No Mike Munchak for Penn State

By 11W Staff - 28 December 2011
46 Comments

"I love my alma mater, but I have no interest in being the head coach at Penn State." (ESPN/AP)

Source espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7396245/mike-munchak-tennessee-titans-no-in...

Comments

Doc on 28 Dec 2011 - 4:02pm #

Some of the State Penners commenting on this article suggest that the news out of State College is an announcement of huge magnitude is coming after the bowl game. They are suggesting that it is one of the coaches coaching in a bowl game AFTER Jan 1. That is a pretty short list. Let's look at the candidiates

1. Fickell/Meyer No way, No how

2. Muaschamp/FL. Don't see it

3. Bilemia/Wisky Not believeable

4. Flounder/TSUN Nah he a meatchicken man

5. Saban/'Bama Yeah Right

6. Miles/LSU Yeah right again

7. Kelly/Oregon Don't think so

8. VTech's coach Who knows?

Passed Saban and Miles no one on the list will be a "big splash". What says you guys?

btalbert25 on 28 Dec 2011 - 4:20pm #

Miles, Kelly, and Saban are the only 3 that would be a possibility on that list. Meyer ain't going anywhere, Fickell isn't high profile enough, Muschamp has a better job, Bilema has something good going in Madison, Hoke has his dream job already, and Beamer has been at Va Tech for what 30 years? He's built that program, it'd be like Bill Snyder taking a somewhere other than K-State, just don't see it happening.

armybuckinva on 28 Dec 2011 - 4:29pm #

Beamer is 65 years old.

1. Why would he make a change like this at his age

2. Why would PSU want a guy who is 65 y.o. taking over their program.

I'd say it's safe to say Beamer is out of the question. Fickell may not be high profile but it would be a big splash to those in B1G country. If he was interested in the Pitt job, he would obviously listen to what PSU had to offer. Wouldn't surprise me at all if it was Fickell.

BuckeyeSki on 28 Dec 2011 - 4:47pm #

Beamer is 65 years old.

That is like a teenager compared to JoePa. I know he's only been out of coaching for a few weeks, but damn, look how much he's deteriorated:

If Denard Robinson isn't careful with spooning all that food into his mouth, he's going to end up lookin' like Whoopi Goldberg

Doc on 28 Dec 2011 - 4:53pm #

I forgot Beamer was the coach at VT. He's not leaving, but a 65 year old coach is a whole lot younger than the dinosaur they just shit canned.

Is there any other schools playing after the 1st that I missed? I can not see Fickell leavng OSU for that crater that was State Penn.

Dr. Kenneth Noi... on 29 Dec 2011 - 9:43am #

I think none of those are even remote possibilities....the closest one I could talk myself into is Chip Kelly, and only if he knows the hammer is coming at Oregon, even then I still don't see it.....no high profile guy is taking the PSU job, it's a death sentence right now....we may be witnessing the end of PSU being even mildly relevant, a situation like their's has never happened before, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.....

BrewstersMillions on 28 Dec 2011 - 4:07pm #

Here's the big secret Penn State fans don't want to acknowledge-The PSU job isn't attractive right now. Miles, Saban, Hoke, BEAMER? SERIOUSLY? Ridic. This job is a nearly impossible sell right now and despite PSU fans insisting that their program is in the nation's elite-the job doesn't have the status it would have it these truths never came out. They won't get a single big name in the running for that position.

It is beyond arrogant to assume Saban or Miles or Kelly would leave their kush jobs for the nonsense at PSU. Heck, it's beyond arrogant to think they'd leave their jobs for PSU in good times.

4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off

btalbert25 on 28 Dec 2011 - 4:17pm #

I could see Miles, Saban, or Kelly being interested IF they were going to take over for Joe Pa as the successor of the program. I don't see a snowball's chance in hell that any of those guys take the Penn State job after what has happened in State College. That job is toxic right now. Things are going to get much worse before they get better. To build that program back is going to take years, maybe after all the nastiness is going and all the info has come out and Penn State can try to salvage its image someone high profile will want the job, but right now that job is going to set any coach up for failure.

TheHumbleBuckeye on 28 Dec 2011 - 4:28pm #

Disagree for these reasons:

1) Penn State still has huge financial backing from its Alumni base

2) Western PA still has some high quality football, and many of those kids are raised to be Lion fans.

3) the Northeast (especially the greater NYC area, where youth and high school football have grown exponentially over the past 15 years) is going to be the next hotbed for recruiting, and Penn State is only a four hour drive from Manhattan.

