To the surprise of nobody...outside of a handful of people at Vanderbilt University, Penn State made it official early Saturday morning and hired James Franklin to coach the football team.
The only matter, which we reported on Friday, that slowed things down was getting the school's Board of Trustees to sign off on his salary. Which they did just after 9 a.m on Saturday.
And according to CBSSports.com's Bruce Feldman, the deal is a big one. 6-years for $27 million or $4.5 million a year.
Read more from the school their own-selves RIGHT HERE
Franklin has been one of College Football's hottest coaching commodities after leading the Commodores to 24 wins and three straight bowl games in his 3-years at the Nashville school.
He inherits a once storied football program that has suffered the past several years both before and after the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the passing of legendary coach Joe Paterno. The Nittany Lions are dealing with scholarship losses and several other punishments for the mess and to most outsiders are a few years away from returning to full strength.
The job came open after Bill O'Brien left to take the head coaching job with the Houston Texans.
Penn State will introduce Franklin to the world at 4:15 on Saturday afternoon.
According to Vandy AD David Williams, the two had a discussion at 1PM Friday afternoon. Williams said that, after a conversation he had with Franklin six hours later, it was his impression that Franklin was removing himself from the position of head coach at the university. Williams is disappointed with the decision, but is ready to move on.
Brother Jon did a great job on Thursday summarizing all the news related to Vanderbilt coach James Franklin and his pending move to Penn State.
But there was nothing etched in stone about any of it.
Well, this morning (Friday), there's more. It appears, despite Vanderbilt saying "He's still our football coach" and information from Vandy insider, the Dirty South Sports Reports Jackson Martin, the move IS going to happen.
Mike Poorman of StateCollege.com, the Newspaper in Happy Valley reports Friday morning that the Penn State Board of Trustees (yes, that board) is meeting on Saturday morning specifically to discuss a "compensation" issue.
At this point, we don't think there is any reason the deal won't happen. We also are quite amused at the hullabaloo the hire is generating. Yes, Franklin has been wildly successful at Vanderbilt and likely will do well in Happy Valley, but in the grand scheme of things, this is not a Texas hire or even Petrino returning to Louisville.
Still, we would advise our friends in Nashville, Vanderbilt in particular to get moving on the coaching search, waiting this long, thins the pool of candidates.
Bill O'Brien is in his first weekend of coaching the Houston Texans and there were a few changes in the staff...
Three coaches, including DC Wade Phillips (who filled in as interim head coach when Gary Kubiak was nursing his heart issues) are out looking for work...
There's a really good chance, unless you stayed home Tuesday night you missed the revelation that the Houston Texans have hired a new coach.
That coach, Bill O'Brien, now formerly of Penn State and previous to that, 5-years as a disciple of the Belichick, in the New England Patriots system.
O'Brien became THE hot coaching commodity after steering Penn State to a 15-9 record over the past 2-years despite a loss of scholarships and the general craziness surrounding the school in the fallout after the Jerry Sanduksy scandal.
The Texans, with 2-hours to spare in 2013, secured their immediate future in 2014, as O'Brien will become their 3rd head coach ever.
Read more about the hire from Chron.com RIGHT HERE
O'Brien does not have a lengthy background as a head coach. His 5-years in the NFL were as an assistant and the Penn State job was his first leading a team. The consensus by most was that he'd be ready for the task and with Houston, he inherits a team that has the coming years #1 draft pick. The Texans were expected to be a playoff and possibly a Super Bowl contender, but the season was a complete and total failure which led to the dismissal of Gary Kubiak. In addition, he goes to a franchise considered one of the best run in the league.
The team is expected to make a formal announcement of the hire by Friday.
Four overtimes. It's the type of game that exhausts players, coaches and fans.
And after Saturday, both Sports writers and Penn State fans are calling it one of the greatest upsets ever.
We are just calling it a pretty good game.
Penn State (4-2) beat Michigan (5-1) Saturday 43-40 in 4....yes, 4 overtimes. The game ended after Michigan kicked a field goal in the top of the 4th OT, Penn State got a 2-yard TD run by Bill Belton to win it.
And the chaos ensued. The biggest win for the Nittany Lions in Bill O'Brien's 2-years at the helm. Yes, it was a very good win for an improving Penn State team over what was, but shouldn't be a ranked Michigan team. But what leaves us scratching our heads is the description of it being a huge upset.
It wasn't.
Penn State isn't as bad as the team that lost to a very good UCF squad. Michigan, hasn't been impressive, yet they were somehow undefeated. But they are Michigan, so if the record is over .500, they get ranked.
The other qualifier is this: They both play in the god awful Big 10. Yes, the Big 10. We aren't comparing the 10 to say, the MAC or Conference USA or even the AAC (the aaack). But of the power conferences, no they aren't very good.
Anyway, enough of that, your highlights from ESPN:
NCAA President Mark Emmert used the equivalent of the "best interest of baseball" clause- defending the Constitution of the organization outright in handing down the penalties in light of the actions of Penn State before, during, and after the Jerry Sandusky scandal enveloped campus.
Here's what they decided...
A fine of $60-million funds to establish and endowment - one year's gross football revenue... even as Darren Rovell reports revenue at $73-million. The fine is payable over a five-year period.
A scholarship reduction of 25 to 15 for 4 years- while allowing students to transfer and compete immediately if they so choose. Athletes who stay in State College will retain athletic grant in aid as long as they choose to stay on campus... and regardless as to whether or not they ultimately choose to stay on as an athlete.
A post-season ban of 4 years
The NCAA vacates all wins from 1998-2011- the records will reflect that. Bobby Bowden is now the FBS leader, Eddie Robinson is the FCS leader, and John Gagliardi is the NCAA leader.
