Dan Mullen, Penn State: Nittany Lions Must Do Whatever It Takes to Get MSU Coach

The Penn State Nittany Lions are taking the right steps in searching for a new head coach outside the current program. Dan Mullen is apparently at the top of their list, and they would be very wise to make sure he doesn't slip away. 

The Mississippi State head coach had a solid 2010 season, but is just 6-6 this year. However, his knowledge of the game, added with his skills at recruiting, would greatly benefit the Nittany Lions. 

The Penn State scandal will continue to unfold, and it will be extremely difficult for all those involved. Football will still be present at the school, which means the Nittany Lions need to hire a guy who won't lose sight of that during all the turmoil.

Mullen has what it takes to be the main man at Penn State because his focus will be on football, but at the same time he can ease the minds of players and new recruits about the whole scandal issue.

He may not have as much head coaching experience as others, but his youth means he can be with the Nittany Lions for a long time, and his football intelligence will help Penn State stay on track when it comes to the gridiron.  

Reports came out Tuesday claiming Mullen was the leading candidate to succeed legendary head coach Joe Paterno. 

WAPT in Jackson, Mississippi was the first to report it, and other media had their sources confirm as well. However, when The Clarion-Ledger talked to Mullen, he told them it was "the most irresponsible reporting that I’ve ever heard of. I blame it on rival institutions trying to ruin our recruiting." 

It's hard to believe some of the things coaches deny these days. After all, a former colleague of Mullen's, Urban Meyer, was adamantly refuting he was going to coach for Ohio State, but a few days later he took the job. 

The Bulldogs are done with their regular season, but they will end up playing in a weaker bowl game. The waiting period from the end of the regular season to the bowl game is typically the time when coaching changes are made.

Penn State has to push harder for Mullen because he has the ability to transform the team. It's going to be very tough to get a seasoned coach away from his team, but with Mullen, he knows there are better options out there than Mississippi State. 

Winning in the SEC West isn't easy, unless you're LSU or Alabama. Mullen has to know his future would be in better hands at Penn State, even though things are currently a mess at the school. 

With Meyer at Ohio State, it would also benefit Penn State to get Mullen because they used to work together. Recruiting in the Big Ten is going to get harder, which means the Nittany Lions have to get someone who excels in that area. 

Mullen knows how Meyer works, and since the Buckeyes are a huge Leaders Division rival, it would be smart to get a guy who knows what the other guy likes to do. 

There is no word whether Mullen will in fact be the head coach at Penn State in the near future, but that doesn't mean the Nittany Lions shouldn't stop pursuing him to take over the reins because he would be a great addition.