Penn State Football: Why Bill O'Brien Won't Regret Taking PSU Job

Bill O'Brien knew he was accepting the Penn State head coaching job amid a world of turmoil in State College, but he likely did not expect to have to deal with four years of postseason probation and a significant reduction in scholarships issued by the NCAA.

While he continues to say all of the right things to the media, O'Brien's job has clearly become even more of an uphill climb, perhaps an up-mountain climb, to keep the program moving forward.

Some might even suggest that by the time his first season as a head coach is in the books, O'Brien will regret having taken the position.

More key players could opt out to other programs under the NCAA's penalty-free transfer rules for Penn State players. O'Brien will have to convince recruits to stay committed to the program at the same time. It could just be a larger headache than he anticipated, so clearly he will regret his decision to accept the job, right?

Well, probably not.

At least, that is the line he is selling through the media. Following the sanctions levied against Penn State, when asked if he regretted taking the job at all, O'Brien rejected the idea. O'Brien has been adamant in suggesting there are plenty of positives about coaching at Penn State, from education to the atmosphere and environment on and off the field.

If there is one thing we have learned about O'Brien since he took the head coaching job at Penn State last January, it is that he is a hard-nosed person who is not going to back away from a challenge. To O'Brien, the hurdles standing in front of Penn State football are nothing compared to real-life challenges and adversity he and his family have faced.

Besides, O'Brien now has enviable job security as a result of all of this. Penn State has already extended O'Brien's contract as a result of the NCAA sanctions to ensure that he gets a fair opportunity to see what he can do with no restrictions once the four-year sanctions expire.

Despite the negative reaction many have had to the idea of adding names to the back of the Penn State uniforms, a move I happen to be OK with, many seem to agree that O'Brien has proven to be the right guy to lead Penn State through these dark times. He has emerged as a leader. Some would even suggest that a couple of losing seasons will not be enough to start making calls for his job.

O'Brien will be given as much support as possible from the fans and the school. Even if Penn State wanted to make a coaching change in the next nine years, will there be money available to buy out the extended contract? No other first-year head coach has ever had that kind of job security.

Will O'Brien regret taking the Penn State job at the end of the year?

Don't count on 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, Facebook and Google+.