The sooner, the better.
Al Golden, now the first year football coach at Miami ( and BTW, when he was hired, neither the Miami AD, or the University president, Diana Shalala, ever told him about the NCAA probe of the problems with boosters) was an all America at PSU, and as early as his senior year, people were already talking about him as one day replacing JoePa. The guy's a natural.
He graduated in 1991. Remember Sandusky was his position coach for all 4 years, so he obviously got to know the guy well..the asst coaches are the ones who have close contact with the players. I'm NOT suggesting anything happened..Sandusky likes younger boys, but you might get a vibe off the guy.
He plays one year in the NFL...then starts his coaching career, first at a HS, then at UVa, Boston College, then ONLY ONE season, 2000, as linebacker coach...replacing Sandusky, who retired in 1999. The he left to go back to UVa.
Hard to believe that Joe Pa didn't want Golden around...maybe Golden didn't want to be around PSU?