Why did Bill Byrne leave?

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

I don’t have any background knowledge as to why he left for Texas A&M. Was it unhappy boosters? Was he just looking for a change?

Odd topic I know considering it’s game day, but I’m just curious. Looking back he seems to be one of the more successful AD the schools had. He ended up serving Texas A&M for about decade. Makes you wonder how history would have unfolded had he stayed.

 

[The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy]

I don’t have any background knowledge as to why he left for Texas A&M. Was it unhappy boosters? Was he just looking for a change?

Odd topic I know considering it’s game day, but I’m just curious. Looking back he seems to be one of the more successful AD the schools had. He ended up serving Texas A&M for about decade. Makes you wonder how history would have unfolded had he stayed.

Probably left for more money and would be able to choose his own guy for a program since he couldn’t do it here.

 

[Redscarlet]

$$$$$

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Byrne left because Osborne usurped his power by announcing Solich would be taking over for him. Byrne wasn’t totally behind that decision. He began looking for an exit soon after then pulled the trigger when Solich started to decline and had the 7-7 record. He didn’t want that hire to cost him jobs in the future, especially because he didn’t technically make the hire.

 

[Redscarlet]

Byrne left because Osborne usurped his power by announcing Solich would be taking over for him. Byrne wasn’t totally behind that decision. He began looking for an exit soon after then pulled the trigger when Solich started to decline and had the 7-7 record. He didn’t want that hire to cost him jobs in the future, especially because he didn’t technically make the hire.

Money was the bigger reason..

 

[otismotis08]

They don't call him "Dollar Bill" for nothing.

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

Byrne left because Osborne usurped his power by announcing Solich would be taking over for him. Byrne wasn’t totally behind that decision. He began looking for an exit soon after then pulled the trigger when Solich started to decline and had the 7-7 record. He didn’t want that hire to cost him jobs in the future, especially because he didn’t technically make the hire.

I wondered about that whole situation. It’s probably an awkward spot when someone who is technically an employee of yours has more pull around the place than you. I could see the money explanation too. Nebraska until recently I would say has underpaid ads and coaches in comparison to other schools.

 

[Redscarlet]

I wondered about that whole situation. It’s probably an awkward spot when someone who is technically an employee of yours has more pull around the place than you. I could see the money explanation too. Nebraska until recently I would say has underpaid ads and coaches in comparison to other schools.

Things were different back than for sure.. I had no problem with TO picking the successor because we had the same staff and the system wasn’t broke in my opinion but the staff was getting older was the bigger problem..

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

I wondered about that whole situation. It’s probably an awkward spot when someone who is technically an employee of yours has more pull around the place than you. I could see the money explanation too. Nebraska until recently I would say has underpaid ads and coaches in comparison to other schools.

If money was the biggest reason he could have left anytime. But he left when it was becoming apparent “his football coach hire” wasn’t going to work. I’m not saying money wasn’t a factor, but reputation and not being held accountable for someone else’s decision was just as much a factor.

 

[Iroh2]

Loved Osborne as a coach.. his administrative skills were not good…. Personal loyalties overrode good decision making..

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

Things were different back than for sure.. I had no problem with TO picking the successor because we had the same staff and the system wasn’t broke in my opinion but the staff was getting older was the bigger problem..

Your right the staff was getting older. Looking back it seems like it was inevitable that the game was going to pass them by. College football was changing in the early 2000’s. Defending the new wide open spread offenses from Oklahoma, Miami, even Colorado was something we had a hard time adjusting to.

 

[MichHusker]

Byrne left because Osborne usurped his power by announcing Solich would be taking over for him. Byrne wasn’t totally behind that decision. He began looking for an exit soon after then pulled the trigger when Solich started to decline and had the 7-7 record. He didn’t want that hire to cost him jobs in the future, especially because he didn’t technically make the hire.

That is spot on. The day the Program started going south. Byrne and some others were looking in another direction from Solich - McBride was supposedly topping that list. But TO had made a promise to Solich he would retire so Solich could take over. So TO usurped his authority and if you go back and investigate, you will see they did it when Byrne was traveling. Byrne was questioned by a reported when he landed about Solich being named the next coach and he was like "WTF"? That is day he decided to move on. You've probably heard the story that Solich was supposed to take over in 1996 but the players nearly revolted when they heard Solich might be taking over and convinced TO to go one more. They, of course, won the NC. TO retired very early - he was 59. Imagine where things may be if he had coached another 10 years. Anyway, when Solich was fired in 2003, that upset TO in a major way. He talked about having his name removed from the field you may recall. Long story - but I call that announcement the day the program started going south. It's been a series of missteps since then. I do think we finally got the right AD. Am hopeful in that regard.

 

[otismotis08]

Loved Osborne as a coach.. his administrative skills were not good…. Personal loyalties overrode good decision making..

Always wondered what would/could have been if we went with Charlie McBride instead of Frank Solich. That said, not everyone is made out for head coaching. I guess I just miss Mr. Blackshirt.

 

[Redscarlet]

If money was the biggest reason he could have left anytime. But he left when it was becoming apparent “his football coach hire” wasn’t going to work. I’m not saying money wasn’t a factor, but reputation and not being held accountable for someone else’s decision was just as much a factor.

Remind me who he hired at AtM was R.C Slocum?

Biggest rumor from some people around the board was Byrne would have hired Mack Brown but there was no true evidence of that really coming true..

