The Lions' Pride

Thanks for this man. +1. My roomate said he met someone from Auburn that was going to be a GA, and I had NO clue who the heck he was talking about...

Thanks for sharing. That's an amazing story. Got to believe he will be an asset here.

Very touching story, and Zac seems like a good kid and he will probably be a solid GA.

That being said, the hiring of a non-PSU GA is just another thorn in side of every former PSU player out there, especially those in coaching or interested in coaching.

The hiring of a GA would have been an easy way for BOB to show some loyalty to our former players, and prove that he is going to support them in their careers even if they were not his guys.

So, from that standpoint, I'm disappointed with this move.

Though having PSU GAs sounds great, it might not always work for a couple reasons:

1.) Maybe there wasn't any former PSU player showing interested and felt like a fit.
2.) Maybe they were targeting a DB to help our least experienced defensive coach and a former Roof player would be a great start to help Butler install Roofs system.

Plus, Joe went outside of PSU to hire grad assistants. The bigger thing BOB can do is to get interested former players in contact with other coaches looking for GAs. I am sure between BOB, Roof, Fisher and the rest of the staff...they can find former players GA jobs at other schools.

I am glad this young man was not injured to the point of permanent disability. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders and wish him nothing but the best as a GA. I am not upset that he is at PSU. Quality individuals can't do anything but increase the values and core basis of our program. Congrats to him.

Totally agree on all counts...I'm just saying this would have been an easy bone to throw, but like you said, maybe there was no interest from a qualified former PSU'er...I guess time will tell how involved he gets with former PSU players that were not his guys, but I hope he acts like they were his guys and let's out all the stops to help the guys who ask.

An amazing story

Do you all realize that it is called a GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP ? It's no different than the graduate assistantship I have at Oregon State as a normal student. Preferential treatment is not given to prospective graduate students who apply for graduate programs at their undergraduate institution. In fact, the opposite is true-- they are discouraged from attending their undergraduate institution.

You take all applications and look them over. Take the best. That's how it works for everyone else trying to go to get a graduate assistantship.

Do you realize that there were already a couple of former PSU players who were GAs, so if a spot comes open that means someone either had to move on or was shoved out? Furthermore, these guys are working like slaves in an apprenticeship hoping it pays off with a real coaching job somewhere like it did for Buggs, Big REd and Kenney (who Joe hired after he was a GA at UNL) so if one of them got shoved out it basically kills his career dreams -- Etheridge is obviously one of Roof's guys, but should he get his shot at the expense of one of Joe's guys?

Now, I really don't know what happened to Terrell Golden and Elijah Robinson -- maybe they were retained or found coaching jobs somewhere else or just decided coaching wasn't for them. And I've got nothing against Etheridge, but I'd like to have a better understanding about what happened to the other guys before applauding this move.

My best friend was a GA last year for strength and conditioning. He got pushed out i wish he got a chance to learn under fitz that would have been great.