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In the 12 months that followed, the circumstances changed quite a bit. Penn State restructured O'Brien's contract over the summer, reducing the 2013 buyout to $6.75 million – a manageable figure for a well-heeled NFL owner. But the Nittany Lions also had their NCAA sanctions substantially reduced in September and were given word that the postseason ban, currently set to continue through the 2015 season, could be lifted early as well. Those moves have shortened Penn State's road back to championship contention and made it possible for the 44year-old O'Brien to envision a future in which he doesn't have to spend the best years of his coaching career struggling just to keep Penn State competitive. As of this writing, O'Brien hadn't said anything about the latest batch of rumors. That may have caused some angst among fans, who have come to embrace his bold offensive schemes and purposeful demeanor. But for Penn State, which was once again forced to cede the spotlight to bowl-bound teams in December, there may have been a backhanded benefit to all the talk about O'Brien's future. If nothing else, it reinforced all the "next level" messaging that the Nittany Lions have been plastering on their media guides and sprinkling into conversation over the past year or so. If people in the NFL like O'Brien so much, the thinking goes, surely they'll like the players he develops, too. Of course, that's all contingent on the rumors being just that: rumors. It's often hard to tell whether they have a basis in fact or are pure conjecture. There is pressure on NFL beat reporters from both editors and readers to gin up lists of potential job candidates, and because O'Brien is a high-profile guy with a pro pedigree, he's inevitably going to end up on a lot of them. One thing that is known is that O'Brien has a lot of affection for the NFL. He said as much last year, and if the right opportunity were to come along, it's only natural to think that he would seriously consider it. As of press time, it was unclear whether the right one had come along, or for that matter, whether any opportunity had come along. But eventually, someone may make him an offer he can't refuse. You would expect so, anyway. After all, O'Brien's resume is sterling. He's an offensive guy in a league that is currently ruled by offenses. He's a fixer, having kept Penn State competitive despite the many disadvantages it has faced over the past two years. If you were an NFL owner in need of a coach, you'd certainly be talking about Bill O'Brien. And as bothersome as that may be to Penn State fans eager to see him stick around for a good long while, it's probably better than the alternative. – MATT HERB FO OT BA L L PSU seeking two new assistants This is not the Penn State football program of old. The Nittany Lions are constantly searching for new ways to modernize, and that can result in changes that many fans aren't used to – whether to the weight room, the medical staff, the play-calling or even the gameday experience. The coaching staff is no exception. Coach Bill O'Brien confirmed Dec. 3 that assistants Charlie Fisher and Ron Vanderlinden were leaving the Nittany Lion football staff. In a news release, O'Brien announced that Fisher and Vanderlinden had resigned from their positions coaching the team's quarterbacks and linebackers, respectively. "I appreciate all of Ron and Charlie's hard work and thank them for their dedication and service to Penn State, O'Brien said in a prepared state" ment. "I wish them well in their future endeavors." As of this writing, it was unclear whom O'Brien was pursuing to replace the departing assistants, but sources have told BWI that he has a clear-cut direction that he wants to take the program – and that includes having energetic recruiters and a modernized defense. One of two holdovers from Joe Paterno's staff, Vanderlinden had been at Penn State since 2001 and had developed five first-team All-Big Ten players, including future NFL standouts Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor, Sean Lee and NaVorro Bowman. One of his most recent success stories was Michael Mauti, who won first-team All-America honors in 2012 and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings only five months after suffering a severe knee injury. "I've greatly enjoyed my 13 years at Penn State and all the student-athletes I had an opportunity to work with," Vanderlinden said in Penn State's official statement. "I wish Coach O'Brien and Penn State nothing but the best in the future." Fisher began working with the quarterbacks last year. A central Pennsylvania native, he was the final addition to O'Brien's coaching staff for the 2012 season, joining Penn State after spending the previous season as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Miami (Ohio). "I want to thank Penn State and Coach O'Brien for the opportunity to be part of the program the past two seasons," Fisher said in the Penn State news release. "It was a great experience, and I am very proud of what we accomplished. Now I'm looking forward to the next chapter and making a positive impact on the next group of players I have the privilege of working with."

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