Rock Bottom
I don’t even know where to start. I am going to keep it as real as possible. Yesterday’s game was completely and totally embarrassing. Over the past fifteen years since the blood in my veins was Husker red, I have never been more disappointed by the performance of our team. How in the world does anybody who puts a red N on the side of their helmet let a team from the immediate south put up 76 points on them over the course of a game? I don’t care if they cloned Gale Sayers and John Riggins, the Jayhawks should never have their way with the Huskers the way they did on Saturday. I sat on my couch and could not believe what I was witnessing. Give some credit to Kansas, they are a much improved team and they play well together. Their QB is a good football player and he is completely in charge of his team on the field. But what happened Saturday is inexcusable.
There has to be changes made, no questions about it. Personnel, staff, you name it, they have had opportunity after opportunity to get their act together and get things going and it just gets progressively worse. We lack intensity, explosiveness, chemistry and most of all pride. Kansas could have scored 90 if they didn’t feel sorry for us. I cannot believe how far this program has fallen. Mediocrity, that’s funny, we passed that exit about 119 miles ago. It is probably easier for me to write the things that we did well rather than the areas we did poorly. I thought Joe Ganz did a decent job yesterday for his first start at the Division 1 level. He made some poor decisions in the second half but that was a result of him being backed into a corner where he had to force some throws. He showed some toughness and just think what he can do in an offense that uses a running game. 39 points should be enough to win most times, actually I am wrong; we needed 41 to beat Ball State. To have a great team you need all the players and coaches to have the same goals, expectations and work ethic, we obviously don’t have that. It’s sad when one guy is doing everything he can to help his team both on and off the field but the guy he plays next to doesn’t have that same dedication.
The defense was bad, we couldn’t cover anybody and we couldn’t get to the QB. Same story all year long. Somebody want to get off a block? I scratch my head wondering “is it the kids, or are they not teaching them these things in practice”. It’s the same mistakes over and over and over again. We are slow on defense; I don’t think anyone can argue that. I have been saying all year guys are playing out of position. We have defensive tackles playing defensive end, linebackers that should be ends; we’re too big and slow.
Where are all the true freshman running down on kick-off team? Terrible day on special teams. Makes it tough on your defense when you start a series on your own half of the field, all day long! Makes me sick, the whole thing. Still can’t figure out how to stop the read-option. After KU put up 60, why not put in some of the freshman that have had a year taken away from them. If you’re going to burn their redshirt, might as well get them some real game time.
I want to hear what you guys think. Where did this whole Callahan era go wrong? Who should be the next coach of the Huskers? Should Cally get one more year? Also if there are topics you would like me to hit on that I haven’t covered as of yet, let me know. Sometimes I feel that I am writing the same material over and over again, it just so happens we play at the same level all the time. Ok, I’ll get back to you guys in the next couple of days, hang in there, everything will get better!
Jason, comment on how role players like a Jeff Ogard during your time at Nebraska played a part in the success of Husker football. It seems to me that we have to many heroes and no one that knows how to play the schemes that are being taught. Someone like Ogard could take up two blockers so it would free up other players to make the play.
Reply to this
One of the most fun segments of The Spread was the day that Dishman & Virgl were guests and you all talked about practices. More of this please!
Reply to this
Couldn't agree more with the idea of letting the freshman and walk-ons play. Anyone with pride in themselves, let alone the program, would do a better job at the moment. The looks on the coachs' faces during gametime is mind numbing.
Turner Gill should be the next head coach. Pelini gets exposed in November every year, so please, people quit calling for Pelini. We need someone with an OC mind. It's much harder for teams to continue success when the OC jumps ship to something better every three to four years, i.e. USC, Oklahoma, etc. It's much easier to bring in a DC and implement schemes then having to overhaul offensive skill positions, termination, etc.
I'd like to hear more about how practices were run during your day. Meetings, focus speeches, how the players took ownership of the team, what everyone did during practice Monday through Thursday, how did Coach Osborne handle adversity with the team, what did he tell you at halftime if he didn't think you were giving enough effort. What are things he'd tell you the night before or right before a game.
Thanks
Reply to this
Agree with this guy...Jason, what do you think of Gill as a head coach? You had experience with him as a player...although he wasn't your position coach, what did you think of him? Keep the blogs coming! GBR
Reply to this
Turner Gill should be the next head coach. Pelini gets exposed in November every year, so please, people quit calling for Pelini. We need someone with an OC mind. It's much harder for teams to continue success when the OC jumps ship to something better every three to four years, i.e. USC, Oklahoma, etc. It's much easier to bring in a DC and implement schemes then having to overhaul offensive skill positions, termination, etc.
Are you kidding me we just had an OC in Bill Callahan … most OC’s end up being horrible coaches (Norve Turner) !!!! Our defense is so bad unless we have someone with a great defensive mind, its going to take 4-6 years to develop an average defense!
As for Turner Gill … good guy but he’s not ready for the big time. Being an administrator/coach for a MAC team isn’t the same as being a coach for a traditional powerhouse, Big 12 team. Then you throw in the mix of being a former Nebraska All-American QB … too many expectations … under the microscope … too much of a risk at this point! We need someone that’s a proven head coach or proven defensive coordinator with leadership ability … someone that’s able to rally a team, light a fire under his ass
Reply to this
its going to take 4-6 years to develop an average defense!
hardly
Reply to this
I agree. I'd absolutely love to hear more about your Husker practices and what Coach Osborne would say to you guys.
Reply to this
No way on Gill, I love the guy and I love what he has done for Neb but just look at his current record in the weakest of all divisions. In addition, there may have been a time a coach like Bo would not have been the man for Neb but be it Bo or someone just like him, Neb has no leaders on the team and they need a high energy coach like Bo or Stoops to come in and light a fire under these guys you know what. Bo rallied a team that was in shock of losing a coach in which they believed they had saved his job, Bo rallied these guys and led them into a bowl game against a very good team and won. The time is now that Neb is in need of a fiery coach that will create an atmosphere where these guys believe they can pound the rock through brick walls and humiliate the most top ranked offense in the nation. Gill has a strong religious belief and is a very kind person, from what I can tell he does not posses that fire that is needed right now,
BMiles
Reply to this
I think your right about Nebraska needing a coach who can light a fire in these players. Would I enjoy playing for a guy who isn't afraid of getting in somebodies face, absolutely but you can be a coach who still motivates your players without getting red in the face. Check head football coach, Nebraska 1997. TO was not a high energy guy, but he still knew how to motivate us. He knew how to connect with us so that we wanted to play for him, we knew he had our back. Now I'm not saying I think Turner should be the next guy but I feel he deserves to get a look. If your a head coach and your not a high energy guy, how do you get around that, well you hire assistants that are high energy and let them do all the yelling and screaming;check defensive coordinator,Nebraska 1997.
Reply to this
Jason, I have not really thought of it that way but you are absolutely right in that head coach is really more of a management job than anything. The guys need someone to light the fire, we both agree on this, it doesn't necessarily need to be the head coach who does this but could be the assistants he hire. A good manager determines what is needed to accomplish the goals then fills those needs by surrounding himself with the people who can accomplish those tasks. Perhaps that is where Callahan has gone wrong, he is still trying to be an offensive coordinator and not a manager of the team and its needs. Perhaps he needs to decide what the wants with his life, to be a head coach (manager) or and offensive coordinator.
