Grobe: No Contact from Penn State
If Penn State is interested in Jim Grobe as its new football coach, the Nittany Lions have thus far neglected to inform Jim Grobe.
The question I had for Grobe after today’s media conference at LP Field was carefully worded, in that I’ve been through enough of these coaching search stories to know how the process usually works.
“Has Penn State contacted you directly or through emissaries, or in any way shape or form,’’ I asked.
Grobe said it had not.
My own take is that Penn State could do a lot worse than hiring Jim Grobe to straighten out any fall out from the Jerry Sandusky mess and the resulting forced retirement of Joe Paterno. Grobe, besides being beyond reproach in terms of integrity and honor, has a warm, soothing manner about him that can smooth out the most ruffled of feathers.
So obviously I took note when Grobe’s names started cropping up in media reports relating to the Penn State search. The more I looked into it, though, the more it appeared that most, if not all, of the buzz about Grobe to Penn State was being generated by David Jones of the Harrisburg Patriot-News. That’s the same reporter who more or less volunteered Grobe’s name for the job way back on Dec. 2 in an analysis Not a Time for a Homerun Hire
Jones may be right. Grobe may indeed be a backup candidate if some of the more high profile targets don’t pan out. And already at least two coaches said to be high on Penn State’s wish list, Dave Petersen of Boise State and Mike Munchak of the Tennessee Titans have indicated they’re not interested in the job. And it hardly seems outside the realm of possibilities that those looking for a new coach at Happy Valley wouldn’t eventually turn their sights toward Winston-Salem.
But it would take a lot of brass to hire as Penn State’s next coach a man whose overall coaching record is 101-99-1, even if the mark was fashioned at two of the toughest jobs in college football Ohio and Wake Forest.
I’m guessing acting AD David Joyner or whoever ultimately makes the call is not as smart at David Jones.
Having had the pleasure of working with Jim Grobe these past 11 seasons, I can only hope not.