2013 Penn State Football - Surviving the "Trouble Years"

[Fred in Lynn]

James Franklin I think needs to be the number 1 target , I know a few people who played college football with him and are still in touch and they can't say enough good things about him. However his ability to make Vandy competitive in the SEC given their academic restrictions speaks for itself. Hackenburg will stay but Allen Robinson is definitely gone .

Robinson would have been financially foolish not to come back next year regardless of who coaches. He stands to go in the first round and make a good chunk of change.

On Franklin, do you mean "on-field competitive" restrictions? I dont think Vandy struggles to offer any recruit an excellent education compared, on balance, to the rest of the SEC.

 

[Dgilpin]

Robinson would have been financially foolish not to come back next year regardless of who coaches. He stands to go in the first round and make a good chunk of change.

On Franklin, do you mean "on-field competitive" restrictions? I dont think Vandy struggles to offer any recruit an excellent education compared, on balance, to the rest of the SEC.


My comments on Robinson are just from what I've heard from a few players who know him based on possibility of O'Brien leaving. I do think he stands the possibility of being a late round pick this draft.

 

[canderson]

O'Brien is taking WR coach Hixon, so the two top WR recruits who just played in the Under Armor game are extremely likely to bolt. They signed just for Hixon.

 

[terrynever]

O'Brien is taking WR coach Hixon, so the two top WR recruits who just played in the Under Armor game are extremely likely to bolt. They signed just for Hixon.

Or maybe they stay because Hackenberg is a top passing QB and the WR corps is thin, especially if Robinson leaves. BTW, he is at best a low first-round pick, more likely a second or third rounder, especially after he runs about a 4.7 at the combine. What he is is tall (6-3) and a good YAC man in college. The YAC may not translate in a faster game.

 

[canderson]

Or maybe they stay because Hackenberg is a top passing QB and the WR corps is thin, especially if Robinson leaves. BTW, he is at best a low first-round pick, more likely a second or third rounder, especially after he runs about a 4.7 at the combine. What he is is tall (6-3) and a good YAC man in college. The YAC may not translate in a faster game.

But what if Hack leaves? Kid came specifically for Bill O'Brien.

 

[Dgilpin]

Unless the process of replacing O'Brien really draws out , I think the negative of having to sit out a year to transfer out weighs having to play for Munchek or Schanio

 

[DJnVa]

http://deadspin.com/bill-obrien-told-reporter-he-was-leaving-penn-state-a-1492687419
 

With the news that he'll no longer be at Penn State, one reporter divulged some fiery conversations he had with O'Brien that he withheld from previous articles because they were off the record. Not anymore.
 

 
 

"You can print this: You can print that I don't really give a —— what the 'Paterno people' think about what I do with this program. I've done everything I can to show respect to Coach Paterno. Everything in my power. So I could really care less about what the Paterno faction of people, or whatever you call them, think about what I do with the program. I'm tired of it.
"For any 'Paterno person' to have any objection to what I'm doing, it makes me wanna put my fist through this windshield right now."
He was just getting started:
"I'm trying to field the most competitive football team I can with near-death penalty ——ing sanctions. Every time I say something like that and somebody prints it, it's skewed as an excuse. And I'm not an excuse-maker. I'm trying to do the best I can for the kids in that program. That's all I care about is the kids in that program. As long as I'm the head football coach here."

 
 

"That's why, in probably about a month, they're gonna be ——ing looking for a new coach."
 

 

[terrynever]

Here's the link to the full article by Dave Jones of the Harrisburg newspaper. Jones is the best reporter on the PSU football beat and it shows in this article. He provides some context to what appear, on the surface, to be incendiary comments by O'Brien. Penn State provided little leadership above the coach. The President is an interim placeholder. The AD is overmatched by his job, leaving O'Brien to not only coach but handle a lot of the ancillary duties with alumni and overall p.r. normally done by athletic administrators.
 
http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/01/bill_obrien_the_outsider_arriv.html

 

[Fred in Lynn]

I'm not sure that the existence of over-bearing politics in university settings is all that much in the way of news. You can't swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting someone who abandoned a plan of an advanced degree due primarily to that factor. I imagine it's even worse for big-money collegiate athletics (not really out on a limb here, am I?). Jones hits one point out of the park: the student-athletes are the ones who suffer the most. If for-profit collegiate athletics disappeared, I'd be okay with that.

