More than one ball dropped on New Year's Eve.
News came to many in the form of a simple text update or tweet that Penn State head football coach Bill O'Brien finally signed a deal with the NFL’s Houston Texans – a rumor that’s been swirling around for about a week now.
I took the news a little hard as a Penn State alumnus and football fan myself.
At the same time, I heard all the speculation for days since I work in a newsroom, so when the confirmation arrived, it wasn’t a huge blow.
Not everyone handled the news as calmly as I did.
From what I’ve seen and heard recently, there are two views to the O’Brien departure. There’s the one side that is happy for him because he is achieving the rank of an NFL head coach, which O’Brien said in past interviews was the ultimate goal in his career. Then there are the people who never want to hear the name O'Brien again and hope he ends up jobless and penniless.
Much hate had already surfaced when the O’Brien/Texans deal was only rumor. Fans felt betrayed that O’Brien coached at Penn State for only two seasons before considering another coaching offer. Many felt he would be the next Joe Paterno and have a long-lasting legacy at Penn State.
What infuritated some people even more were the interviews with players and prospects who told reporters that O’Brien promised them he would remain head coach at Penn State.
Finally, there’s the fact O’Brien felt so compelled to leave Penn State that he bought out his contract not long after it was amended by the university to a lower rate.
It’s really easy to show hate for O’Brien’s decision under the previous circumstances. What’s harder for some people to digest is the fact that O’Brien’s intentions are multifaceted, and if many of us were given the same opportunity, we would jump on it without hesitation.
As mentioned before, O’Brien’s highest ambition is to be an NFL coach. He was an offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots from 2007-2011. Had he stayed with the Patriots, O’Brien’s chances of coaching the team were slim. Bill Belichick has had so much success in his 14 seasons as head coach – including three Super Bowl wins in four years – that the Patriots would be insane to throw him to the curb anytime soon. O’Brien’s chances of advancement in the organization were as nonexistent as Belichick’s smile.
That’s when Penn State came into the light. The school, rocked by a sex abuse scandal and the death of longtime coach Joe Paterno, now had to make a coaching change for the first time in decades.
If O’Brien could bring anything to the table, it was offense. Paterno was known for defense and “Linebacker U,” but in his last few years, his ability to make scoring happen was lacking. Having one of the people in charge of Tom Brady and one of the most productive offenses in the NFL as head coach had to be be too tempting for the university.
The offer probably meant more for O’Brien than it did Penn State. Coaching a college football team is one step away from the big time. His chances of coaching the NFL were greater than most other college coaches to start – since he would be in charge of a Big 10 Conference team.
O’Brien had one of the biggest challenges in college football history ahead of him, however. The university was dealt severe sanctions that included bowl bans and reduced player scholarships for most of his contract. Attempting to recruit players, in addition to keeping current players, would prove to be a great challenge.
O’Brien stepped up to the challenge. Some key players left, but others, like freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg, weren’t deterred by bowl bans and wanted to play for Penn State because of its football legacy and O’Brien’s willingness to coach against such odds.
O’Brien made an even bigger name for himself by posting two winning seasons (8-4,7-5). His ability to advance the football program amazed fans and sports analysts alike.
Despite O’Brien’s charisma, the doubt among fans concerning his loyalty to the university started just one season into the coach’s career. Rumors began long before this week that O’Brien would eventually take an NFL job. Several news outlets reported last year around this time that O’Brien sought interest in coaching the Cleveland Browns or the Philadelphia Eagles.
Penn State fans thought it unfathomable. He coached for one season, which was microscopic in comparison to Paterno’s career. His love for the school and the “bunch of f*#@kers” he was coaching made it seem as though he had no ambition to go back to the league he left for the NCAA.
Ultimately, nothing happened. The rumors stopped, and Penn State fans finally exhaled. O’Brien was at Penn State for good – for the time being.
Then it all happened again. It was a nightmare relived for many Penn Staters. The possibility of O’Brien leaving for an NFL coaching job not only scared fans again but caused outrage.
This was now the second time in two seasons that O’Brien was rumored to be working on a deal. What games was he trying to play with our heads? Why wouldn’t he come out and confirm/deny the rumors? Why would he leave Penn State after just two successful seasons?
O'Brien hasn't provided a public explanation yet for his choice. What he has to say about the deal and leaving Penn State will be interesting. I’m expecting it to be something along the lines of “Penn State is a great program, and I’m really proud of my players and what they have done. It is sad to leave Penn State, but I’m happy about my future with the Texans.” In other words, something to the point, generic and safe.
That’s about all he can do. No matter what he says, the people offended by his deal will likely remain offended. The longtime Paterno fans will be bitter until they find someone willing to coach at Penn State and not for promotions or cash. The “Billievers” will say they’re a bit disappointed, but they support O’Brien having continued success no matter the location.
The people criticizing O’Brien for taking a better, prominent job are likely hypocrites, however. I don’t know anyone, including myself, who would say no to a job of higher prestige, especially if it pays more.
O’Brien ambition to make more money and to have a well-respected position may same conceited, but there aren't many us who have been placed in a similar situation to judge. Not only that, but including the exposure O’Brien got coaching at Penn State, he is likely to receive twice as much attention now that the NFL, ESPN and every other major news outlet is watching him take the stage and just waiting for him to steal the show or burn out.
There are many ways to look at O’Brien’s decision, which is why I’m conflicted on how I feel about it.
I was excited when O’Brien came onboard to Penn State. I remember the banners around State College saying, “Welcome to Happy Valley, Bill O’Brien,” along with other messages of positivity and hope that he could revive the greatness that had been our football program before the scandal.
I also recall thinking how it was great for me to witness a new coach and a new era. I respected Paterno and his work, but he was coach long before I was even born. By the time I came to appreciate college football, many of his best years had already passed.
O’Brien, to me, was the Penn State coach of my generation – a coach who I, along with those I graduated with, could one day tell stories about, just like so many alumni continue to carry Paterno’s legacy on even after his death.
I can definitely say I’m disappointed that O’Brien wasn’t around long enough for me to remember what he could have been. Then again, this tends to be the norm for coaching these days.
The reality is we're not going to see another "Joe Paterno" who is willing to stay in one place for 46 seasons. Most coaches are lucky to stay with a team for more than two seasons, let alone two-thirds of their life.
O'Brien's story, though brief, is still worth telling, but a large portion of that story also depends on his future performance in the NFL.
As I see it, I will end up referring to O’Brien in one of two ways: It will either be, “I remember Bill O’Brien as the coach who brought Penn State football out of despair and went on to become a great NFL coach,” or, “I remember Bill O’Brien as starting a successful career at Penn State, only to throw that away and take an NFL job where he flopped and could never make a name for himself again.”
O’Brien’s legacy from here on out is going to be interesting. Even though I resent him leaving, I will definitely be following him as he moves on in the NFL, just to see whether he made the right choice or not. Only time can tell, and O’Brien still has a lot of time to make it or break it.
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