Penn State could be preparing for a Plan B just in case they end up losing Bill O’Brien to an NFL job. With the buzz suggesting O’Brien could be getting a deal with the Houston Texans lined up, it is being reported Penn State is already preparing to make a push for Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano.
Ian Rappaport of NFL.com reports Penn State AD David Joyner is considering to make a flight down to Tampa to talk with the coach once believed to be the most likely successor to Joe Paterno.From #NFLGameDay: Penn State is preparing to lose Bill O’Brien. Their AD is ready to make a strong push for #Bucs coach Greg Schiano.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2013
Penn St. AD Dave Joyner is mulling flying down to Tampa soon to make a push for Schiano in person. Schiano has said he wants to stay in NFL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2013
Schiano returning to college would make some sense after things have not gone to plan in the NFL. Schiano was a fine coach at Rutgers as well, pretty much building a winning program out of nowhere with strong recruiting in New Jersey and the surrounding regions. He has all of the assets that would help Penn State if the job becomes available to him. Schiano may also be looking for a new job within the next 24 hours. With the final week of the NFL Season on tap Sunday, some coaches could be receiving pink slips as early as today or tomorrow. With Tampa Bay struggling through the 2013 season, Schiano’s job security could very well be fragile.
The shine of Schiano may have dulled in the last couple of years though after the way some of his roster management decisions played out in Tampa, but there is precedent for coaches who fizzled in the NFL returning to the college game to enjoy some level of success. Is Schiano destined to be Penn State’s answer to Pete Carroll or Nick Saban?
Well, one step at a time.