I hate to say this but I would bet that PSU had trouble getting a good coach.  They decided to hire an up and coming coach and if it does not work in a year or two will blow him off.  Then they can hire a "Name" coach and please the alumni.  If it works with O'Brien they also win.

I think he is in a real tough place.

Who in their right mind of anyone with head coaching credentials would want to be the first to step into that mine field?

I agree, let the dust settle a little and then go out and make a serious effort to hire a name coach.

Truth be told, none of what happened at Penn St surprised me, and I hope the whole lot of them rot in hell.

I believe the Jags were going to interview him for head coach

I am for anything that weakens the Patriots.

He he has been there in the past with good success.

Bye Bye Billy!

Reports are that Penn State will name Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien as their next head coach. O'Brien has no ties to Penn State and no previous head coaching experience. He graduated from Brown, Paterno's alma mater. Already, people are voicing their displeasure over the hiring and for Penn State going "outside the family." It'll be interesting to see how he fares.

Always be the guy who followed the guy who followed the legend. Much less pressure that way. O'Brien has very little chance of succeeding at Penn State. Recruiting will be extremely difficult not to mention the competition in the Big 10. It's going to take years to restore the program to national prominence. I doubt O'Brien will be around to see it.

Moreover, Belichick coaching disciples have not done well when given the opportunity to be a head coach...Weiss, Romeo, Josh McDaniels and Man-Genius (as Jet fans referred to him after one successful season!) immediately come to mind.

they didn't pick the defenceive coordinator which the Patriots don't seem to have much of. Maybe  Bill O'Brien didn't see a head coaching position coming his way anytime soon. So he did what most of has to do at one time or another. Take a chance.

Well in that case they could have hired the Giants coach.