Coaches since Osborne

[The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy]

Feel free to disagree with me but this is how I’ve seen it since Osborne left...

Solich:
Positive: Decent with Osborne’s recruits and McBride as DC. Crouch was a difference maker that masked many of Solichs faults that became evident later.
Negative: Poor recruiter, unimaginative offense, no charisma. Winning records against Big-12 teams began to fall under his watch. That is what did him in.

Callahan:
Positive: Excellent recruiter, Zac Taylor and Joe Ganz in place his offense worked really well.
Negative: Did not understand Nebraska tradition, Had a lousy defensive coordinator that coil not stop anyone. Would be interesting to see how a change of defensive coordinator would have changed Callahan’s tenure here but that is what did him in.

Pelini:
Positive: great defense with elite players, smart enough to build offense around the talent had to work with, at least 9 wins per season.
Negative: not charismatic - scary in fact, poor social skills, abrasive towards fan base as a whole, 9 wins are nice but rarely won games that mattered on prime time TV big game matchups. His mouth ultimately did him in.

Riley:
Positive: a nice man and ran a clean program
Negative: not a good recruiter, didn’t build a great staff, and couldn’t beat the good teams or even average teams.

Frost: ask me at least 7 years from now because we need to give him that long to turn a 20 year mess around.

 

[HUSKERFAN66]

Feel free to disagree with me but this is how I’ve seen it since Osborne left...

Solich:
Positive: Decent with Osborne’s recruits and McBride as DC. Crouch was a difference maker that masked many of Solichs faults that became evident later.
Negative: Poor recruiter, unimaginative offense, no charisma. Winning records against Big-12 teams began to fall under his watch. That is what did him in.

Callahan:
Positive: Excellent recruiter, Zac Taylor and Joe Ganz in place his offense worked really well.
Negative: Did not understand Nebraska tradition, Had a lousy defensive coordinator that coil not stop anyone. Would be interesting to see how a change of defensive coordinator would have changed Callahan’s tenure here but that is what did him in.

Pelini:
Positive: great defense with elite players, smart enough to build offense around the talent had to work with, at least 9 wins per season.
Negative: not charismatic - scary in fact, poor social skills, abrasive towards fan base as a whole, 9 wins are nice but rarely won games that mattered on prime time TV big game matchups. His mouth ultimately did him in.

Riley:
Positive: a nice man and ran a clean program
Negative: not a good recruiter, didn’t build a great staff, and couldn’t beat the good teams or even average teams.

Frost: ask me at least 7 years from now because we need to give him that long to turn a 20 year mess around.

Here is my take on solich. He should have been given more time. He had a bad year. Changed a bunch of asst coaches through retirement, moving on etc. Hired back a great bunch of assistant coaches that turned things around. Pedy shine wanted him gone. Didn't want to pay him the buy out or the pr of firing him. Thought solich would sink his own ship but didn't. So he fires him on a 10 win season. Total jerk. We will never know how things would have ended. But Steve pederson deserves a high level of criticism for where we are today. Sorry for getting a little off track on your thread.

 

[Redscarlet]

Pederson was the start, he didn’t like Frankie and he wanted to put his own stamp on the program by making his famous quote which has now truly come full circle because we are no longer relevant in the football world..

Solich also had asst coach’s who were ready to retire or couldn’t get on plane to recruit offensive line men ( Tenipor )

 

[CatColumbia]

Agree with most of your take except for Bo having a great defense. Yes, our 09 and 10 teams were stout! But aside from that, we still got taken to woodshed by Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan once.

 

[saluno22]

Pederson was the start, he didn’t like Frankie and he wanted to put his own stamp on the program by making his famous quote which has now truly come full circle because we are no longer relevant in the football world.

I would love to gravitate to mediocrity by the end of the season.

 

[HUSKERFAN66]

I would love to gravitate to mediocrity by the end of the season.

Hahaha. Oh for the good old days when .500 was considered unthinkable. I guess it still is

 

[The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy]

Agree with most of your take except for Bo having a great defense. Yes, our 09 and 10 teams were stout! But aside from that, we still got taken to woodshed by Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan once.

Exactly my point...the ‘09 and ‘10 defenses were great because there was elite talent. After those guys were gone Pelini looked less like a defensive guru.

