Al Golden to Talk to Penn State, Possibly Today

Sounds the alarm, Hurricanes fans. ESPN's Joe Schad reports that Al Golden has agreed to meet with Penn State representatives and that it could come as early as today. In the past, when his name has come up in other coaching searches, Golden has loudly denied interest. He's kept tellingly...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

January 3, 2014

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Sounds the alarm, Hurricanes fans. ESPN's Joe Schad reports that Al Golden has agreed to meet with Penn State representatives and that it could come as early as today. In the past, when his name has come up in other coaching searches, Golden has loudly denied interest. He's kept tellingly quiet this time around.

Here are the tweets from Schad:

Penn State source said Al Golden agreed to speak about the opening as early as today because "It would be coming home."
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) January 3, 2014

Some former PSU players are supportive of Golden because he understands the Penn State community, would be a willing fundraiser and...
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) January 3, 2014

...ambassador and understands the value of balancing academics and athletics.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) January 3, 2014

If Golden left Miami, it would be the first time in more than three and half decades that a Hurricanes head coach quit the program for another school. Every coach since Howard Schnellenberger has either left for an opportunity at the pro level (including Schnelly's ill-advised USFL move) or, more recently, has been fired.

Golden, though, might not be a sure thing for the job. ESPN reported earlier today that the school has two other top candidates: Vanderbilt's James Franklin and Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak. However, there are no reports that the other two have agreed to meet with the school.

Schad reports Golden plans to at least speak with the school, his alma mater, out of "obligation."

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