Report: Schiano Sniffed Penn State

December 23rd, 2013

TCSchianowhistleNow here’s what Greg Schiano didn’t want for Christmas, a report from a reliable source that he showed backhanded interest in the Penn State head coaching job, which potentially could open up next week

Nittany Lions head coach Bill O’Brien has become a hot name in NFL circles for potential vacancies, which, of course, has prompted rumblings of his replacement. Schiano spent years at Penn State as an assistant under Joe Paterno before heading for an assistant gig with the Chicago Bears.

Reporter David Jones, of The Patriot-News in Central Pennsylvania, claims Schiano was among a few coaches to have someone sniff out possibilities for him at Happy Valley. 

Apparently, those worries have eased somewhat not only because recruiting sanctions have been reduced but because of the job O’Brien has done in keeping the program vital. Though I’m told Penn State is not actively lining up any candidates as a contingency in case O’Brien leaves for one of several NFL jobs for which he’s a primary target, possible candidates are discreetly having their people contact Penn State to assess the landscape.

Knowledgeable PSU sources have told me at least three other head coaches have had their intermediaries inquire about the Penn State job, curious about the chances it might come open:

Jones went on to say Schiano likely is not high on Penn State’s short list. 

Frankly, Joe doesn’t think there’s much here. Agents inquire about openings all the time — if they’re good agents. And Schiano’s interest could be as benign as a friend of Schiano’s talking to a high-ranking booster over a few Rolling Rock bottles, or whatever bad beer is popular in Pennsylvania farm country these days.

41 Responses to “Report: Schiano Sniffed Penn State”

  1. buc4lyfe Says:

    I’d root for Schiano to be anywhere but Tampa next year

  2. jay Says:

    Let him go. Glazers save money. We get a real coach. I will buy shiano and his family one way tickets!!!

  3. JonBuc Says:

    Match made in heaven…

  4. Splengo Says:

    Don’t get your hopes up. At this point even Rutgers would not take Schiano back!

  5. Mr. Patrick Says:

    I wonder if we could just trade coaches with them?

  6. Robbie_G Says:

    Good let him RUN!!! And Joe, take it form this PA boy, the beer of choice would be Yuengling. But I am a Crown Royal man myself.

  7. Splengo Says:

    We aren’t the only ones who watch these dreadful games. Sully won’t be getting the Army job either. Jeff Monken, Ga Southern is expected to be named soon. We may be stuck with these yokels.

  8. Santa Says:

    Maybe Shiano can take Raheem’s job in Dc Ho Ho Ho

  9. RichBucsfan Says:

    We certainly don’t want to keep from a new job.

  10. deathaneers Says:

    You know whats sad is the other fuutball team ManU looks like they could beat the Bucs. I dont think Schiano is going anywhere. We may as well get use to it. They owe him to much $ for the next 3 years.

  11. Espo Says:

    Why would they want him?

  12. Eric Says:

    The only possible scenario I see for his departure is if the Glazers insist on a new OC (not mcnulty) and he balks.

    Rockstar is also very capable of stabbing him in the back to save himself. Very capable.

    Might be one of those “loser leave town” matches like with Dusty Rhodes or the Briscoe brothers back in the day.

  13. Trubucfan22 Says:

    Oh dear please god send schiano back to college!

  14. knucknbuc Says:

    Santa may be real afterall!!!

  15. Andrew 1 Says:

    @ deathaneers

    Exactly. That and the combination of the glazers’so coming out and defending schiano a little bit during the season has me thinking he will be back. Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t ever remember the glazers doing that for rah towards the end of his reign.

  16. Santa Says:

    Shiano never even won a big east title and was barley over .500 how the hell do you get into the nfl? They must have been desperate after chip Kelly reneged

  17. Mr. Patrick Says:

    @ Andrew
    Glazers and Dom came out for him after they beat a couple of bad teams. Now that Bucs are losing again they are silent and hidden. Impossble to defend 4-11

  18. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    I don’t buy it.

  19. deathaneers Says:

    They will probably wash their hands with this season with all that’s happened.
    Come to think about it Andrew, I dont remember them ever standing up for that joke of a coach RAH RAH.

  20. Andrew 1 Says:

    @ Mr. Patrick

    Your right, but when the calculating glazers who hardly ever speak especially during the course of the season break the trend by praising Schiano, to me that says more than them just being happy with those wins in that moment. They knew exactly what they were doing.

  21. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    Santa Says
    “Shiano never even won a big east title and was barley over .500 how the hell do you get into the nfl?”

    Easy. He went 56-33 over his last 7 years at Rutgers…which is well over .500.

