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ABC-TV’s Diane Sawyer interviews local residents about the need for jobs

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Fire watch in effect at Wilkes-Barre Intermodal Center until alarm system fixed

<p>For there to be a trip to the Big Ten title game, for there to be James Franklin leading the way, for there to be a competitive Penn State program at all, there needed to be Bill O&#8217;Brien.</p><p>The Nittany Lions still owe a large debt to their former coach, who took over in the middle of a horrific scandal and guided the team through NCAA sanctions that might otherwise have torn it all down.</p><p>O&#8217;Brien left after just two seasons, heading to the NFL to coach the Houston Texans just as 2013 turned to 2014.</p><p>But better believe he&#8217;s still been paying attention. Especially as Penn State edged out Ohio State and Michigan for the Big Ten East championship on Saturday after the Lions&#8217; eighth straight win.</p><p>&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t be more proud of that program, those kids,&#8221; O&#8217;Brien said Monday at his weekly press conference in Texas. &#8220;A lot of those kids were there when we were there as a staff. I could answer this forever.&#8221;</p><p>Back in July 2012, 24 hours after the Lions were hit with massive scholarship reductions and a postseason ban, O&#8217;Brien wasn&#8217;t sure whether enough players would stick around to field a viable team.</p><p>That began to change as a group led by then-seniors Michael Mauti and Michael Zordich organized an effort to keep as many players from transferring as possible.</p><p>In the end, only a few left. And O&#8217;Brien ended up winning national coach of the year honors after the Lions went 8-4 that first season.</p><p>&#8220;In 2012 &#8212; now, I will say this &#8212; in 2012, people gave up on that program,&#8221; O&#8217;Brien said. &#8220;And you can go back and look it up. Numerous experts gave up on that program, and it&#8217;s a great testament to that school, that coaching staff &#8212; James Franklin&#8217;s staff that&#8217;s there now.</p><p>&#8220;And especially those kids. To come back from that and to be 10-2 and playing in the Big Ten championship game, when it was basically very close to death-penalty, SMU-type sanctions &#8212; that&#8217;s a testament to those kids that are there now.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bill O&#8217;Brien spent just two years as Penn State&#8217;s coach before leaving for the Houston Texans, but he laid the foundation for the Nittany Lions&#8217; breakthrough 2016 season. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_AP1633274871835520161128181544881-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bill O&#8217;Brien spent just two years as Penn State&#8217;s coach before leaving for the Houston Texans, but he laid the foundation for the Nittany Lions&#8217; breakthrough 2016 season. </caption0><photoCredit0>Eric Christian Smith | AP photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Derek Levarse</p><p>dlevarse@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Derek Levarse at 570-991-6396 or on Twitter @TLdlevarse</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Former coach Bill O’Brien ‘couldn’t be more proud’ of Penn State players, coaches