Frankie Solich

Aug 24, 2004
865
463
63
Who really fired Frank? Of course we all know AD Steve Pederson did the dirty work but who behind the scenes called for the hatchet job? Shouldn't they be the ones apologizing today?
 

Baxter48_rivals204143

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2010
8,892
2,089
0
Are you aware how arrogant Steve Peterson was?
I have no doubt in my mind that he was the mastermind in letting Frank Solich go..
TO mentioned that he didn't realize that Petersen and frank had a rift going back to when Steve was recruiting coordinator. Said he never would have given Petersen thumbs up for athletics director. Not going to get into franks qualification to coach, just glad to see him back, he looks good for being 74 with the stress of being a college coach
 

bshirt73

Senior
Aug 31, 2014
2,853
806
0
It was the start of egos getting in the way instead of making the correct choice for the football program, aka eichorst

Yeah, Pedeyshine was a MONSTER sized disaster. That we added SE to the list it's quite amazing we have a chance on rebounding our program. Those two were really something.....
 
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chicolby

All-Conference
May 3, 2012
4,329
3,102
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We've seen multiple occasions where the over-correction was what the fans wanted, but wasn't what was best for the program.

1. Many fans were tired of Solich and thought he was capped out. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't, but the over-correction came in the form of a new NFL offense and mindset to "keep up with the times" - that backfired and led to another over-correction...

2. After Callahan failed, the fans wanted a "Nebraska guy who knew how we operated" and went with Bo Pelini, though it was a stretch to call him a "Nebraska guy" he felt like he was from the same ilk and while his performance wasn't all that bad, his temperament ultimately did him in (in addition to some really big blowout losses.... which led to once again, another over-correction.

3. Smiling Mike Riley comes in to correct the temperament issue of Bo. He was well liked for the most part, but he never seemed to understand what it took to win or the Nebraska culture..... this led to

4. Shawn Eichorst being relieved of his duties and Bill Moos replacing him, which also resulted in Scott Frost. I am hopeful that these were more performance-based decisions vs. over-corrections from a different style/personality.
 

HuskerNate79

Sophomore
Dec 29, 2005
2,851
121
0
We've seen multiple occasions where the over-correction was what the fans wanted, but wasn't what was best for the program.

1. Many fans were tired of Solich and thought he was capped out. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't, but the over-correction came in the form of a new NFL offense and mindset to "keep up with the times" - that backfired and led to another over-correction...

2. After Callahan failed, the fans wanted a "Nebraska guy who knew how we operated" and went with Bo Pelini, though it was a stretch to call him a "Nebraska guy" he felt like he was from the same ilk and while his performance wasn't all that bad, his temperament ultimately did him in (in addition to some really big blowout losses.... which led to once again, another over-correction.

3. Smiling Mike Riley comes in to correct the temperament issue of Bo. He was well liked for the most part, but he never seemed to understand what it took to win or the Nebraska culture..... this led to

4. Shawn Eichorst being relieved of his duties and Bill Moos replacing him, which also resulted in Scott Frost. I am hopeful that these were more performance-based decisions vs. over-corrections from a different style/personality.

The common thread in 1-3 was general ineptitude and an absence of unified vision at the level of the AD and above.
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,591
13,015
78
We've seen multiple occasions where the over-correction was what the fans wanted, but wasn't what was best for the program.

1. Many fans were tired of Solich and thought he was capped out. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't, but the over-correction came in the form of a new NFL offense and mindset to "keep up with the times" - that backfired and led to another over-correction...

2. After Callahan failed, the fans wanted a "Nebraska guy who knew how we operated" and went with Bo Pelini, though it was a stretch to call him a "Nebraska guy" he felt like he was from the same ilk and while his performance wasn't all that bad, his temperament ultimately did him in (in addition to some really big blowout losses.... which led to once again, another over-correction.