 

[regoratsginrom]

While the coaches certainly bear the brunt, Nebraska has really been let down by its athletic director leadership since Osborne retired. Pederson should have never fired Solich and hired Callahan. Osborne should have never hired Pelini. Eichorst should have never hired Riley. Hopefully Moos' hire will be the one that turns this around.

But the fact is, our ADs (including Osborne) have sucked at hiring coaches.

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

Solich should have been fired after the 6-6 year if they were going to. The 10 win year was a farce mostly, by playing a horrible schedule, but you can’t fire someone after that. Joe Dailey may have changed the system some under solich, he was very good in the right system.

Callahan was a 8x backup plan by Pederson. He thought this job would attract all of the big names, but it didn’t. Would like to know what happens had he canned Cosgrove.

Pelini was a hot name that many thought was a Nebraska guy because he coached here one season. He did decent with others defensive recruits, but struggled against the decent teams with his own. He was a lazy recruiter who’d make it harder on himself by his antics. He never had a real offensive identity and didn’t want to be here by the end.

Riley was off of everyone’s radar, except Eichorst it seems. He’s a guy who’d been known to get the most out of his players. They recruited hard under him, but failed for most big named players unless they seemed to have baggage. He killed the offensive and defensive lines by the end and let the chickens run the coop. His style worked years ago with lower rated players before social media made everyone have egos, but it turned into a “no one gives a damn” with the new generation.

Frost has a solid identity, and what he believes is the right core of coaches to help. His first task is changing the don’t care attitude, then the rest. I’m hopeful, but far too early to tell. Too many can’t miss coaches have failed at other programs to make this a sure thing. He needs tons of time to have a chance though.

 

[dinglefritz]

Pederson was the start, he didn’t like Frankie and he wanted to put his own stamp on the program by making his famous quote which has now truly come full circle because we are no longer relevant in the football world..

Solich also had asst coach’s who were ready to retire or couldn’t get on plane to recruit offensive line men ( Tenipor )

Frank's staff was a mess. He replaced an alcoholic DC who had knocked up a young employee of the football offices with Bo and Carl. As a GA D line assistant, Carl slept with the wife of one of our prized D line recruits and caused him to transfer. Bo chasing down Bill Snyder was the tip of the iceberg on those clowns' behavior. On top of that there was an alcohol problem and rumors of drug problems on the staff. Frank had gotten pressure from some boosters to can Frank the year before but didn't have the balls to fire him then. Then when all of the other behind the scenes stuff was going on he just finally had had enough. The timing was questionable but Frank wouldn't have survived beyond another year anyway. There were just way too many problems on the roster and with his staff. Go back and look at who we had coming back on the O line, RBs and QBs and what BC had to work with. We were in trouble one way or another. It's unfortunate that it ended the way it did for Frank, but we were headed down one way or another. In many ways, I blame Bo and Carl for Frank's demise. IMO, IF Bo would have been a stud recruiter and IF he and his brother had behaved, Frank probably wouldn't have gotten fired...that year anyway.

 

[Redscarlet]

The DC he fired was Craig Bohl who is now the Head Coach at Wyoming. After firing Bohl he hired Bo Pelini...

 

[bigboxes]

I blame Tom for making Solich the head coach. We should have done a proper search for his replacement. Everything after that just built on Osborne's mistake.

 

[Redscarlet]

I blame Tom for making Solich the head coach. We should have done a proper search for his replacement. Everything after that just built on Osborne's mistake.

That is easy to dissect the situation now but Tom still wanted continuity with in the program after all the whole entire staff was still intact and he figured if it isn’t broke don’t fix it..

 

[regoratsginrom]

Carl slept with the wife of one of our prized D line recruits and caused him to transfer.

Wait...Carl slept with the wife of one of our recruits??? How in the hell does that happen? "Hey (recruit)...why don't you go out on the town with some of our host players and I'll stay back and bang your wife."