BMiles
Reply to this
Some coaches can do both and some can't. That becomes a problem with a lot of coordinators turned head coach. They can't back away enough from the coordinator role. You're paying somebody to be the coordinator, let him do his job. If Watson never got the opportunity to call the first half of the A&M game we would still be trying to run that outside zone play with Lucky all day. That game was when we first started to run in between the tackles and it has opened up so much more for our offense. JP
Reply to this
Hey Guys, I was reading an article on espn about Turner Gill the other day and guess who his defensive cordinator is? Former Nebraska defensive end Jamie Williams, wow I didn't even know he was in coaching, that is cool.
Apparently he is doing a heck of a job there at Buffalo too along with Gill.
I don't know much about his coaching s tyle or ablities, but if he's helping to turn around one of the nations worst programs, then he must be doing something right.
He has a few defensive players with top 20 in the nation stats leaders, I don't recall right off hand what positions or catagories, plus the Buffalo quarterbackk is averaging something like 200 something yards apssing per game and the team is around 200 yrds average rushing a game.
Nice balanced offense, if he can get it done there, he can get it done here
for sure.
And this is just my opinion, but Turner knows what made things work here.He is a top recruiter, he knows how to look a kid in the eye and say
come here and play for us. We feel you are a special talent. I won't guarantee you will start,you will have to EARN that, but if you give me all you got, I'll give ya all I got.I will show you how to get the best out of yourself blah blah blah.
I think he has that kind of ability it requires to develop young athletes, to chalenge them, to motivate them to give it everythign they have and then some and at the same time make it the best experience of their life.
I just really feel he can accomplish great things , maybe not overnight, but it wouldn't take long if given the chance.
Do I know it for a fact? Nope, it's just a feeling, but one I have had for
a long time, even before Solich was fired, I was saying I thought one day Turner will be one heck of good coach.
I alwasy thought he would be the next after Solich.
I do understand that some think he needs more experience, but sometimes lack of experience can be overcome with
pure love, joy and enthusiasm for what you are doing.
Coaching is a neverending learning process, it's alwasy on the job learning, and it's not like he could do it all by himself lol. Assistants are the heart of the program, without good assistants you aren't going to win many games.That's why he's my choice, he loves Nebraska as much or more than many of us, he's a good human being, he loves coaching or so it would seem, and he knows as much about what made it all work as anyone does.
I mean does anyone really think he didn't learn anything from Osborne while he played or worked for him?
Everyone seems to talk like Osborne won all those games all by himself, as great a man and coach as he is, he sure as heck didn't do it alone.
I'll support anyone TO puts in place, but personally I am hoping it's Gill.
Actually, I'd like to see a staff of lots of former players that are all scattered coaching somewhere else or
currently not coaching anywhere.
Now that would be cool.Marvin Sanders comes to mind, JP, Scott frost ect
Reply to this
The last thing we need is another Nebraska retread like Turner Gill. That is what got us where we are. Go hire a young,aggressive guy who already has success. The guys at Cincinnati and Wake Forest come to mind.
Reply to this
Patrick, how can you refer to Turner as a "retread". SHAME ON YOU! Have you lost your mind? I think so! Even though I am not acquainted with Cincinnati, what's so great about the Wake Forest coach? Get a grip!
Reply to this
I live in Manhattan Beach, CA & I can smell the STENCH all the way out here. I am embaressed by this and past performances - I'm 36 & I've seen 40 losses the last 10 years after seeing 50 in my first 26 years - My dad is so disgusted he refuses to watch the rest of the games. I think Santa Ana Mater Dei would beat us by 3 TD's - make the change and RIGHT THE SHIP.
Reply to this
We only have two more games and one is at home. PLEASE, those of you who have tickets, GO to the game. Do NOT try and send a message by boycotting Memorial Stadium. These players need as much true fan support as they can get during this obvious low point in their academic/athletic careers.
I believe we will see big changes at the end of the season, so now is not the time to kick these guys while they are down.
Jason, one subject I would love for you to comment on: conditioning. It really seemed our players wore down physically very early in the game. (Aside from mentally). I remember in past years we physically wore out the opponent, which did save our bacon on many occasions. Thank you and keep up the good work on the radio and blog.
One last thought.....I would love to hear you do the play-by-play calling on Saturdays!!!! Any chance?????
Reply to this
Jason's broadcasts would be great, but he needs to be COACHING!!
Reply to this
JP, I think Coz should be fired and you should be interim DC. There is no chemistry or leadership. I think it begins with the coaches. Other teams are winning with less talent. Now, there is no confidence. I am happy you are back and liking it.
Reply to this
where did callahan go wrong? cripes, dipped if i know.
the only thing VISIBLY changed from last year is no zac taylor (the man was the heart of the team) and no adam carriker (a true examples of blackshirt pride). also, no john blake.
did blake have that much impact? it's hard to imagine, but maybe he did. the kids seemed to like him and it seemed like he was a good motivator.
but do i know? i'm just a fan.
Reply to this
First off it went wrong when Pederson fired Solich, he may have notbeen Osborne , but he loved the program and would have done whatever he could to keep it strong no matter what it took.
I think our fans expectations got a little out of wack, not that we shouldn't expect hard fought games and lots of wins, but you can't go undefeated every year and you will ocassionaly have a bad loss to a team you should beat...that's just the real world.
To me it's almost disrespectful to have expected Solich to go undefeated and win titles right away..it was disrespectful to the game of football and to the teams and players who DID accomplish those lofty goals.Essentialy people were acting like hey this winning titles and going undefeated and dominating everyone is easy sht, we should be doing this every yr. Please people get real, those things are special and damn hard to accomplish. It's one thing to dream about it as a fan, but EXPECT IT????
Ok in my opinion that's where it got out of wack, peoples egos, brain dead expectations and direspect of current champions thinking it was simple to accomplish.
Then unlike most I didn't feel we needed to make drastic changes like a total offensive system overhaul....because I know how hard the option is to defend and I loved watching it executed at a high level.
If people would have been patient we would probably have the spread option here now and never missed a beat.
I know in my heart Turner Gil would have done an excellent job designing plays for the spread.Do you see what he's done at Buffalo, I mean it's Buffalo man...fricken amazing.
The option is especially dangerous when you have a qb that can also throw
the ball real good, defending the play action pass or option pass is very hard when you have to stop run first.
Callahan turned a physical style team
into a bunch of girl scouts who would rather be selling cookies in the stands than hitting sommeone on the field.
I remember narrow wins against Pitt who lost to Ohio( yes that one), home loss to miss st lol, and then of course Coz took essentially the same
defense that was in top 10 the yr before and let texas tech hang 70 on us.That secondary was basicly in tact from the yr before that led the nation in interceptions and the defense led in turnovers and scoring.Great job defensive genius Coz.
That told me all I needed to know back then in '04.Then you get Callahan talking at post game press conferences about how he doesn't yet have the players he needs to have to be successful in his system...excuseme azzwipe, the team you just took over went 10-3 and went to a bowl game fool.
Don't disrespect your hard workign players cuz you can't coach BOY.
