A Few More Thoughts on Bill O’Brien
January 9, 2012 at 6:53 pm Ryan Jones 4 comments
The news hasn’t stopped since Bill O’Brien was announced Saturday as Penn State’s new football coach.
As he promised in his introductory press conference, O’Brien is working to fill out his coaching staff even as he completes his current job of preparing the New England Patriots’ offense for its playoff run. In addition to defensive line coach Larry Johnson, O’Brien announced he will keep linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden from the Nittany Lions’ existing staff. It looks increasingly like the rest of O’Brien’s staff will come from elsewhere.
Already on board is Charles London, an offensive assistant with the Tennessee Titans with whom O’Brien coached at Duke; he’ll coach the Nittany Lion running backs. And reports Monday stated that O’Brien was set to name Ball State offensive line coach John Strollo (another former Duke colleague) and Buffalo Bills wide receivers coach Stan Hixon (with whom O’Brien coached at Georgia Tech) to his staff soon. Rumors abound about the makeup of the rest of the staff.
Opinions about O’Brien’s hiring abound as well, of course, and most have been complimentary. Most, but not all. Of the pieces I’ve run across, the exception that most stood out came from a Detroit newspaper columnist who bluntly states: “O’Brien will fail.”
He backs up his point, or tries to, by referencing the handful of vocal lettermen who were critical of the hire and the hiring process, writing: “Former Penn State players won’t rally around him … They’ll privately undermine him, personally taking glee in the competitive struggles brought forth from the institutional divisiveness … He’s doomed to fail because he won’t get a fair shake from those who selfishly think the Penn State program belongs primarily to them.”
The writer is a columnist doing what columnists do, and as someone who’s spent my professional life in the media, I don’t blame him for taking this stance. But I also know better — not whether Bill O’Brien will succeed as a football coach, but that, if he doesn’t, it won’t be because of a lack of support from alumni and former players. The tone of those players — a minority in the first place — was already changing before O’Brien even took the podium Saturday, and the reception O’Brien and his family got at weekend basketball games confirmed that many Penn State fans are more than ready to give him the benefit of the doubt.
The players he’ll coach this season met O’Brien on Sunday, and they were virtually unanimous in their excitement. Potential recruits are largely echoing that sentiment. And the majority of former players have made a point of expressing their support. I’m not saying success will come easily, or that it’s at all guaranteed. But of all the obstacles in the way of reestablishing a winning football program, a lack of support simply won’t be one of them.
Ryan Jones, senior editor
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Entry filed under: Bill O'Brien, Penn State football. Tags: Ball State, Buffalo Bills, Charles London, Duke, Georgia Tech, Larry Johnson, New England Patriots, Ron Vanderlinden, Tennessee Titans.
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1. Bill Shull | January 9, 2012 at 8:44 pm
The only part I disagree with is the last line, “… in the way of reestablishing a winning program”. We have a winning program. We were 9-4 this season. We’ve had a winning program for over 4 decades (with a few losing seasons). I think Bill O’Brien’s job is to preserve the winning program and, of course, make it better.
2. Terri in Jax | January 9, 2012 at 10:14 pm
I, too, viewed the hiring of a new coach with some skepticism. Unless and until some fact(s) comes out to the contrary, Joe Paterno has my unwavering support and the BoT has my disdain. I understand, and even appreciate, LaVar Arrington and Brandon Short’s passion and loyalty. They, better than most and at least as well as some, understand the honor and integrity with which the football program has operated. I believe they spoke with fierce protectiveness because of the debt they owe men like JoePa and Tom Bradley, when all they hold dear appeared to be thrown aside. Unfortunately, it did not play well in the ‘instant-ness’ of the internet. So far I have been surprisingly impressed with Coach O’Brien, and he, too, will have my unwavering support unless and until facts come out to show it undeserved. Always… For the Glory!
3. Steve '69 in VA | January 10, 2012 at 10:56 am
I totally agree with Terri in Jax … it’s a shame that because of a “witch hunting” media and a spineless BoT that JoePa and others have been sacrificed. That being said change was coming, JoePa couldn’t last forever and my choice to replace him would have been Tom B but even without a scandal that might not have happened. Going to Bill O’B might be the best move under the circumstances. He seems to be a Penn Stater” with the official background … and over time I feel he will win over even the most ardent naysayers. Best of luck to him and our school … for “We are … and ever will be … Penn State”!
4. dwhirsch | January 10, 2012 at 2:07 pm
I live in Michigan, too close to AA for my comfort at times. It has not been easy wearing blue and white in Wolverine (and Spartan) country, but my husband and I have, proudly. We did not abandon PSU; the university needed our support moreso than ever. The columnist’s line “voluntarily chose to abandon” got me. PSU abandoned nothing. Sooner or later, a new head coach would be hired. There are many speculations and opinions about hiring from within versus an external hire. The choice has been made, one that at first impression seems to hold the ideals Joe Paterno has laid. Only to be seen, but we must not abandon our new coach or the university over this.