Penn State Coach Search: Committee Should Look at Cristobal More Than Clements

Rumors abound on Penn State's quest to secure a head coach in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

How about Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements? The guy has a nice resume. He's a former Notre Dame quarterback who has worked with the likes of Lou Holtz, Bill Cowher and Mike McCarthy. He has spent time with Brett Favre and has to be considered the catalyst for Aaron Rodgers' development. I'll call that solid.

This hire would be safe. His connections carry quite a bit of weight. As a Pennsylvania native, he'll ease back into the recruiting ring, harkening back to his coaching days at Notre Dame. Moreover, we actually know he wants the job. He makes a good fallback.

It is rumored they are still courting Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchack as the the search committee boards planes to visit Houston. Why not? The Tennessee Titans will be in Houston on Sunday, and Penn State will be in Dallas for its bowl game. I think they will continue to push Munchak a little more and make a last-ditch effort to pry Al Golden from Miami. 

After Munchak and Golden, I'd like to see PSU take a shot at Mario Cristobal. Penn State could use an infusion of attitude, and Cristobal would bring it. He played on the great Dennis Erickson Hurricane teams that wrecked college football in the late '80s and early '90s.

He's a totally fresh face from a background that was frowned upon by Penn Staters in the past. Let's face it, everybody we've mentioned is laid back and low key. That sounds like what we've had for the past 20 years. Why not change it up?