On the surface, reports that Penn State is in active pursuit of former Florida head coach Urban Meyer to replace Joe Paterno would appear to be welcomed news for Nittany Lion fans. Meyer is a two-time national championship winning coach, after all, and built Utah into one of the nation's best mid-major programs before his stop in Gainesville.
Meyer has never been one to stay in one place for very long, however. His first head coaching stint at Bowling Green lasted just two years, as did his tenure with Utah, and he only managed six seasons at Florida, the last two of which were dominated by questions by his future with the Gators. Simply put, if Penn State is looking for stability post-Paterno, hiring Meyer would be a bit of a risk.
Meyer would also likely command a big salary if he were to return to the coaching ranks with the Lions, one Penn State might be hesitant to pay. Administration didn't exactly open its pocket book this past summer in hiring new men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers. And while his hiring has been praised by many, it certainly doesn't indicate Penn State is ready to truly be a player for a big name in football.
Ultimately, though, Meyer's Florida recruiting ties and .819 career winning percentage might be simply too good for athletic officials to pass up if the coach is interested in taking over in Happy Valley. For those same reasons, it'd be hard for anyone to be too critical of the hire should it come to fruition.