidates like interim coach Tom Bradley, Larry Johnson and Ron Vanderlinden, but these were courtesy interviews more than anything.
And that's OK. Penn State would have been skewered for promoting from within. But it could have gotten away with hiring a candidate who had some ties to the school.
Speaking of candidates, we heard plenty of names during the past six weeks. Some were legitimate, like Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak, and some were not, like Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. The school reportedly made several runs at Boise State's Chris Petersen, who seemed more likely to become the next BCS executive director than the next Penn State coach.
Remember when Mississippi State's Dan Mullen was the flavor of the day for Penn State?
All along, Penn State fans hoped that Joyner and Lubert had an ace in the hole, a name no one was talking about who would make anxiety about the interminable wait and the compromised recruiting class go away. Munchak might have been that guy, but it didn't happen.
Even the post-hiring process has been curious. It's not unusual for players and even assistant coaches to learn of hirings through the media. But more than 17 hours have passed since ESPN reported O'Brien's hiring, and the school hasn't said anything. Bradley hadn't been told as of late Friday morning. Keep in mind this is a guy who has devoted his career to Penn State and began recruiting for the team this week after returning from the TicketCity Bowl debacle.
O'Brien deserves a fair chance, and he might just be the right guy to lead Penn State football through its most difficult period.
Maybe the best thing he can do is make everyone forget how Penn State hired him.
Remember that he left a pretty good job, working with one of the most successful franchises in sports, to step into a potentially no-win situation in State College. He wanted you, even if you don't think you want him. While we'll learn much more about O'Brien in the coming days and weeks, it's clear the guy doesn't shy away from a challenge.
He deserves the benefit of the doubt, and I think a portion of Nittany Nation, especially those not blindly loyal to Joe Paterno, will give it to him. The more Penn Staters who take the approach of former Lions star linebacker Paul Posluszny, the better.
Much of the ire Thursday night and Friday has been directed at the school's administration, and for good reason. After a search that lasted nearly two months and inspired more confusion than confidence, the Penn State brass has a much steeper climb to win back the trust of alumni, former players and fans.
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AP Photo/Brandon WadeActing Penn State Athletic Director Dave Joyner is facing questions about the length of his coaching search to replace Joe Paterno.
AP Photo/Brandon WadeActing Penn State Athletic Director Dave Joyner is facing questions about the length of his coaching search to replace Joe Paterno.Penn State, meanwhile, used an acting AD (Dave Joyner) and formed a search committee nearly three weeks after the school's trustees fired Paterno on Nov. 9. Ultimately, Joyner and his former Penn State wrestling teammate, Ira Lubert, a search committee member and a respected businessman, drove the search essentially by themselves. Joyner was tight-lipped during the protracted process.
"This is the first coach search, in football, that maybe we've ever done," Joyner told reporters last week in Dallas. "I'm not sure how things worked in 1950 and maybe 1966 but I imagine it was a lot different than what we're doing."
He's right. It might have been faster and more organized.
Yes, the circumstances were unique and incredibly difficult. Yes, former athletic director Tim Curley and former president Graham Spanier deserve blame for putting the school in a bind. Yes, the Penn State job isn't nearly as appealing as it was before the sex-abuse scandal broke and the school fired Paterno.
But Penn State still looked unprepared to replace its 85-year-old coach.
Joyner set deadlines that came and went. According to USA Today, Joyner had little interest in getting input from former Penn State players who wanted to be involved. The committee talked with internal candidates like interim coach Tom Bradley, Larry Johnson and Ron Vanderlinden, but these were courtesy interviews more than anything.
And that's OK. Penn State would have been skewered for promoting from within. But it could have gotten away with hiring a candidate who had some ties to the school.
Speaking of candidates, we heard plenty of names during the past six weeks. Some were legitimate, like Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak, and some were not, like Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. The school reportedly made several runs at Boise State's Chris Petersen, who seemed more likely to become the next BCS executive director than the next Penn State coach.
Remember when Mississippi State's Dan Mullen was the flavor of the day for Penn State?
All along, Penn State fans hoped that Joyner and Lubert had an ace in the hole, a name no one was talking about who would make anxiety about the interminable wait and the compromised recruiting class go away. Munchak might have been that guy, but it didn't happen.