 

[terrynever]

I'm not sure that the existence of over-bearing politics in university settings is all that much in the way of news. You can't swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting someone who abandoned a plan of an advanced degree due primarily to that factor. I imagine it's even worse for big-money collegiate athletics (not really out on a limb here, am I?). Jones hits one point out of the park: the student-athletes are the ones who suffer the most. If for-profit collegiate athletics disappeared, I'd be okay with that.

How would that work? I suspect you are talking about some pro football minor league setup similar to baseball. Play for pay.
I'm not that much of a cynic. I think revenue sports in college still provide a high percentage of student-athletes who get their degrees and move on with life, never playing pro ball. Penn State had an offensive lineman this year who won the Campbell Award as the top student-athlete in the country. Every big school has top-notch students competing all over the intercollegiate sports scene. We never hear about them because the media only focus on the stars. I didn't even know the Campbell Award existed until John Urschel won it this year for Penn State. Google his name. It's a helluva story.

 

[Fred in Lynn]

I have no idea. It's just casual commentary, not a pursuit for truth.

Edit: terry, that wasn't a snarky reply. The area you were heading in by posing that question is way too complex and I'm sure I've seen us discuss it before. Plus, I really do not have a good idea even though I feel it's obvious that the CFB system smells rotten in some insidious way. I probably should have left that comment out.

 

[DJnVa]

There was some talk this morning on ESPN Radio that if the Titans fire Munchak, Penn St should hire him. Is this a possibility or just talking heads throwing stuff against the wall?

 

[Fred in Lynn]

I think the fact that he has ties to the university are a plus, but I'm certain those guys aren't breaking any new grounds where insight is concerned. Any regular listener knows what I mean.

 

[Fred in Lynn]

Joyner presser this AM.

 

[canderson]

There was some talk this morning on ESPN Radio that if the Titans fire Munchak, Penn St should hire him. Is this a possibility or just talking heads throwing stuff against the wall?

He played for Penn State in the late 70s / early 80s. I wouldn't hire anyone who's never coached at the college level for the job, not with the way the fanbase is and the current sanctions (ie having to placate recruits more than most programs, etc). Schiano is all over the news here but I don't really see the appeal whatsoever. His tenure at Rutgers wasn't too exceptional.

 

[terrynever]

He played for Penn State in the late 70s / early 80s. I wouldn't hire anyone who's never coached at the college level for the job, not with the way the fanbase is and the current sanctions (ie having to placate recruits more than most programs, etc). Schiano is all over the news here but I don't really see the appeal whatsoever. His tenure at Rutgers wasn't too exceptional.

Munchak is the guy the Alumni Lettermen want hired. How much pull they have, I don't know, although the AD is part of their crowd as he was an All-America tackle at Penn State in 1971. Munchak is one of the all-time great players at Penn State. He's a Pro Football HOF'er from Scranton, would keep Larry Johnson on staff as top recruiter, maybe even rehire Tom Bradley as DC.
There is a perception floating around that O'Brien was the right guy two years ago but now it is time to bring back someone who will  stay at Penn State. Nobody likes the idea of this becoming a stepping-stone job to the pros.

 

[terrynever]

oops. double-posted my edit. anyway, just want to reiterate that Munchak would be the popular choice among alumni, he would bring a toughness back to the program that is needed in the Big Ten, a physicality that might have been missing in BOB's system. He might also be a symbol of continuity that would be reassuring to the underclassmen and 2014 recruits. Biggest thing he needs to do is bring in a smart offensive coordinator and QB coach. I imagine he knows a few of those after spending 30 years in the NFL.

 

[canderson]

The AD said today the search will be a matter of days, not weeks. Worth nothing the head of the Letterman's Association is one of five on the committee - no board members whatsoever.
 
Classes start Jan. 13 - they want someone hired on campus by then since many of their recruits are enrolling for the spring.

 

[Fred in Lynn]

The thing with Munchak is that he still has his job, and it's with the only employer he's ever had (31 years). It's plausible that the Titans don't want him to leave and that he wants to stay. If not, he'd better get himself fired quick. Don't ask George Costanza for advice in this department, Mike! (I'm just having fun. I'm sure he would resign if he wanted and got the PSU job.)

 

[Fred in Lynn]

Wait - What I just wrote was profoundly stupid: it's highly probable if not guaranteed that whomever they hire currently has a job. Nothing to see here. Move along.

 

[canderson]

Wait - What I just wrote was profoundly stupid: it's highly probable if not guaranteed that whomever they hire currently has a job. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Except Schiano.

