Former Panthers coach’s big audition collapses just like everyone expected

Former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule | Aaron M. Sprecher/GettyImagesIt didn't take long for failed former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule to get linked with the vacant Penn State job. But with the entire college football world honed in on this almost constant speculation, he inevitably fluffed his lines.

Rhule was never capable of becoming a successful NFL head coach. David Tepper gave him complete power in pursuit of turning the Panthers around, but he only sped up their downward spiral. Everyone knew this was never going to work out relatively quickly, and Carolina's billionaire owner was seemingly the last to figure it out.

After his merciful firing just five games into…