 

[otismotis08]

That is spot on. The day the Program started going south. Byrne and some others were looking in another direction from Solich - McBride was supposedly topping that list. But TO had made a promise to Solich he would retire so Solich could take over. So TO usurped his authority and if you go back and investigate, you will see they did it when Byrne was traveling. Byrne was questioned by a reported when he landed about Solich being named the next coach and he was like "WTF"? That is day he decided to move on. You've probably heard the story that Solich was supposed to take over in 1996 but the players nearly revolted when they heard Solich might be taking over and convinced TO to go one more. They, of course, won the NC. TO retired very early - he was 59. Imagine where things may be if he had coached another 10 years. Anyway, when Solich was fired in 2003, that upset TO in a major way. He talked about having his name removed from the field you may recall. Long story - but I call that announcement the day the program started going south. It's been a series of missteps since then. I do think we finally got the right AD. Am hopeful in that regard.

Same here. As hail varsity podcasts have indicated, Sf isn't going to pull the wool over Trev's eyes. If SF isn't the answer, hopefully Trev is. And we'll be able to reach into the top drawer and start working his list...if/when necessary.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Remind me who he hired at AtM was R.C Slocum?

Biggest rumor from some people around the board was Byrne would have hired Mack Brown but there was no true evidence of that really coming true..

Not the point. What he did after he left Nebraska has nothing at all to do with why he left Nebraska.

 

[Redscarlet]

Same here. As hail varsity podcasts have indicated, Sf isn't going to pull the wool over Trev's eyes. If SF isn't the answer, hopefully Trev is. And we'll be able to reach into the top drawer and start working his list...if/when necessary.

Lol… Moos took his drawer with him, we don’t need Trev looking into that drawer..

 

[otismotis08]

Lol… Moos took his drawer with him, we don’t need Trev looking into that drawer..

Right on. I trust Trev >>> Moos

 

[John_J_Rambo_rivals315142]

Right on. I trust Trev >>> Moos

to be fair, Moos made 3 hires that were as close to universally applauded as an AD can make

Frost has crashed and burned, but Hoiberg and Bolt have their programs going in the right direction

I agree Trev has NU's best interests in mind

 

[Redscarlet]

Not the point. What he did after he left Nebraska has nothing at all to do with why he left Nebraska.

And my point is we don’t know who Byrne would have hired except for the rumor I mentioned..
Only other point is I wished Byrne would have picked the next coach instead of Peddy..

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

And my point is we don’t know who Byrne would have hired except for the rumor I mentioned..

Who cares? None of that has anything to do with why he left. Which was the question asked.

You are moving the goal posts.

 

[MichHusker]

Same here. As hail varsity podcasts have indicated, Sf isn't going to pull the wool over Trev's eyes. If SF isn't the answer, hopefully Trev is. And we'll be able to reach into the top drawer and start working his list...if/when necessary.

Trev is smart enough to know you line up the next guy before you fire current one. I am sure SF will have this year to prove why he should get another year. So the decision is not yet made. But Trev is going to handled this as good or better than any AD we've had since Devaney or Byrne.

 

[Redscarlet]

Who cares? None of that has anything to do with why he left. Which was the question asked.

You are moving the goal posts.

Again $$$$$ That’s why.

Made more in College Station than Lincoln Nebraska..

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Again $$$$$ That’s why.

Made more in College Station than Lincoln Nebraska..

Ok I am going to type this slowly for you. If he would have been the one to make the hire after Osborne left his timeline would have been different.

Maybe his hire would have sucked and he was fired, maybe he goes with Solich anyway, maybe the guy he picked would have kept Nebraska in the top 10 every year.

Regardless it would have been his decision and the consequences of that decision would be on him.

To pretend that it was just about money is just silly. But you go ahead and believe whatever you want. Regardless of how wrong you are. Ha ha ha.

 

[TruHusker]

Loved Osborne as a coach.. his administrative skills were not good…. Personal loyalties overrode good decision making..

I never thought much about administrators and their decisions until I became one. You can't even compare the number of decisions an administrator makes at any level against the other employees. They aren't all going to be perfect. But % wise, there are way more good than bad.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

You’re are the only that is disagreeing with me..

Who is agreeing with you?

 

[Redscarlet]

Who is agreeing with you?

deleted it not with the argument that neither of us can prove..

 

[HBK4life_rivals100467]

Always wondered what would/could have been if we went with Charlie McBride instead of Frank Solich. That said, not everyone is made out for head coaching. I guess I just miss Mr. Blackshirt.

McBride was already on his way out. Think he had back issues. His last D in 99 was his best though. That was a National championship D but the offense fumbled away another National title.

 

[GeorgeFlippin]

Byrne probably thinking “ they still talk about me on Husker football message boards, I’m touched.”

 

[redfanusa]

Texas A&M offered a population and alumni base with oil money with which Nebraska could never compete. They not only offered him big bucks personally, but a nearly limitless budget to throw at facilities improvements and coaches to build his legacy.

Byrne also wanted to capture the Director's Cup, which meant siphoning all sorts of resources away from football to field women's soccer and all sorts of other sports to make up ground on diverse athletic departments like Stanford. The highest finish Nebraska had was 4th place in 1996-97.

I doubt Byrne left because Osborne or some alumnus was interfering too much. If you think Nebraska is political, look at Texas A&M. Don't you remember the alumni quickly hired Dennis Franchione right before Byrne showed up, to prevent him from interfering with the decision? That makes Osborne's meddling on behalf of Solich look like like small potatoes.