Bill O'Brien: Penn State Coach Responds to NCAA Sanctions

Former New England Patriots offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien accepted the Penn State head coaching job on Jan. 6, 2012, with the intentions of turning the program around after Joe Paterno’s departure.

As if filling Paterno’s legendary shoes weren’t enough, O’Brien has been thrust into arguably the worst controversy in the history of college sports.

He was ready for it, though.

With the NCAA’s sanctions coming down hard on PSU, Coach O’Brien issued a statement on the school’s official site on what these sanctions mean now and going forward for the football program:

"

Today we receive a very harsh penalty from the NCAA and as Head Coach of the Nittany Lions football program, I will do everything in my power to not only comply, but help guide the University forward to become a national leader in ethics, compliance and operational excellence. I knew when I accepted the position that there would be tough times ahead. But I am committed for the long term to Penn State and our student athletes.

I was then and I remain convinced that our student athletes are the best in the country. I could not be more proud to lead this team and these courageous and humble young men into the upcoming 2012 season. Together we are committed to building a better athletic program and university.

"

This is the new Penn State head coach saying all the right things to a school and a student body that need anything to lean on right now.

O’Brien must be one of their guiding lights through this mess.

With a serious change in the culture of the university happening and only more coming over the next four seasons, this will be a tough time for building a team; luckily, that isn’t the school’s top priority anymore.

What It Means

The biggest part of this situation that hurts the current student-athletes is the loss of bowl eligibility, but the punishments hit O’Brien harder than anyone else. With 20 scholarships lost each season for the next four years, say goodbye to the team’s depth.

Add in the fact that any current athlete can transfer at any point and play immediately at his new school, and this could be the crippling blow that sets the program back much longer than just four years.

Nittany Lions fans may be looking at eight to 10 years of football depression.

What’s Next?

While many college football analysts have looked to the success USC had over its three years of being punished, this PSU situation is far more severe on every level.

USC had 75 scholarships for three seasons, while Penn State will have 65 for four years, crippling any ability to have depth at key positions.

From a football perspective, this NCAA decision destroys O’Brien’s efforts to right the Nittany Lion ship.

As for what’s next for the 2012 season, Penn State officials must wait until the students jumping ship do so and start over again with what they have left.

It’s going to be a tough road ahead for O’Brien.

Check back for more on NCAA football as it comes, and don’t miss Bleacher Report’s College Football page to get your fill of college football.

Follow @Donald_Wood