Newly minted Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles wants to put the past behind him.
An uneasy Columbus exit has finally given Knowles, who helped lead the Buckeyes' defense to a national championship win in January against Notre Dame, a chance to reflect on what transpired.
In a story from ESPN's Heather Dinich released Tuesday morning, Knowles said the abrupt exit after transforming Ohio State's defense into one of the nation's best over the last few seasons was not part of his initial plan.
"Maybe I'll take less because Ohio State's a great place," Knowles said.
But the contract offer, to Knowles' surprise, never came.
Knowles quickly connected the dots after he did not attend the team's championship parade. This was an event out of his control, Knowles said, revealing he was "asked not to come."
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"So then you're like, 'OK, honestly, the writing is on the wall.' Now it becomes something," Knowles added. "It's always something on the outside world, but now it's become something here, too. I hadn't made any decisions, but you just kind of feel like -- I wouldn't say I'm not wanted here -- but you just feel like, OK, now it's gotten awkward."
The "awkward" feeling Knowles had appeared to subside once the deal to Penn State became official. Knowles could currently care less about facing his old team, much less about anything that's out of his control.
"Ohio State didn't want to do it," Knowles said. "And so then all of a sudden it becomes a rush at that point because people are trying to make decisions on other jobs. They want to know whether you're interested or not."
It wasn't meant to be for Knowles, but on the flip side, staying in the Big Ten is going to continue to allow the Nittany Lions to compete at the highest level as they chase a championship this fall.
For now, Knowles has a chance to prove whether Penn State's financial gamble pays off.
August is just the beginning.