Even the post-hiring process has been curious. It's not unusual for players and even assistant coaches to learn of hirings through the media. But more than 17 hours have passed since ESPN reported O'Brien's hiring, and the school hasn't said anything. Bradley hadn't been told as of late Friday morning. Keep in mind this is a guy who has devoted his career to Penn State and began recruiting for the team this week after returning from the TicketCity Bowl debacle.
O'Brien deserves a fair chance, and he might just be the right guy to lead Penn State football through its most difficult period.
Maybe the best thing he can do is make everyone forget how Penn State hired him.
Posluszny talks PSU's hiring of O'Brien
January, 6, 2012
Jan 6
2:00
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Like many people, former Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny knows little about Bill O'Brien, beyond a well-publicized sideline spat.
"I don't know a whole lot about him, to be honest with you, except that fight he had with Tom Brady," Posluszny, a linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars, told ESPN.com earlier Friday.
O'Brien's exchange with Brady during a New England Patriots game last month against Washington is all many non-Patriots fans know of the man soon to be named Penn State's new head coach. O'Brien has no known ties to Penn State and has never served as a head coach before. He spent 12 seasons as an FBS assistant in the ACC before moving on to the Patriots in 2007.
Although Posluszny isn't as outraged by the hiring as some other former Penn State players, he had wanted interim head coach Tom Bradley, who coached him at the school, to get the permanent job. And like everyone else, Posluszny has some questions about O'Brien.
"I'm a little mixed," Posluszny said. "Obviously I hope O'Brien does a great job for the success of Penn State, but I need to have a better understanding of who he is and what he's all about."
Posluszny is "very surprised" Penn State didn't hire a coach with some ties to the school, saying he and many other former players believed the team needed someone with a strong knowledge of the institution and the program. Asked if Penn State's decision not to hire someone with ties stemmed from concerns about a P.R. backlash following the sex-abuse scandal, Posluszny said: "If they were, I don't know if that would be appropriate. Let's be honest. All this started because of Jerry Sandusky, one man and his unspeakable actions."
"Just because you had a connection with Penn State, I don't think that should mean you are now tainted for an opening like that," he said.
Posluszny noted that O'Brien needs to spend time learning about Penn State's traditions and history, and he's confident the new coach will do so. It would be "beneficial," Posluszny said, for O'Brien to hire assistants and staff who have previously worked at Penn State.
Although the initial reaction to the hiring hasn't been positive, Posluszny thinks fans, alumni and former players will eventually give O'Brien a chance. If O'Brien reaches out, Posluszny is more than willing to help the new coach.
"That's what we have to do," he said. "I obviously wanted Tom Bradley to get the job, but if this is the decision that's been made, trust me, I want Penn State to be successful and continue on to regain some of the glory that's been lost because of everything surrounding the situation. I'm hoping that O'Brien has the abilities to do that."
How long will it take for Penn State to return to glory?
"I think it will take time," Posluszny said. "We first have to go through the legal trials and issues surrounding everything and get that determined, and then continue to move on.
"It's not going to be an easy thing by any means."
"I don't know a whole lot about him, to be honest with you, except that fight he had with Tom Brady," Posluszny, a linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars, told ESPN.com earlier Friday.
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David Butler II/US PresswireBill O'Brien has worked with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick as a Patriots assistant. But will that translate into head coaching success at Penn State?
David Butler II/US PresswireBill O'Brien has worked with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick as a Patriots assistant. But will that translate into head coaching success at Penn State?Although Posluszny isn't as outraged by the hiring as some other former Penn State players, he had wanted interim head coach Tom Bradley, who coached him at the school, to get the permanent job. And like everyone else, Posluszny has some questions about O'Brien.
"I'm a little mixed," Posluszny said. "Obviously I hope O'Brien does a great job for the success of Penn State, but I need to have a better understanding of who he is and what he's all about."
Posluszny is "very surprised" Penn State didn't hire a coach with some ties to the school, saying he and many other former players believed the team needed someone with a strong knowledge of the institution and the program. Asked if Penn State's decision not to hire someone with ties stemmed from concerns about a P.R. backlash following the sex-abuse scandal, Posluszny said: "If they were, I don't know if that would be appropriate. Let's be honest. All this started because of Jerry Sandusky, one man and his unspeakable actions."
