Patrick Smith - Getty Images
4 months ago: STATE COLLEGE, PA - JANUARY 08: New Penn State head football coach Bill O'Brien is announced to the crowd, with his wife Colleen and 6-year-old son Michael, during a timeout at the Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball game as they take on the Indiana Hoosiers at the Bryce Jordan Center on January 8, 2012 in State College, Pennsylvania. O'Brien is currently the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots and will remain with them for the rest of the playoffs. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Everything you wanted to know about Bill O'Brien, but were afraid to ask. Kevin and I talk about the new hire, its effect on recruiting, how it all translates to an on-field project, reasonable expectations, whether PSU intended to go cheap from the very start, and much, much more.
(I'm not doing a good job selling this. It's late. Sorry.)
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0 recs | 123 comments
So now that our coach is a Irish Bostonian native
will we be hearing more Dropkick Murphy’s and Markie Mark?
skarocksoi - January 9, 2012
I considered searching for some Dropkick Murphys last night
But it was late, I got lazy, and went with polka.
Chris Grovich - January 9, 2012
Let's be clear about this:
You can NEVER go wrong with the polka. Just sayin.
PSU_Buch - January 9, 2012
Boys on the Docks off of Do or Die is a good one
if you don’t want to go the obvious route of Shipping Up to Boston. And I’m not sure Kiss Me I’m Shitfaced would be a good song after a win or loss…
skarocksoi - January 9, 2012
love kiss me im shitfaced!
tlrpsu - January 9, 2012
Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced
is awesome. I also wouldn’t be upset if they played the Boondock Saints theme.
LAPSU - January 9, 2012
That theme is actually my ringtone.
Aside from being a great movie (yes, I realize it isn’t great in the standard of artsy films, but it is undeniably fun to watch), I genuinely love the song that plays during the opening credits.
BNittsDeMilo - January 9, 2012
I will officially jump off the top of the stadium
if they start playing songs by the band Boston.
icavalera - January 9, 2012
Officially?
Well, at least you’ll have the necessary permits.
WorldBFat - January 9, 2012
Officially?
So its more than a feeling?
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
NOICE!
tlrpsu - January 9, 2012
I just wanted to use this forum to make it official.
icavalera - January 9, 2012
Best track on Guitar Hero 1?
PSU_Buch - January 9, 2012
Penn State 2012
Don’t Look Back.
PSU Mudder - January 9, 2012
Are we going to steal, I mean adopt...
…the House of Pain “Jump Around” thing from Wisconsin?
LowcountryLion - January 9, 2012
Playing up that angle is a very ESPN move.
The Dropkick Murphys angle that is. Marky Mark and his Funky Bunch are always acceptable.
WorldBFat - January 9, 2012
As long as you dont go "Shipping up to Boston" I think its ok
the Mighty Mighty Bosstones would be a very underrated choice. But Marky Mark is the way to go. Or any Wahlberg I guess.
skarocksoi - January 9, 2012
Can I add Tessie to that list?
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
sure
Or any song that refers to any Boston sports teams.
skarocksoi - January 9, 2012
While I don't agree with that sentiment,
any policy that keeps those two out is fine. I think you can imagine how much we have to hear them around here.
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
It's not the Dropkick Murphys' fault they're associated with douchery, but you can't unring that bell.
WorldBFat - January 9, 2012
I certainly don't blame them.
But it doesn’t mean I want MORE exposure to those two songs. It’s too bad, Tessie has a really cool history. One of the members of the band went to my law school, and got a lot of the lyrics and things from the song the band brought down to Pittsburgh for the first ever 9 game world series (from our sports law prof). Too bad they played it out so fast after the ’04 series.
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
Right. Not in my backyard!
WorldBFat - January 9, 2012
I propose DM's Warrior's Code
It’s about Micky Ward, who’s from Lowell, not far from where O’Brien grew up in Andover. It’s a real barn-burner.
Other options from Boston-area bands would include “Gigantic” or “Wave of Mutilation” from the Pixies or “Academy Fight Song” from Mission of Burma.
One way or the other, we need something new. Zombie Nation and Seven Nation Army are sort of played out now.
reedjohnmiller - January 9, 2012
But murder Sweet Caroline. Murder it to death
OmarLittle - January 9, 2012
yes
WorldBFat - January 9, 2012
im right there with ya.
tlrpsu - January 9, 2012
by "any Wahlberg"
I am assuming you are endorsing copious use of New Kids On the Block music.
