Fansided

5 jobs Tom Herman definitely isn’t taking

By John Buhler

Sep 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman walks onto the field prior to the game against Lamar at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman walks onto the field prior to the game against Lamar at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 10, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin walks on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. PITT won 42-39. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin walks on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. PITT won 42-39. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Penn State Nittany Lions

If Herman needs to avoid one head coaching job this off-season, it has to be the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State is a blue blood, but has been in a state of dysfunction since the Jerry Sandusky scandal of 2011 wrecked its football program.

Bill O’Brien was exactly what Penn State needed immediately after the firing of Joe Paterno. O’Brien provided stability in utter chaos for two seasons before leaving to coach the Houston Texans in the NFL.

Penn State made a great hire in prying up-and-coming head coach and Pennsylvania native James Franklin away from Vanderbilt. However, in year three at University Park, members of Nittany Lion Nation are growing unhappy with the job Franklin is doing with the football team.

Keep in mind that Penn State plays in a brutal Big Ten East division with Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State. It’s not a bad thing to be the fourth-best team in that juggernaut division, yet Penn State remains unhappy. Franklin took Vanderbilt to bowls. He needs some more time to get this Penn State program back on track.

On Saturday, Penn State did the worst thing it could have done by honoring the late Paterno at Beaver Stadium. The optics were horrible and this small Central Pennsylvania town couldn’t have looked more cultish by honoring the tainted legacy of its former football coach.

If the Nittany Lions fire Franklin, they won’t be able to land anybody as good as he was coming out of Vanderbilt. Franklin will find work coaching another Power 5 institution almost immediately.

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Why would Herman want to come coach in the difficult Big Ten East for a university that is clearly tone deaf? He’ll pick up the phone, laugh, and then hang up. Penn State ruined any chances of landing an elite head coach for the foreseeable future for its actions this past Saturday.

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