Matt Wells out at Texas Tech

Harry Caray

All-American
Feb 28, 2002
71,007
7,235
113
I thought this was a very strange hire from the get-go. Why would a Texas school hire someone who has zero experience coaching in the state of Texas? You need to have recruiting ties to the state. I bet they will hire Graham Harrell.
 

bigboxes

All-American
Sep 4, 2004
46,258
6,817
113
Fired mid season for being better than Scott Frost. Things that make you go hmmm.
 

SuperBigFan

Redshirt
Jun 10, 2021
7,267
0
0
Fired mid season for being better than Scott Frost. Things that make you go hmmm.
I wonder if they canned him now so that he would not get the chance to finish strong and make it harder to get rid of him. Also, maybe they have their dude lined up.
 

Husker_AMG63

Redshirt
Nov 14, 2019
816
0
0
I wonder if they canned him now so that he would not get the chance to finish strong and make it harder to get rid of him. Also, maybe they have their dude lined up.
That's exactly why programs do that! If they know they want the coach gone you get rid of him b4 he goes on a heater like Clayton did at USC last year.

The Last thing you want is to pull a Nebraska and fire a 9-3 coach (which we did 2wice) and be the laughingstock on the nation.

Also you can't attract a big name or quality coach because no coach wants to go to a team where they fire a coach without cause and won 75% of his games. That's how you end of with Riley and Callahan....
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,690
13,139
78
I wonder if they canned him now so that he would not get the chance to finish strong and make it harder to get rid of him. Also, maybe they have their dude lined up.
That's exactly why LSU fired Orgeron as well IMO. They didn't want to take the chance that he got things rolling. The boosters want O gone and I'm sure that is what is going on at TT as well.
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,690
13,139
78
That's exactly why programs do that! If they know they want the coach gone you get rid of him b4 he goes on a heater like Clayton did at USC last year.

The Last thing you want is to pull a Nebraska and fire a 9-3 coach (which we did 2wice) and be the laughingstock on the nation.

Also you can't attract a big name or quality coach because no coach wants to go to a team where they fire a coach without cause and won 75% of his games. That's how you end of with Riley and Callahan....
We ended up with Riley and Callahan because we had dumbasses as ADs. There were enough problems in Frank's staff that it would have been pretty simple to explain why he was let go IF we would have had an AD with half a brain. Pedie was set on hiring somebody from the NFL IF he could. All of his first choices were either current or recently fired NFL coaches. Houston Nutt was down the list quite a ways and then Callahan fell in his lap. Who knows what Eichorst was thinking other than in hindsight it almost looks like it was purposeful sabotage by Benedict Alvarez and Carrot Top.
 
Aug 18, 2016
16,645
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We ended up with Riley and Callahan because we had dumbasses as ADs. There were enough problems in Frank's staff that it would have been pretty simple to explain why he was let go IF we would have had an AD with half a brain. Pedie was set on hiring somebody from the NFL IF he could. All of his first choices were either current or recently fired NFL coaches. Houston Nutt was down the list quite a ways and then Callahan fell in his lap. Who knows what Eichorst was thinking other than in hindsight it almost looks like it was purposeful sabotage by Benedict Alvarez and Carrot Top.
We ended up with Callahan because Osborne didn't allow Byrne to do his job. It is quite possible that someone other than Solich as the head coach wouldn't have been fired after a 9 win season proceeded by a 7 win season. Perhaps Byrne sticks around another year or 2 and Pedersen is never hired at Nebraska.

We can blame all of the decision makers between 1998 and 2022 but the root of the problem started when the AD wasn't given the opportunity to interview and hire the coach he wanted to hire in December 1997.
 

steinek11

All-Conference
Apr 18, 2004
13,538
1,274
113
Someone has to be last in the Big 12. May as well be them. You ever been to lubbock?
 

oldjar07

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2009
9,473
2,015
113
We ended up with Callahan because Osborne didn't allow Byrne to do his job. It is quite possible that someone other than Solich as the head coach wouldn't have been fired after a 9 win season proceeded by a 7 win season. Perhaps Byrne sticks around another year or 2 and Pedersen is never hired at Nebraska.

We can blame all of the decision makers between 1998 and 2022 but the root of the problem started when the AD wasn't given the opportunity to interview and hire the coach he wanted to hire in December 1997.
We ended up with Callahan because Pedey was a dumbass, end of story. Yes we have had very incompetent leadership in the administration and AD office for a long time, but Osborne wasn't one of them.
 
Aug 18, 2016
16,645
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We ended up with Callahan because Pedey was a dumbass, end of story. Yes we have had very incompetent leadership in the administration and AD office for a long time, but Osborne wasn't one of them.
Yes he was. Osborne also backed Pedersen for the job. Another in the long line of poor administrative decisions made by Tom Osborne.