Never liked the guy from those first early impressions and attitude, I hoped things would get better, but kind of knew in my heart they would probably get worse.
Things are broke, Luckily they can be fixed as soon as this staff is out.
Reply to this
Wow you made me really hate the current regime. I am younger and I needed that perspective. You have to coach the players you have you don't wait! Look at Kansas! Callahan should have implemented a system that fit the players he had. Then he would have had a winning season his first year. Instead he pushed the wrong system on a good football team and destroyed a season. Because he needed his players.
Now I am convinced he is gone. There's just no way around it.
Reply to this
I honestly don't really know what to say.
The NU defense looked like a bunch of junior high students competing out there. I don't mean to be rude, but that's really what it looked like. I have never played football competitively, but I do know good football when I see it. That was NOT good football.
The offense did okay...but I still hate the West Coast Offense. I think it should be changed to something a little simpler so the players can spend more time working on the fundamentals rather than trying to memorize the Offensive Playbook Bible.
Our defense didn't show up at all. That's all there is to it. Apparently, Cosgrove's brilliant defensive strategy was to let KU run up and down the field until they got tired.
The front four can never get any pressure on the QB. If they do it's a miracle. They are big guys...but are too slow to pursue or even get off blocks.
Again, I don't mean to be rude...but the defense absolutely sucks this year. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
I could go on and on about how horrible our team is this year, but it is nothing that hasn't already been driven into the ground with a 30 lb. sledgehammer...and it seems like the only people that aren't getting it are the coaches.
I'm not really sure specifically who should take over the team next year. But I feel it should be someone on the younger side with HC experience, and someone who wants to stay with the program and build it back up from the depths of Hell.
One thing I would like to know is why the "defensive" (word is used loosely) line is always about 1 to 1 1/2 yards off the line of scrimmage. Could you please answer this one JP?
Oh...and I'm tired of hearing the same old story from Callahan. It makes me want to puke. If he thinks he has done "good in all areas" he apparently has not been watching the same football games I have been. Losing by 40 points? Are you kidding me Callahan!? Exactly which areas are we doing good in? Just curious...
Reply to this
I am getting damn tired of listening to idiots know it alls who think they have the right or have enough knowledge to determine if Turner Gil
is ready or not. He deserves the chance, even if it took him some time to find his stride and get things going...you fools have no respect for
hard working people like Turner who loves Husker football and would give
every ounce of his huge heart to being the best we could be. Lol it's not like he is new and just started coaching, plus ..knock knock..hello anyone home?...he did play under one of the best ever and worked under one of the bst ever....do you think he knows and respects what made us the power we were...do you not think he knows how a practice should be run ect, ect...do you not think he has heart and enthusiasm? Damn I am beginning to think maybe Nebraska is full of a bunch of racists or something and that's the real issue with Turner Gil. Either that or you people back home are short bus riding fools.Hmm...maybe something is in the water causing brain damage back home.
If you are neither then quit talking about him not being ready to run a program like Nebraska, let's let others like the one making the descision decide that.
And if he is hired and you morons don't support him I might just come back home and whoop me some asses
Only someone with passion and love for Nebraska football can turn it around.
Well maybe someone who just respects what Husker football is about and wants
to be a part of that, but I believe in loyalty myself.
Reply to this
The problem is that Callahan is running an entire team when he should be simply doing X's and O's and running an offense.
It has always been my opinion that a head coach should be a motivator, and someone that will get up a guy's spine if he is not giving 150% effort. I think you need one guy to focus on play calling and the week to week game plan (the O.C.) and one guy that basically manages all aspects of the team, motivates his players and makes them believe that they are the best team out on that field regardless of who they are playing (the H.C.).
Now obviously I'm not in the locker room, but Callahan almost seems to be an enabler to the outsider...always saying things like "we gave it a good effort" and "the other team was just too tough" and "that's a hard play to stop"...these are all excuses. It's especially tough to watch on the Callahan Show on sunday nights, where he shows absolutely no fire. It's almost like he's accepted this teams fate, and is just going through the motions at this point. If your players sense that, you have lost them and will never get them back.
Now I think Callahan is a good guy. I think he would have been a great hire as an offensive coordinator. But the evidence shows (with the Raiders, and now the Huskers) that he doesn't have the ability to handle a team of personalities and get everyone on the same page.
So who should be coach? I think that is one bright spot that no one has to worry about in Husker Nation. T.O. is going to do it right and take care of business there. I think T.O. has always studied the trends in the current game (even since retirement) and will look at which offenses are successful and which are being run by the winning programs these days. What does that translate to?
The first thing this team needs is speed. Both straight-line speed and football speed. Nothing has been more obvious over the course of this season than our inability to keep up with the opponent and get into position to make plays on defense. Secondly, we need a coach who isn't afraid to hand off play calling duties to an offensive coordinator who can spend 20 hours a day in a film room looking for ways to exploit the other team. That CAN'T be the head coaches duty. There just isn't enough time in the day. I think this will probably turn out to be some type of spread/hybrid offense. A mobile QB who can make a decent amount of throws, get around in the pocket, and keep the defense honest with a read-option game. Chris Peterson comes to mind as a guy who runs this style of offense and has had success on the big stage.
Whatever happens, it needs to be a college guy who understands Nebraska's tradition and what fans expect. It can't be easy to follow the likes of Osborne or even Solich who are native sons. But the way you do if you have to is embrace the history, not completely sacrifice it in the name of your own agenda, which is what Callahan has done.
Sorry for the long message, great job on KFOR
Reply to this
I personally think that the problem starts and ends with the coach. These players are still learing the game of football. They have to be coached on sheding blocks and making solid tackles. Our players are not in the NFL. Our coaches cannot treat them like they are in the NFL. Back to basics and fundamental.
Kansas is very fundamentally sound. They have great team chemistry and they have been coached well to work as a team in thier system.
I have heard that the practices that Coach Osborne held were hard work. Once some players were drafted into the NFL, did they realize how hard Nebraska pracitces were. Where is that work ethic now?
Reply to this
Hi Jason! First of all let me say how great it is having you back in Nebraska! Big Red fans have always loved the intensity with which you and your brother both displayed when you played here! And how you understood the tradition and the pride that goes with being a Nebraska Cornhusker! As a subscriber to your blog I couldn't agree with you more on your take on what's wrong with the program! As you well understand pride and leadership comes from the coaching staff, and that has been sorely missing under Coach Callahan! Kansas should never have been able to hang 76 points on us! I know that Dr.Tom has to be shaking his head at the lack of fire from what was once the premier college football program in the nation! But I feel that he will do the right thing at season's end! Goodbye Bill Callahan! Hello Bo Pelini! God bless you and your family! Thanks again for coming back to live with us! And go Big Red!!
Reply to this
Heres my coaches wish list, Turner Gill as head coach,Bo as Defensive cordinator,Tom Rathman as Offensive cordinator,Tommie Frazier as quarterback coach, Roger Craig as runningback coach, You Jason as Def. line coach, Will shields as Offensive line coach, Grant Wistrom as linebacker coach, Marvin Sanders as the secondary coach and Matt davison as recievers coach. Sounds good to me, What about you Jason?
