Monthly Archives: January 2013

Jan 4 2013

O’Brien Stays at Penn State!


By David Jones, Harrisburg Patriot News

Penn State’s long holiday nightmare is over. Bill O’Brien is staying at Penn State.

In an exclusive conversation, the second-year head coach confirmed that he was contacted by and entertained overtures from multiple NFL clubs through his agent Joe Linta. But he has decided to remain at PSU for at least the 2013 season.

 ”I’m not a one-and-done guy,” said O’Brien. “I made a commitment to these players at Penn State and that’s what I am going to do.

“I’m a man of my word. I am what I am. Maybe I get fired in six years. But I’m not gonna cut and run after one year, that’s for sure.”

In addition to a clear testing of the pro head coaching waters, this was a strategic mission of sorts by O’Brien. By having Linta throw his name open to NFL openings and having the agent field offers, he was able to gain additional leverage that allowed him a chance to accomplish structural and personnel changes in the Penn State athletic department that may be forthcoming. O’Brien declined to be specific about those changes when asked but he did not deny those aims.

O’Brien acknowledged that PSU donor Terry Pegula, financier of the new Penn State hockey arena, has been a major ally in his efforts. Pegula was the first person who contacted O’Brien in late 2011 when he was eventually interviewed for the job.

Though O’Brien was not specific about it, high-level PSU sources have told me that a $1.3 million donation is to be added to O’Brien’s salary in the coming year that will bump his total compensation to $3.6 million and place him behind only Ohio State’s Urban Meyer ($4.3M) and Iowa‘s Kirk Ferentz ($3.8M) as the third-highest-paid coach in the Big Ten.

Jan 4 2013

PA Attorney General Explains Granting Lawsuit Authority


Pennsylvania‘s attorney general said she granted Gov. Tom Corbett the authority to file a federal antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA because the litigation could present a conflict of interest as her office prosecutes three Penn State administrators.

Attorney General Linda Kelly told The Associated Press on Thursday that “an actual conflict of interest could, and likely would, arise if this office were involved in both cases.”

Jan 2 2013

Paterno Family Issues Statement Regarding Lawsuit


“As we have not yet had an opportunity to review the lawsuit filed by Governor Corbett today, we cannot comment on the specifics of the litigation. What we do know, however, is that this matter is far from closed. The fact that Governor Corbett now realizes, as do many others, that there was an inexcusable rush to judgment is encouraging.

“Joe Paterno’s only guidance to us was to seek the truth. Consequently, last July when the Freeh report was released and the subsequent unprecedented and unjustified actions were taken by the Penn State University Board and the NCAA, we stated that we would engage a team of experts to conduct a careful and thoughtful review of the Freeh inquiry and the actions of the Board and the Administration. That process is nearing completion. We expect to release the analysis of the experts in the near future. At that time we will address all of the issues of the past year in a comprehensive manner.”

Jan 2 2013

Press Conference Today 10 am Central–Pa Files Suit Against NCAA


Gov. Tom Corbett will announce and discuss the state of Pennsylvania‘s antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA over the sanctions it levied against Penn State at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Nittany Lion Inn, according to multiple reports.

On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated confirmed the state is filing an antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA, though no more details were divulged.

By Tuesday night, it had been confirmed by Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel that Corbett will hold a press conference Wednesday morning. Local television station WJAC-TV confirmed Penn State’s Board of Trustees will meet via telephone conference prior to the press conference in order to be briefed on the lawsuit.

 

Penn State spokesman Dave La Torre said on Tuesday that Penn State has no involvement in the suit.

Penn State’s sanctions, which were handed down on July 23 during an announcement by NCAA President Mark Emmert, include a four-year postseason ban, a loss of scholarships and a $60 million fine that will go toward victim relief programs. Additionally, all wins by the football team under former coach Joe Paterno between 1998-2011 were wiped from the record books.