Meaningless poll

by millzners on Apr 21, 2009 11:37 AM EDT Comment 20 comments

I enjoy getting a sense of what penn state fans expect or want when hiring a new coach becomes reality. The last poll revealed people are pretty much split on Bradley or LJ Sr. as the next HC. Here's something more broad.

Personally, I feel history is not kind to teams that choose a loyal assistant to follow a legendary HC. Although I am a huge LJ Sr. fan, so I feel like he could be the exception to the rule.

Poll

Sanderson's hire raises the question: Will PSU go outside the program for it's next HC? Which would you prefer:

No ties to PSU at all, either as a coach or player. New blood!

9 votes

No one currently working for the program, but someone even with loose ties to Penn State. Hehe, loose...

27 votes

Someone on the current staff. LJ, Bradley, etc.

86 votes

122 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I don't know how many programs

have guys on their staff who are so loyal to the program that they stay for so many years, despite potential moves up. It all probably started with JoePa turning down the Steelers, and more importantly the Patriots (which I think would have been the largest coaching deal in history, at the time, at least in the NFL). This is one of the aspects of the program I am most proud of, and would love to see it continue on (whether it be Bradley or LJSR).

Not only do I think these guys deserve to be rewarded for their loyalty, but I also feel that they are “better” coaches than their titles let on. Bradley has turned down head coaching offers, and LJSR has turned down coordinator offers. This at least shows that someone out there feels they are capable of getting the job done. Also, Bradley has had some pretty effective “head coach on the field” experience from last year with JoePa basically out of commission, and we didn’t fare too poorly.

by The JuggerNitt on Apr 21, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Going outside...

would be a slap in the face to TB, LJSr, RonV, JayPa….We have the talent, tradition, and loyality….no need to go shopping…the grass isn’t always greener on the other side…(ask Michigan)

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Apr 21, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If there were Zero qualified

candidates on the current staff I could understand moving on, but with multiple choices in house it would seem drastic to just cut and run.

Scrap may be the 1st in line based on seniority, but my vote would go to LJ Sr. Beyond all the football stuff, the head coach of PSU football is also the moneyman with boosters. I think LJ Sr can get it done.

"You are a tenacious little monkey!"

by rahpsu92 on Apr 21, 2009 12:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree, I think one of Scrap’s biggest weakness as a potential HC is he’s a bluecollar guy who isn’t “polished” for the media. We forget that Joe built this program from the ground up on his abilities to hobnob with boosters and otherwise coerce large donations from rich people. Joe may be from Brooklyn but he has always been able to connect with rich boosters and recruits from the ghetto alike.

I think LJ Sr. also has that ability, on top of being a great coach, and also being young and vibrant.

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Apr 21, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love the idea of keeping it in house

But I have this little part of me deep down, and Im sure a lot of you do to to, that wants to be able to explore all other options. When Joe leaves, we should be able to have our pick of the litter for this job, what coach wouldn’t want an oppurtunity to take a job that is only available every 50 years? It must be a good one.

Essentially I want the coach who is the best possible fit for the team and the PSU community, that means it will likely be a PSU guy and one on the staff at that, but I don’t want to be too narrow in the search, there could be someone we aren’t even thinking about yet and focusing on only 2 candidate could be detrimental and make it even harder for them to succeed. I mean if you are handpicked and groomed for a job and fail, it makes it even harder.

Maybe we hire outside, Bradley and LJ Sr move on and succeed at other jobs. Then they replace the guy that replaces Joe. Its tough to follow a legend, especially if that legend is your father(literally for Jay, figuratively for scrap and LJ obvi.)

Black Shoes.
Basic Blues.
No Name.
All Game.

by Roland86 on Apr 21, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

while I agree with that somewhat

I would want whoever does come in (if they come from the outside) to still be a “Penn State person”. I wouldn’t want a Les Miles, Urban Meyer, or Pete Carroll, even though they are obviously phenomenal coaches. I would just fear that something like what is happening at Michigan would happen here (and I’m not talking about the 3-9 season).

Part of what makes college football (in general) and Penn State football (specifically) so special are the traditions of the different schools. When you throw that out, you basically turn yourself into the minor leagues for the NFL.

