Written by BTN.com staffIs it Urban Meyer? Bill O’Brien? Someone else? BTN.com’s Tom Dienhart and Brent Yarina debate the topic in this post, plus we included a handful of fan tweets.
Tom: I have to go with Bill O’Brien, who already has overcome myriad obstacles in forging a 4-2 start. Honestly, I thought the Nittany Lions would win four or five games all season. Now, who knows? Penn State may win seven or eight games.
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Brent: As hard as it is to downplay O’Brien’s work, there’s only one national contender in the Big Ten, and it’s under the direction of a new coach. That’s impressive, especially when you consider the coach, Urban Meyer, inherited a team that went 6-7 and had its struggles on offense a season ago.
Tom: Good point on Urban, but he hardly inherited a “broken” program or an empty cupboard.
Brent: I know this. But, as I said, Meyer inherited a program that went 6-7, and now it’s 6-0. One year later. With a lot of the same players. And without much help from Jordan Hall, one of the handful of players he was most excited about.
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Tom: OK, I get that. Look at what O’Brien has done, though. He has had to deal with the defections of some key personnel in the wake of those severe NCAA sanctions. Players like running back Silas Redd (USC), kicker/punter Anthony Fera (Texas) and wideout Justin Brown (Oklahoma), among others, bolted. No matter, O’Brien has kept his team focused and on track despite the depleted roster and no end-of-season bowl payoff.
Brent: Impressive, no doubt. And I’m not sure whether O’Brien’s best work has been overcoming the loss of those talents or keeping everyone focused after the painful 0-2 start. The way Penn State dropped those games, on top of everything you mentioned, he could have lost this team.
Tom: O’Brien’s next trick will be retaining his key players, who still can transfer with no restrictions as late as next August. Oh, and in case you were wondering: O’Brien and Meyer will face off Oct. 27 at Penn State.
Brent: Glad you mentioned the Ohio State-Penn State matchup in a couple weeks. I look forward to seeing Braxton face off against Penn State’s Jordan Hill, Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti. A year ago, the Ohio State offense stood no chance. This year, with a passing game and Braxton on the loose, it figures to be a different story. This offense, after all, averages 38.5 points per game – compared to 24.5 last year.
Tom: Meyer’s Buckeyes will be focused and out for revenge in a game that will be all about pride for two teams on NCAA probation. But OSU still harbors dreams of going unbeaten and perhaps winning the AP national title. Meyer has done a fine job installing his system and getting everyone to buy in. And, as you mentioned before, his offense is soaring despite not having Hall almost the entire season.
Brent: Yep. The other thing working in Ohio State’s favor is that Braxton no longer is a true freshman. Everyone expected Ohio State to be much better this season, with or without Urban, but I’m not sure many predicted a possible perfect record and a top-five finish. That’s the way things are looking.
Tom: It is. But while O’Brien and Meyer look like the early leaders for Big Ten Coach of the Year, I think we also should at least tip our hat to Minnesota’s Jerry Kill and Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald. Each has done great work up to his point and still will be a factor in the chase to win this honor.
Brent: Exactly! A week ago, Fitzgerald would have been at the top of this discussion; same case for Kill two weeks ago.
Here’s what fans had to say about the topic on Twitter:
Can we write in John L. Smith? “@BTNBrentYarina: Meyer? O'Brien? Someone else? Who's your #B1G COY at the midway point?”—
Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) October 09, 2012
Meyer. RT @BTNBrentYarina: Meyer? O'Brien? Someone else? Who's your #B1G COY at the midway point?—
Alex Parker (@AlexParkerDC) October 09, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina gotta be Meyer—
PurdueMatt (@PurdueMatt05) October 09, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina I would have to say as if now urban taking a 6-7 team to a team that already has 6 wins—
Joshua Johnson (@ballcoach12) October 09, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina who is undefeated with a 6-7 team last year? Has a Heisman trophy candidate? Beaten two ranked teams?—
Casey Luken (@CRLuken) October 09, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina O'Brien easy. People who think UM should get it don't realize how incredibly easy he has it compared to BO.—
Dave Haab (@DaveHaab) October 09, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina O'Brien! OSU is playing great, but they didn't lose players like PSU.—
James Rossi (@JamesRossi69) October 09, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina O'Brien for #B1G COY. You have to look at more than just wins. He has been a great leader, even with the given circumstances—
Rosemary Rice (@Ricearoni17) October 09, 2012
Paul Chryst “@BTNBrentYarina: Meyer? O'Brien? Someone else? Who's your #B1G COY at the midway point?”—
Ryan Lowe (@Ryanlowe56) October 09, 2012
“@BTNBrentYarina: Meyer? O'Brien? Someone else? Who's your #B1G COY at midway point?” -ND's Kelly for having most wins vs B1G teams so far—
Keith Carrell (@BoilerColts) October 09, 2012
O’Brien with the help of some very motivated PSU seniors….
National adverse media attention coupled with potentially crippling NCAA sanctions and the loss of some blue chip players..so far his results are beyond expectations
O’Brien easily, especially after a couple of tough luck losses to start the year could have really sent them reeling early. No one I can remember has faced tougher obstacles in their head coaching debut , with the severe penalties and restrictions and having 20 players walk away right before fall camp. A really remarkable job, hope they finish strong. Kudos to O’Brien and the players who stuck it out.
During Jim Tressel’s 10 years at Ohio State, he never won the Big Ten Coach of the Year. He won a national championship and seven conference titles…I find it kind of funny that Urban is leading to get one his FIRST YEAR! This guy is setting the tone for years to come.GO BUCKS!
No doubt about it, Coach O’Brien will be the Big Ten coach of the year. Consider how badly the Penn State program was gutted by NCAA sanctions, just to be 4-2 at this juncture of the season is a real accomplishment. If they finish in the top spot in the Leaders Division, no one can doubt that he will bring Penn State Football back to glory once again.