Reply to this
Jason, I like you don't know where to start and could probably never stop bitching about the game on saturday. What is done is done. Callahan should and will be fired. He has caused the painful demise of a proud and storried husker nation. Run the clock and get out of town with a little respect. This is not the nfl, his its only one game bull is not for college. The major influnce of juco [free agent] players is the biggest problem. They are not dedicated to the program or ready to face big 12 talent. When tom built a team he would occassionly use a juco player to bolster a defense with speed [terell farley] not lean on them to do it all they are just not ready with limited practice time and no concrete leadership in pace to show them the nebraska way. I have noticed that 5 stars means little when you don't care. The classic unhearled nebraska kid that becomes an all american is what nebraska is all about and will soon be again. like Jared Tomich,Joel Mackivicka, and my all time favorite rumblin stumblin Cory Schlesinger 40. Who doyou see as our next coach and some key assistants? I like Pelini hope he can overlook the snub by pederson and give us a hard look. It would also be nice to see a guy like Turner Gill back in lincoln, I hear he isn't ready for a big job like nebraska. How bad could it be, we are going to be patient 76-39 I'm willing to bet he would never let that happen! Have a good one Jason! Hoping for the best!
Reply to this
Good to read your article every week. I look forward to a great husker seeing and commenting on what he sees. I can't stand listening and watching to what I am seeing on the big red football field. I wanted Callahan and Cosgrove fired Saturday night! I kept checking on line hoping for something to happen. Nothing.
Today I read what some seniors where saying today about saving there season. Purify saying he's no quitter. I'm glad nothing was done. After all, it's about the kids on the field.
Bring back the walk on program so so-called blue chip talent(recruits) can see what a kid with little talent who grew up in Nebraska watching the Huskers play every Saturday, practice his ass off for a chance to get on the field. 3-star Nebraska talent is better than 4-star out of state talent. (It's in the heart, pride, and the gut) It just means more.
Please keep writing your articles, 55, it helps get me through this season.
Bring on Pelinni (Head Coach), Turner Gill, or Tom Rathman, 55, and lets set about turning this thing around, 5 seconds after Colorado game.
Reply to this
Either Gill or Pellini would be excellent choices. Gill's FB philosophy, especially the option, should reflect that of Osborne. Pellini has the fire, which JP can recognize, and the defensive philosophy we so desperately need. By the by, JP, as an English professor at UNL, I can attest that your grammar is fine--just a few common mistakes, which most people make.
Yours
Reply to this
55-
I couldn't agree more, you hit the nail on the head. Where did the Callahan era go wrong you ask? Before it even started. Firing Pelini and Sanders were his first mistakes, but then top it off with the hiring of WI Def Co. Kevin Cosgrove...are you kidding me? When has WI ever done anything on defense? I'll tell you when, 2004, the year Cosgrove was no longer coaching for them. We need the fire and Husker pride that few can give us right now. I will support my team no matter what, but I strongly believe that T.O. will not let Callahan destroy any more of what he helped build. I've already circled Nov. 23rd on my calender as 'Bo Pelini Day'. I'm sure he could use you for the D-Line so lets makes sure we throw your name out there when he hits the ground in Lincoln.
Keep the Faith, GO BIG RED FOR LIFE!!!!
ber
Reply to this
Where did they go wrong....Callahan and Cosgrove let the emphasis on defense go to the wayside. The offense would work if they didn't have to constantly play catch up by passing play after play. There was one point in the game Sat that they had like 15 or 18 pass plays in a row. Kansas was sitting back waiting for the ball to be in the air to catch it.
The defense, under Cosgrove don't have a clue. Even in the games we won, there were so many missed tackles. Some plays there were 3 or 4 missed tackles before they finally tackled the guy.
My honest opinion though is that the defense is leading to the demise of this team. There is nothing wrong with the offense that a little tweaking couldn't fix...maybe even add some option plays for Ganz to run, I think if Ganz were given a chance he could be good, maybe not a Scott Frost or Turner Gill, but he has the mobility to be good.
Reply to this
Callahan and Cosgorve has the ring of Leopold and Lobe. What a couple of butchers. They see themselves as doing a great job. If that is not delusional I don't know what is. As for our new Coach, wish list is Kiffen, Rathman, Gill, Saunders, Pelini, not necessarily in that order. I have seen NU games in South Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Cali, Iowa, Florida, Arizona and Nebraska. How ashamed I am of our tackling, coverage and refusal of making a big hit. I heard they don't have contact in practice sounds like pro football to me. we need a coach who will teach players to lay the wood to the opposition. You Say HUSKERS I say POWER FAILURE!!! Thanks 55 sure do miss your work ethics.
Reply to this
Russ L, your last sentence says it all. Coach Osborne was brought in as AD at the right time. As fans, we won't know what broke or how it broke, but something went wrong...real wrong! Who better that TO to help fix it.
Kinda sorry to say: Cal stay (?), no way!! We have been spoiled by too many excellent programs to give this one any more time. Both Devaney and Osborne struggled somewhat in the early years, but they kept moving the right direction. It seemed like great talent was being recruited by Calahan, but game day coaching and motivation just hasn't been there. The selection process will be interesting to watch, but this is when faith in the right people is needed. Jason, they need someone with your energy, perspective, and pride to help lift this group of young athletes out of the pit that has been dug for them. I know that Osborne will make the right choice.
As a devout Husker fan living behind enemy lines in Buff country, I guess I will just have to get used to wearing a CU cap for a few days again this year. I still wear Husker red everywhere and will regardless of W's and L's. I look forward to better days ahead. But this is not about me, nor should it be. Katrina, you are right on target. Fans need to stay strong and stand behind the team. They are the immediate future that any new regime has to build on. I do appreciate the loyalty of other Husker fans across the country and this site helps to give perspective on the year with hope for the years ahead. Like the Colonel says, Keep the faith, everybody!! GBR.
Reply to this
My vote for the next coach would be Bo Pelini....I don't think Husker fans would be satisfied unless it is someone that comes from the Husker programs past...another option would be Turner Gill...but I think Pelini would be the person that I would have to vote for.
Reply to this
Jason, glad to see you writing, sorry that you don't have anything new to say. Is there anything new to say?. Even us fans have nothing to offer but who we think should be taking over. Hang on, in a few more weeks we'll all have something interesting to talk about.
Reply to this
Jason, I have enjoyed your comments and listening to you on the radio. I too was absolutely mystified by the ease with which Kansas drove down the field. Drive after drive, there was no answer, enthusiasm, effort or pride. Once again an opposing player will probably be named the Big 12 player of the week. I have somewhat mixed emotions about the offense. On the one hand, they have had their problems as well. But on the other hand, I can see what the right quarterback can do in this system. For Joe Ganz's first start, I thought he did a tremendous job. I was wondering to myself, why hadn't we seen this all year. Unfortunately, we couldn't kick off to ourselves after every score. I have no idea about the new coach, since I really doubt Callahan can have any respect from the fans at this point. Cosgrove appeared to me to be a broken man as he walked off the field. I think he was going to announce his resignation, but Callahan talked him out of it.