I know I’m somewhat hypocritical, since I’d prefer to see a playoff instead of the tradition of the bowls, but ideally I’d like to see a system that incorporates both (perhaps with a playoff that occurs after the bowls are completed). But anyway, I don’t want to threadjack with the playoff vs bowls debate in this thread, so back on topic: I’d want a coach that will come in and preserve the Penn State way, of success with honor, winning with tradition.

by The JuggerNitt on Apr 21, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Definitly Agree

I don’t want any big named coach just for them being big named. That is retarded. I just do not have extensive knowledge of every coach out there who either has PSU ties/would fit in at PSU. The search at least from the fans perspective seems to start and end with Scrap and LJ. With the occasional Greg Schiano or Al Golden tossed out there.

Does anyone know of maybe some prospects that are being overlooked? Change is both wonderful and terrifying. Change could be a great thing or a bad thing. It could turn out wonderful to reach outside. It would be a shame to miss out on a great coach because we are fearful of change.
That being said, I would love to see TB or LJ as our new coach when the time comes, but not if it is at the cost of missing out elsewhere. Again, the loyalty is incredible and I think either of them could be successful head coaches.

Black Shoes.
Basic Blues.
No Name.
All Game.

by Roland86 on Apr 21, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

one name that's been dropped a few times

Tony Dungy

However unlikely it is that a guy like that would come back to coach college football, he does have family in the central PA area, and his personality and style does fit our program’s mantra of success with honor, etc. He’s a great example of somone who could take the job without standing in Joe’s shadow b/c he’s already a legend in his own right, super bowl winner, etc.

Not that I’m endorsing this idea, but it’s good for discussion. If someone of that cailber and reputation said “I’ll take over for 10 years or less to help you transition” would you go for it? I don’t know how you can say no, personally.

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Apr 21, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thats a pretty good option

for going outside the program. I think he might be interested too. He seemed to very much be about developing people in addition to players. I think that might be one of the reasons he got out of the NFL.

"Even though it was bouncing, I knew it was so soft that it was just going to stay in," Battle said. "Then I ran around like a lunatic."

by bconway6 on Apr 21, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Will Millzners Write a Decent Post

on his drunken observations of the Blue/White parking attendants’ performance?

- Yes

- No

But I’m biased towards tailgating, as you may imagine. -ts
Ignore the accolades – just enjoy the games. -bb&w

by jtothep on Apr 21, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was a parking attendant at the Beav when I was in high school & college...

so, don’t be too hard on them.

Born and raised in the shadow of Mount Nittany

by Elihu on Apr 22, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man, I wish I were going

Just so I could drink near Millzners and drunken blog about his drunken observations of the attendants’ performance. And note things like: ‘uh-oh, here comes Elihu, and he’s not really feeling Millzez criticism on that last direction. Could get interesting, here, Bob.’

Hey, this game is fun too and you can make it fun. --j. odrick
But I’m biased towards tailgating, as you may imagine. -ts
Ignore the accolades – just enjoy the games. -bb&w

by jtothep on Apr 22, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not going to make it either

It’s too far to drive from Massachusetts.

Born and raised in the shadow of Mount Nittany

by Elihu on Apr 22, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We'll have to improvise

in a Blue/White Game open thread.

Hey, this game is fun too and you can make it fun. --j. odrick
But I’m biased towards tailgating, as you may imagine. -ts
Ignore the accolades – just enjoy the games. -bb&w

by jtothep on Apr 23, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know it has to change someday, but I hate, hate, hate the thought that someone from outside comes in and wants to put his mark on the program. White shoes, names on the unis, etc.

by letsgopsu on Apr 21, 2009 3:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You just wait

And see what happens if someone comes in and tries to fuck with tradition. Who ever it is will be sacrificed alive at the sacrificial altar to Joe Paterno (wherever said site will be. NOTE: The JoePa altar is not his burial site, given as how he is immortal and will never die)

by dawsonPSU10 on Apr 21, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or, alternatively

and I guess for violating our deep traditions and sentenced to a painful demise, he can choose the manner of his judgment. He could be allowed to plead for his life in front of Lord Zug on his throne of skulls, who would then decide his fate (which would be carried out by SOA), however, Zug’s divine judgment could be worse than death (like being the head coach of Michigan)

by dawsonPSU10 on Apr 21, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best available

That’d be my pick. While I’d like to see someone on the current staff rewarded for their loyalty to the program, I just want to see the most qualified selection for Penn State. And I don’t care whether it’s from Penn State, USC, Florida or the moon.

by Screen Name 20 on Apr 22, 2009 7:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to see "best available" as well

but if it is the difference between say an A+ (from out of the program) and an A (from within the program) then I’d probably stick with the loyalty, just because of the other benefits of a hire like that.

On the other hand if it was a difference between an A and a B (or less), that’d be a different story.

by The JuggerNitt on Apr 22, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs