Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: NCAA Tournament Bubble Watch

Ridiculous Sporting News Article

Ed. - Bumped from the Fanposts. I figured we needed a break from all the Phil Taylor/Chris Baker talk. Thanks, Kunk.

Who'll replace Joe Paterno at Penn State (next season)?

More speculation and recruiting nonsense from the Sporting News' Matt Hayes.  What I want to know is where does he get his list of prospective successors?

A few weeks ago, a couple of high school recruits revealed that Paterno was telling them that when he retired, he would be replaced by someone currently on staff.

Okay, so then you'd expect a list of mostly insiders, but maybe a few outsiders sprinkled in.

1. Greg Schiano, Rutgers: Could have had the Miami job two years ago and turned it down to reap the rewards of what he has built at Rutgers. A former Penn State assistant, his charismatic personality will pay off on the recruiting trail -- where the Lions have struggled against Pitt, West Virginia, Maryland and yes, Rutgers. Want to know why Penn State is behind Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin in the Big Ten? Players.

2. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest: With each season that passes, it gets harder and harder to pull Grobe from Wake. Nebraska and Arkansas both tried last December, and neither could make it happen. Imagine what he could do with the facilities/support/recruiting pull of Penn State. It's scary.

3. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin: One of the most overlooked coaching jobs the last two seasons. Bielema replaced a guy who could run for governor in Wisconsin and get 60 percent of the vote, and he has won 21 games in two seasons. Recruits and fans eat up his home-spun personality, and he obviously knows how to follow a legend.

4. Tim Murphy, Harvard: Highly respected in the coaching community, he was Notre Dame's fallback candidate in 2002 if the Irish didn't land Ty Willingham. A terrific offensive mind, and more than anything, a charismatic coach who commands fear and respect from players. You want coaching chops? In 14 seasons, he has 88 wins and is 9-5 against bitter rival Yale.

5. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants: Don't rule it out, people. Coughlin loves the college game and thrives on the emotional high of teaching and watching players develop into grown men on and off the field. Besides, what else is left in the NFL?

Whaaaa?  Bielema?  Coughlin?  Penn State losing recruits to Pitt and Rutgers?  This is the most absurd list of candidates I've ever seen.  I've never read anything else from Matt Hayes, but, hey, way to do some research, buddy.

Thanks for the fanpost! Please do not post any content from a premium site that requires a subscription. Also, if you just want to share a link, quote, or video, please consider using fanshots instead. Thanks.

Comment 36 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Hayes

He’s listed as an “expert” columnist, and only cited “source” is an unnamed trustee. Does this mean that this trustee is privy to information that, as Hayes implies, the decision has been made by Spanier and/or Paterno that this is his last season, and is this list from the trustee also? Otherwise, why would Hayes state that this is the list of candidates? It seems to suggest some insight that he does not attribute directly to any source.

by Nittany Lawyer on Jul 31, 2008 9:25 AM EDT reply actions  

Maryland

Maryland is really killing us on the recruting trail. I cannot remember the last time the Nittany Lions landed a recruit from that state.

by cpm126 on Jul 31, 2008 10:13 AM EDT reply actions  

Hummmmm...

...oh!, ok; NOW I get it…HA!

Old School... MEETS New School!

by BlueWhiteLife on Jul 31, 2008 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

actually we take MD's recruits thanks to Larry Johnson Srs connection

CPM….............Zack Mills from MD, Derrick Williams from PG County MD, AJ Wallace, Charles County MD…................There was also another guy who came in with Wallace from Charles County MD

This is the big news down here in MD\VADC land. The radios constantly talk about how poor of a job recruiting Ralph Friedgen and MD does when kids will go play in cow country that is winter for most of the year, playing for a coach who could retire any time, over a fairly young program, with a dynamic coach.

Larry Johnson Sr use to be an AD at a high school in Charles County, he still has family down here ,etc, so he has very strong ties.

by MrBrianPSU on Jul 31, 2008 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

yep

thought crossed my mind after I hit post :) Well if anyone didnt know, there is some of psu\md recruiting info…ha

by MrBrianPSU on Jul 31, 2008 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

I was being sarcastic

by cpm126 on Jul 31, 2008 12:53 PM EDT reply actions  

I

got it ‘bro..