Reply to this
You asked where this all went wrong? So many places to point. It started with the hiring of Peterson and the demands of boosters for a more pass oriented offense. Well they got it. Early in the Cally regime they were saying to hold judgment and wait until his recruits are in the system. Well the recruits are all his - the asst coaches (Cosgrove - who couldn't make a defensive game plan to stop a little league team) are all his - the system is all his - the disastrous team performances are all his. If you ask him, he has done an exceptional job. (Maybe for NU opponents, but not for his team.) Therefore everyone else must be the problem. I think we need former players like JP to be at practice replacing the team captains on defense and kick some b###. Maybe start with the (so-called) coaches.
Reply to this
everyone knows where this program went wrong. steve pederson. i agree with people saying we need someone with husker ties, but does everyone remember when pederson was a recruiting coordinator under TO? he came back to nebraska as AD and look what we have. he took away our tradition and that family feeling we had for the last 40 years. i've never felt like me the "fan" was a part of this program in the last 4 years. i'm not saying all of the people mentioned are not good choices, but people thought bringing in a born and raised former husker in pederson would get things on track. we need to be careful what we ask for. i believe TO will make the right decision.
my question to you jason is what do you think about rob ryan as a defensive coordinator. the guy was raised on defense, as well as his brother. also how about someone like lane kiffin for a head coach or offensive coordinator. look at his record and compare it to norm chow. i know i'll probablly get raked over the coals for the raiders connection, but oh well. those are a few names not mentioned as of yet who know how to run a defense and offense. plus rob ryan is a maniac on the sidelines. i think he could motivate.
Reply to this
I would give almost anything to be able to throw on a husker helmet and hit somebody in the teeth on saturday. Unfortunately that's not in the cards for me, but to watch these guys go out there and loaf makes me sick. I hate to be too hard on these kids though because I am sure this is very hard on them with so many people telling them they are terrible.
That being said, it almost looks like Callahan is trying to use nebraska as an audition to be an OC in the NFL, or to try and show how he is an offensive genius. Just look at the players we have. We have tons of receivers, running backs, quarter backs, and tight ends.(or H-backs, whatever the hell that is supposed to mean) Then on the definsive side we have no depth. No wonder these guys play so poorly. They are probably trying to save their energy to play the entire game.
Anyway, have you heard any offers about being the DL coach, or at least a motivator? I've heard you on the radio and you would clearly be good at that, and plus you know what it means to be a blackshirt, something these coaches know nothing about.
Great blog and radio show.
Reply to this
I realize that the structure and culture differs in college vs pro... there may be a line that you just don't cross for a myriad of reasons but I just keep waiting and hoping someone (a player) caught up in this trainwreck will snap, walk out and vent about what is really happening in the program (behind the veil of Cally coach-speak) If these guys simply stopped playing for the staff, there would surely be some disgruntled kid that would speak off record after practice some night. The diagnosis by every former player and armchair coach points out scheme shortcomings that must be obvious to a few current players. You would think they would have come out of the Texas game with a little confidence after the heavy blitzing scheme was fairly effective. Then in preperation for KU they revert to the former read/react scheme... and get humiliated. As a player... when does the doubt and frustration bubble to the surface? On scholarship, maybe you just don't dare risk speaking out... They keep saying they're behind the coaches but how long can so many kids hold that line? Maybe it really isn't the coaches fault... entirely. Osborne never projected a fiery motivator image but you always knew he was passionate and emotional about this game and the kids. McBride and staff seemed to be his counterpoint... providing the fire when fire was called for. This entire staff just seems to lack any semblance of fire and passion. The team absolutely reflects that in it's demeanor as well. There cannot be 85 kids on scholarship without any fire in their belly... maybe it's consuming them because they're unable to release it. If it's eating you up inside, you have to let it out. This is all so surreal it's begun to feel like maybe there is some sort of weird conspiracy involved. Maybe the coach got his extension and now he's gonna get out of "Hillbilly"-North without working a day this fall... Maybe the players are lost, overrated, under-coached or just don't care because half of them are JUCO patches... I can't wait till the whole thing has some light shone on it. When the light does come on, someone involved in this is gonna be scurrying for the shadows. Steve Peterson is there already.
Reply to this
Jason- you know T O well. Cant' you talk to him about this BS coaching staff? The more I watch other games the more I like the Boise coach Petersen. He has the offense T O likes and that is working well at other schools. Wouldnt' marvin sanders be a great DC for us? I guess most head guys would pick their own though. What do you all think?
Reply to this
Hey Double Nickel,
Thanks for taking the time to keep blogging and let us know your take. It means a lot to the rest of us in Husker Nation to see one of our great players echo our thoughts.
Rest at ease, you aren't posting the same thing over and over.
As for your questions...
I think Callahan went wrong against USC last year. They were winning 28-10 late in the game and we refused to throw a pass. It was obvious to the players and fans that we weren't playing to win. I think that told the players a lot.
Next Coach? I'm in the Pelini camp myself. Barrett Ruud and many other players swear by him, and he seems like the Cowher-type coach who players would run through a wall for. You're a player, so you tell me. Just seems like someone will be happy for making that man a head coach.
Callahan another year? Not a chance in hell. He's on his 4th chance now. He was at 4th and 1 and just fumbled the ball away...
Reply to this
Good post, but I think we should ban the phrase "Husker Nation". That's a phrase that Peterson started and it needs to go.
Reply to this
This season has been one humiliation after another. It's definitely time to clean house.
As far as new coaches, I would favor Brent Venables, the Asst. Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator from Oklahoma or Paul Johnson, the Head Coach from Navy.
Brent Venables is a great game planner, and always puts a top defense on the field. He's a fiery guy, similar to Pelini, but with more class, who can get guys motivated. He knows the Big 12, is an excellent recruiter, and would be a great hire. Plus we could potentially keep Watson for some continuity on offenseand with some bigname recruits like Gabbert.
Paul Johnson is a great offensive mind, who has managed to make Navy into a respectable program. He can work with multiple offensive systems, and is very talented at custom designing an offense to fit the skills of his players. That would be welcome after four years of forcing round pegs into the square holes of this overly complicated and inept offense. Johnson could do wonders with the talent we have on offense, and could kick the defense's ass and make them play with some heart and desire. If Johnson's the guy, we might be able to get someone like Marvin Sander to be the Defensive Coordinator.
So Venables and Johnson are my top two candidates.
Reply to this
Jason- to me a glaring reaosn for what is going on is the obvious lack of strength on both sides of the line of scrimmage- these players are clearly no where near the strength level needed to perform in the NAIA let alone the Big 12. It is painfully obvious that Ostergard's loss is HUGE. I know people sometimes get caught up in weightroom numbers that usually don't mean a whole lot, but I'd like to see some of the performance numbers from this team, I'm betting they are way down compared to years in the past. Who was the off seaosn lifter of the year this year? Exactly, everyone used to know who this was because it was a big deal 10 years ago.
Reply to this
I feel your pain Jason, the blackshirts have always been my biggest love. I'm devastated by the performance of this defense (since they can no longer be called blackshirts).
Four years ago I expected Bo Pelini to be named the head coach. I was crushed when he was sc@##wed over and even more crushed when I read about Kevin Cosgrove for the first time!! I quickly figured out that Cosgrove was Callahan's friend and that it was just back scratching going on. Cosgrove certainly didn't have anything impressive on his resume.
