Christian Hackenberg contemplating a transfer?
It appears Hackenberg is 50-50 on whether he will transfer or return to PSU. Per his father, it is not a given that Hackenberg will return to campus or class until a replacement coach has been found. He will then decide his next steps from there. Hackenberg's father went on to say: "Right now the plan is to continue to move forward and like a lot of kids right now it’s lets see what happens,” Erick said. “We’re hopeful it happens quickly and until we have all the information we have to wait. I’m not saying he will or won’t (return) and that sounds bad, but it’s neutral. He’s still enrolled at Penn State, still loves the school but hopefully in the next 7-to-10 days, maybe 14 days we’re able to get all the facts.”
The word on PSU message boards is that Hackenberg was very close with coach O'Brien, and O'Brien was really his sole mentor.
This could be interesting to see how this situation unfolds, especially if O'Connor de-commits.
http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2014/01/like_most_penn_state_players_q.html
January 1st, 2014 at 6:59 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:04 PM ^
If I were him, I would transfer to Baylor.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:14 PM ^
Why Baylor in particular?
Serious question ... is there something about their QB situation, or their offensive style that particularly suits Hackenberg's skills?
I have this picture of Hackenberg being the classic stand-tall-in-the-pocket passer, and Baylor being more of a dual-threat, hurry-up type of program. Maybe I'm mistaken?
January 1st, 2014 at 7:36 PM ^
I was kind of joking. It just seems like if he went there, he could average 500 yards/game passing. But yes, I think Briles would probably prefer a guy who can run a little more.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:40 PM ^
Baylor doesn't run their QB much. It's a throwers paradise. Petty has one more year them Hackenberg could play.
That said, it makes no sense not to go to class and give the new guy a shot in the spring.
January 1st, 2014 at 8:32 PM ^
so it's basically the same thing. I don't know about PSU's academic schedule, but why give the new guy a shot, he's somebody like Schiano or somebody who runs a non-pro style offense?
January 1st, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^
Magnus, why not FSU? If Winston has another season like this one, he could wind up entering the draft, leaving Hackenberg the starting job in 2015. It would be a pretty good fit.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:49 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 8:11 PM ^
"why not FSU?"
Or even Florida. Florida has QB problems. Muschamp -- still the HC, for now -- has indicated he wants to go more pro-set, power football. If Hackenberg could spark Florida back to decency, he'd be a hailed as a hero down in Gainesville.
Yeah, I know Florida is a bit of a tire fire right now. But for a young man seeking a mountain to climb ...
January 1st, 2014 at 9:14 PM ^
Can't f**k while standing up at Baylor.
January 1st, 2014 at 9:25 PM ^
That might lead to dancing
January 1st, 2014 at 9:57 PM ^
You got it.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:05 PM ^
And I think the kid should have understood, especially after O'Brien's NFL flirtations last year, that this was a real possibility
January 1st, 2014 at 7:20 PM ^
Maybe he weighed the chance to play for O'Brien for a year (at least) against the strong possibliity that he might wind up sitting out a year at some point, and opted for the former.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:06 PM ^
PSU will hire a good coach and he will stay. Personally, I hope he does transfer. He will be a hand full for Michigan defenses in the years to come. He beaten us while a freshman and he will only get better.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:56 PM ^
personally i'd prefer Michigan to play and beat good teams instead of weak crap teams. You're team doesn't improve by playing weak teams all year.
January 1st, 2014 at 9:34 PM ^
year-to-year improvements against crappy teams was their recipe for success. and i'm damn envious.
January 1st, 2014 at 11:55 PM ^
They played and beat 2 top 5 this year, 4 ranked teams over all. The 2 previous years they played 5 ranked teams per year. They really cant help how bad the big ten is as a whole. If MSU and wisconsin stay the course, when Michigan gets back to a top 5 team and Penn State to a top 15 team, the big ten will look pretty darn good nationally.
I'd like to see The University of Michigan play a lot better football as opposed to everyone else in the big ten playing worse.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:42 AM ^
that the big ten was terrible this year? but did it matter for msu to put together a great team and a great season?
