The Lions' Pride

tdiddy, I'd still like to see LJ stay around. That was my response to who would you like?

I'd be OK with keeping Big Red around also. I'd get a young aggressive head coach...hence Harbaugh, Ferentz or Golden, say goodbye to Galen Hall, Jay, Anderson.

I think there may be a complete overall planned- and maybe after this season. Again- that's why I hope there is no succession plan being announced. I doubt it makes sense to tell the current coaches that their jobs are in jeopardy.

If Bradley is the next head coach, I would support him, but I'd be pissed that they didn't announce that plan earlier (like Jumbo Fisher for FSU).

I got you. It is just my opinion, that regardless of politics, LJ will absolutely not stay at PSU...potentially beyond this season. He's had other major offers in the past, and I believe of all the coaches on the current staff, he bangs heads with Joe the most. He's had battles with Joe over recruiting, discipline issues, personnel, and gameplans. I do believe we will see Joe back next year, and unless he has been promised something behind closed doors (which I doubt would happen while Joe is still in the picture), I can't see LJ staying for another year of this. I'm still shocked he didn't take the Illinois job, but he would be easily the most in demand assistant on our staff if he went on the open market. If this season goes downhill in a hurry and our recruiting class fizzles at LOI Day, I wouldn't be shocked at all if LJ goes elsewhere.

I live in Tucson and I have to say the jury is still out on Mike Stoops. His job was on the line until he won the Holiday Bowl two seasons ago, his first winning season in 5 years on the job. Clearly, some of the credit to his success the last two years has been due to the hire of Sonny Dykes, (former O.C. from Texas Tech) who left this past off-season. But, according to a friend of mine who played for him for one year, Stoops is a very knowledgeable X's and O's guy-at least on the defensive side of the ball. He also was smart enough to relinquish control of the offense.

He knew enough that a pro-style offense with the talent he was bringing into Tucson wouldn't be successful, so he went to the spread. He recruits hard with mixed results-from a recruiting site standpoint- but is able to find some less-recruited players that can make a difference. The best player on the offense is a former 2-star recruit, who is now considered a top-10 WR. His defenses are generally good and he seems to develop DB's particularly well.

The biggest concerns are his fiery nature (his sideline tantrums used to be considered an embarrassment until he started winning) and his ability to get consistent effort out of his players. Every year, his teams play up to the level of good teams and pull off upsets yet lose to "inferior teams". The Iowa game is a perfect example of playing up to the competition. He followed it up with a stinker against Cal, but unlike the last few years, Arizona found a way to win this time.

With regards to academics, he inherited a trainwreck from Mackovich. Arizona had an abysmal graduation rate. I'm not sure if it's getting better but it really can't be getting any worse. All in all, he'd be an interesting choice if bigger names don't work out. I suspect with better talent and resources, he could be an excellent coach. I would say that most people here think this job is just a stepping stone to a bigger program.

That is really depressing to hear, since he's pretty much the only guy keeping our recruiting afloat. If LJ does leave, what do you see happening with recruiting and who do you believe would become the DL coach? Also, where do you think LJ would go? I'm trying to think of worst-case scenario, and OSU immediately came to mind. Can't imagine LJ's skills and recruiting prowess in our prime areas being put to use at that school.

Mack Brown is set to retire within a few years time.

The longer Joe sticks around, and the more I dwell on it, the more likely I think it is that we go outside the program to hire.

Imo, Spanier understands the importance of a successful football program to Penn State University. When the team is winning, and winning big, applications to the University increase. A bigger pool of applicants typically means, academically, a stronger freshmen class. I'd, also, suspect that giving to the University is loosely correlated to how well the football program is doing. Graham catches a lot of flack from a lot of folks, but he is no idiot sitting in Old Main.

Also, imo, Spanier desires to lessen the "pull" of the head football coach and the football staff. That necessitates a clean break from Paterno and his current staff.

Now, I also think that Spanier fully realizes that he'll have to pay fair market value for a head coach who will bring everything that Penn State desires - success on the field, success off of the field, and long term commitment to the University and football program. Don't let past comments about not wanting to pay much fool you. He won't get into a bidding war for the Meyers and Sabans of the world, who will simply bolt when a better offer comes their way. However, he won't handicap himself by not paying fair market value for a coach, because he realizes just how important that job is to the University.

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As for the next head coach....

I'll begin with the criteria that truly matters - player development, game planning, and in game adjustments. There is a very limited list of coaches who truly excel in these areas. There are, also, a lot off coaches who are just "ok." The elite Xs and Os coaches, imo, are:

Jim Tressel
Urban Meyer
Nick Saban (imo, the best pure football coach in America)
Chris Peterson
Jim Harbaugh
and I might throw in Mack Brown
and Bo Pelini might already be there, although I haven't seen enough of Nebraska

If the goal is to be THE elite football program in America, then the hire must come from the above group. Imo, the only two viable options, from either viewpoint, are Harbaugh and Peterson.

