Bill O’Brien: Penn State football, community ‘meant a lot to me’

Bill O’Brien, the new head coach at Boston College, plans to draw heavily on his experiences with the Penn State football program, according to a recent interview. Reflecting on his impactful two seasons at Penn State, O’Brien highlighted the resilience of the Penn State community in maintaining the football program during challenging times. He discussed the unique challenges of roster management during the sanctions era, emphasizing how it prepared him for dealing with today’s transfer portal dynamics in college football.

O’Brien expressed gratitude for the support from the Penn State community, acknowledging the role of alums and friends in helping keep the program intact. Despite facing adversity, he noted the commitment of players who stayed, emphasizing the importance of the team aspect. O’Brien sees the value of a strong football program to the larger university community and plans to apply these lessons to his role at Boston College.