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

Frank's staff was a mess. He replaced an alcoholic DC who had knocked up a young employee of the football offices with Bo and Carl. As a GA D line assistant, Carl slept with the wife of one of our prized D line recruits and caused him to transfer. Bo chasing down Bill Snyder was the tip of the iceberg on those clowns' behavior. On top of that there was an alcohol problem and rumors of drug problems on the staff. Frank had gotten pressure from some boosters to can Frank the year before but didn't have the balls to fire him then. Then when all of the other behind the scenes stuff was going on he just finally had had enough. The timing was questionable but Frank wouldn't have survived beyond another year anyway. There were just way too many problems on the roster and with his staff. Go back and look at who we had coming back on the O line, RBs and QBs and what BC had to work with. We were in trouble one way or another. It's unfortunate that it ended the way it did for Frank, but we were headed down one way or another. In many ways, I blame Bo and Carl for Frank's demise. IMO, IF Bo would have been a stud recruiter and IF he and his brother had behaved, Frank probably wouldn't have gotten fired...that year anyway.

Did any of Solich's extramarital affairs factor into this too?

 

[dinglefritz]

The guy was a young D linemen who hadn't played yet when Carl decided he needed something. It took Carl a matter of weeks after he got on campus to bag his first sweetie. Remember kids come are here during the summer for conditioning and the new coaches were here for spring.

 

[Redscarlet]

The guy was a young D linemen who hadn't played yet when Carl decided he needed something. It took Carl a matter of weeks after he got on campus to bag his first sweetie. Remember kids come are here during the summer for conditioning and the new coaches were here for spring.

No wonder you have me confused Carl was Bo Defensive coordinator not Frank’s..

Frank had McBride than Bohl than Bo Pelini than he was fired..

 

[dinglefritz]

Did any of Solich's extramarital affairs factor into this too?

That was a rumor heard back then. Frank and his wife are friends of a family member but I can't confirm that one. Bohl's, Carl's and Bo's problems were pretty public. Marvin Sanders had some issues back then too.

 

[dinglefritz]

No wonder you have me confused Carl was Bo Defensive coordinator not Frank’s..

Frank had McBride than Bohl than Bo Pelini than he was fired..

Carl was a GA for Bo under Frank and coached the D line.

 

[dinglefritz]

That is easy to dissect the situation now but Tom still wanted continuity with in the program after all the whole entire staff was still intact and he figured if it isn’t broke don’t fix it..

He had promised the job to Frank in order to keep him from taking the Minnesota job earlier. That promise started the whole deal but no matter who followed Tom this chaos was almost inevitable.

 

[Redscarlet]

He had promised the job to Frank in order to keep him from taking the Minnesota job earlier. That promise started the whole deal but no matter who followed Tom this chaos was almost inevitable.

Yes, I knew that..

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

No wonder you have me confused Carl was Bo Defensive coordinator not Frank’s..

Frank had McBride than Bohl than Bo Pelini than he was fired..

Carl was GA.

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

That was a rumor heard back then. Frank and his wife are friends of a family member but I can't confirm that one. Bohl's, Carl's and Bo's problems were pretty public. Marvin Sanders had some issues back then too.

I heard that she was a local nurse from more than a few people and Pedeyshine had found out about it and it was more fuel for his fire.

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

That was a rumor heard back then. Frank and his wife are friends of a family member but I can't confirm that one. Bohl's, Carl's and Bo's problems were pretty public. Marvin Sanders had some issues back then too.

Sanders was a great coach with enough baggage to fill a 100 car train.

 

[dinglefritz]

I heard that she was a local nurse from more than a few people and Pedeyshine had found out about it and it was more fuel for his fire.

If Frank had a side piece I don't think that was much of a factor.

 

[dinglefritz]

Sanders was a great coach with enough baggage to fill a 100 car train.

he is/was "known" to law enforcement....

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

If Frank had a side piece I don't think that was much of a factor.

Sad but interesting info you have shared today. Did the DT ever make the active roster? The only transfer I could find during that timeline was Brown. Morbid curiosity for me.

 

[dinglefritz]

Sad but interesting info you have shared today. Did the DT ever make the active roster? The only transfer I could find during that timeline was Brown. Morbid curiosity for me.

I don't think he ever made it on to the roster before he left. Actually not sure he officially ever enrolled. .Poly kid.

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

I don't think he ever made it on to the roster before he left. Actually not sure he officially ever enrolled. .Poly kid.

I don’t doubt that it happened, because Carl is a POS, but there were no Poly area kids commited on the 2003 class on the line or ends.

 

[bigboxes]

That is easy to dissect the situation now but Tom still wanted continuity with in the program after all the whole entire staff was still intact and he figured if it isn’t broke don’t fix it..

Guessed wrong.

