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What actually happened?

J

Jhollenbeck41

Freshman
Nov 29, 2018
5,621
68
0
This is going to be tied somewhat into a thread from earlier about what the lowest point for each of us was a fan, but I'd also like to ask another question....


What actually happened in the transition between Osborne and Solich and the next few years that caused this thing to fall to shambles basically? I've watched plenty of highlights and old game footage on Youtube and the first thing that jumps out to me is clearly there just isn't the same presence with Solich's teams that Osborne's squads had, even with Crouch.

Was it as simple as recruiting or coaching? S&C? Culture? Discipline? Toughness?

It's been said on here a few times that some people on this board that are a little older had some solid connections during that time and I guess I'd like to hear a lot of their opinions. This is basically history class for me.

I'm 27 so my first real memory is the 2001 season and getting bent over backwards by Miami in the title game
 
B

Baxter48_rivals204143

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2010
8,892
2,089
0
Jmo I think frank was arrogant thought it was owed to him but he was also hamstrung with the old coaches that didn’t recruit very good. But frank wasn’t charismatic person and he couldn’t close on a top recruit. I’m not being sarcastic but can someone name several top recruits frank brought in as a assistant. Tom should have let frank go to another school prove himself the come back and take over. Terry Pettit was a genius which John cook. I think frank rest on his laurels with strength and conditioning. Just a combination of once the snowball Started down hill it was hard to stop. Frank should have moved 4 years sooner on replacing the older coaches had that happen he might have been able to save his job but frank would have had to hire top notch coaches and I don’t think he would have done that. Just my two cents
 
H

Husker_AMG63

Redshirt
Nov 14, 2019
816
0
0
HARVEY PERLMAN happened! Only tru Nebraska fans would know what started the downfall of Nebraska football.

He hated how Nebraska football was priority 1 thru 9 and education and everything came in a distant 10th on the priority list!

He single handedly destroyed Nebraska football....
 
S

slwags_rivals53212

Junior
Jan 7, 2004
1,333
211
0
I have always believed that Frank told Tom he was going to start looking at other head coaching jobs and that forced Tons hand.
 
S

Suhrreal

All-Conference
Jun 1, 2009
7,380
1,049
0
cubsker said:
Recruiting is the number 1 reason. Pretty big dropoff from LP and Ahman to David Horne.
Click to expand...

This is a big one, and the rules changes that started in the early 90's combined with the Big XII's new rules had a profound impact on recruiting. The big drop at RB actually came after Dan Alexander and Buckhalter left the program. Diedrick was a big RB but hardly a natural at the position. If you rewatch the 2002 Rose Bowl, the team actually played hard all game despite the score. The 2001 team was not a bad team at all and had plenty of talent, particularly up front. When Osborne's last classes left, the gaps really started to show. Carl Crawford not signing at QB was a huge blow as the guy was a legit baller that went on to great success in baseball. At that point, momentum in recruiting was pretty much dead until Cally's Super Bowl resume showed up along with John Blake.
 
C

CatColumbia

All-Conference
Apr 19, 2014
5,934
3,140
0
The below hurt us:
Recruiting
Old assistants
Rise of Oklahoma and Texas
Every team started appearing on tv
Frank’s dry personality
 
bigboxes

bigboxes

All-American
Sep 4, 2004
46,242
6,784
113
Husker_AMG63 said:
HARVEY PERLMAN happened! Only tru Nebraska fans would know what started the downfall of Nebraska football.

He hated how Nebraska football was priority 1 thru 9 and education and everything came in a distant 10th on the priority list!

He single handedly destroyed Nebraska football....
Click to expand...

Nope. It was when Osborne decided that Solich should be his successor. Everything else is a failed attempt to restore the order.
 
G

GeorgeFlippin

Heisman
May 29, 2001
38,563
35,543
113
I've said this before, and I will say it again, it's a rare happening when a coach, no matter if he was at the program or came from another place, can follow up with the huge success that a coach like Osborne had at Nebraska.

It may have been just as big a gamble when Devaney turned things over to Osborne, but you never really know how it will work out until the new coach shows what he's made of. Nebraska had the good fortune to have TWO HOF coaches back to back, needless to say, that is incredible in it's own right.