 

[terrynever]

According to reports out of Tennessee, Munchak is reportedly meeting with the Titans to talk about his job status either this afternoon or Friday. He is the agreed choice of the Football Lettermen at Penn State, the group headed by Franco Harris and some other big names, including AD Dave Joyner, who is on the Search Committee, along with ex-Nit QB Wally Richardson, obviously another letterman. I think those two will lead the search committee, which is filled out with your usual assortment of minor sport coaches and academic types.
 
Munchak has worked for the Titans since he came to them in 1982 as a first-round draft choice. He's a Pro Football HOF'er. He has been mediocre as head coach so maybe he goes to the owner in the meeting and they reach a compromise solution. Let him out of the contract, he walks away from one year's salary, and goes back to his alma mater. It's a coup for Penn State because they reverse the process and get a NFL coach to come back to them.
 
I could be wrong. Hope not. It's going to happen fast, that's for sure.
 
Here's a three-day-old link from espn.com relating to the Titans' side of things:
 
http://espn.go.com/blog/tennessee-titans/post/_/id/3807/munchak-now-deserves-faster-track

 

[Dave Stapleton]

So are the Penn St. folks here happy if this the resolution? It seems like he is attractive for all reasons other than his coaching ability. There seems to be support given that he is from the NFL, a fellow PSU brother and likely not looking at the job as a stepping stone. I don't know enough to evaluate the possible hire, it just strikes me as somewhat odd that his head coaching record/results seem to be among the least important factors.

 

[terrynever]

So are the Penn St. folks here happy if this the resolution? It seems like he is attractive for all reasons other than his coaching ability. There seems to be support given that he is from the NFL, a fellow PSU brother and likely not looking at the job as a stepping stone. I don't know enough to evaluate the possible hire, it just strikes me as somewhat odd that his head coaching record/results seem to be among the least important factors.

I would be happy. Munchak is a magic name in Nit history. His hiring would settle the civil war inside the program. He never came back to Penn State after he went to Houston in 1982 so his only connection to Paterno is that he played for him. But he is a Penn State alum and that placates the alumni and fans.
 
Head coaching in college is as much about recruiting as it is on-field strategizing. That's one of the reasons why BO'B left. Off-field responsibilities are a pain in the ass for college coaches. Munchak could handle that. He would need to bring in a sharp OC and QB coach right away to placate Hackenberg and his old man, who are evaluating things very closely. Players who transfer, though, would have to sit out a year so PSU has that in its favor with underclassmen. Not so with the 2014 recruits, who are tweeting like bluejays this week.

 

[Fred in Lynn]

I want someone else, and can't give a practical reason why.

 

[terrynever]

I want someone else, and can't give a practical reason why.

Well, Munchak's not even on PennLive.com's short list of candidates tonight. They've got Al Golden, Schiano and former Colts coach Jim Caldwell, once a QB coach under Paterno many years ago.

 

[canderson]

Caldwell is extremely likely to be interviewed tomorrow, per a buddy who would likely be associated with certain travel arrangements.

 

[terrynever]

Caldwell is extremely likely to be interviewed tomorrow, per a buddy who would likely be associated with certain travel arrangements.

Rooney Rule? Just kidding. I think.

When Houston was interviewing candidates, some ESPN joker mentioned the Texans, while pursuing O'Brien, had already interviewed Lovie, thus satisfying the Rooney Rule, and I found that to be at the very least condescending to Lovie, and perhaps a hint of racism.

 

[Fred in Lynn]

I'm posting the following from a user on the
Sports on Earth (don't ask me) website, because I think he or she does a good job summarizing things:

"[The story that O'Brien left in large part due to criticism and constant intervention from the so-called "Paterno loyalists"]...is a false narrative that [Harrisburg Patriot-News journalist David Jones] seems to have started, intentionally or not. This is not why he left. He left because he wanted to be in the NFL. That was true from the beginning and he never really denied it. Fine. That was always the main drawback with him, but when he was hired, we weren't in a position to be too picky.

As I understand it, BOB went off about the "Paterno People" after Jones asked him a leading question about why Ron Vanderlinden was pushed out. Which is a legit question and those of us who don't understand why he left are not asking because we're loyal to Joe Paterno. He was a good recruiter and a good LB coach. That's all. I wouldn't even say that he was a "Paterno Person." He'd only came in relatively late in the Paterno era and, as I understand it, was hoping to be a DC or a head coach elsewhere some day.

