Penn State Football: Nittany Lions Continue to Strike out on Big Name Coaches

There was much speculation as to who would be the next head football coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions, but with all the turmoil surrounding the program, finding Joe Paterno's replacement has been harder than anyone could have imagined. 

It's no secret the Nittany Lions need a big name coach to help for the future. Without one, Penn State would suffer even more than it already has. 

Getting a coach with a solid résumé and great pedigree will help recruiting, as well as keep the Nittany Lions prominent in the Big Ten. Winning can heal a great deal of wounds, but if the Penn State hits the bottom of the conference in the years to come, it will only make matters worse. 

While the Nittany Lions continue to swing for the fences, they're having a difficult time seeing the ball as it blows right past them. 

Nebraska's Bo Pelini was recently thrown into the mix, but he quickly denied the rumors just like many other coaches have. 

Credit the Nittany Lions for trying to get a big-name coach, but it's just not working out right now.

Since dumping Paterno, schools such as Arizona State, Arizona, Washington State, Texas A&M, Kansas and UCLA have all hired quality coaches. Even Arkansas State landed Gus Malzahn, a great offensive-minded coach who helped Auburn win a national title last year. 

That says a lot about how coaches feel toward the the situation at hand for Penn State.

However, it's not as if this is a bad job for anyone. The Jerry Sandusky scandal sheds a negative light on everything, but since the school is rich with history and tradition, it should still be a force in college football once this is all settled.

Of course, the Nittany Lions need the right coach to help make sure they stay that way. It's easier said than done, especially when coach after coach keeps shooting them down. 

One unnamed BCS coach told Matt Hayes of Sporting News that, "You’re at the ground floor [at Penn State]. Every step you take is up." 

It's only a matter of time before Penn State finds its man, but until then, it remains to be seen if they'll keep striking out with the big name guys. Eventually, they'll hit the ball, and many are hoping it's a home run and not weak ground ball up the middle.