Bill O'Brien thanks so much for joining The Dan Patrick Show -- today. I Bonnie are you still doing great. -- doing well thank you so much. Why. Did you first find out about the sanctions build did you know before the rest of us did. The -- I -- doubt about the sanctions at 9 AM with the press conference written in. Did you have any suspicion of how things went. -- -- Well I knew at that time that you -- go into that press conference that I knew that there was a chance at peace would be. Feel like I said in my statement harsh penalties but I didn't know exactly what that would be. In an email and your players yesterday what message did you share of them. Well the first thing I told them loose I talked about why I came to Penn State -- brought -- to Penn State. And then there's so many things that go into them but number one was I thought that this was a police -- combined. Great academics what was good tough hard nose football. Another that's changed. And I talked to them about the discussions that I had in my family and come in the Penn State. And I talked to them about the fact that I felt like I could coach -- half. Hard nosed kids that really care about getting a great education. And none of that changed. And I've been very proud of this football team to this point. Over the last few days have been really over the last six months money they've been through a lot of stuff and it is really an title and are a lot of work it's about the players and I couldn't be associated with a better group of players. Probably not a lot of people would ask you this but being a woman. I always think about Stanley first. What are your discussions been like with your wife is all of this has been playing out because there are so many coaches who probably wouldn't have touched this thing with a ten foot pole and and the risk you're taking at least from a far. Is pretty extraordinary. Well and I think it's the first time the first time we spoke about Penn State back when the job was offered to me you know we're we're both very well educated people Colleen and I and then. Can we do that we have a very very strong belief and the combination of academics and and athletics because that's the way we were brought up and our respective families and the you know we've we've been faced with challenges and our personal life. Up to this point and then we knew that that's really the most important thing that anything that had to do with football and our football program and be the first time and coach -- Who was something that we can definitely take on and then no matter what the circumstances were that good we were positive people. And then then we felt good about the people that were in charge here at Penn State that hired me another that's changed. The question right now bill is. Who's staying and who's going. There's -- and a lot of media reports about USC pursuing Silas Redd I was wondering if you could shed any light on that attitude you've had a conversation. Well again you know in the NCAA handed down their sanctions yesterday one of the things that they've stated as everybody knows is that does that these kids can transfer. Without penalty. And then that you know other schools could contact these kids. Virtually but I just emailing our compliance office and and let them know that they're gonna contact them I'm not gonna get into any conversation that I have an individual players. I'm gonna tell you that I've been very proud of these players over the last two or three days. I know that there's some some tough times that they had to deal with over the last 678 months. The you know they're they're talking to their families are right now. But again what I reiterated to these kids over and over again is why they're here. And they're here to get a fantastic education that hasn't changed they're here to police really really good talk football that hasn't changed were on TV. We've we've got a chance to play 67 bowl games per year in front of how many thousand people at home. I don't know how many bowl games spat on and 8000 people but the last time I checked there aren't any. And so I feel really good about where we are right now as a football team -- realize that things can change. But but we're moving forward we are you have plans in place to how we're gonna do different things and and we feel we feel very positive about the direction of where we are right now. And you probably don't wanna talk about players in question but have you had any conversations with players either current -- incoming recruits so who have Marty said. I'm here to stay we're going to go coach. No question. I feel. That we have some some younger players some some players that are in the middle of their careers and and certainly older players the leaders of our football team that. Shed some light on on specifically -- were talking about here. Now I'm not gonna get into again I'm not gonna get into. Individual conversations that I but I can tell you that had many many positive conversations about kids the belief. And our staff. Our ability to develop these kids as players and as people our ability to develop them for the next level. Our ability to make sure that they go to class and and receive this great education here. And I've brought received a great number of positive feedback from our players. Penn State head football coach bill O'Brien on The Dan Patrick Show getting back to the sanctions from minute -- as -- started to digest them. Among the mall which is the hardest pill to -- Again -- I would tell you that. In my opinion that is the one that was the hardest is the fact that they used to these kids can transfer without penalty but. At the end of the day that just means that we have to reiterate to our players over and over again which we're doing. Why we came here what this place is all about moving forward with me as the head football coach. I can't pick out one sanctions mean you know vs another that's just deal that much harder but I tell you that right now. My my main goal is to keep this 2012. Football team together and that's from working very hard to do every single day. He's sought advice from that did the first person. To come to mind for me would be Lane Kiffin because they just finished up with their sanctions but that could be reached out to for advice. Hit hardest seek advice from from other coaches right now in college because you know a lot of those guys are -- obviously interested in our players so. It's hard to do that you know I've always said he didn't seek advice from from my wife -- police seek advice from from. From my father. And -- seek advice from people like Bill Belichick. George O'Leary. Guys that that that I really have looked up to and then didn't get enough. In my time and then in coaching and so. You know it's just -- people that I've coached in the past. And everybody that I've spoken to believes in in the fact come here. Believes in what we're gonna try to do here and then god has been very positive to me I can't tell you -- I'll probably received over. 150. Emails. Text messages. That have been extremely