Cari Greene - January 9, 2012
Perhaps we could get Wahlburgers to become a game-day sponsor.
Bob Sacamano - January 9, 2012
Gotta love the photo that accompanies this post.
I’m guessing that Coach O’Brien’s son sees himself up on the video scoreboard. His reaction is exactly what you’d expect from a 6 year old.
CvilleLion - January 9, 2012
+1 Great pic
SweepTheLeg - January 9, 2012
That's exactly why I picked it. Great reaction from his son.
Chris Grovich - January 9, 2012
Jimmy Kennedy was a frosh in '99, as was Adams
I think the year you were thinking of Chris was ’03, where we had a top-10 secondary in part because nobody threw on us, preferring to run it down our throats. Alford, Hali, Johnson et al. were super young.
OmarLittle - January 9, 2012
This is totally correct.
Chris Grovich - January 9, 2012
I think Hali was playing DT that year, if memory serves me correct.
He was heavier than his DE playing weight, but I think he was in there at 260 and was just getting blasted.
Adam Collyer - January 9, 2012
That matches my recollection.
PSU_Buch - January 9, 2012
sounds about right
OmarLittle - January 9, 2012
I like his kid already
He has a football and a basketball jersey already. Excellent.
reedjohnmiller - January 9, 2012
Question
Does Paternoville remain Paternoville or do they rename it something like BOBistan?
Esteban d' Amur - January 9, 2012
They've already confirmed the Paternoville name is staying.
Chris Grovich - January 9, 2012
What's less talked about...
Is that the new First Lady of PSU football has some might big shoes to fill.
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012 via mobile
BOB's wife is extremely smart.
And I’m sure very sympathetic to a number of causes, considering they have a son with a very severe brain development disorder. I’m sure she’ll be great, in due time.
Chris Grovich - January 9, 2012
Me too
He did a good job selling her to us at the presser listing her credentials then saying something like “so obviously I can recruit”.
And she’s already rockin’ the Kate Gosselin mom haircut.
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
Ah yes, Efficient Mom Haircut.
Peter Gray - January 9, 2012
I wonder if she chews out BOB when he forgets to use coupons
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
FTFY
Is that the new First Lady of PSU football has some might big
shoeslasagna pans to fill.skarocksoi - January 9, 2012
Nice
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
She's a lawyer...
I expect she’ll be commenting on here in no time.
Esteban d' Amur - January 9, 2012
+1 for logic
Adam Collyer - January 9, 2012
if she isnt already...
skarocksoi - January 9, 2012
ADAM COLLYER IS MRS. O'BRIEN
BREAKING NEWS IS BREAKING
Jeff Junstrom - January 9, 2012
Got me.
Adam Collyer - January 9, 2012
I also make a killer lasagna.
Adam Collyer - January 9, 2012
I agree about Jones
Not being able to maintain a 2.0 is not a smarts issue it’s an effort issue. That is just sad for a kid who is going to school for free.
markpsu - January 9, 2012
I also agree about the monkey that gives a shit
Recruiting is, as much as anything, an effort issue, like ND getting that one recruit from PSU by meeting him at 4:30 in the morning or whatever.
NFL coordinators work like dogs and BOB’s going to bring that work ethic to Penn State, which will translate into a lot of hustle on the recruiting trail and in film review, etc.
spakajewia - January 9, 2012
Actual working conditions for Belichick assistants:
PSU_Buch - January 9, 2012
I really hope he's able to get his act together.
I’ve been following him on twitter and I like what’s he’s posting but now he’s gotta back it up with action…
Where I come from, you don’t run from a challenge. You just ATTACK!!! #412Kid
Alot of people tell me what I dream of most likely won’t come true…. If its been done once it can happen again #ambition
Yeah I see the door representing everything holding me back, but I’m ready to kick thru it!
@KForttress11 brah I’m in the same boat. Whole time it’s time for a takeover from us both
Leaving for school tomorrow night. Time to get to work!
lexi1031 - January 9, 2012
I don't agree
Some kids’ high school background is so weak that they don’t really know how to study or how to write, so their efforts are largely wasted.
reedjohnmiller - January 9, 2012
Hmmm
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/pryors-resarch-paper-research-must-read
letsgopsu - January 9, 2012
I'm glad you mentioned my biggest fear.
