Bill O’Brien Tells ALL: Surviving Penn State’s Sanctions, NFL Journey & Building Boston College

Boston College Football Head Coach Bill O'Brien joins Christian Hackenberg and Adam Breneman on today's special episode of Next Up. Bill O'Brien opens up about the struggles Penn State faced when the NCAA sanctions hit, the lessons he learned during those dark times, and how he was able to help bring Penn State out of the ashes and build the bridge between James Franklin's program. Coach O'Brien also talks about his time with the New England Patriots, his stint as the Houston Texans GM, and the next stop along his amazing coaching journey: Boston College Football.
PRIZEPICKS: Get a $100 Sign Up Bonus with code "AdamB" or this link: bit.ly/PrizePicksAdamB
EKRIN ATHLETICS: Get 25% off your order with code NEXTUP at www.ekrin.com
FOLLOW NEXT UP WITH ADAM BRENEMAN HERE:
► TWITTER | / nextupwithadam
► TIKTOK | / nextupwithadam
► INSTAGRAM | / nextupwithab
► KZbin | / @nextupwithadam
For sponsorships or business inquiries reach out to: [e-mail]
Next Up is hosted by Adam Breneman and is presented by The College Sports Company. On Next Up, Adam Breneman sits down with the biggest names in sports and lets them tell their stories, unfiltered. Adam is a former All-American and Penn State alum, media personality, college football analyst for ESPN, and co-founder of The College Sports Company (@TheCollegeSportsCo).
CHAPTERS
00:00-Intro
01:57-Catching Up
06:21-AB & Hack Committing + Early Days at PSU
13:20-Finding Success at Penn State
14:57-Taking the Penn State Job
16:59-Learning about the NCAA Sanctions
20:56-Lessons Learned
26:29-Allen Robinson Suspension
27:44-Recruiting Rankings
28:46-Finding Momentum
31:08-Hack’s Keg Stand Story
32:14-Adjusting to the NFL
33:43-Hack’s Missed Meeting…
36:25-Implementing a New System in Houston
40:00-Traits of Great Players
42:55-Coaching Tom Brady
45:55-Coaching Hack
47:46-Building Relationships with Players
52:09-Time as Texans GM
55:08-Taking the Boston College Job
56:43-Dealing with NIL & the Transfer Portal
58:29-Evaluating Players
1:00:56-First Week at BC
1:02:06-Hiring Craig Fitzgerald
1:05:59-Advice for Young Coaches
1:07:18-University Alignment at BC
1:08:40-Catching Up & Hack’s Coaching Journey
1:11:04-Mauti’s Iconic Speech & More PSU Stories
#collegefootball #pennstate #pennstatefootball #cfb #podcast #bostoncollege

[@comcoff1728]

Always high praise for Bill O. Always mad respect for he and all the other who stuck around. Saved the program. Thanks to you 3 and all the others.

[@jeffbeaufort3798]

As a PSU alum, I want to thank the three of you for helping to save PSU football.

[@FranklinFanatic]

As the successor to college football’s winningest head coach JVP, Bill proudly carried the torch forward and presented a rich culture vibrant with young men eager to perform on and off the field and today the Penn State community are ripe with the fruits from the hard work and sacrifices those teams produced. It should be no surprise to anyone that James Franklins monumental success at Penn state of a 88-39 record thus far is one of those fruits that’s grown from the seeds of Bill O’Brien

[@Derpk-rt9by]

Beat michigan

[@Nittany96]

Really enjoyed that interview. BoB is a great guy. Thankful for Hack, AB, Zordich, Mauti and all the others from 12-13 classes

[@Spurrier19]

Zwinak too

[@jayrob8619]

Bob is trash smh

[@joshbazon2764]

As a Penn State University fan, Bill O'Brien is one of my favorite coaches all time since he took on Penn State football (post Sandusky NCAA sanctions) and modernized PSU Football for James Franklin's tenure with an NFL mindset. O'Brien was a brilliant offensive tactician that knew how to develop College football players for their future endeavors!

[@philipragusa9775]

Thank you guys ! I just became a Penn State fan 5 years ago when my daughter started school there. The atmosphere at State College is awesome, Thanks again !

[@RealWordKeepa]

BoB such a cool dude. BC is in good hands

[@NextUpWithAdam]

He really is.

[@jayrob8619]

Bob is trash

[@themixmasterdylanshow247]

As a houston texans fan this hits difrent

[@NextUpWithAdam]

Incredible insight he hadn't shared before

[@psu7276]

Beyond fantastic. This put a smile on my face for the entire broadcast. I don't have enough words to describe my feelings for Coach BOB and those players of 2012. They saved Penn State football, regardless of the wins and losses. BOB will always be a hero in my eyes, and accordingly I hope that he kicks ass at BC, now my second favorite college team. I would love to have a beer with this guy.

[@BCFootballFans]

This was awesome. Great job guys.

[@NextUpWithAdam]

Future is bright for this program!