4) The general public has a short memory (remember all the Michael Jackson tributes? Did anyone bring up the numerous allegations of sex abuse against MJ?). The media has already begun calling it the "Jerry Sandusky scandal" instead of the "Penn State sex abuse scandal".

5) Money talks. If the price is right, someone will take the job. They may have to dish out $5 million per year to get a big name, but they have the money. And one charasmatic big name coach - especially if he's an outsider - can make everyone forget about what happened under JoePa or at least allow the university to distance itself from it.

BrewstersMillions on 28 Dec 2011 - 4:46pm #

I don't dispute the money part. Nor will I attack\think less of any coach that takes this job as who ever ends up doing so is not part of the problem but the solution. I guess my point is that guys who have it made already (read-big names) would be tough catches in normal circumstances. In all reality, if this never happens and Joe Pa leaves on his own\dies in office the PSU job would be the top job available in whatever year that happened (for the most part). It would be hard, though not impossible to lure away a big time coach. This entire ordeal changes everything though.

I'll concede on the short memory thing but don't forget-this thing isn't close to being over. There may be civil litigation, additional victims, and perhaps most damning of all-more facts about how bad the entire PSU organization handled this situation may still come out. We might just be finding the iceberg on the map.

Couple that with the reality of football-PSU's two primary rivals appear to have long term coaching solutions in place and working (and sadly, winning in Hoke's case). PSU is in a trick bag. If they want their brand of football to remain a national icon, they have to do something soon. They can't get a big name, however. How long can they wait while OSU and UM regain their places as supreme leaders of the Big Ten? We have 4 of the winningest programs in the nation in the B1G. Only one of them is staring long term mediocrity in the face.

4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off

TheHumbleBuckeye on 28 Dec 2011 - 5:32pm #

Those are fair points. I still think they may make a run at Golden. I don't put too much stock into his contract extension with Miami, as some coaches do that just to gain leverage in negotiations. I do think their best option is to go after an alumnus. Someone with sentimental ties would be much more likely to take the job. Other than that, they'll have to throw a ton of money at an outsider.

Here's what I'd do: wave $7 million in front of Saban's face and give him $9 million to play with in choosing his assistants. I think bringing in an outsider is the best way of saying "This is a new era. We're not gonna focus on the past". Short term, it's gonna be rough financially. But with an endowment of over $2.5 Billion and 400,000+ living alumni, I think they'll find the cash. Saban's only gonna be coaching another 7-10 years at the most. Better to make the investment now than to let the program fall into mediocrity and lose all that revenue.

BrewstersMillions on 28 Dec 2011 - 5:49pm #

Well SbB seems to think Golden is the head coach which can only mean Al Golden has told PSU no, changed his relationship status on facebook from "Complicated" to "Engaged to Miami", changed PSU's name in his phone to "Do not answer" and is currently sitting in Miami burning PSU Nittany Lions in effigy whilest listening to Sara McLaughlin's "Angel".

4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off

TheHumbleBuckeye on 28 Dec 2011 - 5:54pm #

Lulz... nice! +infinitis... SbB is a joke.

Doc on 28 Dec 2011 - 4:57pm #

Anybody taking that job has no idea what the future holds. IF the ncaa gets their fingers on this thing and finds out the University was keeping this under wraps they may throw the book at them and the foosball team may have a multi year bowl ban. Coaches don't want to walk into an unknown situation. IMHO.

btalbert25 on 28 Dec 2011 - 6:12pm #

The points you make are fair, I just think that the program and school haven't seen their worst days yet. I do think this stuff is going to drag out for a while and the extent of the cover up will be far more damning to the school's image.

As I said I think the only 3 possibilities are Saban, Miles, and Kelly. Although, I'm not sure Saban is going to go to a conference that handcuffs his recruiting efforts, plus rumors are out there that he's going to be the next head coach at Texas a program that is higher profile than Penn State, and that school has probably the deepest pockets in college football.

I don't doubt Penn State can throw a ton of money at a high profile guy and could perhaps land one, I just don't see it being any of the coaches mentioned above, and can't really think of any other game changers out there. Unless, they are aming at Bill Cower or someone like that, but I think that's highly unlikely as well.

I think it's going to be a while. It's going to take someone with a huge ego, someone who has great PR skills, and someone who isn't affraid to take on the stigma surrounding that program. Taking on that job and rebuilding the program is going to take someone the magnitude of Rick Pitino when he took the UK job in basketball. Only Penn State may be considered even more of a cesspool that UK was back then. Should be interesting to see how it works out, I just don't see a game changer going there any time soon.

TheHumbleBuckeye on 28 Dec 2011 - 6:17pm #

Good point about PR skills. Penn State isn't just hiring a new coach. They're also hiring a guy who has to be able to market the program and "re-brand" it.

