How to Rebuild Penn State
Schools hit with major penalties tend to take a step backwards in terms of wins and losses. Penn State was likely to do that anyway this season with a transition to a new coaching staff and a win-loss record in 2011 that included a lot of close wins (5-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less). Historically, teams that win a lot of tight games often aren't so lucky the following year. Both the overall recruiting momentum and roster are going to take hits, which will likely be evident on the field. So how do the Nittany Lions recover from this transition as quickly as possible to become a contender in their division?
Fans Matter
If you think about what the Nittany Lions now have to offer recruits it's a quality education, a winning tradition, early playing time, and an exciting game-day atmosphere. But with no post-season or possibility of a conference championship over the next four years, it's a little like choosing Duke or Indiana. At least those schools have a mathematical opportunity of playing in a bowl game. Any Penn State recruit has to be content with no postseason. How do you make that palatable to a recruit that could otherwise choose another Big Ten school? You probably aren't going to lure too many kids away from Michigan. But a packed stadium might give an edge over Indiana or Minnesota. It's up to the fans to continue to show up, even when they know their school won't be a contender for a while.
Keep the New Coach
When Bill O'Brien starts losing games that they think he ought to have won or that Joe Paterno would have won, don't call for his head. In Texas Hold'em terms, he's been dealt off-suited deuce-seven. Changing coaches isn't likely to make things better and are quite likely to make them worse. You also don't want to give O'Brien an excuse to skip town. There's been enough uncertainty without asking players that are free to transfer to wait around during a coaching search or to adapt to new schemes. Barring any ethical lapses, O'Brien should be given a minimum of five seasons before any consideration is given to his win-loss record.
Beat the Little Guys
As bad as things get at Penn State in the next few years, they can't start losing to Indiana. In some ways, the game with Purdue each year might be one of the biggest. Maintaining an edge on Illinois would be huge. If beating the likes of Virginia becomes too tall an order, you at least have to take out the Eastern Michigan's and Kent State's that appear on the schedule. Beating Akron or Minnesota may not be something to beat your chest about, but winning five or six games is way better than one or two. If a generation of high school players see the Nittany Lions become a one or two win team, it's going to be that much harder to lure them to State College once the sanctions are lifted. PSU should make no apologies if they adopt the 1990's Kansas State non-conference scheduling philosophy for a while. Beating Buffalo doesn't make you a world-beater, but taking a pounding from Alabama while you're short-handed doesn't make much sense either.
It seemed unlikely that the Big Ten could keep four teams among the top six nationally in winning percentage as they had over the past 50 years (Nebraska [#1], Ohio State [#2], Penn State [#4], and Michigan [#6]). Out of that quartet, Penn State seems to be in for the toughest decade. How things are handled over the next five to ten years though, may do a lot to determine how they play out in the decades that follow. The Nittany Lions need patient fans, patience with their coach, and enough wins over lesser teams in the coming years to attract top recruits again two presidential elections from now. Otherwise, we may be witnessing the beginning of the end of PSU as a college football power.
7/24/2012
It couldn’t hurt either if Penn St could have someone who could actually conduct an investigation actually handle the situation. Joe Paterno was not a subject of the Grand Jury Investigation but every single anti-PSU person out there thought he was somehow the omniscient being of Happy Valley who walked between the rain drops and should have flown over to Sandusky’s house and vaporized him with his heat vision the moment he concluded the conversation with McQueary.
There were a lot of failures at Penn St and State College PA, but Joe Paterno was not one of them. Additionally, I place absolutely no trust what-so-ever in Louis Freeh’s report. “Someone who worked with Joe Paterno for years confirmed that it was his handwriting.”
Oh for Pete’s Sake, you are the former head of the FBI and you couldn’t get an honest-to-Pete analyist to sign off on the idea that it was Joe’s? You had to play the, “An associate of an aquaintence who had a nephew who’s second cousin that dated the girl who later married and divorced the man who frequented the gas station that serviced the car of the grounds keeper, confirmed the signature, bit.
7/24/2012
PSU needs to schedule games that kids are going to look forward to playing in. Renewing the Pitt rivalry is a must, and how about WVU as well. a 5 year away series with Hawaii might also help.
7/24/2012
Joe Paterno absolutely was part of the failure at Penn St, the biggest part. He quest to be the winningest coach obviouisly trumped any common sense or moral obligation on his part to do the right thing and protect innocent young boys from a monster not only on his campus but in his football facilities. By most reports JoeP ran Penn St, which became very obvious when the scandal first surfaced and he told the Trustees that they didn’t need to concern themselves with it and then tried to dictate to them when he would retire. “We Are Penn St” is not quite right. “Joe Paterno Is Penn St” would be much more accurate.
7/24/2012
Are you kidding me jonny pull your head out of you no where joe p. Wasn’t responsiable that’s horse crap and you no it!!!! He allowed a monster to countine to roam free to rape youg boys when he himself could’ve ended his ramp page on young boys back in 1998 at the very werst and at the very least he could’ve. Stopped that monster 2001 when the shower situation was brought 2 his attention excuse me while I puke jonny give me a damn break u have your head burried in the sand!!! Pull it out you look very foulish!!!!
7/24/2012
I would add a robust walk on program is another key to success. With only 65 scholarship players they won’t have enough bodies to practice properly without increasing significantly the amount of walk-ons. Also HS football in PA is pretty good, so I’m sure you can find 20 low D1 or D2 guys each year that are die hard PSU fans that would walk on to keep the program going, with some eventually developing into 2 deep guys after a couple years in the weight room. Let’s face it, if you going to lose, fans will accept it better it if the team is full of heart and hustle.
Valencia, CA
7/25/2012
It is obvious at this point that the Sandusky situation was a systemic cover-up involving the coaching staff and the upper brass of Penn St. The NCAA sanctions are “light” in my opinion considering how many were abused/harmed. I’m not sure if the program will ever recover. In addition, I think it is absolutely premature to start talking about the “rebuilding” of Penn State. They may not even have a football program when it is all said and done. Parents around the country will not even entertain the idea of their children going to that institution.
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8/21/2012
Steve k,
Honestly, considering the subject matter and actions involved in the scandal, you couldn’t have used different wording in your chastising me?
Paterno reported what he had heard. It stands to reason the McQueary, the Physcian friend of Mcqueary’s dad, McQueary’s dad and Joe Paterno were told of the incident. Yet, Joe was the only one who actually forwards the information and the Physician friend actually has a mandatory reporting requirement.
Also, it has been established by McQueary himself, in repeated testimony that he was vague when speaking to Paterno. The Freeh report is a fabrication of events based on playing fast and loose with the facts.