If it wasn't Frank, the new coach following up Osborne more than likely would have had a difficult time keeping the boat afloat in such a manner as Bob and Tom were able to do. When Frank had the players from 1998 through 2001, he had a real good run, but as others have already stated, the life blood of any program, talent, dried up enough to put Nebraska at the level of being just another team in the world of college football.

Honestly, Nebraska has probably been for the past 19 years right about where they should have been, a program that has won more games than they lost during that span of time, but not unlike other notable programs who for whatever reason just can't find a way to get to a championship level.
 
C

cubsker_rivals142943

All-Conference
May 29, 2003
18,603
3,797
0
Suhrreal said:
This is a big one, and the rules changes that started in the early 90's combined with the Big XII's new rules had a profound impact on recruiting. The big drop at RB actually came after Dan Alexander and Buckhalter left the program. Diedrick was a big RB but hardly a natural at the position. If you rewatch the 2002 Rose Bowl, the team actually played hard all game despite the score. The 2001 team was not a bad team at all and had plenty of talent, particularly up front. When Osborne's last classes left, the gaps really started to show. Carl Crawford not signing at QB was a huge blow as the guy was a legit baller that went on to great success in baseball. At that point, momentum in recruiting was pretty much dead until Cally's Super Bowl resume showed up along with John Blake.
Click to expand...

I should rewatch, but my memory is that our base offense didnt do that terrible vs Miami but we kept trying trick plays that got blown up putting us in impossible long yardage situations. Now we had no chance either way, but yeah, we weren't that awful on O, despite having very little at the skill spots outside of crouch.
 
N

newAD

All-American
Oct 14, 2007
15,429
5,006
0
CatColumbia said:
The below hurt us:
Recruiting
Old assistants
Rise of Oklahoma and Texas
Every team started appearing on tv
Frank’s dry personality
Click to expand...

I would add arrogance. From the administration, coaches, and even the fans. Everyone just assumed hand it over to Frank (just like Devaney to Osborne) and everything would remain the same.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Nebraska could have hired ANY coach in America in 1997. Could have got Saban before he was SABAN. Pretty sure Bama won’t make the same mistake.
 
H

Huskerchil

Redshirt
Sep 15, 2019
116
10
0
We have to stick with one coach. Frost has to have years to get this program back to winning. Our national championship hopes r probably gone, but we can still hope that we can get it all back.
 
GBRforLife1

GBRforLife1

Redshirt
Feb 18, 2020
13,913
3
38
newAD said:
I would add arrogance. From the administration, coaches, and even the fans. Everyone just assumed hand it over to Frank (just like Devaney to Osborne) and everything would remain the same.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Nebraska could have hired ANY coach in America in 1997. Could have got Saban before he was SABAN. Pretty sure Bama won’t make the same mistake.
Click to expand...
Would Saban have the same success?
 
B

Baxter48_rivals204143

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2010
8,892
2,089
0
newAD said:
I would add arrogance. From the administration, coaches, and even the fans. Everyone just assumed hand it over to Frank (just like Devaney to Osborne) and everything would remain the same.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Nebraska could have hired ANY coach in America in 1997. Could have got Saban before he was SABAN. Pretty sure Bama won’t make the same mistake.
Click to expand...
I have never been supportive on the idea frank should have been given the job, he had no qualifications besides he was a long time assistant and head coach at Lincoln south east. Most of my friends were telling me those statements. I did however support frank and the team. But it didn’t surprise me it ended like it did. Imo as much as TO is respected he was a big reason for the downfall.
 
J

Jhollenbeck41

Freshman
Nov 29, 2018
5,621
68
0
This is kind of a deeper concept and I’m not exactly sure how to word is but I’m not sure Frank commanded that certain kind of respect or had the presence that Tom had. Maybe this is just a stereotype of short dudes but from all the footage I’ve seen of Frank when he was here, he just didn’t seem like a dude that would command a room, to where when he walked in everything would shut up and listen. I feel like Tom probably had that, and I believe Frost has that too. Atleast whenever I see Frost on video, I stop what I’m doing and listen because I feel he commands that with his presence. I feel like that trickled down to Frank’s players too, atleast from what I’ve seen. The teams just didn’t look like they commanded that respect and dominance that Tom’s squads did. Miami in 01 just didn’t flinch like they did in 94 even with Ray Lewis and Warren Sapp on defense. Idk probably the best way I can explain it. I just don’t feel that commanding presence watching Frank’s teams
 