Maestro on 28 Dec 2011 - 4:39pm #

Tom Bradley is the best option at this point I think.

vacuuming sucks

cplunk on 29 Dec 2011 - 8:42am #

The rumor among PSU'ers is that it is Chip Kelly. That rumor has been loitering around for a bit. One guy I know who often professes to have inside knowledge says a contract is already signed. Of course, he also thinks Lindsay Lohan is the hottest woman on the planet, so I leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Doc on 29 Dec 2011 - 9:10am #

Could be Kelly, but my question would be why? Oregon seems to be the perfect fit for him. He has a high flying offense with the nations "sexiest" uniforms. The entire package just seems to fit together. He is doing well in the Pac12, with none of the baggage of the PSU mess. He does have a huge ego, could be. In my book, his hire isn't as big as Urban's. Plus it will take him a few years to get his type of players in. Unlike Urban who has a ready made team already.

If I was a betting man I would wager that the hire will be an alumnus of the program that is willing to take on the challenge.

LouGroza on 29 Dec 2011 - 11:09am #

Supposedly Saban or Stoops is what they're trying not to say. Said the hire will "shock the world". I have read everything I can and it seems to be one or the other is my best guesstimation....is that a word?

Denny on 29 Dec 2011 - 11:15am #

You know who else was going to 'shock the world'?

Our 6-6 football team :(

Taquitos.

btalbert25 on 29 Dec 2011 - 11:36am #

Wouldn't Jim Tressel shock the world? I'm half kidding and I don't think with the mess they're already in they'd want to have to hire a guy with a 5 year show cause, but it would shock the world. I honestly don't believe he'd want to be anyway connected with that situation up there, but man talk about a way to clean up the reputation of a school and redeem himself. He's just the kind of coach and man who could clean up that mess.

I'm only partially serious about this, and mostly want to see what everyone else's reaction would be to such an idea. If Penn State knows they are Effed anyway, perhaps they don't worry so much about hiring a coach with a show cause.

NC_Buckeye on 29 Dec 2011 - 11:59am #

Yeah, that's not even remotely possible. Penn State would have convince the NCAA to allow Tressel to even work in State College... in any capacity let alone as HC. They have to "show cause" as to why he should work there. That's not going to happen in any scenario especially after the NCAA just handed him the penalty.

Plus, I don't think the PSU community would go for it. They hate Tressel.

IMO, Tressel should sue the NCAA for that. 5 years is way excessive given the precedent out there. He probably won't though because the probability of winning would not favor sinking the money into legal fees.

#fistpumpgobuckeyes

btalbert25 on 29 Dec 2011 - 12:22pm #

More just food for thought than anything else. Yeah the penalty against Tressel was definitely pretty severe. I wonder if they did it to pretty much force him into retirement, at least as a college coach. It was pretty common knowledge that he was probably going to walk away after his contract extension was up.

BrewstersMillions on 29 Dec 2011 - 11:28am #

Whatever. Penn State fans will declare their new coach-whoever he is-as a bigger 'splash' than Urban because...well...that is what PSU fans do. Assuming it isn't Saban or Miles (which it isn't), no one out there can match Urb's resume or recruiting prowess. We are still light years ahead of these guys. Still more worried about a Hoke run M squad than a Kelly\Peterson\whoever run PSU squad.

4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off

Maestro on 29 Dec 2011 - 11:36am #

I know it's a big time job, but I just can't see someone with a great job leaving it for PSU-right now.

vacuuming sucks

BuckeyeSki on 29 Dec 2011 - 11:40am #

I know it's a ~~big time~~ job, but I just can't see someone with a great job leaving it for PSU-right now.

/Fixed

If Denard Robinson isn't careful with spooning all that food into his mouth, he's going to end up lookin' like Whoopi Goldberg

johnblairgobucks on 29 Dec 2011 - 11:44am #

PSU fans are saying on SCOUT that their coach will be one of the following: Bob Stoops, Ferentz or Kelly and that it will be announced Jan. 3, after bowl obligation. The reason for secret contract is said to be canidate will balk at job if info is prematurely released. Of course the PSU fans are also saying Meyer/Fickell are possibilities as well.

Denny on 29 Dec 2011 - 11:49am #

I blame Kevin Garnett for giving people false hope. Not [every]thing is possiblllllleeee.

Taquitos.

johnblairgobucks on 29 Dec 2011 - 11:59am #

funny to read PSU fan's excitement/nervousness at their coaching spot and future:

http://forums.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=157&f=1395&t=8489948

Thank goodness OSU's turmoil unfolded as it did. Penn State is 2 month's in to their saga, that was 20 years in the making. OSU's saga took 10 month's to unsift and 2 years to create. PSU may have a while to go, without a genie in a bottle.

