Penn State Alumni Not Happy With O'Brien Hire
BOSTON (CBS) – While many New England fans are happy another Bill Belichick disciple is getting his own shot at a head coaching job, Penn State fans and alumni are not too pleased over the hiring of Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien.
O'Brien has reportedly agreed to become Joe Paterno's successor at Penn State, who was let go after the Jerry Sandusky scandal hit, and will be introduced on Saturday.
But alumni are not happy with the hire, or the way interim Athletic Director Dave Joyner went about the hiring process.
Former Nittany Lions star linebacker Brandon Short told USA TODAY Thursday night that three "Letterman's Club" members have a meeting scheduled with Joyner on Friday to let him know their displeasure.
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"There is a tangible standard at Penn State that this poor (O'Brien) guy knows nothing about,'' Short told USA TODAY. "I feel badly for him (because) he is clueless and will not have the support of the majority of the Lettermen. This is a hornet's nest (for him).''
Short described Joyner during the process as "arrogant" and "nonchalant," and is not the only one upset about the hiring of O'Brien.
Former Penn State and NFL linebacker Lavar Arrington isn't showing much school pride, telling the Blue White Illustrated he is going to forget about his alma mater for the time being.
"I will put my Butkus (Award) in storage. I will put my Alamo Bowl MVP trophy in storage," Arrington said. "Jerseys, anything Penn State, in storage. Wherever Tom Bradley goes, that's the school I will start to put memorabilia up in my home. I'm done. I'm done with Penn State. If they're done with us, I'm done with them."
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"Penn State is a family and it is real and if they choose to get rid of Bradley and not hire a Penn State coach, then they've turned their backs on our entire family," said Arrington.
Bradley was Penn States long-time defensive coordinator who served as head coach after Paterno was fired. He was recently let go as well.
O'Brien does not have any connections to Penn State, nor has he ever been a head coach. He has 12 years of college football experience, with jobs at ACC schools Georgia Tech, Maryland and Duke. He was just named Patriots offensive coordinator prior to this season after serving as the team's quarterbacks coach.
The Patriots have a first-round bye, but be sure to tune in to a special playoff edition of Patriots GameDay Sunday January 8 at 11:30am on WBZ-TV. Then on Saturday, January 14, tune in to the Pats Playoff matchup on WBZ-TV and 98.5 The Sports Hub at 8pm. Pregame coverage begins with 98.5′s Patriots Preview at 5pm.