That Si will completely go to waste. Don’t really care to see both my College and Pro teams throwing it on every 3rd and 4th and short.
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
I'm having a tough time seeing BOB throwing the ball around within the next
two years. Plus, if he can just get the defenses to back off a bit, Redd might run for 1,600 yards, 12 touchdowns and right out of State College to the NFL.
Don’t worry about Redd. He’ll be just fine.
Mike Pettigano - January 9, 2012
I doubt BOB is dumb enough to try to install the Pats offense at PSU
1. He doesn’t have Tom Brady. In fact, he pretty much has the opposite of Tom Brady.
2. He doesn’t have a decent TE. At least I don’t think so, considering we haven’t thrown them the ball in two years.
Peter Gray - January 9, 2012
Regarding point #2,
I think that Haplea can become a pretty good TE in the right offense.
icavalera - January 9, 2012
Agreed. Haplea and Gilliam were both rated well coming out of high school.
They’re capable, they just need someone to get them the ball. Our offense hasn’t been designed for that.
I bet Quarless is a bit upset that this wasn’t installed when he was around.
Adam Collyer - January 9, 2012
I'm thinking Quarless is enjoying his Super Bowl Ring.
With a shot to get another this year. His knee injury probably not so much though.
mvrck - January 9, 2012
Quarless
by his own admission, also needed Joe to knock some sense into him. He made out just fine.
PSU_Buch - January 9, 2012
Ohhhh I forgot about Gilliam
I’m excited to see how he’s used next season. Super athletic kid.
Peter Gray - January 9, 2012
At least not at first.
He’s not RichRod. He won’t come in and try to establish an offense, the personnel for which is nonexistent, or severely lacking.
Jeff Junstrom - January 9, 2012
"Bolden essentially transfered"
that’s pretty deep. Good, but deep.
Let’s see how this goes. It’s a really good point. I mean, like, really good.
We wanted a clean slate for this QB competition, now we get one.
Mike Pettigano - January 9, 2012
Now that I think about, I totally stole that line from a comment somewhere else.
These things are essentially stream of consciousness, and that came out. But it’s really applicable.
Chris Grovich - January 9, 2012
I agree with Mike, caught me off guard, even.
Kevin Powers - January 9, 2012
On the Pats
It was important for BOB to stay on the staff for the reasons he gave, but also, from the Pats’ perspective, it’s got to be difficult to replace the playcaller. Even though McDaniels knows most of the scheme, he doesn’t have history with this particular team, what works well, etc.
Also, on McDaniels, don’t discount how big it was to get him on staff for the Broncos game. Teams do this all the time with players in the regular season; sign waived vets from the opposition so they can get intel. McDaniels knows the players on this Broncos’ team as well as anyone and will defintely be an asset for the Pats in gameplanning.
spakajewia - January 9, 2012
Not so sure about McDaniels.
This year’s Denver team is completely different than last year’s. Willis McGahee and Tim Tebow are running a completely different offense than Kyle Orton and Knowshon Moreno.
Plus, McD’s draft picks didn’t develop very well under his tutelage. A few of his picks are seeing significant time now though, and as a result he’s completely out of the loop in terms of what they do well and what they can’t aside from game film.
dbl5030 - January 9, 2012
clearly Denver is a much better team now than they were under McD
but the fact that he drafted Tebow, etc at least suggests he knows the personnel well, if not the schemes. Though really, there scheme isn’t that complicated: run the ball well so that you bring up your safeties, and when you do, throw deep. Completely fuck’d LeBeau and the Steelers with it.
spakajewia - January 9, 2012
Wasn't the current coach his OC?
Even if he didn’t run the exact same offense, you have to figure they talked about the scheme he is running now. But like you pointed out, doesn’t seem overly complicated.
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
nope
John Fox was the Panthers’ head coach for almost ten years, and then they chose not to renew his contract after the 2010 season. Broncos’ hired him like a week later.
spakajewia - January 9, 2012
Sorry,
I meant isn’t the current OC the same OC? Or did Fox replace him? For some reason I thought the current coordinator was the same.
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
I guess I could look it up, if I weren't being so lazy.
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
had to look it up
but yes. Mike McCoy came to the Broncos as OC when McD was hired, but all of his previous NFL experience was with the Panthers, so he’s more of a Fox guy than a McD guy. He’s also been rumored as possible next HC in Jacksonville, the job that BOB apparently was interested in too.
spakajewia - January 9, 2012
Yeah, I just checked it out.
