Penn State Football: Why Bill O'Brien Has It the Worst Among New Head Coaches

Bill O'Brien is in a no-win situation, or at least that is what the common perception is.

Sure, he has been doing everything right since accepting the job as head coach at Penn State, but history and circumstances beyond his control are thought to be hurdles he may not have the legs to jump over time.

Previously, we took a look at what it will take for O'Brien to keep people in State College happy for as long as possible. As a reminder, it still remains unpredictable.

However, we do know two things for sure:

1. Replacing a legendary coach is rarely easy.

2. Penn State will take some time to heal from scars scratched by the Jerry Sandusky fallout.

History shows that the next coach in line following an iconic figure on the sidelines struggles to match the successes experienced in the previous regime.

Ray Perkins replaced Paul "Bear" Bryant, but lasted just four years as Alabama's head coach before escaping to the NFL to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I say "escape" to Tampa Bay because, after four seasons, the Alabama fans and boosters began to voice their displeasure and were probably more than capable and willing of having Perkins ousted if they wanted to pursue that course.

The Crimson Tide had finished in the Top 10 in five of the final six seasons under Bryant—they did that just once under Perkins, in 1986. A 23-3 home loss to Penn State knocked Alabama from second in the AP poll, and losses to rivals LSU and Auburn lit the torches.

Staying in the SEC, the Florida Gators were revitalized as a football power under the coaching of Steve Spurrier and were a dominant program in the early-to-mid-1990s, winning the national championship in the 1996 season. When Spurrier decided to see what he could do in the NFL with the Washington Redskins, Ron Zook was given a chance to continue keeping Florida in the spotlight.

As we know, Zook could recruit with the best of them, but could not do a thing when it came to coaching the entire team. He was gone before the end of his third season, where he would move on to coach Illinois, leaving the cabinet full for the incoming Urban Meyer.

There are some instances in which the next coach is the right coach. Jim Tressel certainly experienced a high level of success at Ohio State, but he did not replace a legend. You might look farther back when Tressel's predecessor, John Cooper, took over for Earl Bruce, who had taken the Buckeyes to a pair of Rose Bowls (losing both) in his nine-year stint following Woody Hayes.

Is there a chance to be successful on the field? Absolutely.

Is it a given? Certainly not.

Of course, O'Brien is not the only new coach this season. In total, 27 schools will have a new head coach in the fall (including Rutgers and Arkansas). Many of the new coaches already have head coaching experience at the college level (Meyer, Terry Bowden, Todd Graham, Kevin Sumlin, Mike Leach, etc.), while others are being promoted from within (Kyle Flood).

O'Brien is coming from a Super Bowl contender in New England. While he has a decent background in the college game, it may take some extra time to adjust to life away from the NFL elite.

He also must face an issue no other coach in all of football will have to deal with, in college or the NFL.

As the Jerry Sandusky trial gets underway, O'Brien will have to deal with a thunderous cloud above his program and its home university. It goes with the territory, but he seems to be handling it well. Recruits do not seem to be bothered by the disturbing allegations unfolding in the courthouse in nearby Bellefonte, Pa.

In fact, the troubling situation seems to be a benefit when it comes to recruiting some prospects, as they have decided they want to be a part of the healing process in any way they possibly can.

It takes true character to recruit student-athletes with similar strong characteristics possessed by players like tight end Adam Breneman, who willingly step in the position of healer.

When the Sandusky story broke, Penn State was labeled as toxic. A number of potential coaching candidates who would have normally jumped at the opportunity to coach at Penn State were turning down any rumor and story that linked them to the job.

So, what was O'Brien thinking?

He was thinking that all of the ugliness that happened, happened. He was not here then. He had nothing to do with it.

He is only focused on moving forward, and he sees plenty of positives at Penn State. They are there, but it takes a strong man to unearth them to the public.

Few want to be in that position, because it is hard. But O'Brien is up to it.

Kevin McGuire is the host of the No 2-Minute Warning podcast, managing editor of Nittany Lions Den and a member of the Football Writers Association of America and National Football Foundation. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook and add him to your Google+ circle.