He wasn't my first choice, but I'm warming to it. I definitely feel like the NU program would be in competent hands. Runs a right ship, knows the B1G, has the Saban sheen on him now.
Speaking of the 'Saban effect.' It's weird that O'Brien is that he seems to get no benefit for coaching under Saban. Which is odd since the other coaches, that was their main thing: Smart, Tucker, Kiffin, Sarkisian, etc. The 'Saban effect' was like THE NUMBER ONE selling point for each coach.
When each of those guys became a HC candidate, the 'Saban disciple' label was the main descriptor. But O'Brien doesn't seem to get that - people are like "Same ol' boring BOB!!"... I just find that odd. I think it's fair to say that O'Brien has very likely become a better coach after 2 seasons with Saban. I think the anti-BOBers are not giving him enough credit for that. I mean BOB was already a very good CFB voach BEFORE he went to Alabama. Surely he's not a worse coach now. I'm certain he's a better CEO, etc. This will all be a welcome change for us bc NU just got done with literally the worst CEO head coach maybe of all time in Scote Forst.