Penn State Coaching Staff: Welcoming Back Enthusiasm
by Mike Pettigano on Jan 31, 2012 12:00 PM EST
in Football
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PrintOver the past few weeks, BSD has profiled all the new football coaching hires. Now it's time to wrap it all up.
We have a few holdovers from the Paterno staff, but mostly it's all new kids on the Happy Valley block. And that's a good thing, because for much of the last three years or so, enthusiasm wasn't Penn State's forte. From rumblings that only a fraction of the staff actually put in 100 percent effort on the recruiting trail, to Joe Paterno himself saying he wasn't as "into it" in 2010 as he probably should have been, things were sort of heading off a cliff. It was just taking its sweet-ass time getting to the ledge.
So in comes Bill "BOB" O'Brien and a fresh crop of nearly a dozen football minds. Some are old hats (relatively speaking, they're young guns compared to some on the previous PSU staff), while others are looking at their biggest coaching job ever. What are we seeing now? That funny word: Enthusiasm. It's frankly amazing that Penn State was able to keep much of the 2012 recruiting class in-tact, even with Larry Johnson, Sr. and Ron Vanderlinden desperately holding onto the threads. What's more exciting is that Penn State will get tens of millions of eyes on its new leader this upcoming Sunday, as O'Brien goes for the best recruiting tool around: A Super Bowl Championship Ring.
This post is mostly intended to tie up all the coaching profiles with a nice little bow, so I won't waste too much more of your time. We will absolutely have more on the coaching staff as the off-season progresses. For now, study up...
Meet The Coaches: Bill O'Brien, by Chris
Meet The Coaches: Ted Roof, by Peter
Meet the Coaches: Charles London, by Jeff
Meet The Coaches: Stan Hixon, by Peter
Meet The Coaches: John Strollo, by Jeff
Meet The Coaches: Mac McWhorter, by Chris
Meet the Coaches: Larry Johnson, by Kyle
Meet the Coaches: John Butler, by Kyle
Meet the Coaches: Ron Vanderlinden, by Galen
Meet The Coaches: Craig Fitzgerald, by Tim
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Enthusiams can't hurt.
As with players, I think it makes a difference if the coach really wants to be here too. I hope it leads to good things.
You Can't Teach Enthusiam
As a friend of mine used to say when discussing women…. “you can’t teach enthusiam”! Priceless. I think that applies to the football field too.
Sort of feels like
dad died unexpecedlyly when his car was hit by a speeding drunk driver. And 3 weeks later mom brings home some new guy and tells the kids that they are getting married. Oh, and the dad seems really cool, loves sports, tells funny jokes and drives a badass car. But it all happened so fast that it seems kind of surreal … he’s going to be my new dad?
by markawiser on Jan 31, 2012 12:19 PM EST reply actions 11 recs
Pretty apt.
Would be even more accurate if Mom was the one that cut through Dad’s brake lines.
Consider this my official declaration of non-support of child molestation.
by 06Lion on Jan 31, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
but
he’s still married – so we kinda have to wait until he’s really part of the family.
oh, and although we know that he cheated in the past, and we’re super worried about Mom getting hurt again, we’re willing to ignore that, cause, well, we’re kinda desperate.
Not crazy about all of our new step-sibilings – but hey – who cares – at least Mom has someone.
"This is a week about the Patriots and really not about Penn State,"
don’t worry Billy – it’s not like it’s not like Mom’s having a baby or anything.
by PSUgirl on Jan 31, 2012 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
"This is a week about the Patriots and really not about Penn State,"
I can’t really blame him for that one. It IS the superbowl. I’d even give him 24 hours to celebrate if NE wins on Sunday before focusing on PSU.
by tbs5005 on Jan 31, 2012 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I definitely see your point
And if the Pats lose, I’ll happily agree that he should have been focusing on Penn State. However, when Meyer pulls out the MNC rings, I like to picture BOB telling recruits, “Oh, I am sure that was cute, now look at my ring”.
That's not a knife, that's a spoon.
"Every time you go to that cook-off you get drunk as a poet on payday!"
I see you've played knivesy-spoonsy before.
"I guess we had a couple of Catholics praying for US!" - JVP, after the down to the wire win over Notre Dame in 1987
by icavalera on Jan 31, 2012 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
So if I understand you correctly,
What you’re saying us that if I get a new job and put in my two weeks on my current one, I no longer have a responsibility with said current job?
Should all my focus be on the new job because that’s where I will be in two weeks?
by misdreavus79 on Jan 31, 2012 6:07 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, he HAS to say that.