"Just because you had a connection with Penn State, I don't think that should mean you are now tainted for an opening like that," he said.
Posluszny noted that O'Brien needs to spend time learning about Penn State's traditions and history, and he's confident the new coach will do so. It would be "beneficial," Posluszny said, for O'Brien to hire assistants and staff who have previously worked at Penn State.
Although the initial reaction to the hiring hasn't been positive, Posluszny thinks fans, alumni and former players will eventually give O'Brien a chance. If O'Brien reaches out, Posluszny is more than willing to help the new coach.
"That's what we have to do," he said. "I obviously wanted Tom Bradley to get the job, but if this is the decision that's been made, trust me, I want Penn State to be successful and continue on to regain some of the glory that's been lost because of everything surrounding the situation. I'm hoping that O'Brien has the abilities to do that."
How long will it take for Penn State to return to glory?
"I think it will take time," Posluszny said. "We first have to go through the legal trials and issues surrounding everything and get that determined, and then continue to move on.
"It's not going to be an easy thing by any means."
Penn State still mired in uncertainty
January, 4, 2012
Jan 4
10:10
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
Joe Paterno was fired exactly two months ago today. And who will replace Paterno as head coach at Penn State?
We still don't know.
Today also begins a short open window where coaches can contact recruits. They can do so until Saturday. Interim coach Tom Bradley is going out to meet recruits this week even though he has no idea whether he'll be retained by the school. Bradley is in a very difficult position in trying to sell prospects on Penn State. High school players want to know who their head coach will be, and Bradley can't give them that answer.
Some Nittany Lions fans and boosters still held out hope that Boise State's Chris Petersen would change his mind and come to State College. Petersesn just got a raise and a new deal with the Broncos.
StateCollege.com reports that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano may be a candidate. Schiano, a former Penn State assistant, had long been mentioned as a potential Paterno successor down the road, but his stock had cooled as the Scarlet Knights struggled to repeat their success from a breakthrough 2006 season. Rutgers did win the New Era Pinstripe Bowl this year. He has run a clean program that has excelled at graduating players, and Penn State could do a whole lot worse at this point.
Otherwise, most of the chatter has been about NFL assistants, like New England's Bill O'Brien, San Francisco's Greg Roman and Green Bay's Tom Clements. All of those teams are in the playoffs, so perhaps that is the delay on further word with them.
As the New York Times reported earlier this week, interim athletic director Dave Joyner and trustee Ira M. Lubert appear to doing most of the work on the search alone, and neither has any experience hiring a coach. Penn State fans' hopes are dwindling for a big name coming out of nowhere.
Meanwhile, we wait and wait. It's been two full months since the board of trustees dumped Paterno with a phone call. When will they finally call upon a successor?
We still don't know.
Today also begins a short open window where coaches can contact recruits. They can do so until Saturday. Interim coach Tom Bradley is going out to meet recruits this week even though he has no idea whether he'll be retained by the school. Bradley is in a very difficult position in trying to sell prospects on Penn State. High school players want to know who their head coach will be, and Bradley can't give them that answer.
Some Nittany Lions fans and boosters still held out hope that Boise State's Chris Petersen would change his mind and come to State College. Petersesn just got a raise and a new deal with the Broncos.
StateCollege.com reports that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano may be a candidate. Schiano, a former Penn State assistant, had long been mentioned as a potential Paterno successor down the road, but his stock had cooled as the Scarlet Knights struggled to repeat their success from a breakthrough 2006 season. Rutgers did win the New Era Pinstripe Bowl this year. He has run a clean program that has excelled at graduating players, and Penn State could do a whole lot worse at this point.
Otherwise, most of the chatter has been about NFL assistants, like New England's Bill O'Brien, San Francisco's Greg Roman and Green Bay's Tom Clements. All of those teams are in the playoffs, so perhaps that is the delay on further word with them.
As the New York Times reported earlier this week, interim athletic director Dave Joyner and trustee Ira M. Lubert appear to doing most of the work on the search alone, and neither has any experience hiring a coach. Penn State fans' hopes are dwindling for a big name coming out of nowhere.
Meanwhile, we wait and wait. It's been two full months since the board of trustees dumped Paterno with a phone call. When will they finally call upon a successor?
TicketCity Bowl: Penn State vs. Houston
January, 1, 2012
Jan 1
11:30
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Neither Penn State nor Houston expected to be in this bowl, but one team was passed over by several games and the other lost a BCS berth and a league title on the same afternoon. As a result, the Nittany Lions and Cougars meet in one of the more intriguing matchups on this year's bowl slate.
Let's take a look at the TicketCity Bowl, played Monday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
WHO TO WATCH: Penn State running back Silas Redd. The sophomore led the nation with 703 rush yards in October, but paid a price physically in November. He's now healthy again after more than a month off and should be the focal point of Penn State's attack against Houston. The Lions' quarterback situation is shaky at best, and Penn State must take advantage of a healthy Redd and a size advantage along the offensive line. Houston has struggled against the run this season, ranking 78th nationally, and repeatedly got gashed in the Conference USA championship against Southern Miss. Penn State wants to control possession time and keep Cougars star quarterback Case Keenum off of the field. Expect Redd's number to be called a lot.
WHAT TO WATCH: Penn State's defensive back seven. The Lions face a Houston team that leads the nation in scoring (50.8 ppg), passing (443.8 ypg) and total yards (599 ypg). Houston passes the ball more than 60 percent of the time, a departure what Penn State typically sees in the Big Ten. While Devon Still and the Lions' defensive line needs a strong performance, the back seven will be tested by Keenum and his weapons. Penn State will lean on a veteran secondary and a dynamic linebacker corps featuring Gerald Hodges. "To duplicate what they do is very, very difficult for us," Lions interim coach Tom Bradley told reporters this week, referring to Houston. "Any time you play a team like that you have to tackle well. You can't give them the big play." Houston leads the nation in touchdown passes of 20 yards or longer with 29, while Penn State is tied for the national lead in allowing just two such touchdown strikes this season.
WHY TO WATCH: The curiosity factor with Penn State. How will the Nittany Lions respond after two months of intense scrutiny, after the locker-room fight involving quarterback Matthew McGloin, after being passed over by several bowls, and after weeks of speculation about their next head coach (still unnamed)? If Penn State shows up motivated to play, it should have an excellent chance to take down a Houston team that hasn't seen a defense nearly as talented as the Lions this season. But motivation is a question mark for a group that was justifiably upset with its bowl placement and has faced more than a few distractions.
PREDICTION: Penn State 28, Houston 24. I might be in the minority, but I think Penn State finds a way to show up and play well against Keenum and the Cougars. Redd will have a very big performance behind the offensive line, and the Lions defense will fluster Keenum, much like Southern Miss did in the C-USA title game. Keenum will make some plays, but Still will be in his face much of the afternoon. Bradley and the seniors keep the team focused enough to come away with a win.
Let's take a look at the TicketCity Bowl, played Monday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
WHO TO WATCH: Penn State running back Silas Redd. The sophomore led the nation with 703 rush yards in October, but paid a price physically in November. He's now healthy again after more than a month off and should be the focal point of Penn State's attack against Houston. The Lions' quarterback situation is shaky at best, and Penn State must take advantage of a healthy Redd and a size advantage along the offensive line. Houston has struggled against the run this season, ranking 78th nationally, and repeatedly got gashed in the Conference USA championship against Southern Miss. Penn State wants to control possession time and keep Cougars star quarterback Case Keenum off of the field. Expect Redd's number to be called a lot.
WHAT TO WATCH: Penn State's defensive back seven. The Lions face a Houston team that leads the nation in scoring (50.8 ppg), passing (443.8 ypg) and total yards (599 ypg). Houston passes the ball more than 60 percent of the time, a departure what Penn State typically sees in the Big Ten. While Devon Still and the Lions' defensive line needs a strong performance, the back seven will be tested by Keenum and his weapons. Penn State will lean on a veteran secondary and a dynamic linebacker corps featuring Gerald Hodges. "To duplicate what they do is very, very difficult for us," Lions interim coach Tom Bradley told reporters this week, referring to Houston. "Any time you play a team like that you have to tackle well. You can't give them the big play." Houston leads the nation in touchdown passes of 20 yards or longer with 29, while Penn State is tied for the national lead in allowing just two such touchdown strikes this season.