I think it’s interesting that he had most of his experience under Fox. I think it’s safe to say he discussed those offensive tendencies when McD hired him to come to Denver, and that he will have some good insight. Not sure if it’s worth having all my radio stations this week overloaded with TEBOW VS. THE COACH THAT DRAFTED HIM. Talk about a forced storyline.
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
So I'm on the train back to Buffalo from NYC and the wifi won't let me stream or DL the podcast
But this is where I say how conflicted I am. Would it make me feel better if the Patriots offense rolled up 50+ points every game in the playoffs and exhibited extremely diverse and creative playcalling? Absolutely. But on the other hand, the New England Patriots are an evil, evil, EVIL organization that should be wiped from the face of the earth.
Peter Gray - January 9, 2012
Genuinely curious.
What makes them evil aside from Spygate?
dbl5030 - January 9, 2012
He's a Bills fan
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
Ah.
dbl5030 - January 9, 2012
Well played.
For what it’s worth, I’m in the same boat with that other AFC East squad.
Adam Collyer - January 9, 2012
So you have the Jets AIDS?
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
#FireBrianSchottenheimer
Adam Collyer - January 9, 2012
Patriots... evil
Interesting aside: this pic was the fruit of a “tom brady pretty boy” Google Image search.
PSU_Buch - January 9, 2012
For balance:
Sorry I had to subject to that last pic – except for the ladies and some guys (NTTAWWT), I suppose – so I offer this to make up for it. Also works as an argument for the evil of Pats/Brady.
PSU_Buch - January 9, 2012
Looks like he's flexing his triceps for the camera.
icavalera - January 9, 2012
I think it would be great
to see the Pats offense dominate. But if they lose to the Broncos, I won’t be disappointed…
At BOBs next press conference, when asked about Tebow, he can say: “At least Urban doesn’t have him anymore”
skins4ever' - January 9, 2012
FYI, BOB said he "believed" in grass
Maybe we just hired the second coming of Les Miles.
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
Or Tommy Chong.
Chris Grovich - January 9, 2012
That's called a "win win" situation for me brother
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
Tommy Chong was one of the leading innovators of the inverted veer, IIRC
Peter Gray - January 9, 2012
This statement reads like a line from "Anchorman" to me.
Kind of like “Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago..” (regarding the meaning of the name “San Diego”).
icavalera - January 9, 2012
"Diversity"
a very old ship.
kijana's acl - January 9, 2012
that's where sekrah went wrong
His source was like, “I can’t tell you who the coach will be… But he likes grass”
A simple misunderstanding.
bigs26 - January 9, 2012 via iPhone app
Salary
Given the scrutiny that the university is going to be under, do you really think Penn State wanted to shell out $3 million to coach? Any grandstanding politician knows that the average Pennsylvania tax payer is unaware that Intercollegiate Athletics is self-sufficient financially, so that makes for a handy scapegoat. Who needs that kind of trouble? Especially when you don’t want to spend the money any way?
WFY - January 9, 2012
Interesting point...
Everyone I talked to thinks that tax dollars and tuition money pay the football bills. They have no concept of a self-funding AD. I’m not sure if this is unique to Penn State, but to me, it makes 100% sense and shouldn’t be done any other way. Think of it as a valve..if money is transferring between AD and general funds, it should only go from AD to university.
That said, if our BOT and President had the balls, they shouldn’t feel the need to back off the podium and set the record straight.
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
The problem with that is
most AD’s run in the red, sometimes quite deeply. If you’re expecting nothing but a self-funding AD everywhere, you’re looking at enormous cuts in non-revenue sports at just about every school, and in some cases completely folding the AD altogether.
dbl5030 - January 9, 2012
Makes sense..
few schools have 100k+ stadiums and the largest alumni base in the country.
But still…now we know PSU pays substantially less for HC than other schools who have much less in terms of facilities. Assuming those ADs are running in the red, is it really fair to expect the University to make up the difference?
I have a real problem with this, and I can sympathize for PSU paying under the going rate. Then again, you always seem to get what you pay for.
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
A point made in the podcast, one that I really liked,
is that we will see just how much of getting BOB was looking for the discount option based on the assitants and their pay. I have been convinced they were diving in the discount bin, but I will hold some of my Joyner criticism on that back until we see the coordinators.
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
Its interesting...