If he says he’s distracted by PSU business, then even the PSU fans will start to question his focus and committment.
"Today we have experienced a great loss. This loss is incomparable to what we gained from coach Paterno." - Mike Wallace
by PSUinBOSSton on Jan 31, 2012 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
it's sad that dad died, of course
but his death gets us further removed from creepy Uncle Jerry. New dad never knew uncle Jerry, and I’m happy that he’s really not part of our extended family anymore. For this reason, mom had to remarry and I’m happy she did.
I wouldn't trust old rooster me neither.
And watch out for Craig James
He killed 5 hookers.
#RIP5deadhookers
"In every life there have to be some shadows. Look at me. My life has been filled with sunshine. A beautiful and caring wife. Five healthy children. I got to do what I loved. How many people are that lucky?" THE Joseph Vincent Paterno.
well!!
Dad kinda died of old age….Mom is really a grandma and now the young more enthusiastic son is running the show
by Allen Schiavoni on Jan 31, 2012 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
You forgot to mention...
…that the drunk driver was an ex-staff member of dad’s company.
by bluebellgolfer on Feb 1, 2012 8:15 AM EST up reply actions
I dont understand....
where can I vote a b for enthusiasm?
All of our comments are irrelevant - LetsGoPSU
by jaytay13 on Jan 31, 2012 12:22 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
Still one more to go
Who is going to get the last spot? My hope: the Fridge. Not only will have a great time in the cafeteria with Strollo, but he’s a heck of a coach and UMD had few off the field problems under him.
Ugh, BOB went on WEEI today.
-1,000,000. These are the guys that after the memorial asked whether Joe or Bernie Fine were worse, and whether the church should have “allowed” Joe a catholic service and burial.
"Today we have experienced a great loss. This loss is incomparable to what we gained from coach Paterno." - Mike Wallace
They are the official station for the New England Patriots
He couldn’t boycott them. Although I do wish Chicago and Boston would pipe down a little. DAMN! For crying out loud people, it’s not like you guys are the saintliest cities on Earth. Chicago and Boston have plenty of skeletons in their closet, so this is a preemptive SHUSH!!!
by LionInTheWeeds on Jan 31, 2012 1:23 PM EST up reply actions
Chicago...skeletons???
That’s crazy talk. Looking at that city’s leaders, they are the epitome of ethical behavior.
Nope,
98.5 the Sport Hub is the official station of the Pats (and Bruins). WEEI has Sox and Cs.
"Today we have experienced a great loss. This loss is incomparable to what we gained from coach Paterno." - Mike Wallace
by PSUinBOSSton on Jan 31, 2012 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
I apologize...
sincerely for my mistake. Still, I do not believe he could reasonably deny them an interview. They are one of the top stations in Boston.
by LionInTheWeeds on Jan 31, 2012 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
I still maintain that the appropriate course of action
would have been to give them the finger, leg sweep them, and walk somewhere to conduct interviews that they couldn’t overhear. He’s a HC, he has to be able to figure out what’s right. Missed opportunity on his part, hopefully he keeps learning and gets better.
"Today we have experienced a great loss. This loss is incomparable to what we gained from coach Paterno." - Mike Wallace
by PSUinBOSSton on Jan 31, 2012 1:57 PM EST up reply actions
Screw WEEI.
I’d elaborate, but I don’t have to.
WEEI is racist
Among other things.
by reedjohnmiller on Jan 31, 2012 3:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
WEEI is the fucking WORST
I saw a girl crying tonight. When I asked why she said: "Because everybody lost."
Black Shoe Diaries
@runthedive
Looks like...
people have calmed down a bit since O’Brien was first hired. I remember an overwhelming sense of negativity initially, myself excluded.
I still have that sense of negativity.
I’m just learning to accept it and hold off worrying until there are actual problems and not just speculative ones. There’s no point worrying about something we can’t change, and there’s also no point in worrying while we wait. Time will determine the outcome, unfortunately all we can do now is sit back and let it run its course. Regardless of my optimism or pessimism, I’ll still support him and the team 100%. I’ll continue to hope for the best, but I’ll wait to put any money on it until after I see some results.
