Silly Season '13 (Coaching Changes)

[dublinirish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en data-scribe-reduced-action-queue="><p>Browns will interview Patriots OC Josh McDaniels for their HC job in New England on Saturday.</p>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/statuses/418757406353395713">January 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

maybe Tebow will get some gametime

 

[pkt77242]

how the flip are cleveland talking about hiring schwartz as DC when they dont have a HC?

A while back Dallas hired Jason Garrett as their OC when they didn't have a head coach. It happens but it is far from ideal and usually tells you that the organization is dysfunctional.

 

[Irish#1]

how the flip are cleveland talking about hiring schwartz as DC when they dont have a HC?

A while back Dallas hired Jason Garrett as their OC when they didn't have a head coach. It happens but it is far from ideal and usually tells you that the organization is dysfunctional.

You don't have to look any further than Dallas. That's as dysfunctional a team as any. Even though they've been pretty much a mediocre team for over 20 years, they have been given a "free pass" by the media as far as how teams are ran. Is Jones that powerful that the media won't go after them like they do the Browns, Raiders, Lions, etc.?

 

[dublinirish]

You don't have to look any further than Dallas. That's as dysfunctional a team as any. Even though they've been pretty much a mediocre team for over 20 years, they have been given a "free pass" by the media as far as how teams are ran. Is Jones that powerful that the media won't go after them like they do the Browns, Raiders, Lions, etc.?

he has a lot of media links alright, Gil Brandt etc.

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Joyner: We’ve been contacted by a number of “very prominent” head coaches in regards to the position.</p>— Black Shoe Diaries (@BSDtweet) <a href="https://twitter.com/BSDtweet/statuses/418777507484008448">January 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

PSU

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Joyner: We’ve been contacted by a number of “very prominent” head coaches in regards to the position.</p>— Black Shoe Diaries (@BSDtweet) <a href="https://twitter.com/BSDtweet/statuses/418777507484008448">January 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

PSU

A number of "very prominent" head coaches? Yeah right.

 

[PANDFAN]

A number of "very prominent" head coaches? Yeah right.

0..that's the number

 

[koonja]

I think PSU is a top 15 job, but in a market where Texas is having trouble of finding a homerun hire, it's going to be slim pickings.

So glad we have BK.

 

[ulukinatme]

I think PSU is a top 15 job, but in a market where Texas is having trouble of finding a homerun hire, it's going to be slim pickings.

So glad we have BK.

I'm not sure PSU is a top 15 job anymore. JoePa's shadow still looms large in Happy Valley, and it's going to be some time before that ghost is exorcised. O'Brien started to help with the transition, but leaving this early reopens the wounds that were healing. Theres a lot of toxicity that's hanging around that gig. O'Brien himself commented about the cultists there, it was part of the reason he left. If they had their way, the fans would resurrect JoePa and have him take the job again if they could.

 

[koonja]

I'm not sure PSU is a top 15 job anymore. JoePa's shadow still looms large in Happy Valley, and it's going to be some time before that ghost is exorcised. O'Brien started to help with the transition, but leaving this early reopens the wounds that were healing. Theres a lot of toxicity that's hanging around that gig. O'Brien himself commented about the cultists there, it was part of the reason he left. If they had their way, the fans would resurrect JoePa and have him take the job again if they could.

PSU is easily in my top 15. Massive stadium, loyal fans, strong tradition.

Completely shooting from the hip, I'll list my top 15 jobs:

ND, Texas, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, PSU, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Georgia, FSU, Florida, Miami, Alabama (this is an * for me - that state is a shit sandwich without Saban), LSU (similar to Bama - not sure how to rate them), Tennessee.

Of these, I'd put PSU ahead of: Tennessee, Nebraska, and on the fence on a few others that I won't list because I'll be hammered for it lol.

 

[ulukinatme]

I don't know if it's been posted or not, but related to PSU and from O'Brien's mouth:

“You can print this: You can print that I don’t really give a [expletive] what the ‘Paterno people’ think about what I do with this program. I’ve done everything I can to show respect to Coach Paterno. Everything in my power. So I could really care less about what the Paterno faction of people, or whatever you call them, think about what I do with the program. I’m tired of it.

“For any ‘Paterno person’ to have any objection to what I’m doing, it makes me wanna put my fist through this windshield right now.”

“I’m trying to field the most competitive football team I can with near-death penalty [expletive] sanctions. Every time I say something like that and somebody prints it, it’s skewed as an excuse. And I’m not an excuse-maker. I’m trying to do the best I can for the kids in that program. That’s all I care about is the kids in that program. As long as I’m the head football coach here.”

“That’s why, in probably about a month, they’re gonna be [expletive] looking for a new coach.”

Bill O’Brien blasted ‘Paterno people’ before leaving Penn State | For The Win

 

[ulukinatme]

PSU is easily in my top 15. Massive stadium, loyal fans, strong tradition.

Completely shooting from the hip, I'll list my top 15 jobs:

ND, Texas, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, PSU, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Georgia, FSU, Florida, Miami, Alabama (this is an * for me - that state is a shit sandwich without Saban), LSU (similar to Bama - not sure how to rate them), Tennessee.