WHY TO WATCH: The curiosity factor with Penn State. How will the Nittany Lions respond after two months of intense scrutiny, after the locker-room fight involving quarterback Matthew McGloin, after being passed over by several bowls, and after weeks of speculation about their next head coach (still unnamed)? If Penn State shows up motivated to play, it should have an excellent chance to take down a Houston team that hasn't seen a defense nearly as talented as the Lions this season. But motivation is a question mark for a group that was justifiably upset with its bowl placement and has faced more than a few distractions.
PREDICTION: Penn State 28, Houston 24. I might be in the minority, but I think Penn State finds a way to show up and play well against Keenum and the Cougars. Redd will have a very big performance behind the offensive line, and the Lions defense will fluster Keenum, much like Southern Miss did in the C-USA title game. Keenum will make some plays, but Still will be in his face much of the afternoon. Bradley and the seniors keep the team focused enough to come away with a win.
PSU reportedly targeting Mike Munchak
December, 28, 2011
12/28/11
9:30
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Penn State's unique and drawn-out coaching search is the type that makes you hesitant to believe a hire has been made until he's being introduced at the podium in State College.
But after an unsuccessful push to woo Boise State's Chris Petersen, Penn State has shifted its focus and finally could be closing in on its man.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Penn State's search committee has targeted Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak for the school's vacancy. Munchak played offensive line for the Nittany Lions from 1978-81 before embarking on a Hall of Fame career in the NFL. The 51-year-old is in his first season as Titans coach after 14 years as the team's offensive line coach.
Another NFL coach, Green Bay Packers assistant Tom Clements, also is near the top of Penn State's list, according to multiple reports.
Munchak told reporters Monday that "nothing is going on" with Penn State, but a lot of coaches make similar statements while their teams are still playing. The Titans on Sunday face Houston needing a win and some help to secure a wild-card spot in the AFC playoffs.
Several of Munchak's former Penn State teammates spoke to statecollege.com and indicated Munchak is on the verge of taking the Lions job. One ex-teammate told the website, "I root for Tennessee to win every week. Not this week."
If the Titans lose Sunday or fail to make the playoffs, the Munchak-Penn State talks could heat up in a hurry. Penn State interim head coach Tom Bradley told reporters Tuesday that a permanent head coach won't be named until after the team's appearance Monday in the TicketCity Bowl against Houston. Bradley is one of several current assistants, including defensive line coach Larry Johnson and linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden, who have interviewed for the job.
Naming a coach might simply be a matter of timing, as The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News' David Jones reports.
Whatever decision is made, it appears the 6-person committee's work is finished. Committee member Russ Rose, the PSU women's volleyball coach, left Monday with his wife on a 2-week vacation throughout Italy. You would think that wouldn't be happening if any hay remained outside the barn.
Munchak is an intriguing candidate, to say the least. Many wonder question why he would consider making a move from the Titans, his employer for the past 29 years, especially after becoming the team's head coach and having a decent first season. He has no experience coaching at the college level and has been an NFL guy through and through.
Still, Penn State fans should be excited if the school lands the former Nittany Lions star. Luring an NFL head coach under tough circumstances would be a coup of sorts for Penn State. And while Munchak has Penn State roots and played for former coach Joe Paterno and former assistant Jerry Sandusky, he's removed enough from the key figures in the sex-abuse scandal. He's close but not too close, which could be the perfect result for Penn State. His NFL background also would appeal to recruits trying to reach the next level.
The search for Paterno's successor appears to be hitting the home stretch.
Stay tuned to the blog for the latest developments.
More Pelini rumors, more Pelini denials
December, 20, 2011
12/20/11
1:30
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Is Bo Pelini interested in the Penn State head-coaching vacancy?
Depends on whom you believe.
For the second consecutive day, media reports out of Pennsylvania mentioned Pelini's name in connection with the Penn State job. And for the second consecutive day, Pelini denied he has had any contact with Penn State about the position.