3. Smiling Mike Riley comes in to correct the temperament issue of Bo. He was well liked for the most part, but he never seemed to understand what it took to win or the Nebraska culture..... this led to

4. Shawn Eichorst being relieved of his duties and Bill Moos replacing him, which also resulted in Scott Frost. I am hopeful that these were more performance-based decisions vs. over-corrections from a different style/personality.
The only thing I would add to your synopsis is that some things were drifting in a really bad direction during Frank's tenure and hiring the Pelinis was like throwing gasoline on a fire. (Carl especially). I'm not sure Frank would have been fired IF he hadn't hired the Pelinis. The record that year was really probably secondary to the lack of effort in recruiting and the staff problems.
 

CatColumbia

All-Conference
Apr 19, 2014
5,934
3,140
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Yeah, Pedeyshine was a MONSTER sized disaster. That we added SE to the list it's quite amazing we have a chance on rebounding our program. Those two were really something.....

Money and a loyal fan base (Booster$) can do wonders.
 

Baxter48_rivals204143

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2010
8,892
2,089
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The only thing I would add to your synopsis is that some things were drifting in a really bad direction during Frank's tenure and hiring the Pelinis was like throwing gasoline on a fire. (Carl especially). I'm not sure Frank would have been fired IF he hadn't hired the Pelinis. The record that year was really probably secondary to the lack of effort in recruiting and the staff problems.
You knew times were not going in the right direction when frank couldn't get a recruit going against OU or Texas, he went down to going against ku and Iowa state for a two or three star, hell he couldn't close the deal on the kid that was a high school quarterback that went to notre dame and became a db Tommy zimboski something like that.
 

CatColumbia

All-Conference
Apr 19, 2014
5,934
3,140
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You knew times were not going in the right direction when frank couldn't get a recruit going against OU or Texas, he went down to going against ku and Iowa state for a two or three star, hell he couldn't close the deal on the kid that was a high school quarterback that went to notre dame and became a db Tommy zimboski something like that.

Yep, I remember Tommy Z. really liked Gill but when Solich hired Cotton as a (Highly questionable hire) as the OC, that was the kiss of death of landing Tommy Boy.
 
Nov 30, 2018
105
64
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Solich's coaching tenure:
 

RedSea_rivals91325

All-Conference
Jun 18, 2001
10,623
1,272
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It's too bad that it has taken this long, but better late than never. Very hard to follow a legend. But Frank's whole life between high school and his firing was in Nebraska football. You have to respect that dedication.
 
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dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,591
13,015
78
It's too bad that it has taken this long, but better late than never. Very hard to follow a legend. But Frank's whole life between high school and his firing was in Nebraska football. You have to respect that dedication.
It wasn't going to happen until the system was purged of Pearlman and Bo. Yes Bo. No love lost there. We needed the right AD and a head coach too who wanted it to happen. I think Tom really wanted to see Frank welcomed back before he himself tips over.
 
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Maui2022

All-Conference
Jan 2, 2005
2,452
1,406
113
Are you aware how arrogant Steve Peterson was?
I have no doubt in my mind that he was the mastermind in letting Frank Solich go..
Make no mistake about it, these two hated each other equally and I will probably get a lot of **** for this ... Frank was as much the problem in the relationship as Steve.
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,591
13,015
78
Make no mistake about it, these two hated each other equally and I will probably get a lot of **** for this ... Frank was as much the problem in the relationship as Steve.
two really big egos at the time. Frank viewed Pedey still as the nerd college intern that didn't know squat about football who was going to tell him who to hire and recruit. Tough pill for Frank to swallow. The kid who never played a down of football and was a college intern when Frank was coaching all conference RBs was his boss and making suggestions on how to do things.
 
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redwine65

All-Conference
Jun 23, 2010
10,851
2,170
113
solich had a tough deal, try to keep the program near the top level dr.tom had it after decades of trying. and shuffle in new coaches at the same time.

in the end it worked out well, he's the coach in his home state (I think he's from there?) and he's well respected where he spend most of his career.
 

inWV

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2007
14,190
4,838
91
Yep, born in PA, but grew up in Ohio.
So excepting the firing, it worked out for Frank. Got to coach at his alma mater for a number of years and be part of title teams and then coach in the state where he grew up.
 
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