Bill O'Brien to Penn State: Lackluster Hire Would Be Best PSU Could Hope For

Penn State offers coaches a big name and the least attractive job in college football. This scandal ridden program is a disaster right now. 

They are going to be in the news for all the wrong reasons for the foreseeable future, and the new coach is going to be under intense scrutiny, as this program tries to rebuild some semblance of respect. 

All eyes are going to be on this school, and they are going to have to do everything the right way. The new coach will have his bosses looking over his shoulder and absolutely no margin for error. 

Combine that with the fact that it is going to be difficult to recruit 18-year-old kids to a school that is most known for child molestation, and you have a very unappealing job.

A coach will have to either be insane or desperate to take this job. And if that assertion is true, then it appears that Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien must be insane or desperate.  

The Possible O'Brien Hire

At first glance, O'Brien would appear to be a solid hire for Penn State. Upon further inspection, this would be a bland hire which is doomed to failure. 

O'Brien has been with the Patriots since 2007. He is in his first year as the Patriots offensive coordinator. The offense is flourishing in a way that would make any first year offensive coordinator jump for joy. The Patriots are second in yards and third in points. 

The problem with this, in terms of O'Brien's potential, is that it is with New England. Coaching Tom Brady and the Patriots to a successful offensive season is tantamount to making a bunch of sales at Wal Mart. Those jobs just kind of take care of themselves. 

That offense is a well-oiled machine, which is run more by Tom Brady than the offensive coordinator. Past play-callers for the Pats like Josh McDaniels and Charlie Weis have put up eye-popping stats in New England, and then gone on to fail miserably as head coaches. 

This will be 42-year-old O'Brien's first job as a head coach. He is going to be instantly cast into the fire, and there is at least a little evidence that he has a hard time keeping his cool under pressure. 

The pressure that led to him getting into a public shouting match with Brady will pale in comparison to the intensity and scrutiny he is about to face at Penn State by his bosses, the media and the alumni. His hire leaves a lot to be desired, but at least they are going to get someone to take it.