Billo to Nebraska.

[bvillebaron]

Because he came here not even knowing how bad sanctions would be. Because he came here when no one else of any stature would. Because he was able to keep most of the recruits in a good class committed. Because he was able to weather a tsunami of bad press and constant attacks and keep himself, the staff, and the team focused on the job at hand. Because he managed to keep most guys from leaving after the insane sanctions were announced. Because he worked with the seniors to rally the team to a record far better than any one ....ANY ONE.....though possible. Because he limited damage enough that the program was able to quickly rebound. Because he did all this in spite a shitpile of a board of trustees that not only did not support the program but attacked it.

And that’s not enough for you?

If he didn’t realize how bad the sanctions would be, he needs a better agent. He didn’t keep the seniors together—Zordich and Mauti did. O’Brien wanted to handle the immediate transfer situation by imposing a deadline for players to declare if the were staying or going and fortunately the Mikes talked him out of it. Besides, where in my post did I claim he didn’t do a good job as opposed to him planning to use PSU as a stepping stone to an NFL gig? Maybe you are his agent based on the sensitivity of your post. My only genuine criticism is that he tried to “justify” his taking the Texans job because the JoeBots “drove” him out of town. What a crock of BS.

 

[bvillebaron]

you are just wrong. BOB had 15 schoolies total to give, you remember the largest sanctions every handed down by the NCAA had something to do with recruiting. most high schools kids wouldn't stiff psu as the narrative was that PSU harbored child molestors. the facilities were in disrepair or don't you remember the nautilus machines they called a weight room, no modern AV equipment, practice facilities in disrepair. so BOB made a strategic decision to recruit a big time QB (he got one) and some skill players and hoped that he could get some decent preferred walk-ons and have Fitz S&C them up along with him game planning as best he could around them. It was as good of strategy as any.

I don’t have any criticism of O’Brien’s recruiting given the circumstances he faced.

 

[bvillebaron]

I don’t know if he liked recruiting or not, but to imply he wasn’t good at it is not true . He had a top 10 class lined up until the actual sanctions were announced

Link?

 

[Cletus11]

Just curious, how do you define hit? Neither Jordan nor Anthony Smith ever became staters or even top back-ups. Brenman was a highly regarded recruit, but unfortunate injuries prevented him from ever contributing much at PSU. IMO, BOB's biggest shortcoming in recruiting was at the OL. Some of the 2012 class was on JoePa, but two recruiting classes produced 1 OT (Parker Cothren was never used there) and OGs that required conversion of DT recruits to address quality issues. At the time he left for Houston, BOB had commitments from two OTs and no OGs for 2014 class.

Again. BOB had 15 schollies to give out in those two years. And he had the worst scandal in modern sports history going which banned PSU from bowl games and which literally probably took 66% or more recruits off the table as they were not going to go to PSU with those sanctions in place. So no idea why you keep talking like that wasn't an issue.

 

[OaktonDave]

Again. BOB had 15 schollies to give out in those two years. And he had the worst scandal in modern sports history going which banned PSU from bowl games and which literally probably took 66% or more recruits off the table as they were not going to go to PSU with those sanctions in place. So no idea why you keep talking like that wasn't an issue.

I made exactly one post on the subject of BOB's recruiting and never said sanctions weren't an issue. There's no question they were a major issue and the impact was felt for some time afterward. One wonders what recruiting would have been like if there were no sanctions and no question about how soon Penn State could win, again.

Some time back I did my own assessment of recruiting and found his hit rate was about 56%. (It's not far off from most good coaches and very good with the sanctions.) What I also found was that assessing hit rates is easier said than done. For example, one can argue that a kid is a hit if he starts, but even bad teams have 22 starters, and not so good players start when there is no better alternative, so that criteria doesn't really say much. That experience, and you listing a "Smith" as a hit from the 2013 class as well as Brenman provoked my question on your criteria.

Generally speaking, I have no complaints about BOB aside from his recruitment of OLs. He recruited 6 corners, 5 safeties, and 2 OTs, and I would liked to have seen two scholarships used on secondary used for OTs or potential OTs. It's not like we had an abundance of guys on the roster who could play OL or DL that would lessen the impact of not recruiting the position. Reasonable people can disagree.

 

[The Spin Meister]

If he didn’t realize how bad the sanctions would be, he needs a better agent. He didn’t keep the seniors together—Zordich and Mauti did. O’Brien wanted to handle the immediate transfer situation by imposing a deadline for players to declare if the were staying or going and fortunately the Mikes talked him out of it. Besides, where in my post did I claim he didn’t do a good job as opposed to him planning to use PSU as a stepping stone to an NFL gig? Maybe you are his agent based on the sensitivity of your post. My only genuine criticism is that he tried to “justify” his taking the Texans job because the JoeBots “drove” him out of town. What a crock of BS.

You said you didn’t understand them love affair’ people have with Bill. I explained. Now I am hurt and disappointed that you don’t appreciate my heartfelt assistance.😪. Guess I am just a sensitive kinda guy.

 

[CJFisJoePaII]

You said you didn’t understand them love affair’ people have with Bill. I explained. Now I am hurt and disappointed that don’t appreciate my heartfelt assistance.😪. Guess I am just a sensitive kinda guy.

Fly'in Ly'in O'Brien