Old School... MEETS New School!

by BlueWhiteLife on Jul 31, 2008 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

Credibility

The most absurd statement is that Tom Coughlin is an actual candidate. I read this last night and thought right there; that is where Matt Hayes loses 100% credibility. Why on earth would we go after a 61 year old guy who got lucky once? Nonsense.

by bluewhite80 on Jul 31, 2008 1:31 PM EDT reply actions  

Yep

That’s pretty much ridiculous. Not every coach could hit the lottery like Joe Pa and have the heatlh (mental/physical) to be able to coach til they’re 80. I don’t see us taking a chance on anybody that old considering what we’re going through now with the constant rumblings about Joe Pa’s age.

by Screen Name 20 on Aug 1, 2008 7:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

As least he came up with a few names

different than those on everyone else’s lists and gave some viable reason they made his list. Grobe and Murhpy – interesting.

"60% of the time, it works every time"

by rahpsu92 on Jul 31, 2008 1:52 PM EDT reply actions  

I think its for discussion, not facts

I’m guessing he wrote this article as a point of discussion rather than presenting facts.

Bielema would be an interesting hire that would add tons of hate between the schools.

Tom Coughlin has done well everywhere he has been. He is also a disciplinarian so that would at least get the bad news out of the paper. I think realistically though he wouldn’t want the job nor would Penn State want him.

Murphy has had two undefeated seasons at Harvard, but I (and hopefully everyone else) would have to question his ability to recruit seeing as its vastly simpler at Harvard. So I doubt he will be a candidate.

I doubt Grobe will ever leave Wake.

It would be interesting to see if anyone from a FCS school would be on a list.

by DrDetroit on Aug 1, 2008 8:42 AM EDT reply actions  

Tom Coughlin

Doesn’t seem as out of whack to me as everybody else. There are long standing ties between Penn State and the New York Giants because of Paterno’s relationship with the owners, etc. While that doesn’t necessarily apply to Coughlin per se, the Giants would generally hire a similar guy to Penn State.

I don’t know if that makes any sense, but it’s why Tom Coughlin is on the list, regardless of his actual interest. I would consider his hiring to be quite the long shot, but I’d certainly welcome it.

However, whoever made this list certainly has high opinion as to the attractiveness of the job. I guess that is something.

For the Glory; National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994

by jesse. on Aug 1, 2008 9:08 AM EDT reply actions  

Cowher

What happened to the rumormongering about Bill Cowher to PSU? He would’ve been as good of a teaser on that list as Coughlin. And his social status alone in Pittsburgh might help lock down western PA, eastern OH recruits (for whatever that’s worth, WPIAL bashers).

by gumbercules on Aug 1, 2008 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

It died.

Coughlin is just all new rumormongering. With no more or less validity than the previous rumormongering.

For the Glory; National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994

by jesse. on Aug 1, 2008 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

Riiiight.

Nice picks, asshat. He might as well just come up with this for a list:
1. Goldie Hawn – she did a great job in getting the team to come together in Wildcats. If she can get the Bird to hit Peanut on the deep ball, she can get Clark to hit Moye too! Plus, Phil Taylor looks just like Finch. Coincidence? Not. Special bonus if she can bring in Nipsey Russell as the AD
2. Vince Lombardi – sure he’s dead, but he looks like Paterno a bit with the glasses
3. Coach Ed Gennaro from Necessary Roughness – will allow PSU to recruit better in Texas. Plus, Kathy Ireland is one hot piece of ass. Sinbad will add instant size to the OL.
4. Gene Hackman – preferably, as Norman Dale from Hoosiers, but we’ll also take
Jimmy McGinty from The Replacements. Two coaches who got the most out of 2- and 3-star talent.

Hey, my candidates have about as much chance of being PSU’s coach next year as his do…. does that make me a college football “expert”

by Tailgate Shogun on Aug 1, 2008 9:22 AM EDT reply actions  

Straight Arrow...

