OT: Bill O'Brien

beginning April 30th, Penn State head coaches will be on an 18-stop Alumni tour, and football coach Bill O'Brien will be at all 18 stops.

Give credit where it is due.

Perhaps O'Brien took a page out of the "How NOT to Be Like Rich Rodriguez at Michigan" book?

PSU alumni should give this guy a chance. Between the recruiting class he's working on right now and his commitment to getting out and meeting former students, players, etc., he deserves a fair shot.

But let's still kick his ass on the field.

Go Blue

...starting in 2013 that is.

Not "OT", Addy. Anything pertaining to Michigan football, however indirectly, is definitely on-topic. And a past, and regular future, opponent (and conference co-inhabitant) is definitely pertinent to U-M football...eh?

Good to hear a generally-clean outfit like PSU (football and otherwise) is doing its best to move beyond the
morass of the Jerry Sandusky era---the right way (unlike a certain school which also fired its coach within
the past year). But as you say, let's just build on that 10-6 record with them, whether or not it means starting another 9-game streak.

It's funny you said that mike, I debates putting the 'OT' or not as I wrote the post lol.

Yep, and I debateD whether or not to correct your typo...but stupidly, decided to waste the keystrokes to do so...hehe!

If he works to the strengths of the players he has, then he will have already avoided pulling a RichRod.

That tour by O'Brien sounds noble but it's sad that he even has to organize one. The majority of Nittany Lion nation is not going to like him simply because he's not JoePa.

WolverineHistorian wrote:

That tour by O'Brien sounds noble but it's sad that he even has to organize one. The majority of Nittany Lion nation is not going to like him simply because he's not JoePa.

I disagree. I think the PSU nation will get behind him if he wins early. I think a lot of people, fans, were ready for JoPa to go. I think a lot of former players will be cool toward him in the beginning, but will come around. It helps the way that JoPa's time ended.

WolverineHistorian wrote:

If he works to the strengths of the players he has, then he will have already avoided pulling a RichRod.

That tour by O'Brien sounds noble but it's sad that he even has to organize one. The majority of Nittany Lion nation is not going to like him simply because he's not JoePa.

Avoiding a Rich Rod is one thing but can he avoid pulling a Charlie Weiss. I am still interested to see if he can WIN.

fishgoblue22 wrote:

WolverineHistorian wrote:

That tour by O'Brien sounds noble but it's sad that he even has to organize one. The majority of Nittany Lion nation is not going to like him simply because he's not JoePa.

I disagree. I think the PSU nation will get behind him if he wins early. I think a lot of people, fans, were ready for JoPa to go. I think a lot of former players will be cool toward him in the beginning, but will come around. It helps the way that JoPa's time ended.

You're both right. Winning cures all. Fan bases will vehemently defend coaches that win even in the face of scandal. See-Joe Pa/The Vest, etc. Rich Rod's problem (there were several others) that he was not winning.

That said, it is clear Obrien does not have the alum and fan base in his corner currently. He will need to win to earn their backing. TO steal from the movie Gladiator "I was not the best because I killed quickly. I was the best because the crowd loved me. Win the crowd and you will win your freedom."

Always got to love it when you can slip in a Gladiator quote.

I had a big smile on my face as I was typing it. It was perfect for the occasion too.