Of these, I'd put PSU ahead of: Tennessee, Nebraska, and on the fence on a few others.

See my above post. Penn State certainly still has the stadium and tradition, but the fans are divided, hurting, and a little psychotic right now. There are some Penn State fans that will go to their grave believing that Joe was a saint and deserves all of his wins. It's amazing O'Brien was able to achieve what little he did at Penn State given the sanctions, and they're not really out of the woods with that yet. The specter of Joe will remain for some time, and those fans aren't going to let the current football coach forget it.

A top 15 program can hire just about anyone they want to fill their HC position, unless that guy is already at a top 15 program. I highly doubt you're going to see Penn State get their first or second choice at HC, especially after O'Brien's comments on the way out the door.

 

[koonja]

See my above post. Penn State certainly still has the stadium and tradition, but the fans are divided, hurting, and a little psychotic right now. There are some Penn State fans that will go to their grave believing that Joe was a saint and deserves all of his wins. It's amazing O'Brien was able to achieve what little he did at Penn State given the sanctions, and they're not really out of the woods with that yet. The specter of Joe will remain for some time, and those fans aren't going to let the current football coach forget it.

A top 15 program can hire just about anyone they want to fill their HC position, unless that guy is already at a top 15 program. I highly doubt you're going to see Penn State get their first or second choice at HC, especially after O'Brien's comments on the way out the door.

For the record, I don't see them making a great hire, see my Texas example (Texas program >>> PSU).

I'll take passionate, demanding, insane fans over a 3/4 filled stadium ALL day.

But as for the rabid fans? Just my opinion, but that does nothing to harm their status as a 'top 15 program'. If anything, I see it as part of my argument FOR them being a top program. Passionate, maybe crazy fans >>> Fair weather fans (see, Miami, Florida, etc).

 

[Irish#1]

I'm not sure PSU is a top 15 job anymore. JoePa's shadow still looms large in Happy Valley, and it's going to be some time before that ghost is exorcised. O'Brien started to help with the transition, but leaving this early reopens the wounds that were healing. Theres a lot of toxicity that's hanging around that gig. O'Brien himself commented about the cultists there, it was part of the reason he left. If they had their way, the fans would resurrect JoePa and have him take the job again if they could.

I posted earlier about the problems O'Brien has encountered and if you go read the stuff available online, I don't think O'Brien was experiencing any healing, but just the opposite. It is the biggest reason he left.

Bobby Knight has been gone from IU for a long time, but every once in a while you'll hear a bitter IU fan call into one of the local sports shows expounding on how Knight was given the shaft. JoPa had a lot of periphery power at PSU like Knight did at IU. With JoPa dead, it may be even harder to please the PSU faithful.

 

[GoIrish41]

I like O'Brien a lot. He was good for college football. It's a shame that a group of fans were so boneheaded that they chased him away. He was just what the university needed and next year the sanctions will be eased and he would have had the opportunity to build on what he accomplished the last couple of years.

 

[tussin]

PSU is easily in my top 15. Massive stadium, loyal fans, strong tradition.

Completely shooting from the hip, I'll list my top 15 jobs:

ND, Texas, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, PSU, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Georgia, FSU, Florida, Miami, Alabama (this is an * for me - that state is a shit sandwich without Saban), LSU (similar to Bama - not sure how to rate them), Tennessee.

Of these, I'd put PSU ahead of: Tennessee, Nebraska, and on the fence on a few others that I won't list because I'll be hammered for it lol.

I agree with you. I will also go ahead and say that I think PSU is a better job than Miami and Georgia as well.

 

[tussin]

I like O'Brien a lot. He was good for college football. It's a shame that a group of fans were so boneheaded that they chased him away. He was just what the university needed and next year the sanctions will be eased and he would have had the opportunity to build on what he accomplished the last couple of years.

This is a mischaracterization. O'Brien was always going to leave for an NFL job. I doubt PSU fans had any affect on his decision making.

EDIT: I've read the articles with the Paterno people quote and I'm very in tune with the pulse of the PSU fanbase. That being said, I still think he was leaving for an NFL job regardless. He has always said that is his ultimate goal.

 

[ulukinatme]

This is a mischaracterization. O'Brien was always going to leave for an NFL job. I doubt PSU fans had any affect on his decision making.

Really? From O'Brien's own mouth he criticized the fans and said they were one of the reasons Penn State would be looking for a new coach next year. I do agree that it was only a matter of time before O'Brien jumped back to the NFL, but I'm guessing he left sooner than even he expected.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'll take passionate, demanding, insane fans over a 3/4 filled stadium ALL day.

But as for the rabid fans? Just my opinion, but that does nothing to harm their status as a 'top 15 program'..

The problem is all these passionate, loyal fans aren't loyal to O'Brien and they never were. Much like IU fans and Knight, as Irish#1 pointed out, there is a cult of fans that worship JoePa and it will always be about JoePa for them. That's not the kind of position you want to be in if you're the head coach replacing a legendary figure.

