Penn State Coaching Search: Beware If the Tennessee Titans Lose on Saturday

If the Tennessee Titans lose on Saturday, in my opinion Mike Munchak WILL be named the new head coach for Pennsylvania State University’s Nittany Lions on Monday.

One by one, every candidate has been brushed away.  We’ve seen the names of Urban Meyer, Chris Peterson, Mark Richt, Al Golden and Tim Murphy, just to name a few. If Tom Bradley had the job, he would have been named by now.

Mike Munchak has been quiet; his Titans are an improbable playoff contender, especially in the wake of a terrible season by All-Pro running back Chris Johnson and a quarterback carousel between Matt Hasselbeck and rookie Jake Locker. If nothing else, those events, and rather lack there of, and his silence throughout this saga illustrate his loyalty.

Thirty years ago, Munchak played for the Nittany Lions.  A first-round draft pick for the NFL, Munchack has been there ever since.  After his Hall of Fame playing career, he became an assistant coach for the Houston Oilers, working his way to become the head coach for the Tennessee Titans.

His four years as a Nittany Lion are his only connection to Penn State. He actually played with Bradley in ’78 and ’79.

Sure, the buzz about guys like Peterson and Meyer has been difficult to ignore.  How many colleges or even NFL teams have coaches with Hall of Fame credentials? It's a short list. 

Retaining somebody like Bradley would certainly ease Munchak’s learning curve in the recruiting game, something he has never done.  Besides, with Pitt's head coaching position filled, it appears Bradley will need to keep his position as defensive coordinator.

Munchak lives the ideal Penn State stands for, and this seems like the only logical answer for a school and team that are trying to regain the pristine image of integrity that was shattered in recent months.