Back to Bo Pelini though. I liked him because he had a "way" with the guys, he was able to get them to play for all they worth and Pelini put them in position to make plays. Although his defense in 2003 did lose some games and did give up some points they at least played with emotion and enthusiasm and kept us COMPETITIVE!! Bo is young and I fully expected him to be a head coach that would stay here for 20, 25 years or more!! And the biggest thing I liked was his knowledge of defense, with Pelini as head coach he should be able to watch what is going on with the other teams defense and help an offensive coordinator to make the correct calls and adjustments. As far as the defense, well, Bo Pelini has my vote of confidence that he would make the very best of whatever talent we had on the team. Bo Pelini wouldn't just shrug his shoulders and say "oh well" when we lose. Bo wouldn't sit on the sidelines the whole game staring stupidly at his "instructions" (a little late to be reading the instructions now, don't ya think Bill??). Bo might also actually WATCH the game and make adjustments throughout the game. Bo might also show a little emotion throughout the game and fire his players up.....he might actually TALK to a player or two during the game.
My brain is tired of trying to figure out Bill Callahan and Kevin Cosgrove. To quote the comedian Ron White, "You can't fix stupid"!!! Oh how true. I'll be glad when the next 3 weeks of Husker Hell is done so we can get back to some tradition and give a new coaching staff the time they need to right the ship.
That being said, my vote obviously goes to Bo Pelini as head coach for the new dynasty of Husker football. But in all fairness there are others that think Gill should be the man or Johnson from Navy and some other names are being mentioned.
Who would you like to see as the new Head Coach Jason? For the fun of it I would like to see a fan poll with various names on it for us to all vote on. However, I am confident that Tom Osborne will make a wise and well thought out decision when announcing the next Head Coach of Nebraska.
It's great to have you back in Nebraska Jason!! I'm very enthused at having Osborne back and having all of you Husker greats welcomed back into the program. I know it will take some time but I am confident that with all of you and with a new coaching staff that we will once again be proud of our Cornhuskers! Go Big Red!!!
Reply to this
I think the BC era went wrong when he disrespected the previous staff with bogus interviews. That in itself told us a lot about the integrity of the man. Then he threw Joe Daily under the bus with the obviously unfair assessment after the spring game. BC proved to be a man with no morals. Should BC get one more year??? Can you even say that without laughing? :o) I doubt that he ever tried to embrace our traditions. He has no clue how significant our walkon program was. He didn’t even try to understand. Our stadium sells out every game partially b/c we want desperately to see our hometown kid play just one down for our beloved Huskers. It didn’t matter if it was special teams, “garbage time”, or for the last kneel-down of the game. And those same kids would’ve given their right arm for that one chance. That, my friend, is why we say our hearts bleed Husker red.
I feel sorry for these kids, especially the seniors. You know the saying, “It’s not about Xs and Os, it’s about Billy’s and Joe’s.” These coaches must believe this with a passion. We have talent up to our ears here, but if they don’t develop it doesn’t really matter. I think the incoming freshman look so good b/c they haven’t been tainted by our coaches yet. Think about it… Castille is no different than Glenn… except for the fact that Glenn has 1000% more college experience. Where’s Glenn now? I’m checking the backs of milk cartons hoping for his return. Marlon is nothing more than a receiver in the backfield now. We rely on true freshman, Helu, to run the rock for us. Our 3rd best OTackle is another true freshman. What happened to our line being the position being the most depth? One goes down and we start burning redshirts, seriously.
Do you remember the days when everyone got reps? We barely coach the #2s nowadays. One injury can have devastating effects. Our next coach merely needs to be a great teacher. Teach our talent how to play the game in which is should be played, and motivate players to play at their potential. I truly believe that we are not far way from being a dominant program. I have total faith in TO finding the right coach, b/c he will first look at the integrity of the man instead of his resume.
JP- Can you think of 3 SERIOUS contenders to be our next coach. Who do you think would desperately want the job? Whom do you think we'll get?
Reply to this
Jason,
The games itself are reminiscent of the movie Groundhog's Day. It is an agonizing dream that seems to get worse. And the longer it persists, the more lopsided the scores become, to seemingly weaker and weaker competition.
My biggest concern is talent; I don’t care what anyone says, there are some schools that don’t touch us because we have the N on the side of our helmets. We are Nebraska and we beat people on tradition alone. Under the proper direction, we have talent on both sides of this team that put us in the top 15 in the country, assuming you take away the current injury situation on Defense.
But you don’t win on paper, you play on grass and Astroturf. These last few games are a result of lack of heart, desire, etc. Some of this comes from within; be it putting on the uniform, the walk, etc. the other comes from direction. Callahan doesn’t have it nor does Coz.
I played for a former Husker All American. He inspired us. We would’ve ‘run through a brick wall with our hair on fire’ for him. You either have it or you don’t.
Callahan back for another year? Absolutely not. His ship has sailed. Every Saturday is another Groundhog’s Day; we keep setting records for all the wrong reasons.
Reply to this
Where did this all go wrong? Well, hiring Callahan after he had a catastrophic season in the NFL and got fired is the first thing we did wrong. Second, am I the only one who thinks that Callahan is a terrible battlefield general? I mean, he has yet to win a game when he's down at half. That means the other team adjusts to what he's doing and he doesn't adjust to them. He just keeps doing the same mistakes over and over again expecting a different result, which is the definition of foolishness/stupidity. It's quite sad really.
Bottom line is that Callahan on his own won't be able to drive a team to more than a .500 record because he doesn't win the tough games and when he's backed into a corner he does the obvious thing (pass every single down). For as many plays as our offensive scheme has, it feels extremely one-dimensional most of the time. Callahan tends to force the opposite of what works. If we see success running the ball, we pass, and if we are doing well passing, we run Lucky and it just doesn't make sense.
After seeing so many years of terrible play calling, ridiculous 3rd or 4th down decisions, terrible use of time outs, etc. I am convinced that Bill Callahan is one of the worst in-game coaches I've ever seen. His team and their play is largely a reflection of how out of place Callahan is in college football. He runs a college team like the pros and that doesn't work. Instead of learning from his failures, he pretends that he's still great at his job and it's the players.
It's not the players, or even the system, it's the coaching and it starts and ends with Callahan.
Reply to this
Dear Jason,
Thank-you for your contributions to the history and tradition of the Blackshirts defense. If the current players on defense played with half the emotion and intensity you and your compatriots did I doubt Nebraska would be in the sorry ass shape it is presently in-thank you CallaGrove.
1. The Callahan era went wrong when he hired his BFF Kevin Cosgrove. While Cosgrove was the DC at Wisconsin the Badgers were pathetic on defense on an annual basis. It should send a clear message to you, as a head coach, when your DC's "philosophy" is to merely "contain" the offense. The problem: Nebraska's defense can't even fucking contain the opposing offense. I've spent the past three years reminding everyone of Cosgrove's incompetence. Most of the time I felt I was talking to a brick wall.
2. I don't really have a preference for who the next head coach will be. The names dujour seem to be Paul Johnson, Bo Pelini, Turner Gill, Will Muschamp, Brent Venables and Mike Stoops. Of the potential HC's out there I definately want to see one that emphasizes defense.
