Penn State Football: Quarterback McGloin is Excited About Billy Ball

Not even a month in to holding the full-time job, Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien has made it clear the quarterback position is a priority.
 
From hosting nine junior quarterback recruits this past Saturday, to giving each of the current signal callers a quarterbacking manual, O’Brien is looking to continue his professional success with the Nittany Lions.
 
In all likelihood, the centerpiece of O’Brien’s focus will be fifth-year senior Matt McGloin, a former walk-on who has shared the starting job duties with junior Rob Bolden the past two seasons.
 
McGloin said recently he is excited about the new era of Billy Ball. O’Brien most recently served as Tom Brady’s tutor in his role as offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots.
 
“It’s exciting to go through it,” McGloin said, referring to O’Brien’s quarterback manual. “I’m just learning so many things. I don’t think we’ll be as successful, or run the offense the way the Patriots do, but hopefully, we can do something similar to that.”
 
Charlie Fisher, a native of Allenwood, Pa.,  will coach Penn State’s quarterbacks, with an assist from O’Brien.
 
Fisher comes to Happy Valley after serving as the pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Miami (Ohio) in 2011.  He previously was on the Vanderbilt staff from 2002-10, serving as co-pass game coordinator his last five seasons and the wide receivers coach the final seven years.
 
‘I’ve known Charlie for a long time,’ O’Brien said. ‘He is a bright guy, sharp guy who has had a lot of success. He has coached some good quarterbacks. He worked with Jay Cutler at Vanderbilt. He just led Zac Dysert last year at Miami of Ohio.’   
 
Even though O’Brien’s and Fisher’s resumes include working with high-profile quarterbacks, McGloin is trying not to get too hyped up.
 
“I’m not going to try to be Tom Brady out there,” he said. “I’m going to try to be myself out there, play my game. But I’m hoping (O’Brien) can show me some things out there and lead me in the right direction.”

Related coverage:

• StateCollege.com’s Penn State football page