One wonders if Bill O’Brien knows what he’s walking into

Checking out the Associated Press’ story on new Penn State Coach Bill O’Brien’s highly anticipated arrival at Happy Valley, one has to wonder if this guy really knows what he’s walking into.

Anyone who thinks following Joe Paterno is comparable to winning Super Bowls doesn’t understand how little winning Super Bowls means.

Following a legend is difficult enough. Just ask Jimbo Fisher, who took over the Florida State program and followed legendary coach Bobby Bowden after the latter was gently forced to retire a couple of years ago.

Going even farther back, ask Ray Perkins, who took over the Alabama Crimson Tide following the retirement and untimely death of Paul Bryant nearly a generation ago.

Perkins bolted after only a few years. Fisher is struggling somewhat, but the pressure on both has to be measured in the hundreds of pounds per square inch.

I don’t have the sense that O’Brien really “gets it.”

Both of the previous examples followed coaches who had recently won national championships. Perkins had the much harder task—he followed a man revered by an entire state who, like Nittany Lions fans and alumni, won’t have the benefit of his predecessor offering quotes and quips about how well his successor is handling the pressure.

Instead, O’Brien’s every movement will be second guessed. From allowing facial hair and hats inside the building to calling timeouts; from practice regimens to playcalling. He’ll face unwithering criticism and no one will be able to get that reassuring pat on the back from JoePa, letting everyone know that it’ll be Ok.

Perkins had one advantage over both O’Brien and Fisher. He had bona fide connections with the program he was taking over. People sorta trusted him because he was one of “Bear’s Boys.” O’Brien doesn’t have any such leg-up and neither did Fisher (despite being named the “coach in waiting” by the Seminoles).

That makes the second guessing issue even more acute. When Penn State loses its first football game, the people who questioned his hiring—i.e., the football alumni—are coming out of the woodwork and openly wondering if a change should be made before the first season is even complete.

Don’t believe me? Just watch.

Happy Valley is a special place in college football. It’s as big as South Bend, as big as Tuscaloosa, as big as Austin and as big as Ann Arbor. It’s not just special because those places are used to winning. It’s special because the fans had a unique connection to their coaches and their football program. Take that environment likely and the riots that followed Paterno’s firing in November will seem like an afternoon couch burning.

O’Brien has massive shoes to fill and horrific wounds to heal. Judging by his comments and his actions to date, I’m not sure he understands that.

But he will.

Just ask Ray Perkins or Jimbo Fisher.

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“We might as well be in the SEC…”

As Penn State University appears set to name New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien the successor to Joe Paterno, former Nittany Lions players appear to be in open revolt. O’Brien has no experience as a head coach at either the NFL or college football level, and has absolutely no ties to Happy Valley, and the alumni—especially those who played for Paterno during his 46 year tenure—aren’t happy.

Nate Bauer of BlueWhiteIllustrated.com has a report with comments from a number of former stars, including All Americans LaVarr Arrington, Brandon Short and D.J. Dozier. "I will put my Butkus (Award) in storage. I will put my Alamo Bowl MVP trophy in storage," Arrington said. "Jerseys, anything Penn State, in storage. Wherever Tom Bradley goes, that's the school I will start to put memorabilia up in my home. I'm done. I'm done with Penn State. If they're done with us, I'm done with them."

Short: "I don't want to be affiliated with the university if they don't choose a Penn State guy because of our standards, our graduation, all the things that have been important... it's no longer Penn State, so we might as well be in the SEC. They are intent on turning it into a booster culture.”

Ouch.

The football alumni also say that no one involved in the search for Paterno’s successor has reached out to or consulted with them at any part of the process. There is perhaps no tighter community than the Penn State alumni, and the failure of the administration to even keep them in the loop looks like a decision that’s going to have a lot of very hot blowback.

The ESPN report cites “sources” and says that the terms of the deal are not yet known, which means that the deal isn’t done yet. Defensive coordinator Tom “Scrap” Bradley has served as the interim head coach since Paterno’s dismissal and remains the favorite of the alumni and prominent boosters.

We'll see if interim athletic director David Joyner and interim President Rodney Erickson stick to their guns and go through with hiring an unpopular O’Brien over the apparent fan, alumni and booster favorite Bradley.

The decision needs to be wrapped up quickly, as national signing day is now less than four weeks away and the new coach has a lot of ground to recover on the recruiting trail.

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