Solich's Martyrdom Continues via ESPN

[Clevinger_rivals246724]

A better question would have been, "Do you feel bad that Nebraska is looking for its 4th coach since you used your friend to get a job you didn't deserve and ran the program into the ground? Do you think things would have been different if their AD had done a search for Osborne's successor and hired a coach based on the merits alone?"

His ongoing martyrdom is unwarranted. Ignoring his past recruiting issues with us, helplessness once he ran out of Osborne recruits, and subsequent DUI, with the Ohio Bobcats he:

1) has averaged 5.58 losses per year.
2) has a 2-6 bowl record.
3) has never won the conference.
4) went 4-8 in his 4th year there.
5) has had 5 or 6 losses each of the last 4 years.

I'm glad he feels happy there, but he's no martyr at Nebraska.

 

[GeorgeFlippin]

I doubt if things would have been so much better had Nebraska hired a coach with merits alone instead of Solich, that’s been proven over and over. Maybe Nebraska could have got lucky, but history has shown coaches with solid resumés don’t always keep the success going.

 

[Buicklife]

If he is the coach over these last 14 years the following would be the result.

Win at a 70% - 61% clip overall (14 years)...that's not too terrible considering the burning pile trash that is NU football.

Win the division every 4-5 years.....B12 North/B1G West....that is poor.

Win maybe 1 conference title.....maybe/maybe not

No NC appearances.

So, if we extrapolate that he would have been fired by 2008 any way.

I still think the move in 2003 was a major blunder but eventually he was going to be asked to leave. Appreciate your efforts Frank.

 

[JohnRossEwing]

A better question would have been, "Do you feel bad that Nebraska is looking for its 4th coach since you used your friend to get a job you didn't deserve and ran the program into the ground? Do you think things would have been different if their AD had done a search for Osborne's successor and hired a coach based on the merits alone?"

His ongoing martyrdom is unwarranted. Ignoring his past recruiting issues with us, helplessness once he ran out of Osborne recruits, and subsequent DUI, with the Ohio Bobcats he:

1) has averaged 5.58 losses per year.
2) has a 2-6 bowl record.
3) has never won the conference.
4) went 4-8 in his 4th year there.
5) has had 5 or 6 losses each of the last 4 years.

I'm glad he feels happy there, but he's no martyr at Nebraska.

So...you don't know what the world martyr means?

 

[Clevinger_rivals246724]

So...you don't know what the world martyr means?

Hmmm...actually it appears you don’t. Its use here is tongue-in-cheek. Perhaps that is why you are so confused.

Before you ask, tongue-in-cheek means “characterized by insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration.”

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

I guess I am in the minority who think Solich should have been retained. It would have kept our offensive identity. We haven't been the same since.
Yes, he was a **** recruiter but there were some unique obstacles he faced with his inherited staff. I think he should have been allowed to retool his staff and continue on

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

regarding the coaching quality ... the MAC has been pretty fertile ground for coaches jumping to a power 5 school. Has any MAC coach gotten a power 5 gig without ever having won the conference before? Curious.

 

[JohnRossEwing]

Hmmm...actually it appears you don’t. Its use here is tongue-in-cheek. Perhaps that is why you are so confused.

Before you ask, tongue-in-cheek means “characterized by insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration.”

I think you missed it again...

The tongue-in-cheek bit was mine when I poked fun at you. Now it just looks like you don't know how to laugh at yourself.

I know how to laugh at myself...I laugh at myself every time I pull down my pants.

 

[Clevinger_rivals246724]

I

I think you missed it again...

The tongue-in-cheek bit was mine when I poked fun at you. Now it just looks like you don't know how to laugh at yourself.

I know how to laugh at myself...I laugh at myself every time I pull down my pants.

If I misunderstood your intentions, I apologize.

 

[JohnRossEwing]

I


If I misunderstood your intentions, I apologize.

Shoot it is no big deal. I thought your post was funny

 

[TruHusker]

I guess I am in the minority who think Solich should have been retained. It would have kept our offensive identity. We haven't been the same since.
Yes, he was a **** recruiter but there were some unique obstacles he faced with his inherited staff. I think he should have been allowed to retool his staff and continue on

I had heard many years ago that Frank had the expectation that this was "Nebraska" and players just wanted to come here. Not sure how he could not have seen that was not exactly true. Tom built his reputation with parents, coaches and recruits. Frank did not have that and was just starting to build his reputation. It was going to take time as it took Tom time to build up. Problem was, someone had a itchy trigger finger and he got canned. I am with you, we have been in a death spiral ever since.