It is easy to go down into Hell; night and day, the gates of dark Death stand wide; but to climb back again, to retrace one's steps to the upper air - there's the rub, the task.
by Succss With Honor Always on Jan 31, 2012 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
Yep
He was #227 on the list of top 100 choices. He wasn’t Russ’s choice. Biggest feather when he was hired? Bitching match with Tom Brady. Will I give him a chance? Sure (as if I have a choice). I’ve settled into a comfortable “he’s a transition hire” mode — prepping myself for three years of maintaining a sane level of homeostasis while this works itself out. Would I be thrilled if BOB kicks butt and takes names? Goes undefeated, wins a conference title, contends for a MNC? Heck yeah, who wouldn’t be. And I will gladly state I was wrong. Gladly, gloriously and gallantly. Best wishes BOB, do your thing. We’ll be in NJU having a dog and a pretzel, cheering you on.
Humanum est pati.
"Wasn't Russ's choice"
Where did you read that? The article I read, Russ said that BO’B was his first choice—it was the order of options after #1 where he differed with the rest of the committee.
That is, assuming you are referring to Rose.
How I read it
At the end of the process, the committee members were asked to list their top-three candidates, Rose said.
"There was a consensus except for me," he said. "I was the outlier."
I hadn’t read any definitive quotes to the contrary. And who knows what to believe in the “news” these days…
Humanum est pati.
Ahh...I read it differently
I thought he meant everyone else’s top 3 matched and his top 3 didn’t—but that didn’t necessarily mean that BO’B wasn’t on his top 3—just that Rose’s Top 3 wasn’t an exact match to the rest of the committee.
Either way, Russ has been quoted a lot in articles regarding BO’B, saying all positive things. I know it’s unlikely that he would say anything negative after the hire, but he doesn’t seem the type to throw platitudes around either.
I'm in the mostly positive group.
I feel pretty good about the staff. Re-upped and made my NLC contribution this week. Now going to hopefully upgrade my seats in a few months.
If they ever tell my story let them say that I walked with giants. Men rise and fall like the winter wheat, but these names will never die. Let them say I lived in the time of Bradley, tamer of offenses. Let them say I lived in the time of Paterno.
Enthusiasm's a good word for it
but I think energy and effort might be better. Maybe that amounts to enthusiasm. I dunno.
This is a staff of good football minds, a good mix of salty veterans, young guns, and gurus by reputation. They are ostensibly trying very hard. Even though I would have expected something in the neighborhood of 9-3 next year under Joe, I’m committed to reserving judgment on these fellows for at least the next 2 years.
GO IOWA AWESOME
I'm still in the cautious optimism stage
I’d like to think my new dad is going to be a good guy, but I’ve heard stories about some of his extended family members that has me worried. Trying not to hold his family against him but I will be watching him to make sure he doesn’t hurt mom.
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the Big Ten...or just lose the sweater vest.
Me too.
It’s like New Guy is bringing along some old Duke girlfriends that aren’t very hot.
What the hell just happened?
by Pete the Streak on Jan 31, 2012 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
Old Duke girlfriends
do not sound hot.
"In every life there have to be some shadows. Look at me. My life has been filled with sunshine. A beautiful and caring wife. Five healthy children. I got to do what I loved. How many people are that lucky?" THE Joseph Vincent Paterno.
Im all in...A+
The mix of pro and college, youth and experience has me very optimistic. Altho, kicking people off our wagon mid season next year has the vengeful streak in me bubbling.
by LoggingLion on Jan 31, 2012 3:35 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Just read that
BoB hired Jim Bernhardt as the Nittany Lions’ Special Assistant to the Head Coach and Director of Player Development, as per GoPSUSports.com.
Can anyone tell me what this position entails and what he will be doing with the team?
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
I think he drives BOB around in a golf cart.
by Chris Grovich on Jan 31, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
Is Spider still with the team . . .
or are Johnson and Vanderlinden the only holdovers from the previous staff?
by OneBlueStripe on Jan 31, 2012 7:23 PM EST up reply actions
Glad we didn't get Marshawn Lynch for that
thats an F grade right there.
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#OccupyESPN
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"Is that a shot at me? 'cause that makes me want to read it all the less."
by MainLion on Jan 31, 2012 7:33 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
He's not a coach, per se.
Though he also has the title Special Assistant to the Head Coach. Now, I’m not exactly sure what any of that means, but it’s likely some administrative something-or-other.
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Success With Honor
by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 31, 2012 6:59 PM EST up reply actions
The Jerome to BOB's Morris Day.
Sandwich is the best
Bread use aside from making
Russians stand in line
At last check, "Mostly Positive" has 666 votes.
Awesome! \m/
"I guess we had a couple of Catholics praying for US!" - JVP, after the down to the wire win over Notre Dame in 1987
My vote
was for Somewhat Positive. The Ted Roof as D-coord hiring is the only thing that has me concerned and brought down my overall grade.
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