Bill O'Brien takes over as Penn State football coach

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. ?

Bill O?Brien took the podium, looked straight ahead and uttered the kind of words you?d expect from someone who had just been introduced as Penn State?s new head football coach.

?This is unbelievable.?

Pronouncing himself as the new leader of the Penn State family on Saturday, O?Brien read a statement, then took questions from the media before posing for pictures. He reiterated his intention to remain offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots for the duration of their playoff run. New England has a bye this weekend.

He picked quite a challenge for his first head-coaching job: Penn State?s first new leader in 46 seasons following the firing Nov. 9 of Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

Not only is O?Brien replacing Division I?s winningest coach, but he must also guide a program shrouded in uncertainty. Besides the criminal investigation into Sandusky, the NCAA has launched its own inquiry.

?I feel like I?m a mentally tough guy right now,? said O?Brien, 42. ?I feel like I?m the right guy.?

O?Brien, a little nervous at times at the podium, said he will compile his staff over the next two or three days, and get the assistants on the recruiting trail immediately while he works with New England. He will retain assistant Larry Johnson from Paterno?s staff to coach the defensive line.

?I?m going to surround myself with good people,? O?Brien said, ?and I?m excited to do that.?

The five-year contract finalized Friday included a base compensation starting at $950,000 with a 5-percent salary increase each season. O?Brien was also to receive another $1 million a year for radio and television work, as well as a $350,000 Nike contract.

The base package is roughly on par with Paterno?s compensation, which was about $1.02 million last year ? a relative bargain for a coach with two national championships. But Penn State previously had not released what compensation Paterno received from outside the university, like endorsement deals.

O?Brien joined New England in 2007 following 14 seasons on the college level, including stops at Duke, Maryland and Georgia Tech.
The Patriots are third in the NFL overall in scoring (32.1 points per game), and second in total offense (428 yards) and passing (317.8 yards).

Penn State finished a 9-4 campaign with a 30-14 loss in the TicketCity Bowl to Houston on Jan. 2. The Nittany Lions relied on defense much of the year after the offense struggled with a two-quarterback system.

In a statement, President Rodney Erickson commended O?Brien as someone who would ?maintain the school?s commitment to excellence on the field and in the classroom. We have that leader in Coach O?Brien.?

O?Brien has no previous ties to Penn State and a proud program tarnished by a scandal that also led to the departure of President Graham Spanier.

O?Brien and Paterno do share at least one connection though ? both coaches attended Brown University.

Stepping to the podium at his introductory news conference before a throng of media, O?Brien surveyed the crowd and found his young son, Michael, wearing the blue No. 25 jersey of tailback Silas Redd.

?I can?t wait to get going on this,? he said, ?get everyone headed in the right direction.?

This was O?Brien?s first year coordinating the Patriots? powerful offense, but he has also coached star quarterback Tom Brady since 2009 and spent 2008 coaching receivers.

O?Brien recently was in the spotlight when he and Brady got into a heated argument, shown on national television, after Brady threw an interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter of the Patriots? 34-27 win over the Washington Redskins on Dec. 11.

He was asked about the incident and his relationship with Brady. He spoke of the Pro Bowl quarterback in glowing terms, before addressing the scene on the sideline.

?Football is an emotional game,? he said.

School president Rodney Erickson praised O?Brien as someone who would ?maintain the university?s commitment to excellence on the field and in the classroom.?

Acting Athletic Director David Joyner said O?Brien had a demeanor that would embrace Penn State?s 125-year tradition while demanding excellence on and off the field.

O?Brien also didn?t shy away from brewing criticism among some alumni and prominent former players concerned that this was his first head-coaching job, or that he didn?t have previous Penn State ties.

Some others have been critical about the search itself, angered that ex-players weren?t consulted enough about the selection process. Former teammates and standout linebackers Brandon Short and LaVar Arrington had organized a petition supporting the candidacy of interim coach Tom Bradley.

Reading from a letter he said he sent to former players, O?Brien said ?We respect the rights to one?s opinions, beliefs and (their) contributions to Penn State. ... We respectfully request the opportunity to earn your trust through communication.

?In time, we will find we have more common interests and goals than not.?

In a statement, Bradley wished O?Brien well. The longtime assistant under Paterno remained on the staff as of Saturday, though his future was uncertain.

?No matter the challenges that the university may face, Penn State will always have my support,? Bradley said. ?This is forever my home and forever my family. It is important that we come together to support our players and our university.?

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Source: http://www.galesburg.com/x1085777687/Bill-OBrien-takes-over-as-Penn-State-football-coach

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