OT: Larry Johnson Leaving Penn State
http://onwardstate.com/2014/01/13/report-larry-johnson-declines-offer-to-stay-at-penn-state/
Huge loss for Penn State. And apparently Ohio State has already reached out to him to either replace Vrabel, or become their co-DC. Bad news all around. Can we pay him to replace the year long hole left by Montgomery?
Edit: Looks like Johnson is about to join the Ohio State staff. Great pickup after losing Vrabel.
January 13th, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^
If you want to hire LJ, I'm sure Urban would be fine with taking Mattison instead.
January 13th, 2014 at 11:36 PM ^
I thought Vrabel was the recruiting guru at ohio?
January 14th, 2014 at 8:40 AM ^
Honestly, I don't think Johnson's marginal benefit to OSU's recruiting is going to be that large. It's Ohio State. With Urban Meyer. They'll recruit just fine without Vrabel, and they would have recruited just fine without Johnson.
January 14th, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^
January 13th, 2014 at 11:39 PM ^
Is he going to fill Vrabel's spot? If so does he pay his casino tabs?
January 13th, 2014 at 11:48 PM ^
January 14th, 2014 at 12:13 AM ^
January 14th, 2014 at 3:21 AM ^
Damn, that is a BIG pickup for OSU. Larry Johnson is a great D-line coach, and a great recruiter. I wish he would've went somewhere else.
Oh well, this way when we beat OSU they will be at full strength and the victory will taste that much sweeter.
January 14th, 2014 at 11:58 AM ^
Is it that big of a pick up? I mean he's a solid coach, but getting a nice D line coach doesn't really move the needle a lot for me. The D line was certainly not the problem for that defense last year.
January 14th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^
but it's more about the recruiting skills and connections he brings to the table.
January 14th, 2014 at 6:16 AM ^
According to PennLive, Johnson actually met with Franklin twice before ultimately declining to stay on for 2014, so it seems that it likely was not the easiest decision to make. When you've held a position 19 years like he has though, I could see that though.
Interestingly, many of the PennLive commenters on their article are using this opportunity to make some rather sharp remarks regarding the Franklin hire (again in some cases, from the tone of the replies) whereas others are thanking Johnson for his years at Penn State. Complex feelings indeed.
January 14th, 2014 at 6:31 AM ^
If I'm PSU, I'm saying @#$% you. There probably isn't a team more despised there ( we follow closely and Pitt is sort of off the radar) and to take a lateral to go there is just being small.
January 14th, 2014 at 6:49 AM ^
January 14th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^
be the best recruiter in the B1G. What possible reason does OSU not want him?
January 14th, 2014 at 8:38 AM ^
January 14th, 2014 at 8:47 AM ^
January 14th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^
January 14th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
Poor Luke Fickell if the co-coordinator thing is true. The guy may get handed a can of pesticide and find his desk moved into the basement soon
January 14th, 2014 at 9:07 PM ^
January 14th, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
One of two things are going to happen.
1. People are going to be pissed at Franklin for not keeping him
2. Larry Johnson can forget about ever returning to State College ever again. He is obviously not a ''Penn State man''.