F O O T B A L L
Mark Selders OUT OF THE BLUE
O'Brien met with hundreds of Penn State fans and alumni during the 18-city
Coaches Caravan, using the events to introduce himself and lay out his vision for the Nittany Lion football program.
fact, he's beginning to run short on substance atop his head. The thousands of fans who turned out en masse for Penn State's 18-city,
B W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M N A T E B A U E R | N A T E @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M
ill O'Brien is not a politician. Noticeably uncomfortable in
a suit and tie, the Nittany Li- ons' new head coach doesn't have a practiced smile or pol- ished set of one-liners.
Perfectly coiffed hair? Far from it. In
three-week Coaches Caravan didn't seem to mind, though. O'Brien, the Nit- tany Lions' rookie head coach and tour headliner, spoke at breakfast gather- ings, luncheons and dinners up and down the Mid-Atlantic region, deliver- ing his message about the importance of strong character, morals and sub- stance. A relative unknown until only a few months ago, O'Brien deftly transi-
tioned into his new role as head of the Penn State football family. He formal- ly introduced himself to as many in- dividuals as were willing to meet him, shaking hands, posing for pictures, signing autographs and spreading the gospel of Bill to the crowds of Penn State fans who turned out for the var- ious tour stops. "I want them to know that I'm in charge of a football program that is a
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