 

[JohnRossEwing]

Looking back on it now I think all of us know he should have been retained for at least one more year...there are still so many dorks that can't admit that because well...they are dorks...but yeah one more year would have made sense. Then go from there and see how things went.

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

Looking back on it now I think all of us know he should have been retained for at least one more year...there are still so many dorks that can't admit that because well...they are dorks...but yeah one more year would have made sense. Then go from there and see how things went.

if you really don't think he is the guy you needed to pull the plug after the 7 loss season .. after he went 10-3 you keep him until he either proves or disproves he belongs ... timing

 

[inWV]

Looking back on it now I think all of us know he should have been retained for at least one more year...there are still so many dorks that can't admit that because well...they are dorks...but yeah one more year would have made sense. Then go from there and see how things went.

Solich should have been given a chance to sink of swim with Joe Dailey at the controls and the second year of Bofense. Probably would have posted a 9-3 season.

 

[inWV]

 

[Clevinger_rivals246724]

I guess I am in the minority who think Solich should have been retained. It would have kept our offensive identity. We haven't been the same since.
Yes, he was a **** recruiter but there were some unique obstacles he faced with his inherited staff. I think he should have been allowed to retool his staff and continue on

I don’t think he deserved the job in the first place. However, I do think the changes he made after 2002 deserved more time, once he had been allowed to make them.

if you really don't think he is the guy you needed to pull the plug after the 7 loss season .. after he went 10-3 you keep him until he either proves or disproves he belongs ... timing

That has merit. The optics stunk.

I would argue that the team didn’t significantly improve in 2003 though; the schedule just got easier. We still got humiliated against the good teams we played.

Make no mistake, our fall from an elite program began with Solich’s failures.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

I don’t think he deserved the job in the first place. However, I do think the changes he made after 2002 deserved more time, once he was


That has merit. The optics stunk.

I would argue that the team didn’t significantly improve in 2003 though; the schedule just got easier. We still got humiliated against the good teams we played.

Make no mistake, our fall from an elite program began with Solich’s failures.

No disagreement with any of this.

 

[JohnRossEwing]

if you really don't think he is the guy you needed to pull the plug after the 7 loss season .. after he went 10-3 you keep him until he either proves or disproves he belongs ... timing

Yep!

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

I don't think Solich was the long term solution. But a much greater value needed to be placed on our offensive system when Peterson fired Solich. As I said, I think Solich should have been allowed to retool his staff and continue on. In the meantime, we should have been grooming someone from within that system to take over eventually. Maybe there was no such person. But to completely obliterate that whole offense by hiring Callahan was an act of raw stupidity

 

[dinglefritz]

I don’t think he deserved the job in the first place. However, I do think the changes he made after 2002 deserved more time, once he had been allowed to make them.



That has merit. The optics stunk.

I would argue that the team didn’t significantly improve in 2003 though; the schedule just got easier. We still got humiliated against the good teams we played.

Make no mistake, our fall from an elite program began with Solich’s failures.

The issue for Frank was the off the field stuff that was going on. Carl slept with a prized newcomer's wife and so the guy transferred. There were rumors that Frank was having a love child with one of the college age football secretaries. Before that Bohl did in fact have an issue with alcohol and an affair with a young lady who supposedly had his baby. The drinking and partying by his staff was widely known and beyond reasonable. Off the field, we were a mess. To top all that off, his DC wouldn't or couldn't recruit and the recruiting prospects were beyond miserable when he was fired. Then Frank reportedly told SP to go F himself when he offered suggestions on what needed to happen regarding his and his staff's behavior and recruiting effort. Frank was going to fail and I don't doubt that at some point Pelini was going to have another episode like he had with Bill Snyder. SP's mistake was not letting it happen before he fired Frank. Believe it or not I have always been a Frank fan but I saw the problems. I think he's where he needs to be and I'm happy that he's happy there.

 

[jflores]

I’m on the optics train. I don’t think frank was the answer but you probably should have let him crash the ship instead of letting him retool the staff and rebound.

 

[dinglefritz]

Our game management and play calling got a little better with Barney as the OC, but our roster was pathetic and most of our best players were graduating Frank's last year. We were in trouble talent wise on offense. Offensive line and QB especially.