But back to my original point. If Osborne doesn't overstep in December 1997, Bill Callahan never steps foot on the field as Nebraska head coach and Steve Pedersen is never the AD in Lincoln. You have to go back to the origin to assign blame.
 

HuskerAlum92

Junior
Jan 8, 2007
4,733
346
0
Yes he was. Osborne also backed Pedersen for the job. Another in the long line of poor administrative decisions made by Tom Osborne.

But back to my original point. If Osborne doesn't overstep in December 1997, Bill Callahan never steps foot on the field as Nebraska head coach and Steve Pedersen is never the AD in Lincoln. You have to go back to the origin to assign blame.
I agree. The first sign of things going off the rails was with Osborne self-appointing his successor and Byrne bolting shortly after.
 

oldjar07

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2009
9,473
2,015
113
Yes he was. Osborne also backed Pedersen for the job. Another in the long line of poor administrative decisions made by Tom Osborne.

But back to my original point. If Osborne doesn't overstep in December 1997, Bill Callahan never steps foot on the field as Nebraska head coach and Steve Pedersen is never the AD in Lincoln. You have to go back to the origin to assign blame.
Osborne is the best thing to ever happen to this program. Yet there's a weird group of losers who attack him every chance they get.
 
Aug 18, 2016
16,645
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Osborne is the best thing to ever happen to this program. Yet there's a weird group of losers who attack him every chance they get.
As a football coach he was one of the best to ever do it. I am not talking about his place in history as a football coach. I am talking about his choices in the role of administrator.
 

WHCSC

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2002
10,817
3,636
88
Pederson was a home grown boy that looked perfect for the job. It just didn't work out. Sound familiar?
 

leodisflowers

Senior
Feb 25, 2011
14,801
808
0
We ended up with Callahan because Osborne didn't allow Byrne to do his job. It is quite possible that someone other than Solich as the head coach wouldn't have been fired after a 9 win season proceeded by a 7 win season. Perhaps Byrne sticks around another year or 2 and Pedersen is never hired at Nebraska.

We can blame all of the decision makers between 1998 and 2022 but the root of the problem started when the AD wasn't given the opportunity to interview and hire the coach he wanted to hire in December 1997.
1000000000000000000000000%. Frank should never had been given the gig and Byrne I think would have picked a good successor who might have actually won a title or two with that talent that existed.
 

oldjar07

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2009
9,473
2,015
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1000000000000000000000000%. Frank should never had been given the gig and Byrne I think would have picked a good successor who might have actually won a title or two with that talent that existed.
It could have easily went the other way even earlier than with Solich. Absolutely no guarantee we win a title just because we had talent. Everything has to go right to win a national title.
 

oldjar07

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2009
9,473
2,015
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As a football coach he was one of the best to ever do it. I am not talking about his place in history as a football coach. I am talking about his choices in the role of administrator.
Even in that role, he's the best we've had in the last 20 years. Moos could hire the big names but he couldn't hold them accountable at all. Pedey and Eichorst were incompetent buffoons and Moos was right up there as well. I'm not saying Osborne was a great AD but making up stuff like the Callahan hire was his fault, I'm going to call that BS out.
 

leodisflowers

Senior
Feb 25, 2011
14,801
808
0
It could have easily went the other way even earlier than with Solich. Absolutely no guarantee we win a title just because we had talent. Everything has to go right to win a national title.
That's your opinion. At that time we were head a shoulders better than every team in the Big 12 with K-State becoming decent, but still... I don't have the love for Frank and he should never have been the head coach and time only proved that correct. He was not cut out for it.
 

oldjar07

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2009
9,473
2,015
113
That's your opinion. At that time we were head a shoulders better than every team in the Big 12 with K-State becoming decent, but still... I don't have the love for Frank and he should never have been the head coach and time only proved that correct. He was not cut out for it.
The best option would have been if Osborne stayed on for a few more years while giving Solich increasing responsibility. Outside of that, there were no guarantees of another national title. An inside hire who understood the culture of what made us special during the mid-90's made more sense than an outside hire at the time. Ryan Day and Lincoln Riley are successful examples of this.
 

SuperBigFan

Redshirt
Jun 10, 2021
7,267
0
0
As a football coach he was one of the best to ever do it. I am not talking about his place in history as a football coach. I am talking about his choices in the role of administrator.
Fans that LOVE TO can't wrap their head around this because that means they have to admit hiring Bo was a huge mistake since they cry about how Bo was an embarrassment.
 