I think O'Brien may have overestimated how much opposition he was facing. All of the "Paterno People" that actually had the power to make his job harder are gone from the University. Joyner is not really a "Paterno Person," even though he played for him. He was one of the BOT members who voted him out so he hates hearing from Franco Harris etc as much as anyone. Rodney Erickson never gave much of a shit about football at all until he became interim president.

And nobody anywhere thinks that O'Brien is a worse offensive coach than what we had in the last decade with Paterno. The media was way more friendly to O'Brien then it was to late-era Paterno. Attendance was down, but that's because they raised the ticket prices and the team wasn't great. Not because of him. So really, his whole rant was just about a handful of cranks on the internet. If that really bothers him, he's in the wrong profession.

The only people who continue to beat the dead horse about Paterno's treatment are not employed by the university - Franco Harris and that crowd, or if they are employed by the university, they're hiding behind internet avatars. But they aren't mad at O'Brien. Even the loudest cranks on the BOT - Anthony Lugbrano - were very favorable to O'Brien.

The only person of any influence whatsoever that thinks PSU must hire a PSU grad in order to get somebody who "gets it" is Lavar Arrington, and while I like him a lot, he's just wrong on this one. But so what? Lavar doesn't even live here now.

There was a time when it was hard to find people to commit to Penn State unless they had a strong sentimental attachment to the place and some people carried the myth that only PSU people understood what it was all about, so PSU tended to hire its own. But that changed a few years ago. Whatever bad things Tim Curley may have done, he and a handful of rich boosters deserve credit for realizing that if PSU wants to win in a sport - and it does, in all of them - then the way to do it is to raise a lot of money and get the best coach possible, regardless. Give the coach the money and resources of a "destination job" and, if they can win, it will become that. That's how they got Cael Sanderson, Pat Chambers, Jeff Tambroni, Bob Warming and a lot of other great hires that most people don't know about because they only follow football and maybe basketball. Joyner has continued this policy.

However, football is different in that, no matter how great of a college job it is, it's not going to be the destination job for somebody who really prefers the NFL."

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/66263042/#comment-1184431055

 

[BigMike]

BoB   Press Conference,  Fruedian Slip
 
"Well I tried to mislead. ...   er
I tried never to mislead anyone
I understand if some people feel let down"

 

[canderson]

Larry Johnson Sr. - interim coach - said in his press conference today he will definitely be applying for the HC job. He applied in 2011 as well.

 

[SoxJox]

I'm posting the following from a user on the Sports on Earth (don't ask me) website, because I think he or she does a good job summarizing things: "[The story that O'Brien left in large part due to criticism and constant intervention from the so-called "Paterno loyalists"]...is a false narrative that [Harrisburg Patriot-News journalist David Jones] seems to have started, intentionally or not. This is not why he left. He left because he wanted to be in the NFL. That was true from the beginning and he never really denied it. Fine. That was always the main drawback with him, but when he was hired, we weren't in a position to be too picky. As I understand it, BOB went off about the "Paterno People" after Jones asked him a leading question about why Ron Vanderlinden was pushed out. Which is a legit question and those of us who don't understand why he left are not asking because we're loyal to Joe Paterno. He was a good recruiter and a good LB coach. That's all. I wouldn't even say that he was a "Paterno Person." He'd only came in relatively late in the Paterno era and, as I understand it, was hoping to be a DC or a head coach elsewhere some day. I think O'Brien may have overestimated how much opposition he was facing. All of the "Paterno People" that actually had the power to make his job harder are gone from the University. Joyner is not really a "Paterno Person," even though he played for him. He was one of the BOT members who voted him out so he hates hearing from Franco Harris etc as much as anyone. Rodney Erickson never gave much of a shit about football at all until he became interim president. And nobody anywhere thinks that O'Brien is a worse offensive coach than what we had in the last decade with Paterno. The media was way more friendly to O'Brien then it was to late-era Paterno. Attendance was down, but that's because they raised the ticket prices and the team wasn't great. Not because of him. So really, his whole rant was just about a handful of cranks on the internet. If that really bothers him, he's in the wrong profession. The only people who continue to beat the dead horse about Paterno's treatment are not employed by the university - Franco Harris and that crowd, or if they are employed by the university, they're hiding behind internet avatars. But they aren't mad at O'Brien. Even the loudest cranks on the BOT - Anthony Lugbrano - were very favorable to O'Brien. The only person of any influence whatsoever that thinks PSU must hire a PSU grad in order to get somebody who "gets it" is Lavar Arrington, and while I like him a lot, he's just wrong on this one. But so what? Lavar doesn't even live here now. There was a time when it was hard to find people to commit to Penn State unless they had a strong sentimental attachment to the place and some people carried the myth that only PSU people understood what it was all about, so PSU tended to hire its own. But that changed a few years ago. Whatever bad things Tim Curley may have done, he and a handful of rich boosters deserve credit for realizing that if PSU wants to win in a sport - and it does, in all of them - then the way to do it is to raise a lot of money and get the best coach possible, regardless. Give the coach the money and resources of a "destination job" and, if they can win, it will become that. That's how they got Cael Sanderson, Pat Chambers, Jeff Tambroni, Bob Warming and a lot of other great hires that most people don't know about because they only follow football and maybe basketball. Joyner has continued this policy. However, football is different in that, no matter how great of a college job it is, it's not going to be the destination job for somebody who really prefers the NFL." http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/66263042/#comment-1184431055