 

[TheBeav815]

A better question would have been, "Do you feel bad that Nebraska is looking for its 4th coach since you used your friend to get a job you didn't deserve and ran the program into the ground? Do you think things would have been different if their AD had done a search for Osborne's successor and hired a coach based on the merits alone?"

His ongoing martyrdom is unwarranted. Ignoring his past recruiting issues with us, helplessness once he ran out of Osborne recruits, and subsequent DUI, with the Ohio Bobcats he:

1) has averaged 5.58 losses per year.
2) has a 2-6 bowl record.
3) has never won the conference.
4) went 4-8 in his 4th year there.
5) has had 5 or 6 losses each of the last 4 years.

I'm glad he feels happy there, but he's no martyr at Nebraska.

Exactly. He's not a bad coach, but he's not a great coach. He's never won a title in a weak conference. Has NU done worse than him at times since he was let go? Absolutely. Does that mean he should have just stayed the coach all along? Absolutely not.

 

[huskergal99]

A better question would have been, "Do you feel bad that Nebraska is looking for its 4th coach since you used your friend to get a job you didn't deserve and ran the program into the ground? Do you think things would have been different if their AD had done a search for Osborne's successor and hired a coach based on the merits alone?"

His ongoing martyrdom is unwarranted. Ignoring his past recruiting issues with us, helplessness once he ran out of Osborne recruits, and subsequent DUI, with the Ohio Bobcats he:

1) has averaged 5.58 losses per year.
2) has a 2-6 bowl record.
3) has never won the conference.
4) went 4-8 in his 4th year there.
5) has had 5 or 6 losses each of the last 4 years.

I'm glad he feels happy there, but he's no martyr at Nebraska.

Why hasn't any other P5 school scooped him up if we were so wrong to fire him?

 

[mwulf]

I was more than good when he was let go and honestly that whole TO promise thing to him always bothered me. TO should have went out when he wanted not because he felt obligated to hold up a promise to leave by 97. TO stays we have at least 1 more NC

 

[JohnRossEwing]

Why hasn't any other P5 school scooped him up if we were so wrong to fire him?

I know people like bringing that up but I don't think that is always "a thing"
I mean...he was already rich...making great money...been at the very top of programs...not everyone wants to go back to that. I would guess that over the last 10 years his agent got calls but FS probably said something like "I am happy here, I am older...my family likes it here and my staff likes it here"

I guess I would find it hard to believe that not one P5 school has inquired about him over the last decade.

 

[ThereIsNoPlace_rivals38755]

A better question would have been, "Do you feel bad that Nebraska is looking for its 4th coach since you used your friend to get a job you didn't deserve and ran the program into the ground? Do you think things would have been different if their AD had done a search for Osborne's successor and hired a coach based on the merits alone?"

His ongoing martyrdom is unwarranted. Ignoring his past recruiting issues with us, helplessness once he ran out of Osborne recruits, and subsequent DUI, with the Ohio Bobcats he:

1) has averaged 5.58 losses per year.
2) has a 2-6 bowl record.
3) has never won the conference.
4) went 4-8 in his 4th year there.
5) has had 5 or 6 losses each of the last 4 years.

I'm glad he feels happy there, but he's no martyr at Nebraska.

Steve Peterson, let me be the first to welcome you to the board.

 

[oldjar07]

I doubt if things would have been so much better had Nebraska hired a coach with merits alone instead of Solich, that’s been proven over and over. Maybe Nebraska could have got lucky, but history has shown coaches with solid resumés don’t always keep the success going.

It made absolutely no sense to bring in an outsider after the success we had with Osborne. We would likely have had to change offenses at some point or hire a coach who ran a similar offense which would have severely limited our options. Without the benefit of hindsight, Solich was likely our best option at the time.

 

[chicolby]

A better question would have been, "Do you feel bad that Nebraska is looking for its 4th coach since you used your friend to get a job you didn't deserve and ran the program into the ground? Do you think things would have been different if their AD had done a search for Osborne's successor and hired a coach based on the merits alone?"

His ongoing martyrdom is unwarranted. Ignoring his past recruiting issues with us, helplessness once he ran out of Osborne recruits, and subsequent DUI, with the Ohio Bobcats he:

1) has averaged 5.58 losses per year.
2) has a 2-6 bowl record.
3) has never won the conference.
4) went 4-8 in his 4th year there.
5) has had 5 or 6 losses each of the last 4 years.