 

[ACamp1900]

Really? From O'Brien's own mouth he criticized the fans and said they were one of the reasons Penn State would be looking for a new coach next year. I do agree that it was only a matter of time before O'Brien jumped back to the NFL, but I'm guessing he left sooner than even he expected.

For him to even say something like that shows how much of an issue it was... those qoutes read like it really impacted him.

Also, I find it very hard to believe coaches are reaching out to Penn State.. at least any 'name' coaches... Maybe Temple's O Line coach sent a resume...

 

[irishog77]

I think there are probably about 12 people in the United States, outside of big 10 territory, who would consider Penn State a top 15 job, especially today, under sanctions.

Also, the lack of a head coach presently at Texas does not equal them having a hard time filling the position. The college season isn't even complete yet (nor the NFL). I'll wait and see.

 

[ulukinatme]

For him to even say something like that shows how much of an issue it was... is there a direct quote on that??

Yeah, post 733 above:

“You can print this: You can print that I don’t really give a [expletive] what the ‘Paterno people’ think about what I do with this program. I’ve done everything I can to show respect to Coach Paterno. Everything in my power. So I could really care less about what the Paterno faction of people, or whatever you call them, think about what I do with the program. I’m tired of it.

“For any ‘Paterno person’ to have any objection to what I’m doing, it makes me wanna put my fist through this windshield right now.”

“I’m trying to field the most competitive football team I can with near-death penalty [expletive] sanctions. Every time I say something like that and somebody prints it, it’s skewed as an excuse. And I’m not an excuse-maker. I’m trying to do the best I can for the kids in that program. That’s all I care about is the kids in that program. As long as I’m the head football coach here.”

“That’s why, in probably about a month, they’re gonna be [expletive] looking for a new coach.”

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I agree with you. I will also go ahead and say that I think PSU is a better job than Miami and Georgia as well.

PSU's schedules are way easier than Miami and Georgia. It's easier to win there, but it's not a better job.

 

[ACamp1900]

Also, Penn St. is still a top 15 job... or it's still damn close... prob always will be...

but as mentioned earlier, if UT is actually having trouble (not sure they are honestly) then this is a bad time to try and find that HR coach... UT>>>>>>PSu for sure.

 

[IrishLax]

This is a mischaracterization. O'Brien was always going to leave for an NFL job. I doubt PSU fans had any affect on his decision making.

EDIT: I've read the articles with the Paterno people quote and I'm very in tune with the pulse of the PSU fanbase. That being said, I still think he was leaving for an NFL job regardless. He has always said that is his ultimate goal.

Yup. You had to be willfully ignorant of O'Brien's intentions to think he would stick around there if he had NFL offers... and he had plenty of offers. PSU fans had little to no impact. With that being said, it's a revealing look into just how much university politics can rile someone up. Do not doubt for a second that Kelly's least favorite part of the job is dealing with pious a-holes on the BoT and other influential university positions.

There were some Penn State fans that thought O'Brien would be around forever and groom a dozen Tom Bradys and win championships. Those were few and far between though, and typically the kind of people who grew up indoctrinated that PSU is the greatest school ever in the greatest place ever and nothing compares to Happy Valley. Every school has a small percentage of these people.

 

[tussin]

For him to even say something like that shows how much of an issue it was... is there a direct quote on that??

Also, I find it very hard to believe coaches are reaching out to Penn State.. at least any 'name' coaches... Maybe Temple's O Line coach sent a resume...

The article was based off a conversation he had with a trusted reporter off-the-record. The writer also agreed to not write the article until O'Brien made a decision on his future.

Seems like it was just a case of BOB venting about some of his frustrations. I'm sure Kelly has vented off-the-record about some of the things that go along with ND as well.

It's been blown out of proportion. Here's the original article:
Bill O'Brien, the outsider, arrived at the perfect time; maybe he's leaving at the right time, too | PennLive.com

 

[ACamp1900]

UPS Hater has to be loving every minute of this... lol

 

[ulukinatme]

I don't think UT is necessarily having a hard time filling the position. They struck out for Saban, but he wasn't realistically leaving 'Bama. I would say theres probably fewer names out there this season for a big name like Texas, so they're probably being more selective in their search, which they can afford to do for awhile. I'd expect FSU and Auburn's coordinators to get a lot of looks after the title game, as well as teams that just played last night.

 

[tussin]

PSU's schedules are way easier than Miami and Georgia.

Yup. Easier schedules, better game environment (than Miami at least), and they have the ability to dominate NY, MD, PA, VA recruiting. Their last recruiting class before the sanctions was top 10.

 

[GoIrish41]

The article was based off a conversation he had with a trusted reporter off-the-record. The writer also agreed to not write the article until O'Brien made a decision on his future.

Seems like it was just a case of BOB venting about some of his frustrations. I'm sure Kelly has vented off-the-record about some of the things that go along with ND as well.

It's been blown out of proportion. Here's the original article:
Bill O'Brien, the outsider, arrived at the perfect time; maybe he's leaving at the right time, too | PennLive.com

Typically, one doesn't say "you can print this" to a reporter when speaking off the record. I think what was off the record is the information that he was looking for another coaching position and wanted out of Dodge.