In the maelstrom of misinformation, disinformation, and overall media speculation, this makes a ton of sense.  It is logical and rings of baseline truth.

 

[SoxJox]

Allen Robinson declares for NFL draft.
 
"Robinson's decision comes as no surprise, with many experts expecting him to be selected in the first round of the draft. In the latest CBSSports.com mock draft, both Rob Rang and Dane Brugler have Robinson off the board late in the opening round, with either the No. 26 pick (to the Browns) or No. 30 pick (to the Panthers)."

 

[SoxJox]

Report: Quarterback prospect Michael O'Connor will not enroll at Penn State in January.
 
"NJ.com is reporting that heralded quarterback prospect Michael O'Connor, thought to be a key piece of Penn State's 2014 recruiting class, is delaying his official decision until June, which essentially means he is re-opening his recruitment."
 
"O'Connor was expected to enroll at Penn State in January (Jan. 13) but Bill O'Brien's decision to leave Penn State for the Houston Texans has obviously affected his thought process."

 

[RedOctober3829]

CaneSport ‏@CaneSport 2m
CaneSport has confirmed that Al Golden has been offered the head coaching job at Penn State. While expected to take it, no word yet from Al
 

 

[canderson]

 

CaneSport ‏@CaneSport 2m
CaneSport has confirmed that Al Golden has been offered the head coaching job at Penn State. While expected to take it, no word yet from Al
 

From earlier this afternoon:
 
@BWIonRivals reporting that @GoldenAl will be the new @penn_state football coach
 
I don't trust Phil Grotz whatsoever though. But Golden has, according to multiple real sources, agreed today to interview/talk about the job opening. Franklin rumored to be scheduled to interview Sunday, but that's a bit of speculation.

 

[Fred in Lynn]

Neat. They're going to offer it and Golden is going to accept without even interviewing. That's some top-flight reporting right there. Saw the Outside the Lines piece. Learned nothing new.

 

[RedOctober3829]

That tweet by bluewhiteonline.com staff has been deleted.  They amended it to say that Golden has been offered the job.

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

Rooney Rule? Just kidding. I think.

When Houston was interviewing candidates, some ESPN joker mentioned the Texans, while pursuing O'Brien, had already interviewed Lovie, thus satisfying the Rooney Rule, and I found that to be at the very least condescending to Lovie, and perhaps a hint of racism.

 
The rule is racist, if you think about it.

 

[terrynever]

Munchak met with his owner today. No announcement following the meeting so it looks like he is staying with Tennessee.
 
Golden's the next choice of the Football Lettermen, as he is also a former Nit gridder. I can live with this. He brings knowledge of Florida recruiting. The only way the Big Ten pulls itself up from mediocrity is to recruit the Deep South. Urban Meyer is doing it. Maybe Penn State can do it with Al Golden and a top-notch QB in the program for at least two years to draw in some talent. You just need to get about five guys every year from the Deep South to balance what Penn State finds in the Northeast, from Maryland and Virginia on up.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Munchak met with his owner today. No announcement following the meeting so it looks like he is staying with Tennessee.
 
Golden's the next choice of the Football Lettermen, as he is also a former Nit gridder. I can live with this. He brings knowledge of Florida recruiting. The only way the Big Ten pulls itself up from mediocrity is to recruit the Deep South. Urban Meyer is doing it. Maybe Penn State can do it with Al Golden and a top-notch QB in the program for at least two years to draw in some talent. You just need to get about five guys every year from the Deep South to balance what Penn State finds in the Northeast, from Maryland and Virginia on up.

With BOB gone, don't you think there is at least a chance that Hackenberg would transfer?  There's ways around sitting out a year so it's not automatic he'd have to sit out.  If you want to mitigate that chance, hire Golden.  He recruited Hackenberg to Miami and presumably has a good relationship with him.