The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News' David Jones tweeted Monday afternoon that Pelini has had discussions with Penn State officials but isn't in the mix for the job. Pelini denied having any contact through a school spokesman and Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne said he hadn't heard from anyone at Penn State wishing to speak with Pelini.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ron Musselman reported today that Pelini met with Penn State acting athletic director Dave Joyner last week in Texas but is no longer considered to be in the mix, according to a source close to the search.
The Post-Gazette reported prompted Tuesday's denial by Pelini. Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson tweeted earlier today that the school interviewed only one candidate for the position last Friday. Lions interim coach Tom Bradley confirmed he was the candidate.
What do we make of the reports and the Pelini denials? Pelini also squashed a report from Columbus last month that he had interviewed for Ohio State's coaching vacancy.
This is what we at ESPN like to call the silly season, where rumors run rampant regarding coaches and jobs. I also know both Jones and Musselman have covered Penn State for a long time and are tapped into the search there. They know their stuff when it comes to PSU.
It seems odd that Pelini would want to leave Nebraska for Penn State, given all the uncertainty in State College right now. Ohio State seemed to make more sense, given his ties to the school (he played for the Buckeyes) and to the state (he's from Youngstown, Ohio).
Osborne has been committed to Pelini and understands better than anyone the connection between continuity and success. Pelini has a great gig at Nebraska, but he also seems to struggle with the criticism that comes with the territory in a state where Husker football means everything.
The Lincoln Journal Star's Steven M. Sipple outlined why Pelini would appeal to Penn State, citing, among other things, Nebraska's academic improvement under his watch.
Sipple also added this:
Nebraska fans aren't too familiar with their coaches being mentioned for other jobs, as the Omaha World-Herald's Tom Shatel writes today.
Perhaps Huskers backers should check in with their pals in Iowa to see what it's like.
Depends on whom you believe.
For the second consecutive day, media reports out of Pennsylvania mentioned Pelini's name in connection with the Penn State job. And for the second consecutive day, Pelini denied he has had any contact with Penn State about the position.
"The irresponsible reports that are going on out there aren't true," Pelini told reporters in Lincoln following Tuesday's practice. "I have not interviewed for Penn State and I'm not saying anymore on that."
The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News' David Jones tweeted Monday afternoon that Pelini has had discussions with Penn State officials but isn't in the mix for the job. Pelini denied having any contact through a school spokesman and Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne said he hadn't heard from anyone at Penn State wishing to speak with Pelini.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ron Musselman reported today that Pelini met with Penn State acting athletic director Dave Joyner last week in Texas but is no longer considered to be in the mix, according to a source close to the search.
The Post-Gazette reported prompted Tuesday's denial by Pelini. Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson tweeted earlier today that the school interviewed only one candidate for the position last Friday. Lions interim coach Tom Bradley confirmed he was the candidate.
What do we make of the reports and the Pelini denials? Pelini also squashed a report from Columbus last month that he had interviewed for Ohio State's coaching vacancy.
This is what we at ESPN like to call the silly season, where rumors run rampant regarding coaches and jobs. I also know both Jones and Musselman have covered Penn State for a long time and are tapped into the search there. They know their stuff when it comes to PSU.
It seems odd that Pelini would want to leave Nebraska for Penn State, given all the uncertainty in State College right now. Ohio State seemed to make more sense, given his ties to the school (he played for the Buckeyes) and to the state (he's from Youngstown, Ohio).
Osborne has been committed to Pelini and understands better than anyone the connection between continuity and success. Pelini has a great gig at Nebraska, but he also seems to struggle with the criticism that comes with the territory in a state where Husker football means everything.
The Lincoln Journal Star's Steven M. Sipple outlined why Pelini would appeal to Penn State, citing, among other things, Nebraska's academic improvement under his watch.
Sipple also added this:
I sometimes wonder how Pelini reacts to fan criticism in the wake of this year's 9-3 regular-season record. Remember, he was stung in 2003 when he was part of the Nebraska staff jettisoned after producing the same record. Some Husker fans no doubt feel flattered when Pelini comes up in speculation regarding prominent jobs. Other folks no doubt become annoyed. As I wrote last December, get used to it.
Nebraska fans aren't too familiar with their coaches being mentioned for other jobs, as the Omaha World-Herald's Tom Shatel writes today.
Perhaps Huskers backers should check in with their pals in Iowa to see what it's like.
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