My personal preference would be to pay all the coaches like they’re “partners” in the business with the HC making a bit more. On a well-run team, I doubt that the assistants are working much less than the HC. Then again, the HC takes the heat when things don’t go well.
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
Although according to Lions247
you can add John Strollo. Time to update the “The Staff” article officially I guess.
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
Corrected by CG.
TEs coach.
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
Almost unique to Penn State
Very few athletics departments are self-sufficient or in the black.
WFY - January 9, 2012
I remember reading that there are only 14 ADs in the entire country
that not only pay all their own expenses, but that pay the University for the scholarships that their players use out of athletic revenue. PSU being one of them.
PSUinBOSSton - January 9, 2012
Chris..
what track did you use to close out the podcast?
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
Oh, um.
/searches iphone
“Behind The Blue Curtains” by El Michels Affair.
Chris Grovich - January 9, 2012
Here's their label
http://www.truthandsoulrecords.com/
Chris Grovich - January 9, 2012
Cool, thanks
Artiefufkin10 - January 9, 2012
No doubt, if he's a huge success, he'll want a new contract
I think that’s sensible. Any coach – especially one like this – is a risk. It’s one thing to pay a guy a lot, but it’s a whole other level of pain to have to pay a guy you just fired.
I think it’s a good strategy. All of the “safe bets” were not really safe bets – Peterson, Richt, etc and would have come with some big question marks about how well they could recruit in this area and Meyer would come with doubts about his commitment to staying and perhaps his commitment to academics.
We didn’t really have a chance at any of those guys without paying way over the odds – and even then I’m not sure – so we’d be risking a lot of money on an unsure thing.
With O’Brien, the odds of failure may seem higher, but our exposure to a big payoff is much lower. So it all balances out.
And I think the upside is way better than Mullen or an “experienced” guy like that. O’Brien is young and full of energy and seems to be the sort of guy who can really sell Penn State. Looking at past Patriots assistants is not a good guide. I already like him way more than Charlie Weiss or Josh McDaniels. The former seemed past his prime already by the time he got to Notre Dame and McDaniels seems to be too young and a bit of a dick. Besides, O’Brien does have a lot of college experience. He understands how it works and what is required. I’m not sure Weiss did.
reedjohnmiller - January 9, 2012
His college experience is the most important part about him.
He understands recruiting. He’s not so far removed from college that he has no idea what to make of it. In fact, he’s a career college guy that ended up in the NFL, not vice versa.
Weis thought he could get away with flashing his Super Bowl rings for recruiting, then design funky plays. That worked for a bit, but in the end, the victories were hollow. He took in great recruiting classes (that still may have been overrated due to the ND “mystique”) and then did nothing with them. Sam Young was literally a can’t miss prospect out of Florida, and he missed – badly. He had a lot of success with Brady Quinn and Jeff S., but those kids were already on board when he got there.
Weis is a good NFL coach because he’s a good X’s and O’s guy, and with talent about even, that makes a tremendous difference. A college coach needs to be better than that – he needs to be the CEO of a major corporation. O’Brien has looked the part so far, much moreso than Weis ever did. Let’s hope he keeps that up.
Adam Collyer - January 9, 2012
This may not be a popular opinion, but...
Since BOB appears to be making good on his promise to staff up quickly, and has kept some of our most important recruiters from the old staff (and since the Steelers are now out of the running), here’s hoping the Patriots take it all. Why not have a head coach with a Super Bowl ring at PSU?
PSUPhD90 - January 9, 2012
/shudders in grudging agreement
PSU_Buch - January 9, 2012
With his lieutenants on the ground
We can face a string of Sundays with our new HC getting some national TV coverage. As long as the announcers don’t digress to dwell on IT.
PSUPhD90 - January 9, 2012
"THAT'LL LAND HIM IN THE BOBHOUSE"
Just came to me. Quick, someone register bobhouse.com.
Kevin Powers - January 9, 2012
I am totally for a Nike Pro Combat uniform
Especially if it’s ugly.
Mr. Rosewater - January 9, 2012
I wouldn't be against it, per se
Depends how it’s done. Some of the PC uniforms I’ve seen have been pure magic. Others? Well…
Peter Gray - January 9, 2012
NO
NO MEANS NO
letsgopsu - January 9, 2012
AND NO
letsgopsu - January 9, 2012
so by that you mean...
Cari Greene - January 9, 2012
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