After that initial group, there is a list of 2nd-tier candidates that is longer and more likely. Those names include:

Tom Bradley (The only in-house guy who would be offered the job)
Kirk Ferentz (although 1) I doubt PSU would pay him what he makes now and 2) I doubt he'd actually leave Iowa. He's got mega job security out there.)
Al Golden (He's got the off-field stuff down pat. His Xs and Os remain a question mark)
Pat Fitzgerald (He does things the right way, and gets a lot out of his players. Will he ever be an elite Xs and Os coach?)

Names mentioned that I'd pass on:

Schiano (Flavor of the Week in 2006. Beneficiary of the 85 scholarship limit, but has since proven that he's a pretty poor Xs and Os coach)
Mike Stoops (2010's Flavor of the Week. If Arizona hadn't beaten Iowa, would his name even be mentioned in this thread?)
Randy Edsell (He did nice things at UConn, but is he really worthy of a big-time job? I've yet to see any evidence that he is a really good football coach)

I have no idea where he would go, but he would have a lot of offers. I heavily doubt OSU would be where he would end up, but you never know for sure. Recruiting is already in the toilet, and LJ has had his hands tied ever since the multiple disappointments from the 2006 class. Joe didn't take kindly to some of the kids LJ convinced him to allow on campus. He still wins a few battles (Oakman this year), but for the most part, Joe vetoes a lot of the kids he would normally pursue. Really, I think the "powers that be" are focusing their energies on preserving and covering for Joe rather than building the future of the entirety of the program. We've become very shortsighted, and it's causing major frustration with a lot of people...internally and externally. The longer this is allowed to go on, the worse the situation will be when change inevitably happens.

Bunker mentality either in practice or subconsciously. Doesn't have to be that way but it is hard when you know the head man's days are numbered, people are jockeying for position & power while the head man continues to protect himself by necessity through blind loyalty.

There are so many names that could be the new HC it is amazing. It either will be a very difficult decision or very easy meaning Bradley gets the default short term position to maintain the Paterno money donation machine continues to run while Joe has influence. After that it will really be up in the air as to what happens. I could see, in a Bradley HC decision, a second HC coming is within five years as they use Bradley to transition the program and fund raising into the direction they really want to go for the long term.

If Joe Pa is living, and I think their is a very good chance we stay in house with Bradley. If he isn't...the chance we go outside goes up significantly.

If Joe Pa is living, and we go outside, it is going to be someone who he knows and likes. So a John Harbaugh or Chris Peterson or Mike Stoops is unlikely. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald, Ferentz, and Golden would all set themselves up perfectly.

I hope you are right. IMO, I think going outside the program is the best option for this program for the reason you stated, to esecape from Joe and everything he has done. You don't want to hire a coach from within and continue to have things done the same way. I can just from hearing people talk that there are many that are upset about how Joe is running the team, or lack there of, and they aren't going to be renewing their season tickets in 2011 due to the same lack-luster performance this football team plays in every big game. It's time for a change and somebody has to stand up to Joe and or Spanier and state their case as to why a change is needed ASAP in order to end this before Joe runs the program he built into the ground.

I'm totally with you on maintaining the tradition. I have a hard time believing that our administration would hire someone like Rich Rodriguez or Lane Kiffin. Those are the guys who care less about tradition and only care about themselves. I think our athletic department and administration will hire the right person for the job. Someone who is young, has great character and excellent morals - all of which are important in coaching the Penn State football team and being part of the Penn State family.

The disgruntlement from the big dollar donors is no different that it is from the fans who were "STEPPED ON". Everyone wants to be successful.

Spanier won't push Joe out after this season when Joe only has one year left on his contract, too much controversy and he knows Joe will go kicking and screaming if he tries to push, been there and done that before.

tdiddy brings up some good points and apparently has some good connections. The thought that Bradley was the shoe in is diminishing daily. Bradley portends more of the same old thing to most fans/boosters. That is not fair to Bradley but it is the pervasive opinion. I think Bradley should have a shot and let him take his position with the committee who interviews. If Bradley wants a clean break, give him a shot. If he wants to keep too much, sorry, we'll find a spot for you to retire in the AD or somewhere like we do everyone else.

I guess the major issue is whether Joe can weather the current season if things continue to go down hill. I hope they don't for all of our sakes, fans, players, coaches, etc. Still, how could a University President give a nearly 85 year old man a new contract extension next summer or at the end of the contract? It is not reasonable or prudent given the current situation with new rumors and facts coming out weekly about dissension while the team looks confused and recruiting is not going well.

I get what you're saying, but he's run out of time. He's lost the BOT.