5 years probation and the establishment of an "Academy integrity monitor"
The NCAA also reserves the right to initiate sanctions on individuals after criminal investigation is completed...
The NCAA is also telling Penn State to adopt reforms from Freeh Report, and enter into Athletic Integrity Agreement with the Big 10 and the NCAA
Emmert and Dr. Ed Ray, President of Oregon State and Executive Committe Chair, were available at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis.
Ray said before Emmert spoke that we all "should focus on the people who let them down." He also said the NCAA has the authority and the responsibility to do what was done today, and the actions of Penn State were "against our value system and basic human decency."
The Executive Committee directed President Emmert to examine, and if appropriate, level punitive and corrective measures. They're taking the criminal investigation and Freeh report into account and the leadership of the school displayed failures that directly violated by-laws and the NCAA Constitution in regard to integrity and ethical conduct.
"It is a stark wake-up call," Ray admitted, "and the idea is to adhere to the fundamental values of respect."
Emmert said that the consent decree, signed by the NCAA and the school, doesn't remove the pain and anguish caused and the sanctions reflect the magnitude of the acts, and "ensure that Penn State rebuild an athletic culture that went horribly awry."
The idea is also to establish a mindset where football is not ahead of an entire school's behavior...
Against this backdrop, Penn State accepts the penalties and corrective actions announced today by the NCAA. With today’s announcement and the action it requires of us, the University takes a significant step forward.
The NCAA ruling holds the University accountable for the failure of those in power to protect children and insists that all areas of the University community are held to the same high standards of honesty and integrity.
The NCAA also mandates that Penn State become a national leader to help victims of child sexual assault and to promote awareness across our nation. Specifically, the University will pay $12 million a year for the next five years into a special endowment created to fund programs for the detection, prevention and treatment of child abuse. This total of $60 million can never reduce the pain suffered by victims, but will help provide them hope and healing.
Current Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien issued a statement that said:
Today we receive a very harsh penalty from the NCAA and as Head Coach of the Nittany Lions football program, I will do everything in my power to not only comply, but help guide the University forward to become a national leader in ethics, compliance and operational excellence. I knew when I accepted the position that there would be tough times ahead. But I am committed for the long term to Penn State and our student athletes.
I was then and I remain convinced that our student athletes are the best in the country. I could not be more proud to lead this team and these courageous and humble young men into the upcoming 2012 season. Together we are committed to building a better athletic program and university.
Here's the early part of the announcement, thanks to our friends at WHP-TV in Harrisburg...
1100 UPDATE: The Big Ten Conference is piling on with their own sanctions...
The Big Ten is withholding bowl revenue, expected to amount to a $13-million total for the four years of probation. The Big Ten is saying the money will go to "established charitable organizations in Big Ten communities dedicated to the protection of children."
Sally Mason, Chairman of the Big Ten council of Presidents and Chancellors, and Jim Delany, Big 10 Commissioner, held a teleconference where they announced a censure of the school, will be party to the academic integrity agreement with the NCAA, will not allow the team to be in the Big 10 conference title game, and announced the withholding of the bowl revenue.
A public censure of Penn State by the Big Ten means that the school has no say in any part of conference policy.
Mason admitted that discussions on Penn State were all over the place and "everything was on the table and everything was discussed"- including expulsion from the conference.
Commissioner Delany addressed the idea of member schools accepting internal transfers from Penn State and admitted those students "needed to be prioritized" and they needed to have the most freedom and flexibility for those particular students.
Big Ten Network's Mike Hall caught up with Tom Dienhart
More when we know more...
According to published reports, Penn State has found their replacement for fired coach Joe Paterno. That man is New England Patriot offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports the Nittany Lions plan on making an official announcement on Saturday and will add that O'Brien will stay on with New England during their playoff run.
But of course, with this being Penn State, there is a big division on reaction.
It appears, keeping with tradition, the University has been very "Tight-lipped" in telling anybody their intentions. Why? We don't know. It's not a secret and you should keep people within your circle informed as to what is happening.
But....
Already there is a backlash. Penn St. alum LaVar Arrington on Twitter Friday morning: "I'm done all my PSU stuff will be down before obriens introduction! We are! No more for me!
Way to support your alma mater LaVar.
And then there is the "Lettermen's Club" (not a strip club). They have focused there ire on interim AD Dave Joyner and others.
Heres a quote from former LB Brandon Short (courtesy of USA Today): "There is a tangible standard at Penn State that this poor guy knows nothing about. I feel badly for him, he is clueless and will not have the support of the majority of the Lettermen. This is a hornet's nest."
According to USA today, Short and many others in the group are upset that Tom Bradley or another of the long-time Penn Staters were not hired.
Earth to Brandon Short: Reality called. Inbreeding has been the source of many of your problems. They had to hire an outsider and if you don't understand that, then that is on you.
O'Brien, according to multiple sources, did interview for the job Thursday and really, the hire is not a surprise. In the real world (not the one many Penn State'rs seem to live in), O'Brien is a decent hire. Yes, we realize he doesn't necessarily have the "Head Coaching" experience background. But lets be real here: Penn State wasn't going to get a "Big Name" head coach.
Certainly, O'Brien has had success running an offense and it may or may not end up being a good hire, but Penn St. had to take a chance on someone. He may prove to be a great hire or he may not. But keep this in mind Nittany Lion fan; you aren't what you once were. Your image has taken a big, big hit and your reputation is all but gone. All you can do right now is take what you can get, hope someone made the right move and once you get past "Sandusky", maybe then you can move forward.
To the surprise of nobody...outside of a handful of people at Vanderbilt University, Penn State made it official early Saturday morning and hired James Franklin to coach the football team.