positive vote us being here and where we're headed. What do you think is the most siege piece of wisdom. From all of those emails phone calls you received really latched onto it. The best piece of devices. You can't dwell on the past you've got to move forward and you've got to play under the rules of which you beat you. You know been sanctioned under right now. So that's what we're doing we're not dwell on the past we've had two great staff meetings over the last two days. We've already put plans in place of how we're gonna. Play under these rules to Morgan play under these rules we're gonna field a competitive team and I hope blow that many of our fans are listening to this interview. Because I expect our fans understand that we're moving forward we're not settling for an evening put Thabeet took try to be the best football program that we can be. And then at the end of the day were competitive people we got competitive players here and and we believe again in the mission of Penn State in my opinion. Which again is a great combination of athletics and and then and academics. Cross your coach is sticking around. There's no question about that we lose a lot of the coaches here that I coached -- before. My duty you know we're in the together we've we've all been in tough situations before. There's no other group of men that I'd rather be in the foxhole with the -- that's what we're doing right now we've got a great staff. We've got a fantastic staff of teachers. I hope recruiters. Of don't fathers. Are great presidents we've got a great mix of experience on this staff pro experienced college experience and I really enjoyed come to work every day with these guys. Interesting you you kept it coaches from the previous regime Ron mandolin and Larry Johnson both defense of coaches want to decide to do that. Well again these were two guys that after talking with the the new leaders here Penn State rod Erickson and Dave Joyner and that also talking to some of our players here Penn State. That these were two guys that were held in high regard in this football staff and these two guys that or excellent teachers that are proven track record of recruiting. And and I'm proud of the moment stuff. Play a role playing for sailor bill O'Brien Penn State head coach on the recruit. I'm coming with my parents out two year or night game at home against Ohio State idea and of October. What's your sales pitch to me. And it really good quarterback just you know I'm unlike a blue chip quarterback but come -- -- blue chipper. Right again you know we're we're we're glad begin number one I would tell you that we at least the -- education your -- we we offer over 150 different majors here Penn State we have so many different things to choose from. We've got 45000 undergraduate students here. They sold out the 25000 seats section of our our stadium movement very very quickly. That in student section of -- stadium very quickly. Then and this is a place where you can come and achieve all your goals meaning you can come here you can. Receive a great education and you can play fantastic football now. What -- say to them from a football standpoint is. Again you're not gonna go to a bowl game when you're not going to be eligible for Big Ten championship we understand that let's think Ford okay distaff. Or developed you to be able to play at the next level we know what it takes to play at the next level. This staff cool make sure that you understand the meaning in the value of this education here and this staff pool or make you. And then she'll use the Ohio State game what peace -- and are all about which is an honor and 8000 people strong that'll be coming in here this season. Ready to support their football team. And then again. Will come up with different ways to think about championships during the season here you know Bowe -- come up with different ball games scenarios. Within our regular season here. But again at the end of the day it's about being able to -- develop the best you can as a football player and be able to come here and get it. But the world renowned education. -- valuable of the -- Gillis it created dangled that you just team. From being the offensive coordinator for one of the most prolific systems in the NFL and the Patriots. I think it's very valuable because of my relationships with the guys that I coached for there coached with there and the guys that I coached. I would never put words in anybody's miles but I can tell you that the I learned a lot from Bill Belichick. The -- there. -- -- the five years that I spent there were valuable he taught me a lot of they'll put a team together he taught me a lot about you know how to. Strategize he taught me a lot about evaluation of talent. I was able to coach with a great staff there and then. Doubt they Scarnecchia and Ivan fears and Chad O'Shea and George gutsy and Josh McDaniels I mean I've I've worked with some of the best coaches in the National Football League at the Patriots. And then it did you know obviously I I was able to go to work with guys like Tom Brady and Wes Welker and gronkowski and Hernandez and you know those were -- highly talented guys that there were competitive guys and so there's no question that the you know I learned a lot there. We have great relationships of those guys I do personally -- Haley doesn't end up. And then I'll bring a lot of what I learned from the Patriots obviously to Penn State. Penn State head coach bill O'Brien agree or disagree with the Joseph Paterno statue coming down and why. -- again he you know -- Mark my job's my jumps pretty simple but he you know I'm here to really talk to you about the football program and in I have three jobs. I have to educate young men. On the football field and off the football field I have to develop young men of character and and I've got to win football games now what I'll say about about the decisions that have been made over the past six or seven months is I support. Rod Erickson. And these are good man these are good leaders and that's that's what also about the. You have a five year contract. Gives me a percentage of likelihood. That you will be here. In state college when that five years are up. Well again you know I'll tell you what I told my team yesterday and again I said it to him again this morning not committed to this football team. And and and I'll tell you this I feel very proud to be associated with this university. I'm proud to be leading this football team. And and I'm proud to be coaching these young men these guys are are fantastic kids. That have been through a lot that are working extremely hard and I'm I'm committed to this football program. You know that's not a percentage nineteen. -- yeah yeah that's not a percentage -- here. I'm not a mathematician I don't even I can't get into percentages yeah. I might buy that if it weren't for the fact he went to brown but I'm like yeah the Hokies are nice enough to come on don't Brian Penn State head coach thank you so much and good luck and everything don't. I think that money appreciate it thanks Arie and --