Penn State's Postseason Ban Adds Extension onto Bill O'Brien's Contract

Bill O'Brien's contract just jumped from five years to nine years. 

It appears as though O'Brien, who was hired in January to take over as head coach for Penn State's football team, planned ahead.

The news comes from the Centre Daily Times:

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Penn State's four-year bowl ban means an extra four years on head football coach Bill O'Brien's contract.

A document obtained today by the Centre Daily Times shows the agreement was reached when O'Brien was hired in January to allow for a reaction to possible NCAA sanctions.

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Let's take a closer look at this newest development.

What It Means

First and foremost, it means O'Brien is now on a nine-year contract and, more importantly, has plenty of leeway in his first stint as head coach. 

Additionally, this just goes to prove that the 42-year-old is incredibly intelligent. 

He knew the situation he was coming into was less than a perfect one. In fact, most people criticized him, saying the job was essentially career suicide.

But O'Brien knew the risks involved. He knew there was a chance that potential sanctions would cripple the team he would have to put on the football field, so he planned for the future. 

What's Next

The former New England Patriots assistant coach gets plenty of time to prove himself. 

With fewer scholarships and no postseason to lure college recruits for the next four years, O'Brien's job of making Penn State a winning football team is going to be next to impossible.

But with this new contract, he will get a chance—after four years, mind you—to show what he can do with a full gamut of resources at his disposal. 

The critics will inevitably be on O'Brien's back when his team struggles out of the gate, but this provides him with a good, necessary cushion.

It's only fair.

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