Disclaimer: I am a New England Patriots fan.

Aside from getting Tim Tebow to stop talking for a few months, you should root for New England during the playoffs for the sake of Penn State football.  Newly hired head coach Bill O’Brien will finish out the season as Offensive Coordinator of the Patriots before settling down in State College. Even though it may bring back repressed memories of the 2004 Superbowl for some of you, you should support O’Brien on his Superbowl quest with the Patriots.

We are amidst the recruiting period and time is winding down. Ideally we’d have our head coach present right now, but the important thing is we actually have a head coach. The fact that he is deep in the NFL playoffs and calling plays for arguably the best offense in the league is a good problem. If the Patriots run the table, our head coach will come to work fresh off a Superbowl victory, a huge selling point and a great omen. Everyone likes a winner.

O’Brien is an offensive mind and has helped architect one of the most complex offensives the NFL has ever seen, granted having Tom Brady under-center helps the cause. So while you’re watching Brady sling the ball all over the field Saturday night, support the man on the sideline calling the shots and think about the dynamic he could potentially bring to Happy Valley.

In the long-run, a Superbowl win for the O’Brien and the Patriots will be much more beneficial to the program then what could potentially be accomplished in a few weeks of recruiting. We are Linebacker U and our defense is always top-notch. The question mark, however, is always the offensive. Except for 2005, thanks again M-Rob. But there is just no incentive to come to an offense traditionally as mediocre as ours. But add a Superbowl champion play-caller to the mix and it becomes much more enticing for blue-chip quarterbacks and skill players to come to Penn State.

O’Brien has been on the Patriots staff for five seasons, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for three. Of those three seasons, New England won the AFC East each time going a combined 37-11. I know it seems like JoePa is irreplaceable and in many regards, he is. As far as on the field is concerned, we desperately need offense and that is what Bill O’Brien brings to the table.