If Bill O'Brien leaves Penn State for a head coaching job in the NFL -- and CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora said the Texans and Vikings have shown interest -- perhaps a current NFL coach will take O'Brien's old job.
Pennlive.com is reporting that representatives of Titans coach Mike Munchak and Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano have made inquiries into the Nittany Lions job if, in fact, O'Brien departs.
It's interesting because Munchak is in danger of losing his job in Tennessee, recording a 21-26 mark in three seasons. Schiano, who seemed to be in such trouble earlier this season, seemingly has made his job more safe by the improvement shown by Tampa Bay in the second half of the year, and on Tuesday, he denied he wanted the job.
Munchak, a Penn State alumnus, was thought to have had a good shot to land the job that O'Brien eventually got two years ago.
"I’m told the money men who pull the strings behind the Penn State program would again lean toward the dignified and straight-shooting Munchak as the favorite if, indeed, they must begin a search -- which they hope not to," writes author David Jones.
As for how much trouble Munchak is in with Tennessee, here's what he said when asked about it earlier this month:
"Once we play our last game, we'll have an opportunity to speak on how we go forward as a football team like I did last year and the year before that. I've had the same discussion when the season ends and I'm assuming I'll have that same discussion when the season ends.
“I'll have a chance to talk to everybody then and say ‘Here's what happened. Here's how we go forward. Here's the plan.' And then a decision is made and we'll move forward.”
Schiano, who has had most of his coaching success at Rutgers, was once an assistant at Penn State, but it doesn't sound like he'd be a serious candidate at Penn State. And he said Tuesday it's not a job he wants.
“There’s zero truth to that,’’ Schiano said, via ESPN.com. “Let me make it clear, the only job I want is the one I have right now.’’
The website reports that Vanderbilt coach James Franklin also has shown interest.
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