Aug 18, 2016
16,645
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Even in that role, he's the best we've had in the last 20 years. Moos could hire the big names but he couldn't hold them accountable at all. Pedey and Eichorst were incompetent buffoons and Moos was right up there as well. I'm not saying Osborne was a great AD but making up stuff like the Callahan hire was his fault, I'm going to call that BS out.
Not what I wrote. I stated the reason Callahan was ever hired at Nebraska is because Osborne overstepped and made a decision that wasn’t his to make. It is a domino effect. You have to go back to the first wrong decision. That is on Osborne.
The rest I don’t care about because the entire history changes with that one decision in 1997.
 

leodisflowers

Senior
Feb 25, 2011
14,801
808
0
The best option would have been if Osborne stayed on for a few more years while giving Solich increasing responsibility. Outside of that, there were no guarantees of another national title. An inside hire who understood the culture of what made us special during the mid-90's made more sense than an outside hire at the time. Ryan Day and Lincoln Riley are successful examples of this.
I agree it would have been nice for Osborne to groom someone, but changes needed to happen on that staff and he shouldn't have been grooming Frankie. Frankie was not the dude. TO has screwed us over a few times with his decision making and should have let Byrne do his job, as Byrne was the AD and responsible for the overall success of NU athletics driven by the football team.

That staff was aging something fierce and Frank was not a good manager and didn't have the nuts to revamp the coaching staff.
 

oldjar07

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2009
9,473
2,015
113
Not what I wrote. I stated the reason Callahan was ever hired at Nebraska is because Osborne overstepped and made a decision that wasn’t his to make. It is a domino effect. You have to go back to the first wrong decision. That is on Osborne.
The rest I don’t care about because the entire history changes with that one decision in 1997.
The only reason Callahan was hired is because Pedersen was a dumbass. Blaming it on Osborne is asinine.
 

GBR_Atlanta

Junior
Mar 9, 2015
1,055
369
83
I wonder if TT wants to lock up Dana Holgerson before Houston moves to the Big 12. Or they bring in Kevin Sumlin. Both air raid attacks. I always admired that about TT. They never hired a coach that took them completely away from their identity. What happens in 04 if we hire a coach a little more aligned with Nebraska’s O at the time? Guess we’ll never know.
 
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Redscarlet

Heisman
Jun 17, 2001
33,217
11,280
113
1000000000000000000000000%. Frank should never had been given the gig and Byrne I think would have picked a good successor who might have actually won a title or two with that talent that existed.
The program wasn’t broke no need to fix it. Granted some assistant coaches we’re getting ready to retire but there is still continuity end of the program and a winning program at that.

Was no Guarantee in Byrne hitting a home run when hiring a new coach..
 

GBR_Atlanta

Junior
Mar 9, 2015
1,055
369
83
The program wasn’t broke no need to fix it. Granted some assistant coaches we’re getting ready to retire but there is still continuity end of the program and a winning program at that.

Was no Guarantee in Byrne hitting a home run when hiring a new coach..
It’s wild looking back even to solich’s last year. Our 3 losses were brutal, but man…look at the teams we lost to. KSU was at the peak of their program, TX was about to make a natty run, and Mizzou was on their way up with Pinkel and Christensen at OC. They had some strong years and that year really got it going for them (Mizzou)
 

Redscarlet

Heisman
Jun 17, 2001
33,217
11,280
113
Not what I wrote. I stated the reason Callahan was ever hired at Nebraska is because Osborne overstepped and years made a decision that wasn’t his to make. It is a domino effect. You have to go back to the first wrong decision. That is on Osborne.
The rest I don’t care about because the entire history changes with that one decision in 1997.

We’ve disagreed on this before..This was Osborne program for 25 years and not counting all the time he was a assistant … I don’t agree with he over stepped his boundaries…
 

Redscarlet

Heisman
Jun 17, 2001
33,217
11,280
113
It’s wild looking back even to solich’s last year. Our 3 losses were brutal, but man…look at the teams we lost to. KSU was at the peak of their program, TX was about to make a natty run, and Mizzou was on their way up with Pinkel and Christensen at OC. They had some strong years and that year really got it going for them (Mizzou)

I’ve always said Devaney and Osborne created monsters and what ever Coach took over after them would never leave up to their success…

After Solich we were very spoiled and now we’re living with thinking this could never happen at Nebraska..
 
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Aug 18, 2016
16,645
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The only reason Callahan was hired is because Pedersen was a dumbass. Blaming it on Osborne is asinine.
The fact that you cannot even understand the point is on you. Pedersen isn't ever on campus if Osborne doesn't overstep. Pedersen can't make a bad decision if Osborne doesn't overstep and hire Solich. That is the entire point.
 

oldjar07

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2009
9,473
2,015
113
The fact that you cannot even understand the point is on you. Pedersen isn't ever on campus if Osborne doesn't overstep. Pedersen can't make a bad decision if Osborne doesn't overstep and hire Solich. That is the entire point.
I understand your point. It's just a really stupid point.