Re: O'briens hiring at Penn State. Can't believe all the negative comments from Penn State alumni
posted at 1/7/2012 3:00 PM EST
In Response to
Re: O'briens hiring at Penn State. Can't believe all the negative comments from Penn State alumni:
As a PSU grad who understands the need for change, I think I can also understand the angry reaction from some PSU alums (no matter how inarticulate or emotional), particularly on the part of the former players. I believe they view the coaching purge as somehow casting aspertions on _thier_ character, that anyone who had anything to do with PSU football, from the arrival of Paterno until his firing, is tainted. Naturally, the ugly Sandusky scandal a situation that involves a very few individuals in the program, but in the age we live in the media and public at large seem only able to paint with a very broad brush. Anyone remember "Patriots are cheaters"? I think that's what's provoked the angry reaction. My guess is that it will be short lived. Or it won't. Either way, I don't think it matters: the PSU Board of Trustees seems determined to change the football program and, indeed, it's role in the PSU community. Also, from what I'm seeing, most of the anger has little to do with O'Brien himself. Rather, it's directed at the search committee and Trustees for not chosing someone with a PSU affiliation. All of this, I expect, will die down over time. My concern about O'Brien, who I believe will win over the PSU community, is that the shoes he has to fill are perhaps too big. Naturally, winning will heal most wounds. But winning will be hard. I hope the PSU community has the patience to allow him the time he needs to get his football system and recruiting operation up and running. I must also admit I'm concerned O'Brien might only have a short-term interest in the job. But then, a short-term coach might be needed for PSU to build the bridge from its football past to its football future.
Posted by ItsMonkTime
If you read the responses to the article, many were angrily directed at O'brien as well as the search committee. I give O'brien credit for applying for the position because I'm sure he has to realize that he's inserting himself into a difficult position, possibly a no win situation. Replacing a head coach like Paterno, even with the mess at Penn State and his involvement, to the Alumni O'brien's replacing an icon and that in itself has it's problems.
As far as anyone connecting the Patriots scandel to this and O'brien, it is a possibility, but I doubt it has anything to do with the PSU alumni reaction.
I wish him the best and hope he succeeds.
Hetchinspete.