LouGroza on 29 Dec 2011 - 12:04pm #

Here is a link for anyone interested in the muck.

http://blog.pennlive.com/pasports/2011/12/your_comments_nick_saban_lates.html

BuckeyeSki on 29 Dec 2011 - 12:45pm #

Posted this on OTE already, but aren't we encouraged to recycle?

Not a kitty cat lover, but:

DavidBennett4PSU

If Denard Robinson isn't careful with spooning all that food into his mouth, he's going to end up lookin' like Whoopi Goldberg

Doc on 29 Dec 2011 - 12:52pm #

Saban to PSU. It just doesn't make any sense. Why would he leave 'Bama for that crater. Again, as I posted before no one knows if and when the ncaa is going to go thermal nuclear on State Penn. What coach in their right mind would sign up for that unknown. Granted the supposed $48 million over 6 years would make anyone perk up. I just don't see the Devil going there. I have said in the past that Saban would leave any job for another nickel more a year.

He would be a huge splash! That is for sure. What would espn do with the two best sec coaches coaching in the B1G. Flounder would quickly become third fiddle.

M Man on 29 Dec 2011 - 1:12pm #

Alabama would have to mothball their Saban statue as fast as State Penn would be mothballing their Paterno statue. The world market for bronze would collapse, flooded by the new supply.

Statues for living, active coaches are like tattoos on Megan Fox. Big mistake.

Doc on 29 Dec 2011 - 1:19pm #

That was Funny MMan. I think Joe Poo's statue is safe, for awhile, but Saban's would be gone before is signature dried.

What if the big splash coach is Mattison?

NC_Buckeye on 29 Dec 2011 - 1:20pm #

Nothing on Megan Fox is a mistake. That is one fine looking woman. If only I was a few years younger...

/delusional meandering of an old codger

#fistpumpgobuckeyes

armybuckinva on 29 Dec 2011 - 1:32pm #

+1 great post, gave me a good laugh

NW Buckeye on 29 Dec 2011 - 2:20pm #

Interesting comments all.... The one thing I can not fathom is the hiring of one prima dona to replace another prima dona. I mean, the trustee's at PSU really had their eyes opened by a tenured coach who had way too much control over everything that happened at PSU. Why, oh why, would they be interested in any other coach that would present that all powerful persona like the one they just canned?

You can bet the NCAA is watching this and wants to make sure PSU will do everything possible to live up to the code of conduct that was so blatantly ignored by the JoPa regime. Could you imagine what might have happened if OSU had hired, let's just say, Pete Carol for instance? Yeah, the NCAA is not supposed to act on possible future problems, but when the school is under the microscope and is expected to do everything possible to remedy this bad situation a hire like Saban would be thumbing their noses at the NCAA. Same could be said for Kelly or Miles - they have both shown the tendency to sweep stuff under the carpet (Kelly and the scout/recruiting scandal as well as his Q and others involved in the impermissible benefit of driving a rented car supplied by a school employee and appearing high in the subsequent traffic stop, and Miles for the likewise scout/recruiting scandal and the massive cover up of the after hours bar room brawl that as first reported had over 30 members of the team involved, yet only the Q faced a very minimal suspension). These candidates just do not fit the mold of what is needed at PSU. Golden makes more sense than anyone mentioned. Who knows? Maybe they will bring Lou Holtz in as they just can't imagine watching a PSU game without an old man pacing the sidelines!!!

Shock the world indeed - any hire will shock the world because most of us can not envision anyone wanting to step into the mess at PSU.

Doc on 29 Dec 2011 - 2:33pm #

Shock the world indeed - any hire will shock the world because most of us can not envision anyone wanting to step into the mess at PSU

It just seems the arrogance in Happy Valley knows no limit. they are expecting a Saban/Miles/Kelly hire. Maybe we (OSU fans) are the delusional ones and are hoping the mess at PSU is bigger than it really is? I can't imagine it not being this way, but what do I know. I'm hoping the hire is a no name from Bumble Fuk U and their program floats in the bowl at about the same level as Iowa.

With that said, I wouldn't be shocked, surprised yes, if Saban takes the gig.

NC_Buckeye on 29 Dec 2011 - 3:13pm #

I really don't see the NCAA (or B1G for that matter) doing anything besides a cursory investigation to see what's going on. My reasoning is that this is a legal matter. In fact, if anything there is precedent for the NCAA to NOT get involved in legal matters. See the LSU after-hours brawl for the most recent example of this. (Hell, wasn't one of the victims in a coma!) IMO both organizations are posturing because of public backlash.