Gennaro would be an excellent pick.

by SweepTheLeg on Aug 1, 2008 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

I don't know about Sinbad,

but I’ll take Kathy Ireland as the next head coach. Even at her age, how many opposing players would be distracted by her if she coached on game day in bikinis or lingerie.

30 DAYS 1 HOUR 7 MINUTES 58 SECONDS UNTIL OPENING KICKOFF

by Ab4PSU on Aug 1, 2008 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions  

Forgive me, all, at the time of this posting it was actually

29 DAYS 1 HOUR 7 MINUTES 58 SECONDS. Working nights has me out of sorts.
Will be more careful in the future.

by Ab4PSU on Aug 1, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

True

He’d definitely need to bring Coach Rigg along to be a coordinator. I don’t think our D misses a beat with him on board.

“Let’s analyze what’s been working for us.

NOT A GODDAMN THING IS WORKING FOR US!!!!!”
- Coach Rigg

by Tailgate Shogun on Aug 1, 2008 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions  

Didn't Coach Rigg...

try to get Scott Bakula to come to Penn State back in the 1970’s but he was too much of a sissy to leave his farm in Texas? Maybe he get us a 40 year old dual threat quarterback, this plan kicks so much ass it’s not even fair.

For the Glory; National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994

by jesse. on Aug 1, 2008 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions  

Hmmm......

How’s about the White Shadow? He related well with minority players, and got the most out of a bunch of disadvantaged kids.

Sure he was a b-ball guy, but a few hours on PlayStation with NCAA ‘08 should bring him up to speed.

The Glory Days will be here again.

'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'

by Pete the Streak on Aug 2, 2008 4:30 AM EDT up reply actions  

Overlooking the obvious

Hayden Fox. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
By runupthescore

by Run Up The Score on Aug 2, 2008 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

Presenting Wild Speculation, Disguised as Gospel

If I had known my FanPost would get bumped to the main page, I think I would have done a complete FJM write-up on this hack-tastic article, instead of just a few select sections.

That, of course, was news to Penn State president Graham Spanier, whose response told the story: “We haven’t made any decisions, nor have we named anyone.”

Translation: It’s my team, I’ll make the coaching hire.

And he’ll make it in December.

This is where he lost me. Somehow Matt Hayes has gleaned from those 10 words that Graham Spanier is the guy holding all of the cards? On top of that he pulls out an exact month of when said hire will take place? Get this guy off the college football beat, let’s get him to Wall Street to start a super-lucrative hedge fund!

I don’t have a problem with throwing up a list of possibilities for discussion sake, but he doesn’t present it that way. He throws out five names that I estimate would collectively have a 20% shot of taking the head coaching position from Joe, with Schiano accounting for most of that.

The worst part is he doesn’t back up any of his five top candidates with why Penn State would go after said guy. It’s more an analysis of can Penn State get them.

I don’t know. Maybe he just got me angry with the recruiting comment and saying Wisconsin has better players than PSU, but Matt Hayes is no football “expert” in my eyes.

by Kunk on Aug 1, 2008 9:26 AM EDT reply actions  

I may be wrong but

I was at Target looking through the college football mags and I think it was the sporting news version that had us ranked 7th in the big ten, That made me so angry I hid the magazine behind the ladies home journal. They probably turned to Matt Hayes and said you did such ground breaking work (no one else agrees with you) in placing PSU to finish 7th in the B10 what do you think about the next coach. I would have to throw in James Shatner, he commanded the enterprise with such expertise and decisiveness, blowing klingons out of the sky everywhere. Just think of the recruits we would get, give me more offensive plays that don’t suck Scotty…

Boom goes the dynamite.

by psu on Aug 1, 2008 10:24 AM EDT reply actions  

Why is 7th unrealistic?

To finish 7th in the B10 you will probably need to be 3-5.

With games @Ohio State, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Iowa going 0-4 on the road is not un-realistic. Then one loss against Illinois, Michigan or Michigan State would put PSU at 3-5 and in range to finish 7th in the B10.