O

OHPAHusker

Sophomore
Apr 3, 2012
236
190
43
Jhollenbeck41 said:
What actually happened in the transition between Osborne and Solich and the next few years that caused this thing to fall to shambles basically? I've watched plenty of highlights and old game footage on Youtube and the first thing that jumps out to me is clearly there just isn't the same presence with Solich's teams that Osborne's squads had, even with Crouch.
Click to expand...
  • Ongoing decline of rural Nebraska, which had been a unique athletic culture that outperformed its population in terms of producing good players. This was a pipeline of talent that NU did not have to fight other schools for. TO & Staff knew how to evaluate small-town and 8-man players.
  • Elimination of partial qualifiers. Two players a year adds up. Tyrone Williams, Michael Booker, Derek Brown, others - those were outstanding players that few other schools could take.
  • Other schools caught up in S&C.
  • Loss of TO's unique offense that allowed NU to take unconventional linemen (e.g., Aaron Taylor, some of the small-town Nebraska guys and walk-ons) and rely on walk-ons at WR. Schollies could be focused elsewhere. Starting with Callahan, NU has had to recruit against other schools at every position.
  • Non-HOF, in fact thoroughly average, coaches leading the program. Solich, Callahan, Pelini, and Riley have some abilities but were undistinguished as HC's.
  • Lack of focus in vision and recruiting since joining the Big Ten. Thirty years ago, NU was a big, strong, slow team that needed speed to compete with the Florida teams. Now we apparently are a smallish, slow team that needs to beef up in the trenches to compete in the Big Ten. No natural rivalry of great interest. Yeah, we want to beat Iowa, but it's not as energizing as using OU as the benchmark.
That's my take.
 
L

leodisflowers

Senior
Feb 25, 2011
14,801
808
0
Biggest player was moving from Coke to Pepsi. Once we go back to Coke, we will be back in the hunt and I am a Pepsi man in general.
 
Meribeau

Meribeau

Redshirt
Jan 19, 2005
2,532
36
48
Jhollenbeck41 said:
This is going to be tied somewhat into a thread from earlier about what the lowest point for each of us was a fan, but I'd also like to ask another question....


What actually happened in the transition between Osborne and Solich and the next few years that caused this thing to fall to shambles basically? I've watched plenty of highlights and old game footage on Youtube and the first thing that jumps out to me is clearly there just isn't the same presence with Solich's teams that Osborne's squads had, even with Crouch.

Was it as simple as recruiting or coaching? S&C? Culture? Discipline? Toughness?

It's been said on here a few times that some people on this board that are a little older had some solid connections during that time and I guess I'd like to hear a lot of their opinions. This is basically history class for me.

I'm 27 so my first real memory is the 2001 season and getting bent over backwards by Miami in the title game
Click to expand...

Solich was not getting the recruits. He was winning with Osborne’s recruit but the pipeline was getting thin. And then the coaching changes hurt the program until Mr 500% winning average almost decimated the Program. Frost said if he knew it had slipped as much as it has with no talent he would not have taken the job.
 
B

Baxter48_rivals204143

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2010
8,892
2,089
0
meribeau said:
Solich was not getting the recruits. He was winning with Osborne’s recruit but the pipeline was getting thin. And then the coaching changes hurt the program until Mr 500% winning average almost decimated the Program. Frost said if he knew it had slipped as much as it has with no talent he would not have taken the job.
Click to expand...
Instead of recruiting against the likes of Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Ohio st, frank either couldn’t or choose the easier route and went against the likes of Iowa st kst and Missouri for his recruits
 
D

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,592
13,018
78
CatColumbia said:
The below hurt us:
Recruiting
Old assistants
Rise of Oklahoma and Texas
Every team started appearing on tv
Frank’s dry personality
Click to expand...
I would add discipline, alcohol and drug abuse by a couple of Frank's staff. Carl's F up didn't help either that last year. It's amazing the damage a grad assistant can cause.
 
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