3. BC should not be given one more year. Had BC made substantial changes three weeks ago-possibly even after the Ball State debacle; a) fire his bff Cosie, b) name DL coach Buddy Wyatt as interim DC, c) Make Shawn Watson the OC, and not in a Frank Solich/Barney Cotton manner. Actually hand the offense over to Watson-game-planning, play-calling, adjustments, the whole ball of wax-then maybe I could justify giving BC one more year. But not now-absolutely no fucking way now. It's sad really that BC allowed his friendship with Cosie to cause his ruination. Maybe I'm cold here but if it was my ass on the line, and my friends were in my inner circle on the job-I would've fired their asses as soon as I thought the ship was starting to sink.
4. As to what you should discuss in the future, I don't know, maybe Ice skating? Ballet? The latest plot twist from the television show "The L Word?" Just kidding...
Thanks for letting me share my .02 cents.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
Reply to this
I bleed red, but COME ON FANS--GET A LIFE!! Dr. Tom is going to do the right thing...Look at all the times people ripped him apart for running an "outdated offense" only to dominate the 90's. If he believes in something, he is going to stick with it and not sell-out to outside pressure. That's what we all respected about this man! I'm tired of hearing all the same stuff--we all know its bad, we all know change is coming, so deal with it. The one thing we can do this Saturday is to give these kids a hero's welcome and cheer our butts off for them. Put yourself in their shoes. You don't think they feel bad? You don't think they're wondering why they're even here? Its the leadership that dictates attitude and effort. These kids--and yes they are kids, have to not only please 85,000 people every weekend, but their peers, 1.3 million Nebraskans, and everyone around the world who bleeds red. Let's stop all the classless crap that's going on like the personal attacks on the coaches and take a page from Dr Tom-- even in losing and facing adversity, HE DID IT WITH CLASS.
I intend to be there on Saturday giving my team all the effort I can as a fan--my support. I know that change is coming--let's just follow Tom's lead and act like the classy fans that everyone says we are.
Reply to this
One can not argue with any points brought up. Jason has hit the nail on the head. The only problem is a school can not fire all the coaches in season otherwise it should be done. The program is in the right hand now with Dr. Tom he will make the right choice for the school and the team. Don't get me wrong I would like nothing more than to see the current staff thrown out on there ears (with no pay). Let's face it if you or I performed at this level we would be gone. I believe that by the end of the season the new coaching staff will be in place to salvage any recruiting it can. I'm living in Illinois now and what was easy and fun to be a fan has now become hard. I would never give up on the players but the coaching staff has given up and I in them. My only hope for a replacement is that they have Nebraska ties or can become a Nebraskan. I lived there till 82 and have made it back for at least one home game every year since. I will continue to do this but it was hard this year when one can see there is some talent and the coaches have them out of position. Jason I would like to just say it's easy to get mad and upset as a fan, and you as a player can remember the pain the players feel with the outcomes of these games. We as fans should remember to support the players.
My choice for new coach would be some one that has left some skin and blood on the turf in front of the greatest fans in college football.
Reply to this
Oct. 25, 1975
That is the exact date when a Tom Osborne coached team finally allowed 359 pts. By the way, that was 2 – ½ years into TO’s coaching career (yes, TWO and ONE HALF years). That night, we played CU and beat them 63-21: in Lincoln… in case you are wondering, that was 31 games before we hit 359 points allowed…weird. I suppose things were different back then…Huh?
To clarify the issue at hand, under Solich’s watch, we finally had allowed 359 points on Jan. 02, 2000 in the Fiesta bowl, when we beat a good Tennessee team 31 – 21. That was 26 games into Frank’s career (we, Husker Nation, HATE mediocrity!) By the way, that 26 game streak included two bowl appearances. (That was exactly TWO years into Frank Solich’s mediocre coaching career.)
What Callahan and Cosgrove have allowed in 10 games in one single season is the same number of points it took opposing teams, a total of 31 games, to rack-up against TO; 26 games against a Solich lead teams. The math is easy at this point, but gets interesting later in the article.
Under Callahan’s watch, specifically in his first year, our defense allocated 298 points to opposing teams and did not make a bowl game. And, the 298 – well, after Tom’s second year, the defense had given up 295 points. So, to be fair, it was TWO years and one game (NU vs. LSU where LSU broke over the 298 where LSU made it 302 points allowed. The only touchdown LSU was allowed in the game! And for those keeping score, Solich reached the 298 mark on Oct. 30, 2000 when we played Kansas – we won: 24 - 17. That’s a year and a half into his mediocre career, or, 21 games in…) Okay, it was a rebuilding year – right? Then, the following year in 2005, we improved to allow only 252 points! That’s an improvement of about 15% and we went to a bowl and beat a fairly decent Michigan team. Husker nation was happy.
The following year (2006: Callahan’s third year) we had Zac Taylor, we had hope. Strangely, we allowed 263 points, that’s a slight 4% decline in defensive performance…and that was our GOOD year? In 2006 we went 9 – 5. That was our good year: nine wins, five loses…, that was NU’s best year under Callahan so far…
Husker nation will rise again. Yes, it will take a few games but I’m certain that the program can easily be rebuilt with our current players. We know that they can play they just need the motivation and basic education. It took Stoops a whole one year. It took Coker a whole year. It will take our new coach a whole year… in the meantime we may have to endure another 9 – 5 season – or two.
Did I mention that so far this year, Callahan and his associates have allowed 359 points and we still have two games to go…
Don’t worry players, WE ARE behind you! We believe in you and with some changes, you can take out your frustration and aggravation on the field. GO BIG RED!
Reply to this
I here you JP. It's frustrating week after week.
First the game. I didn't like the D game plan from the start. Heard it all pregame, we probably won't blitz because of xyz. Why? We've shown our base D can't put pressure on the QB, our soft zone coverage doesn't adequately cover WR's, we don't shed blocks, we tackle poorly (Carl Nicks had probably the best tackle of the game), and we don't pursue the ball, kids turn their heads and watch. Unexceptable!
Offensively. I didn't like the game plan. Yeah it put points on the board but with a new QB in his first game, where's the running game. Why can't Castille get back with some regularity. T.O. said if kid makes a mistake (like a fumble) you get him right back out there so to keep his confidence up. Castille makes a mistake and never sees the field again, then other kids make mistakes and they play the whole game. Sorry to ramble. I thought we would establish a running game to take some pressure off Ganz, but we didn't even try to establish one. This was your gameplan? Try and wing it all over the place?
The Cally era went wrong the day he got here. We weren't privy to many of the things that were going on initially, but now that the light has been shed, it was so wrong from the beginning. It's one thing to make your own mark, but between Steve P. and Cally sweeping the past under the rug and making your own mark, well you've done that, there's no denying that.
New Coach. We need the best coach possible who will coach up these kids and who will make these kids work in practice. JP was right when he said games were easy. Practice was where the game was won and lost. The new coach should bring back the physical Nebraska nature. I can handle losses if we give it our all, but this is embarrassing. We didn't always win in the day, but teams knew when they played Nebraska they were in for a fight. That ain't the case now.