    He inherited a mess there, much like he did here. There it took 4 bad years to overturn all the bad talent at Rutgers. So it isn’t too much to ask that he have at least 3 years in Tampa.

    Like him or not, you cannot realistically deny he’s brought in some great talent through the draft…and since he’s been here, Mark Dominick has brought in some good talent through free agency.

    Some of the Free Agents have not worked out, but several have. Jackson, Goldson, etc.

    The biggest disappointment has been Carl Nicks, but who could have predicted that?

    We have a very good nucleus here.

  22. Andrew 1 Says:

    I could be wrong but I don’t see him going anywhere. I’m not exactly happy with it, but whata you going to do.

  23. Chef Paul Says:

    Well wouldn’t you have your guys throw your name out there? He probably doesn’t know his fate any more than we do.

  24. That Guy Says:

    Sounds to me like Gregory is quitting on the team! Whodathunkit?

  25. Santa Says:

    @ Bonzai I’ll take your word on the Rutgers record but that still doesn’t negate the fact that big east football sucks. So what did he turn around? 7 years is a long time.

  26. Eric Says:

    The fact that Schiano would make that contact is telling.

  27. deathaneers Says:

    If SchiaNo was to just walk away he will never be respected anywhere in the Nfl again and I don’t think he is that type of person,I could be wrong.
    I personally will give the guy another season because I just dont see who else will be out there. It looks like the Cryboys and Lions job will be open for a new coach, and more teams. What good coach would take the Bucs job over those.

  28. Santa Says:

    For CS just look @ some of the statements he’s made like 12 minutes @ the half is only enough time to have a drink or a snack. Or we don’t run the kind of offense that utilizes a TE???

  29. 1976Buc Says:

    This has to be Schiano Camp propaganda. Penn State can do much better than a former .500 college coach in a weak conference.

  30. Santa Says:

    How about Lawrence Taylor? He’d fit in good @ PS

  31. Waterboy Says:

    Can’t blame him for having a backup plan, Penn State seems like a perfect fit for him.

  32. Andrew 1 Says:

    Also working in Schiano’s favor is that the players did not quit on him. How he managed to pull that off I have no idea. Like I said if Schiano is retained I’m not about to do back flips over it, but I’m also not about to stop rooting for the bucs like some have claimed they would.

  33. Mr. Patrick Says:

    During all of the “successful” years that Schiano had at Rutgers, he could never figure out how to beat West Virginia. Lost to them every year. If Schiano couldn’t figure out how to beat the Mountaineers, how in the world is he suppose to figure out how to beat good NFL teams?

  34. MTM Says:

    Joe thanks for early Christmas fools day article. Sniffing around Penn State, right and for what defensive coordinator opening.

  35. Mcbuc Says:

    The Glazer’s defending him means absolutely nothing, remember they gave Chucky a game ball a couple weeks before they fired him.

  36. ed Says:

    You can’t completely take the Glazer’s statements about Shiano seriously. They have to look at the overall product and how the games have played out. The Glazer’s want offense as the Chip Kelly offer was their first choice. Shiano’s system has produced one of the worst offenses in the league. They cannot be happy with that or the loosing. I just don’t see how they can let him continue to run the system they have as it is proving itself out to be unsuccessful. Boring by fan standards.

    The Buccaneer franchise has become less and less of a draw for local football fan’s. The loosing is unacceptable but having an offense that is as easy to defend as this shows Shiano doesn’t understand today’s NFL game.

    Coaches have to evolve and improve their product. The Buc defense isn’t good enough to win games 14-10 so it comes down to offense and Shiano’s system has proved its easy to gameplan for.

  37. Doc Says:

    Will someone explain to me what the word quit means in pro football. Each player’s is always playing for the next contract.

  38. BFFL Says:

    I find it hilarious how the insiders call the Glazers “calculated”. Typically a calculated person gets that reputation because they make good decisions in an efficient schedule. The Glazers make bad decisions and take a long time to do so. This doesn’t make you calculated, it means that you are inept and incompetent.

  39. BirdDoggers Says:

    If the report is true, it means Schiano may already know his fate in Tampa. It has the makings of an exit strategy.

  40. Clowney Says:

    The best HC candidate available by far is Jay Gruden. The Bucs have an incredible advantage in hiring him. There will be at least 6 teams trying to hire him.

    Gruden will be a HC next season, I just hope it’s Tampa.

    He just might become legendary.

    I say, dare to be great!

    Schiano says, “That’s just not who we are!”

  41. PRBucFan Says:

    Legendary?

    Based on what?

    That’s an honest question lol