Damon Benning Director of Player Development
- Thread starter RikeMiley
- Start date
DB was around to see the glory years, 93-95 when players here WERE developed. I would imagine he will be an asset to the program. He also will be good at pointing out shortfalls on the position coaches, they guys who have no clue about player development. It is long past time to stop farting around and start doing things the right way player development wise. I always enjoy his insights on Big Red Wrap Up. Good hire IMHO.
He knows the metro and the kids worth offering as well in the area .....this move seems like a home run
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Exactly.
This "shoot from the hip" BS from Rhule and all his buddy hires has not worked, including this buddy he brought from Carolina. Whether this Director gig is a big job or small job - we want adults in the room. And we need left hand - right hand to work together. Sure doesn't appear to be so far.
I wonder if Rhule's original NU staff was better or worse than Frosts. Both were pathetic outside of 1, maybe 2 guys.
Dear NU administration - psssst! Start with THAT when hiring our next football coach.
Mentor players. Collect a nice check and benefits. The number of people the football program employs is insane but this actually probably a fairly important job.
Felder’s ties go all the way back to Penn State and his career mirrors Rhule’s. I’m not criticizing as that is quite common. The interesting thing? He held the AD job at the school that hired him once before for one year. I imagine he wants to get to the settling down years and they (the school) think highly of him enough of him that they wanted him back.
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Felder’s ties go all the way back to Penn State and his career mirrors Rhule’s. I’m not criticizing as that is quite common. The interesting thing? He held the AD job at the school that hired him once before for one year. I imagine he wants to get to the settling down years and they (the school) think highly of him enough of him that they wanted him back.
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The Official Athletic Site of the University of Nebraska, partner of WMT Digital. The most comprehensive coverage of the University of Nebraska on the web with rosters, schedules, scores, highlights, game recaps and more!huskers.com
Felder is entering his "Settling down years?" The guy is 47. He is just entering his peak earning years (45-54 years old).
Felder has taken lower jobs twice in a few years. He was tied to a coach (Rhule) who got fired at Carolina and is now juggling his his coaching staff again - and your excuse for Felder taking a smaller job is because a 47 year old may just want to enter his settling down years, despite leading player development at a school where player development has been abysmal.
Got it.
I have no idea if they are buddies - my guess is they are probably close. It's okay to hire people you know and like. I look at a year 4 hire of a former champion alum as not a "buddy hire" similar to the garbage buddies Rhule dragged with him across the country when he started the job years ago.
Major difference in those OG buddy hires vs. bringing on Damon or Eckeler etc. who have direct connections to the program vs. being along for the ride with the HC. Not suggesting the program connection is why they should or shouldn't be hired, but it definitely helps eliminate them from "buddy hires" like Foley, Satterfield, Felder etc. who roam the country with a golden ticket HC.
I’m trying to imagine in what world he wasn’t encouraged to seek alternative employment. Now I can see a deal where he just wasn’t happy here and wanted to return to an area he enjoyed more. A high school gig has to come with a lot lower level of expectations.
Before he came to Nebraska Rhule and Damon had zero connection. So in essence this is not a buddy hire . The majority of people in those position are either former players or people that have a some connection with the HC . The issue with someone like you no matter what Rhule does you criticize.
Damon has definitely been a Rhule booster but he’s always been pretty supportive of past staffs until the bitter end. You get run out of town if you start criticizing Husker coaches too early. I think Damon is a good fit in this job and might be a popular choice among many in the letterman’s club. Win.
People make friends at every stop they go to. Benning has been tight with Rhule since day 1 of being here. I think 4 years is well enough to be included buddy hire.
Would you have been happier if he had hired somebody with zero connection to the program and current players? Should he hire somebody he doesn’t know so it doesn’t look like a “buddy hire”?
Not at all - I like the hire. But people will use “buddy hire” against Rhule constantly when it someone they don’t support, but then don’t acknowledge that most coaching jobs are given through different connections and that’s okay. It’s the same way many get jobs - this is no different.
I think we simply have a disagreement on the definition. Not saying our view is correct, but we are looking at a traditional belief of a buddy hire.
Do you not see the difference between Foley, Satterfield, and Felder vs. Benning? Most would say Benning got the job because of his national championship background and experience at Nebraska, connections to the program, full understanding of the inner-workings and years of working with and for Nebraska. Satterfield got the job because of.... his buddy. Zero other connections.
Do you not see the difference between Foley, Satterfield, and Felder vs. Benning? Most would say Benning got the job because of his national championship background and experience at Nebraska, connections to the program, full understanding of the inner-workings and years of working with and for Nebraska. Satterfield got the job because of.... his buddy. Zero other connections.
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When Urban Meyer took the Jacksonville job he took the OSU dude with him . Day hired a former player who was a detective on the Columbus PD . Don’t think he ever held the job before?
Here’s the thing about the Buddy hire . When Frost came he brought his entire staff they didn’t win so the buddy hire was the reason. Cignetti basically took his staff to Indiana they win so the ignorants on this board don’t consider that a buddy hire
Benning in his role with the broadcasts already is familiar with and has relationships with many of the players. This job primarily involves mentorship which he has been doing for years as a high school coach. I would say his previous work is very relevant to the position. He doesn’t have to learn on the job. I can’t imagine anyone more qualified to step in to the job as fall camp has started.
Fair point. Not saying you can't hire buddies, but they better be good or you take the wrath. It comes with risk. Cignetti proved buddy hires can be a GOOD thing. Saban proved looking outside his buddies is a GOOD thing and hiring top talent no matter what. Probably best to describe Rhule's as CRAPPY buddy hires vs. Cignetti's stellar ones.
I dont see how he will have time but I have to think if there is a kid that needs attention at least in the metro he would be on it for the next few seasons anyway
I’m great. Knee is up to 95 degrees of flexion 3 weeks post op. I was just a little concerned by your mental state.
. Life is too short for pessimism. Skepticism? Okay. None of us know where this season goes but that’s the fun of it
I became friends with Gus while he was here in Lincoln, he's a super nice dude and this job in Georgia is one he has wanted for a while. I also got to see what his job entailed at Nebraska and Damon Benning was made for it. The job is more of a keep players in school, on the right track and make sure they are getting to where they need to be when they need to be there. The name of the position makes it sound like you are in charge of developing them as a player, but it's more of a developing them as a person role.
Ya it’s not a coaching ( on field) situation. Most hire a guy with playing background if not a former player of the said university. A former player is going to understand the role better than anyone else.
Does he? Or is he biased? If our coaches can't evaluate kids 45 minutes from their office, then does it really matter if they bring in a local? Maybe he's the best man for the job. I don't know. But did they do an extensive search or just go with the easy hire, a local guy who played here?
If we're all being honest, if you wanted good Omaha kids than we would want to hire someone from NDSU or Iowa. They have ran circles around us with Omaha evaluation and recruiting.
Again this is not a recruiting or any coaching position.this is a guy who help and develops with the personal Stuff not the player.stuff . The majority of these hire are former players who have connections to the HC or the university.Day hired a former player who was a detective on the Columbus PD for the position at OSU .
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