January 1st, 2014 at 7:08 PM ^
This is how BOB leaving screws over the PSU fanbase.
Still, I have a hard time believing that PSU didn't see this thing coming.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:20 PM ^
Seriously Clarkie? You have a hard time believing the same a-holes who deluded themselves into believing JoePa was a saint of the highest order and incapable of wrongdoing would delude themselves into thinking BoB wouldnt leave them?
I don't.
http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/1/1/5263776/bill-obrien-didnt-get-it
January 1st, 2014 at 7:23 PM ^
To be fair, the second half of Clarkie's comments put the first one in the proper context. In a way, it does screw them over because of the cloudy nature of the near-future of PSU, but on the other hand, it would be difficult for Nittany Lions fans to deny - without sounding disingenuous, to say the least - that they couldn't foresee that a coach who had already shown evidence that he wanted out of his predicament would succeed in getting out of it. It likely takes a very frightening level of denial to believe that someone might not want to be the next Paterno.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:25 PM ^
They are America's most delusional fanbase and administration. I'll certainly give you that. But BOB was screaming mercenary coach from day one.
There is a reason I have one of these...
January 1st, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
jesus H christ, what will it take for PSU people to get the fuck over themselves?
January 1st, 2014 at 11:59 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:13 PM ^
Kind of makes sense. He came to PSU to play for O'Brien, and now he's gone and that team isn't going to be any better for a couple of years.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:14 PM ^
I am sure they will bring in a solid coach who will run a similar offense, so I highly doubt Hackenberg transfers. I could see O'Connor switching his commitment to somewhere else though. I'm not sure where that would be, but with Hackenberg already having a lock on the job and a new coach, O'Connor may reconsider.
January 2nd, 2014 at 7:31 AM ^
This makes their search for a new coach that much more difficult though. They have to worry about keeping Hackenberg happy, and also have the possibility that no matter what style of offense the new coach runs, Hackenberg could still be gone.
I think a lot for Hackenberg depends on how much he feels betrayed by BOB and how much he feels betrayed by PSU, and he might have a hard time separating the two. If it's primarily the former, I can see him coming back, but if for some reason he believes BOB wasn't treated fairly at PSU and that, in part, led to his departure, I could see him wanting to go elsewhere.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
I would hope that Penn State would be trying to find the right coach for Penn State. One player's preferences shouldn't even be in the equation.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:16 PM ^
He doesn't say it's 50/50. He just says it could go either way.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^
But with equal panic and emo for Penn State fans.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:40 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:46 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
Yeah, but reading the tea leaves I'd say it's better than 50/50 he leaves. If you come out and say you're undecided about leaving there's a pretty good chance you will.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:43 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:20 PM ^
How can he just not return to class until a coach has been found?
January 1st, 2014 at 7:23 PM ^
Classes don't start until the 13th. That's probably why they're hoping it'll be resolved in 7 to 10 days, two weeks at the outside.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 8:47 PM ^
Sadly, I think you just got a glimpse of what he thinks of his academics.
January 1st, 2014 at 11:08 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
That's what Tate said. Sorry, couldn't resist the low hanging fruit.
January 2nd, 2014 at 3:49 AM ^
If he transfers before the semester, he could potentially take part in spring practices at his new school.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:17 PM ^
Glad Denard LOVED our school and teammates and stayed.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:01 AM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:32 PM ^
I mean, didn't everyone know BOB was leaving for the NFL again sooner or later? IIRC he said the same thing Countess said when he committed to Michigan. Something like "Gotta go to a school you'll be happy at with or without these coaches"
January 1st, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:46 PM ^
Tough break for the kid, but I would not blame him for transferring at all. He's a great talent with real NFL potential. If he chooses to leave, he'll have a LOT of suitors coming after him.
Of course, if he does leave, I will personally love watching PSU squirm and further wallow in misery.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:50 PM ^
Would be more noteworthy if he wasn't contemplating a transfer.