Those Internet-fueled rumors about Penn State hitting a ninth-inning grand slam with its coaching hire apparently aren't true.
Because Bill O'Brien could walk through an airport - or even along College Avenue - and go unnoticed.
At least he could until now.
According to ESPN, O'Brien, the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator is expected to be announced as Joe Paterno's successor on Saturday.
Other than both playing collegiately at Brown, their football resumes have nothing in common.
Paterno, 85, grew to be one of the biggest names in coaching history, having spent 62 on the Penn State staff.
O'Brien, 42, will be making his sixth coaching stop since 1994.
He has never been a head coach, and he's not only following a legend, but he's doing so during a tumultuous period in which the legend was fired in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, leaving an angry fan base.
It's going to take a very special communicator to smooth out the hard feelings, and assistant coaches - especially ones under Bill Belichick - are not experienced on the public stage.
Former Penn State great Todd Blackledge admitted on ESPN late Thursday night that he was "surprised" at the choice.
He didn't question O'Brien's football knowledge, but he added, "understanding what Penn State is all about and what Penn State needs is equally important. That leaves me with a question mark. I hope it's a good decision, but I have questions at this point."
Join the club.
O'Brien has no Penn State ties, and the first issue will be whether his staff will have any past Nittany Lion players or assistant coaches to aid the transition.
The next will be how quickly a stranger is able introduce himself to the entire state and establish his own recruiting footprints.
And if he is successful in the short term, will he stay for the long term or jump back to the NFL, perhaps succeeding Belichick?
The only person more on the spot than O'Brien is Athletic Director Dave Joyner, who either couldn't find anybody more recognizable to take the job (Mike Munchak) or purposely steered away from not only Tom Bradley but accomplished former Lion assistants such as Al Golden or Greg Schiano.
Maybe Joyner was mandated to make a clean break from the Paterno Era or maybe he just thought it would be best.
Maybe O'Brien will turn out to be the home-run hire who can remove the bad taste in the Nittany Nation's mouth.
But at this point, about the only thing we really know about him is he must be one heck of an interview.
Neil Rudel can be reached at 946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.