[@user-ys9dx7em9z]

Thanks for doing this guys, you and those classes kept PSU as a progrum that has a chance to still compete at the highest level. I could never fault BoB for wanting to go take an NFL HC job. That opportunity you have to take. But Hack and Adam will always be credited with making it okay to commit to Penn St after the Sandusky stuff. As a Pennsylvanian I will always be thankful. You should be credited for more than just the years you were there.

[@kevinchandler179]

Agreed totally 👍

[@JetsCentral]

Let’s goooo my guys Billy O and Hack

[@jonathancoker8540]

Listening now… man it’s like going down memory lane and sitting here thinking “wonder what if…” on so many scenarios at the collegiate and pro levels

[@jonathancoker8540]

Wished Hack went to Houston with O’Brien… felt like he would of developed better

[@gavinlindemuth8159]

THANK COACH O’BRIEN #WEARE

[@pctroner23]

Ive been waiting for this interview with these group of guys for a long time, and Im sure you guys were too as well! Haha, glad you guys came together to make this happen! #WeAre

[@RobEffbrady]

this was a fun watch guys !! enjoyed it thoroughly.... excited to see what Billy O does up there at BC

[@dabryn9945]

Awesome content. Awesome awesome.

[@troyv8302]

This just came into my feed and I enjoyed it. I love when coaches and players reunite to talk about the old days. Very cool, thanks!

[@samuelwesterman567]

This was great.

[@tsully4368]

BOB always took responsibility and shielded the players. "We need to coach better..." Big respect for that. Big contrast to CJF who deflects to the players or ref's.

[@Lachronix]

IM SO HAPPY HE'SM AT bc, I cant't wait for this team to be amazing!

[@LionRoarGamer]

You guys really missed an opportunity asking him whether or not he said *fighters* 😅

[@NextUpWithAdam]

Hahaha i debated asking him

[@chrisl7477]

I had the same thought LOL

[@guygonzalez7039]

Wish he was still there! ! He did better with 50 guys than the present coach did with full scholarships!!

[@Valleybaseball7]

I love BOB, but that’s not true. In his first season he had way more than 50 scholarship players. PSU didn’t just lose 35 scholarship players, but they were limited in recruiting going forward. And Franklin has consistently won 10+ games.

[@vacumme]

Dumb comment

[@rockerfarm6445]

Is there a possibilty of getting an episode from the Palouse? Would love to see this content for my programm!

[@drm9979]

really good and interesting questions. wish PSU would go back to Sundays off, kids need a full day no classes, no meetings.

[@LockedOnNittanyLions]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@YepNah]

I always have the utmost respect for Bill as a person but man am I happy he's not in Houston anymore.

[@MarkellCruz-uf2jb]

Bill O'Brien will bring bc to collect football playoffs in next two years bc is set up to have a season like Matt Ryans last year

[@shyguyms]

Bill O’Brien telling everyone that Adidas The Official Sponsor for Boston College Athletics aren't very good compared to his New Balance lol

[@bryanreed1827]

They seem to be on good terms, but real talk, BOb leaving Penn State royally screwed Hack.

[@NextUpWithAdam]

Everything happens for a reason!

[@kirkb4773]

bring BoB back to HV!

[@keithreiner4140]

Dude bailed as fast as he could

[@gautamsane1499]

He says he’s a good coach but he ran Lamar Miller into the ground with all those up-the-middle runs out of shotgun that weren’t even effective

[@Sharkzaib]

As a Texans fan I wish yall would’ve got on him harder like trading Deandre Hopkins for nothing and the horrible calls against the Texans vs chiefs divisional round playoff game.

[@jet23851]

Bill was there for what one year. He is a better coach then frank

[@kevinchandler179]

Two years, you can't remember that, dude it wasn't that long ago!!!! 🤦‍♂️

[@travistarr9433]

Joe knew.

[@brettwaltz]

Bill O'Brien ruined the Texans for years. Gladly he and his henchman Jack Easterby are gone, and we have recovered. Never forget the jerk and a-hole Bill was in Houston. He created an environment of toxicity and backstabbing that has never been seen before. I was hoping for an apology, and he somewhat tried but once again, his tone was he was "forced to be the GM." which is total BS. He orchestrated the dismissal of Gaines and his team while making a grab of power from a fetal owner. He made some of the worst trades and signings in NFL history. Literally. He traded D-hop for a washed-up RB and a sack of potatoes. Funny he wouldn't mention his right-hand man in crime Jack Easterby who is literally a type of Cancer. He is right he can be a good coach, but what comes with that is a lot of toxicity, backstabbing, poor culture, distrust and downright arrogance. Good riddance Bill. - all of Houston

[@robertkauffman8137]

I don't believe anything Bill represents as truth. Sorry.

[@Smoke96x]

No one cares

[@robertkauffman8137]

@@Smoke96x That's right! No one cares about "get out of town fast", Bill. Fails everywhere because he is not honest.

[@phattylav]

@@robertkauffman8137yet I bet you swallow everything CJF feeds while being a used car salesman. Coming up on 6 years from “great to elite” and still nowhere near it.

[@XxGavinRMxX]

@@Smoke96x i do so you wrong bucko