I'm glad he feels happy there, but he's no martyr at Nebraska.

Jeezus man. Way to read way past a guy’s quote or even the question. Seems a reasonable question and answer but you’ve got a damn ax to grind apparently.

 

[oldjar07]

Our game management and play calling got a little better with Barney as the OC, but our roster was pathetic and most of our best players were graduating Frank's last year. We were in trouble talent wise on offense. Offensive line and QB especially.

Who knows how good Joe Dailey would have been if he actually ran the offense he was recruited for. I know very early in his career he showed a lot of promise, but then went downhill from there. But he was also running an offense that did not at all fit his skillset.

 

[Nebraska Power]

if you really don't think he is the guy you needed to pull the plug after the 7 loss season .. after he went 10-3 you keep him until he either proves or disproves he belongs ... timing

You summed up exactly how I feel. I admit I didn't want Frank after TO retired. And after the 7 loss season was ready to let him go. But man, after he made some changes and won 10 the next year it was pure stupidity to fire him. Not saying it would have worked long term, I have my doubts, but he deserved the chance.

 

[Snickerdoodle70]

You summed up exactly how I feel. I admit I didn't want Frank after TO retired. And after the 7 loss season was ready to let him go. But man, after he made some changes and won 10 the next year it was pure stupidity to fire him. Not saying it would have worked long term, I have my doubts, but he deserved the chance.

I think some people do not realize BP also averaged over 9 wins/season. Almost as if the two 10-win seasons don’t exist.

 

[Mr.Scary13]

If he is the coach over these last 14 years the following would be the result.

Win at a 70% - 61% clip overall (14 years)...that's not too terrible considering the burning pile trash that is NU football.

Win the division every 4-5 years.....B12 North/B1G West....that is poor.

Win maybe 1 conference title.....maybe/maybe not

No NC appearances.

So, if we extrapolate that he would have been fired by 2008 any way.

I still think the move in 2003 was a major blunder but eventually he was going to be asked to leave. Appreciate your efforts Frank.

Maybe he wins 60%, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Doubt seriously if he wins any division titles and not a chance in hell he sniffs a conference championship IMO.

 

[oldjar07]

I think some people do not realize BP also averaged over 9 wins/season. Almost as if the two 10-win seasons don’t exist.

There were three 10 win seasons, potentially four if he got to coach in the last bowl game. Which is why the 9 wins mantra is kind of BS. His coaching record averaged over 9.5 wins.

 

[Yolobomb]

Cool play, was that game for the division and to play in the conference championship?

Did they win that game?

 

[Yolobomb]

Recruiting has been the biggest issue for the last 20 years, except for maybe Callahan. Get a coach who will recruit quality players.

 

[TC53]

Huzker Nation has earned every minute of this.

 

[OldSchoolHusker]

I guess I am in the minority who think Solich should have been retained. It would have kept our offensive identity. We haven't been the same since.
Yes, he was a **** recruiter but there were some unique obstacles he faced with his inherited staff. I think he should have been allowed to retool his staff and continue on

He would have been a good coach here for a long time. He probably ran the QB's too much but we didn't have great backs at the time His second year, (99) I believe we had the best team in the Country. That doesn't happen by accident. None of the coaches since have been as good as Frankie was. With that said I believe Gill would have been a better choice because he would have recruited Texas better.

 

[Yolobomb]

He would have been a good coach here for a long time. He probably ran the QB's too much but we didn't have great backs at the time His second year, (99) I believe we had the best team in the Country. That doesn't happen by accident. None of the coaches since have been as good as Frankie was. With that said I believe Gill would have been a better choice because he would have recruited Texas better.

On the 3rd bottle of moonshine tonight ehh?

 

[Clevinger_rivals246724]

He would have been a good coach here for a long time. He probably ran the QB's too much but we didn't have great backs at the time His second year, (99) I believe we had the best team in the Country. That doesn't happen by accident. None of the coaches since have been as good as Frankie was. With that said I believe Gill would have been a better choice because he would have recruited Texas better.

He doesn’t get credit for riding the remaining momentum of a dynasty. He inherited a superpower from Osborne. In 2002, when it was finally just his recruits and coaching, he fell flat on his face. In 2003 we still sucked; our schedule just became easier. He pissed away 3 decades of continuous greatness and we have never recovered.