So the main damage to PSU is going to be to their reputation and their wallets (in the form of payouts and legal fees from the myriad of civil suits as well as some decreases in their endowments & fundraising). Mind you, none of this is minimal. But I don't see a direct effect on their football program.

I'm not sure what Saban/Miles/Kelly would gain from a relocation to State College. I'm pretty sure that each of those three schools have as deep as pockets as PSU and would match and exceed any big number that PSU throws out. And their programs are in infinitely better shape than the one in Happy Valley.

Bob Stoops is the wildcard IMO. It would almost be like returning home (only 174 miles between Youngstown and State College). Plus, it seems like he doesn't have the support in Norman that he used to. He's had what... 4 or 5 teams in the last 10 years that were supposed to contend for the NC and were never able to put it together. At the very least the shine is off of him as the OU HC.

FWIW, my bet is on a highly touted OC or DC. I would laugh my ass of if the next PSU HC is Greg Mattison. (There goes Jabba's much improved defense.)

#fistpumpgobuckeyes

btalbert25 on 29 Dec 2011 - 3:36pm #

I can see the NCAA getting involved simply for the fact that there is no precedent for this particular situation. I mean sure it's a legal matter, but it's a legal matter that appears to have had university officials commit perjury and a lot of other high ranking folks, included Joe Pa bury their heads in the sand and let this keep happening. If more evidence surfaces that proves there was a coordinated effort to cover up this mess and that the athletic department was involved to protect the brand and Joe Pa's legacy, then perhaps there is a situation where The NCAA and B1G step in.

I tend to agree with you that I doubt much will happen from the NCAA, but I do think this drags out for a long time and a lot more ugly details will come out making this an even more toxic program to be around.

cplunk on 29 Dec 2011 - 3:40pm #

I'm not really "hoping" it is a big mess. For some reason Penn State has never scared me, even when they're good. I'm always aware of TSUN, leery of Illinois and Purdue because they seem to upset us at the worst possible times, and checking to see if its a Michigan State/Iowa/or Wisconsin year since it seems like only one is usually any good in a given year. I want TSUN to be undefeated when we play them so I can watch their tears as their season turns to ash in their last game. I am only vaguely aware of the existence of Northwestern, Minnesota and Indiana. I'm excited about Nebraska because they're new.

Only then, after all those teams, do I realize I've left out Penn State. I'm always surprised when I see that they're ranked. Frankly, I've never once been scared about facing any Penn State team. I'm 40, so I remember many Penn State glory years. Not sure why they don't scare me, but they just never have.

btalbert25 on 29 Dec 2011 - 3:41pm #

Saban won't come back to the Big 10 for no other reason than recruiting. Why would he come to the B1G when they will handcuff him? He won't be able to use the same tactics in the B1G. We know he doesn't like commenting on his programs scholarship situatoin or oversigning. Do you think he's going to want to accept a job where he isn't allowed to use every trick in his bag? I just don't see it.

Poison nuts on 29 Dec 2011 - 10:22pm #

"Farts in the wind....all these posts are farts in the wind"

As sung to the beautiful and haunting music of Kansas.

Every bit of every word of anything written about PSU's next HC is theory, conjecture, wishful thinking or just plain BS. I wonder why readers on this site want to join the speculation. Spoiler alert - the next HC of PSU will be cleaning up after a fallen legend...and will probably hear more than his fair share of bad shower jokes. That's about all anyone knows for sure at this point.

The world is full of kings & queens who'll blind your eyes & steal your dreams - it's heaven & hell - Ronnie James Dio.

Doc on 29 Dec 2011 - 10:27pm #

Well the same could have been said about the next OSU coach. It was all conjecture until Urbz signed on the dotted line. The not knowing and the possibilities are what makes talking about it fun. It also passes the time. What else are we going to do? Actually talk to our families?

Poison nuts on 30 Dec 2011 - 12:25am #

Fair enough. Of course you shouldn't have to talk to to your family! I'm not unreasonable... But seriously, I enjoy speculating as much as the next guy - I just don't put any stock into any of what's being said right now as none of the info seems valid or possible. At least with Urban the rumors seemed to make since. He's from Ohio, coached/earned a degree at tOSU, was available, carries a buckeye around in his pocket, mentored by Earle Bruce, etc... Nick Saban to PSU though??? It all seems like wild rumors being fueled by an inability to find ANYONE willing to deal with a kind of nightmare that's never been seen in college football history.

The world is full of kings & queens who'll blind your eyes & steal your dreams - it's heaven & hell - Ronnie James Dio.