 

[dinglefritz]

I don’t doubt that it happened, because Carl is a POS, but there were no Poly area kids commited on the 2003 class on the line or ends.

I see that too. It's been a long time ago and I may have my "facts" twisted as to what position the guy played. Now I have to go back and try to figure out who it was. Unfortunately some other people who used to be on the board who could recall the guys name, position, class, height and weight were run off a while back.

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

I see that too. It's been a long time ago and I may have my "facts" twisted as to what position the guy played. Now I have to go back and try to figure out who it was. Unfortunately some other people who used to be on the board who could recall the guys name, position, class, height and weight were run off a while back.

No worries, I just don’t remember this story. I remember all the other guys issues, and later Carl issues. This team has been snake bitten in so many ways, coaches, players, & administrators.

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

No worries, I just don’t remember this story. I remember all the other guys issues, and later Carl issues. This team has been snake bitten in so many ways, coaches, players, & administrators.

Could it have been Mania Brown? He fits the timeline and the story.

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

Could it have been Mania Brown? He fits the timeline and the story.

Haloti Ngata was Browns cousin,would be the guess it was one of them, he was Mania’s cousin, decommitted when Mania left.

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

Haloti Ngata was Browns cousin,would be the guess it was one of them, he was Mania’s cousin, decommitted when Mania left.

Those two if healthy here would have been program changers.

I thought it was only thought that Mania left due to illegal calls from BYU, but maybe that’s what they were calling about.

 

[GeorgeFlippin]

Many top programs have gone through what Nebraska is going through now. Hell, what’s it been, near 30 years since Notre Dame has won a NC? In those thirty years, they’ve had awful coaching and seasons.

Alabama went some 25 plus years winning only 1 NC before Saban showed up to win his first. UCLA, Texas A&M look like they’ll never win a NC. Washington had some ups and downs since their last title in the early 90’s. Texas has won 1 outright since 1968 (2005), and remember the train wreck OU was for a decade after Switzer?

Nebraska has had a few good seasons since Osborne, we’ll just have to wait and see if Frost really can elevate the program back to 9-10 win type teams, as it stands now, it will take a few more years to get there.

Sometimes I think about programs like Illinois, Missouri, Texas A&M, UCLA, Arkansas, and a few others and wonder why they’ve never been able to have consistency over the decades, why they never won a NC when all those teams are in or near areas where there are a great deal of top players.

Then I think about the absolute luck Nebraska had to have coaches like Devaney and Osborne, two CHOF coaches, and there in lies the difference, they were great coaches that surrounded themselves with very good to great assistants, and recruited quite well.

Look at USC when they were stomping teams into the dirt a decade ago, great coaches and players existed side by side. They still have a lot of great players, but Pete Carroll is gone, and John McCay isn’t coming back, and it’s going on 14 years since their last NC.

In order for Nebraska to get back to the Devaney-Osborne success, the coach has to be that good, anything less will result in, at best, top seasons the likes of what Frank and Bo had, very good, but not great ( I do consider 1999 a great season, however).

 

[Solana Beach Husker]

He had promised the job to Frank in order to keep him from taking the Minnesota job earlier. That promise started the whole deal but no matter who followed Tom this chaos was almost inevitable.

The reality was Tom was the glue...continuity is great but that staff was not the best individual group of coaches in the country. Tom held them together but once he was gone all of their collective flaws started working against the program. Kind of like running the option w/o a great offensive mind. Being around Solich's teams, they were very cocky and undisciplined...acted like they had won something because they were recruited during the great run. Solich is where he belongs and never should have been hired in the first place. Often a coaches greatest attribute will be their undoing. T.O was fiercely loyal, and gave the best job in the land to someone without the talent to do the job. There probably wasn't another option though, giving it to Bob Stoops would have been a weird move as well.

 

[dinglefritz]

Those two if healthy here would have been program changers.

I thought it was only thought that Mania left due to illegal calls from BYU, but maybe that’s what they were calling about.

Boom there it is. That's what it was.. Ngata was ours until Carl worked his magic. I kept thinking Ngata was tied in to the deal but couldn't connect the dots. As I said, "my facts/memory could be a little twisted" after 15 years.

 

[GeorgeFlippin]

he is/was "known" to law enforcement....

They (police) were his Uber a few times.

 

[redwine65]