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O'Brien offers his condolences

The job just got tougher for Penn State's new football coach.

FOXBORO, Mass. - It was hard to imagine that Bill O'Brien's transition from Patriots offensive coordinator to Penn State head coach could get any more delicate. But his task grew even more fraught with emotion Sunday when Joe Paterno died, leaving O'Brien to not only replace a legend but to do so while Penn State fans mourn their lionized coach.

Paterno's death Sunday morning came as O'Brien prepared for the AFC championship game here, getting ready to help the Patriots reach the Super Bowl. He now has two more weeks of work for the Patriots, leading up to the biggest game in football, as Penn State pays tribute to Paterno. Hours before kickoff, he released a statement through the Patriots.

"It is with great sadness that I am compelled to deliver this message of condolence and tribute to a great man, husband, father and someone who is more than just a coach, Joe Paterno. First, on behalf of Penn State football, we offer our sincerest condolences to the Paterno family for their loss," O'Brien's statement began.

He is taking on a job where the off-field challenges seem to dwarf the ones on it. He will have to recruit and teach the game and game-plan, but also carefully navigate an extraordinarily turbulent time for Penn State football and its fans, all while trying to help the Patriots win a fourth Super Bowl.

Many Penn State supporters believe Paterno should never have been fired in the wake of child-molestation charges against former assistant Jerry Sandusky, and others said Sunday that they believe Paterno's firing hastened his demise.

"We also offer our condolences to the Penn State community and, in particular, to those who wore the Penn State colors, our Nittany Lion football players and alumni," O'Brien's statement read. "Today they lost a great man, coach, mentor and, in many cases, a father figure, and we extend our deepest sympathies."

His next comments acknowledged the size of the task facing him, and the lingering presence of the man whose job he now holds.

"The Penn State football program is one of college football's iconic programs because it was led by an icon in the coaching profession in Joe Paterno. There are no words to express my respect for him as a man and as a coach. To be following in his footsteps at Penn State is an honor. Our families, our football program, our university and all of college football have suffered a great loss, and we will be eternally grateful for Coach Paterno's immeasurable contributions."

As O'Brien hopes to make his own contribution, he will do so under trying circumstances for himself and Penn State.

"I think Penn State has hired a great young man to be their head coach, someone I'm very fond of," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said after the game. "Hopefully, if we collect enough draft picks, we'll be able to pick his best players."