Pete Massaro and some of his teammates went to see Dave Joyner in his office a couple months ago, right at the onset of the search to find Penn State’s next football coach.
They wanted to be on the same page as Joyner and the committee. They wanted to give their input and know exactly what kind of coach was being sought.
“He promised us a warrior,” Massaro said Sunday evening, following a 45-minute introductory team meeting with Bill O’Brien at the Lasch football building. “And I can already tell by my first impression of Coach O’Brien that he’s a warrior, and I can’t wait to go to battle for him.”
Players came away impressed by O’Brien’s intense, passionate demeanor, saying they got what they expected from observing O’Brien in the media the last three days. They also got word linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden would remain on staff.
“It was exciting. It was kind of tense,” linebacker Mike Mauti said. “Nobody knows what to expect with a new coach in there, but a lot of guys came out very excited and we’re looking forward to the opportunity with working with Coach O’Brien.”
Of course, it was a fleeting look at the coach tasked to replace Hall of Famer Joe Paterno, who was fired Nov. 9 in wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal.
Classes start Monday, and most of the team attended the meeting to see and hear their coach in person before he traveled back to New England on Sunday night to coach the Patriots through the remainder of the playoffs.
O’Brien will travel back-and-forth from New England to State College as his schedule permits. Once the Patriots’ season ends, it’s Penn State all the way — something quarterback Matt McGloin is ecstatic about considering O’Brien’s background in coaching the position.
“Obviously I don’t think I’m gonna be the next Tom Brady,” McGloin said. “Hopefully I can do some similar things that he’s doing there.”
Without knowing what to expect from O’Brien, who did not address reporters Sunday, it sounds like O’Brien passed the eye test to the men expected to buy into his values and style.
For most, finding closure after 40 days of uncertainty was what mattered most.
“Without being a Penn State guy, he’s a Penn State guy,” running back Silas Redd said. “A lot of people had questions about that but he has other values and other morals that we have and Coach Paterno has.
Added Redd: “What really did it for me was his press conference [Saturday] was kind of like a first impression. My spirit agreed with him. My family’s spirit agreed with him.”
Nit picks
- Matt McGloin said he is feeling fine but needs to pass a concussion test. He’s scheduled to take one this week.
McGloin suffered a seizure and concussion-like symptoms following a post-practice scuffle with wideout Curtis Drake on Dec. 17, causing him to sit out the TicketCity Bowl.
“I’m almost back to full health,” he said. “Do some tests this week, then get back to the grind.”
- The team will meet with strength coach John Thomas on Monday to discuss a winter workout schedule. Thomas will also remain on O’Brien’s staff.
- Silas Redd will not need surgery after he hyperextended his knee in the bowl game.
“It’s just a little bit sore,” Redd said. “But nothing a little ice can’t fix.”
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