FanPost

Coaches Caravan: Hazelton

From Derek Levarse's Twitter...

O'Brien mentions Ferentz at Iowa, Fitzgerald at Northwestern and Saban at Bama as coaches who called him personally after taking the job.

O'Brien said scheduling is basically done through 2015, but he likes the big-name opener to "give the guys something to shoot for" in summer

O'Brien said he's in favor of scheduling marquee season openers against teams like Bama, USC, Stanford, possibly even at neutral sites.

Football-related books that O'Brien has been reading lately have been about some of the greatest coaches -- Schembechler and Bryant.

O'Brien said he is an avid reader and has several on his table by his bed at any given time.

Well, there's one. O'Brien asked for the umpteenth time if he'll change the uniforms: "Why in the world would I touch the uniforms?"

No softballs here from the crowd to start. O'Brien asked about WR Devon Smith. "Discipline will be between him and I."

O'Brien, pays his respect to Paterno's longevity, but jokes: "I will not be coaching til I'm 85."

O'Brien joking (but not really) about upcoming Q&A with fans here: No questions about W-L predictions and nothing about the quarterbacks.

Hoops coach Coquese Washington referred to Buckeyes as "that wonderful school in Ohio. ... Every time I try to say the name, I stutter."

O'Brien references Buckeyes specifically when talking about recruiting and what's "going to help us beat Ohio State."

Listening to O'Brien speak now at Hazleton luncheon. Maybe it's just me, but seems to be a program-wide effort to build on PSU-OSU rivalry.

Was told they had 216 people registered for today's PSU luncheon in Hazleton with Bill O'Brien.

Mentioned Urschel and Stankiewitch on offense and then Hodges, Hill and Morris on defense. Asked if he'd name the other 2 on offense -- "No"

O'Brien said that there are "three or four" guys on offense and defense basically locked into starting roles.

At Bill O'Brien's stop in Hazleton. Reiterated that Devon Smith will remain on the team. "He's a great kid and I have faith in him."

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