Is the guy nuts or is he taking a hard look at the season? Its hard to win on the road and PSU has a tough road schedule this year.

by DrDetroit on Aug 1, 2008 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

I think 0-4 on the road is unrealistic.

I would be really surprised if we didn’t beat Iowa no matter where the game is played, and I also think we will be able to handle Purdue. Wisconisn and OSU will be tough but we could split these games, giving us 3 wins on the road. If we go 2 out of 3 at home (very possible) we will be near or at the top of the conference which is what I anticipate for the year.

Boom goes the dynamite.

by psu on Aug 1, 2008 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

Jack Sparrow, "It's not probable."

0-4 on the road against Minnesota, Northwestern, Indiana and Iowa would be un-realistic.

I agree that the Iowa game should be a win with everything that have going on, so I would not expect to see 0-4 on the road.

Although 3-1 at home should be expected, not just possible.

If PSU does fall to 7th in the B10, to me it has a lot more to do with the schedule than the team. I think that is the hardest schedule in the B10.

by DrDetroit on Aug 1, 2008 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

Bret Bielema, NEVER!!

This guy’s stunt of having his kick-off team run offsides TWICE to run down the clock in 2006 still makes me furious! I think it showed bad sportmanship and I would lose all respect for Penn State if they hired this loser. Of course, I agree with everyone else, this list is ridiculous!

For the glory

by Paige2PSU on Aug 1, 2008 1:29 PM EDT reply actions  

Big fan

Of BB…I think he pulled that stunt to be a smart a** and although I was mad…it was a good move.

He would be an excellent pick but would never leave Whiskey.

by SweepTheLeg on Aug 1, 2008 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

he would be fine by me

But could anyone really argue that going from Wisconsin to PSU is anything but a lateral move and makes no sense to even suggest.

Boom goes the dynamite.

by psu on Aug 1, 2008 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

Ellis Cannon

I was wondering where he got Coughlin’s name the other day.

God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by Adam Bittner on Aug 1, 2008 3:44 PM EDT reply actions  

Ellis Cannon

That guy’s still alive? Haven’t heard that name in ages.

by Run Up The Score on Aug 2, 2008 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

And FWIW

I don’t think Coughlin’s as far-fetched as some think, either.

by Run Up The Score on Aug 2, 2008 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

Contract issues aside, of course.

He was so close to getting run out of NYC and miraculously ended up winning a Super Bowl the next year. So it’s not like he should have any serious debt of gratitude to New York.

by Run Up The Score on Aug 2, 2008 9:55 AM EDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Penn State Nittany Lions.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
Ignorance Still Reigns...And I'm Not Letting It Pass
Joe_small
Sanctimonious Hypocrites Can't Diminish the Warmth for Joe Paterno
Psukoolaid_small
BSD Donations to THON in Joe’s Memory.
Joepa1_small
SuePa
Joe_small
Save the seat for JoePa

Recent FanPosts

Img110_small
OT Friday: Celebrity Life
Jessedotsmom_small
Food for Thursday: The Groundhog Day Edition!
Hugh_griffith_small
PSU joining B1G in offering 4-Year Scholarships?
Niceshoes_small
Joe Paterno Apologists' Club guest propagandist - planetrockville from PennLive
Small
Introduction and an epiphany of sorts
Psukoolaid_small
Second open thread for NSD
Small
How O'Brien Can Thrive at Penn State
Small
Failure with Honor
Kool-aid-man__small
tOSU e-mail to prospective students

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SHOP THE BLACK SHOE DIARIES STORE

Gameday Depot University Apparel


Managers

Blog_gang_sign_small Chris Grovich

Powers1_small Kevin Powers

Editors

Zn_avatar_small Mike Pettigano

Img110_small Jeff Junstrom

Authors

Iron_armor_small Galen

New4_good_small Nick Blonde

Turd_ferguson_psu_small Tim Aydin

On_the_way_to_grad_small Kyle_Martin

N53100510_31463067_5584_small Adam Collyer

Aquateen_vol1_mastershake_1__small Ben Jones

Penn_state_mascot_small Peter Gray

Baller_small Eric Gibson