Bill O'Brien to ditch NFL, stay at Penn State

David Jones of the Patriot-News reports that head football coach Bill O'Brien will stay with Penn State.

After a successful first season leading a scandal-plagued Penn State program to an 8-4 record, O'Brien has been connected to a number of NFL head coaching jobs. His departure would have been another serious blow to a Penn State football program still reeling from the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the departure of Joe Paterno.

"I'm not a one-and-done guy," said O'Brien. "I made a commitment to these players at Penn State and that's what I am going to do.

"I'm a man of my word. I am what I am. Maybe I get fired in six years. But I'm not gonna cut and run after one year, that's for sure."

Jones also reports that, thanks to a donation, O'Brien will receive an additional $1.3 million in salary in 2013, bumping his total for the year to $3.6 million. Jones also says that O'Brien's flirtation with the NFL may help him achieve "structural and personnel changes" in the Nittany Lions' athletic department, although the specifics of those changes remain unclear.

O'Brien's return also helps ensure that Penn State's recruiting efforts will not regress.

The news that O'Brien will stay for 2013 is fantastic for the Penn State football program. That O'Brien did so well in such tough circumstances after replacing the legendary Paterno was a shock, and it's hard to measure the impact his departure after one year would have had.