 

[SoxJox]

With BOB gone, don't you think there is at least a chance that Hackenberg would transfer?  There's ways around sitting out a year so it's not automatic he'd have to sit out.  If you want to mitigate that chance, hire Golden.  He recruited Hackenberg to Miami and presumably has a good relationship with him.

If he transfers, he sits for a year.  The "mitigation" to which you refer is almost exclusively limited to demonstrating a hardship.  He ain't got one.  Besides, I don't think a QB of his caliber is going to do that, even with 5 years of eligibility.

 

[RedOctober3829]

If he transfers, he sits for a year.  I don't think a QB of his caliber is going to do that, even with 5 years of eligibility.

There's ways around it with various waivers.  Now I don't think he'll do it, but the chance is there.  Golden knows him well, so if I were a PSU fan I'd want them to hire him.

 

[terrynever]

With BOB gone, don't you think there is at least a chance that Hackenberg would transfer?  There's ways around sitting out a year so it's not automatic he'd have to sit out.  If you want to mitigate that chance, hire Golden.  He recruited Hackenberg to Miami and presumably has a good relationship with him.

I don't see how Hackenberg avoids sitting out a season if he transfers. Not sure what waivers apply with a straight transfer. Based on his tweets the past day or two, he sounds like he's staying. Or at least trying to remain positive with the kids from the 2014 class, two of whom are elite WRs.
 
And yes, Golden has a good relationship with Hackenberg based on their recruiting experience.
 
The ballsy move that will never happen is Penn State hires Larry Johnson as head coach.

 

[RedOctober3829]

I don't see how Hackenberg avoids sitting out a season if he transfers. Not sure what waivers apply with a straight transfer. Based on his tweets the past day or two, he sounds like he's staying. Or at least trying to remain positive with the kids from the 2014 class, two of whom are elite WRs.
 
And yes, Golden has a good relationship with Hackenberg based on their recruiting experience.
 
The ballsy move that will never happen is Penn State hires Larry Johnson as head coach.

"Hardship" waivers are available for the proverbial I have-to-take-care-of-my-sick grandmother. 

 

[Fred in Lynn]

I could be happy with Golden or Franklin, for no better reason than the one I cited for not favoring Munchak.

 

[SoxJox]

"Hardship" waivers are available for the proverbial I have-to-take-care-of-my-sick grandmother. 

Find a precedent. You'll be hard pressed to find one that applies.
 
I'll admit, there are precedents for highly-recruited/-rated freshman QBs transferring.  Witness Jake Heap's move from BYU --> Kansas; and Mitch Mustain's from Arkansas --> USC.  And, with something of a unique twist, and most distinctively different than a pure move for discretionary reasons as Heap and Mustain, and extended to Hackenberg, Cam Newton's move from Florida --> Blinn College --> Auburn.
 
The circumstances behind these examples are clearly different from Hackenberg.  His hold on the starting position and his playing time is not in question. And he is not in trouble academically or legally.
 
Edit: Section 14.5 is the applicable section in the NCAA Bylaws.

 

[SoxJox]

And now that I've gone back and looked at the Bylaws again, hardship waivers are near-exclusively used (I couldn't find an exception) to the granting of an additional year of eligibility due to medical hardship, and never, at least not explicitly, for the purpose of waiving the one-year residency requirement at the receiving school.

 

[Dave Stapleton]

Shane Larkin was granted the waiver when he transferred from DePaul to Miami due to a health issue. Obviously the health issue was never disclosed.

 

[SoxJox]

De'Andre Thompkins has his heart set on Penn State and will honor his commitment to the Nittany 
 
"It's been lot of thinking, a lot of reevaluating the situation. We looked online at some other schools too. As parents our main concern is that he gets a quality education at Penn State and that's still going to be the same. That was 80 percent of our decision making. It’s been rough. Anytime you shake up a kid’s world like that and pull the rug out from under his feet he’s not used to that type of instability."
 
Despite wide receivers coach Stan Hixon set to join O'Brien's staff in Houston, it was a connection with former defensive line coach and current interim head coach Larry Johnson that helped seal the deal for Thompkins and his family.Johnson plans to apply for Penn State's head coaching vacancy and while De'Andre is a receiver and explosive kick and punt returner, Johnson's communication since O'Brien left provided the family with some reassurance. "
 
Once again, as he has through the years, LJ comes through as the rock of Gibraltor.
 
Edit: punctuation.