Whether Bradley or the rest of a veteran Penn State staff assembled by Paterno returns next season remains in doubt. Bradley has interviewed for the head-coaching job, but said the assistants otherwise devoted their full attention to guiding the team through the media storm after Paterno was fired Nov. 9.
“I’m proud of them and I’m thankful for the efforts they gave me,’’ Bradley said of the coaching staff. “They worked like dogs the whole way through this thing. What they do from here, that’s their decision.’’
The 24th-ranked Nittany Lions were picked apart by star quarterback Case Keenum, who threw for 532 yards and three touchdowns. It was a dispiriting finish for a defense that was allowing 162 yards passing per game.
Keenum threw for more than double that by halftime. Now, Houston (13-1) gets to relish the satisfaction of extending its school record for victories in a season.
Penn State must push forward still without a permanent head coach.
“We’ve been to hell and back in a lot of ways, more so for our kids,’’ said Paterno’s son, quarterback coach Jay Paterno. “They did nothing.’’
Keenum burned the Nittany Lions’ veteran secondary with touchdown passes of 40 and 75 yards to build a 24-7 lead by halftime. It was the school’s first bowl game without Paterno as head coach since the 1962 Gator Bowl, a 17-7 loss to Florida.
Paterno was fired Nov. 9 by school trustees amid mounting criticism that school leaders should have done more to after learning of the shocking abuse allegations against retired assistant Jerry Sandusky. He is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty last month.
Bypassed by more prominent bowls, some Nittany Lions (9-4) debated whether to travel to Dallas at all, then vowed they were over getting jilted and focused on stopping Houston.
Turned out Linebacker U. got trampled by Keenum and Houston’s high-octane offense.
“When you have a lot of fast guys, it makes my job a lot easier,’’ Keenum said.
