[NU Sports] If Jo Pa goes....

[Mike Nolan]

> Rule #1 to replacing a legend is to get an interim guy for 3-4 years and th=
> en go after the new face of the program. I think Penn State needs someone (=
> Tom Bradley or Ron Vanderlinden if anyone survives) to run out the clock on=
>  the last of the players Paterno recruited. Then, when the direct ties to t=
> he legend are gone you spend the big bucks for the new person. That is when=
>  I will seriously worry about Fitz.

If history is any judge, you usually don't want to be the person replacing 
the legend, and CERTAINLY not the caretaker/interim coach, even for multiple
seasons.

You want to be the guy to replace the successor, or the one after that.

The Devaney to Osborne successions are rare.  (And as Nebraska fans
know, Osborne's first 20 seasons were far less successful than his final
five seasons, with several calls by the fans and media for his dismissal.)

I don't think Frank Solich had a fair shot at succeeding Osborne,
for a variety of reasons, including a change in AD to someone who
apparently had Frank in his gunsights from day 1 on.  I try not to
remember the name of the yahoo who followed Frank, but so far Bo
appears to be on track to keep the Huskers in the top 25 most seasons,
though it remains to be seen if that's good enough. 

How many head coaches did Alabama go through before they found a 
consistent winner?  Ditto with Texas, Oklahoma, USC, UCLA, etc.  

The first season for Jimbo Fischer at Florida State was good, though
they're not having that great a season this year, so it's too early
to tell if he'll be successful long term.
--
Mike Nolan