Unfortunately we need to start fresh. The team needs new direction. Forget x's and o's. The team needs practice habits, kids recruited that have leadership skills, the team needs fundamentals drilled into them from the first practice, and an offensive and defensive philosophy that brings back a physical nature.
I don't know what else do. Thanks JP for the avenue to vent our frustration. Hang in there and go out there Saturday, full the stadium and support the team. The Cally era may not have it right, but by God he doesn't coach the fans, and I hope we can show 'em how its done on our end. Out.
Reply to this
having been a husker fan for 43 years now (ok, i'll say 37 years, since my first memory of a husker game was the Orange Bowl win over LSU that got us our first national title - shame on texas for splitting it eventhough they lost) you would think i would have appreciated what makes husker football special ... but i got caught up in the hype of NFL coaches, schemes, and talent coming to lincoln ... i forgot just how important the "family" atmosphere was to a state of 1.7 million in order to succeed ... i believe BC has decent schemes, can recruit, but i don't think he can motivate college athletes, and i think his alienation of the fans is what has turned this season into a catastrophe ... but i will say, i have the UTMOST confidence that TO, a man who knows what makes the huskers special better than anyone else, save perhaps the bobfather, may he RIP, will right the ship, that he will bring in the coaches who will understand how to harness the power of the fans support, the whole state, the walkons from nebraska who are tickled red just to knock heads in practice with the starters just to help prepare them for games and challenge them ... i do not think it was the scheme ... TO himself has said that he likes the notion of offenses like the spread, and in fact, it was TO who convinced BD to go to the pro set in the early 70s that netted us two NCs ... as for defensive schemes, yes, there is a problem here ... we are a 1980s type defense trying to play phantoms from that era ... the b12 is hi-octane offense now days, and you need fast, agressive defenders with an attacking mentality to slow them down ... if you just wait for them to make a move, you are going to get burnt ... the 1996 Fiesta bowl (god bless uncle charlie) showed us that ... how we forgot that lesson is beyond me, other than to say coz was too stubborn to adapt to the b12 when he got here and tried to employ some b11 schemes more apprapot to that league ... but i do believe this whole-heartedly, there is talent, there are coaches out there who can get the husker magic and unite the fans and players and AD and recruits, and we can be back sooner than some think ... parity is so rampant nowdays, i do not doubt that we can re-emerge in short order ... once last thing, i know many clamor for TO to chop heads now, but forget about it, TO is man of his word, and he has spoken ... don't try to make TO "save" the program doing it any other way than he knows ... HE KNOWS BETTER THAN WE DO, SO LET HIM DO HIS JOB! and if (duh, WHEN) a new staff is named, this time, can we ALL please support them no matter what ... this constant back-biting and bitter feelings the last four years by WE FANS has done just as much to hurt the team as ANY PLAYER OR COACH OR AD ... we need to act like huskers just as well ... today some oregon duckie "fan" was putting it to me, to wit i told them "the worst day as a husker fan is better by far than any day a ducky fan has ever known" be proud, cuz TO is on it!!!!
Reply to this
Jason, whatever you write is received with gratitude! I don't know anything about the game - other than I know I appreciate EFFORT and DEDICATION. It's a foregone conclusion that Callahan is not capable. I agree with your opinion about "immediate firing" b/c I trust you. We are in a mess, and there ain't no "quick fix". If something is destroyed in four seasons, it won't be fixed overnight. I read (with great interest) all your thoughts and appreciate your efforts. Am also grateful for all the folks who reply to give opinions. We all hope for rebirth and have to thank you for a place to vent and get information. I know so few of the coaches aforementioned. So I bow to the informed. But Pelini's rebuff of Kansas State coach was a plus with me and Turner knows the plan here!! He's super; and so are you, Jason! Thanks so much!! If Dr. Tom has the good head (which of course we know he does) he will get you heavily involved in the new staff!!
Reply to this
No Callahan should not get more time. Wish Oz hadn't said he would wait till the end of the season to make changes. The one thing that makes me sick is after every game they interview Cosgrove and every time all he can say is how bad he is hurting and he has no answers. With two games left in the season, if you have no clue what is going on then is proves he never knew to begin with. As far as the new head coach...anybody with desire and fire in his soul. Absolutely nobody from the pro ranks. They don't know what it takes to win at the college level.
Reply to this
Please Jason, talk to Tom and have him bring in BO PELINI!!!!!! What do you think of him as a coach? You know he will bring in Marvin Sanders!!! and we can get you or your brother to coach the D-LINE.....Mike Minter as Safeties Coach!!!! DR ROB for offensive line coach. Tommie Frazier for QB coach!!! Damon Benning for RB coach!!! LB's who knows, but that about covers them all!
Reply to this
I just heard the score on the radio again (monday) and I just jumped again in shock. I'll be glad when this dead cow season goes to the rendering plant. I think we could use to pick up 20 Nebraska kids as walkons and just let them play and save the money for the coach buyouts. I'll put my 5 cents on getting Husker Power back in the weight room and have players understand a blackshirt is just a practice jersey, its the heart in the player and will to excel that create a Nebraska Blackshirt player.
Reply to this
Bo Pelini should be the next head coach. HE did an outstanding job when he was here and has done great things since he's left. Bill Callahan era was wrong as soon as he was hired. The whole thing started with Pederson trying to change everything we stood for and Billy C. was no different. Both are used car salesman and talk to you like you are stupid. Can't stand them and never could.
Reply to this
I'd be happy if they brought back Frank Solich. This program went south when he was fired. I think what he did in his tenure at Nebraska and his turn around at Ohio show what he can do. He'll get the right people and restore the recruiting base and the Husker way as well or better than most. Don't expect an NC in the next few years , but he will restore some of the sublimated tradition and some of the luster. There are horses for courses, and courses for horses and Solich is/was a good fit for Nebraska. Back to the future! I just don't think you should have fired a coach with Bear Bryant, Bo Schembechler,Woody Hayes type winning percentage as he had in his six years at Nebraska. Does anyone know who is ut there that can get us to three BCS bowl games, a NC game, a conference chmpshp, 55 straight weeks in the top ten in six year span. If anybody knows that guy bring it on.
Reply to this
As much as I think Frank Solich was a good coach, I highly doubt they would think about bringing him back on board to coach the Huskers. It is definitely a shame the way everything went down back in '03 but I just can't see them bringing back a coach that was fired less than 5 years ago. He did some great things in the short 6 years he was at the helm and he definitely deserved at least another year but Steve Pederson thought the program was gravitating toward mediocrity, sure glad we didn't let the program fall that far! Thanks Steve!
Reply to this
Jason,
You got that right about getting off the blocks! I watched what looked like ballroom dancing out there. Either those KU linemen are wearing velcro, or our guys are not fighting to get free. It must be a strategy to lock up with your man and stay there. Unfortunately, that doesn't leave many D guys to make a tackle.
You know if you're being held in there, as it sure looked, you gotta fight the block and make some commotion if you want the ref to spot the hold. I'd rather see some creative dives by the linemen than to be tied up all the time. No wonder we had so few tackles by the D-line Saturday.
Don't linemen learn some techniques to get free? Or ain't this football?
Reply to this
They should be practicing getting off blocks every single day. I don't know what drills they are working on but it's not working on gameday. When I coached in CA I would spend 15 minutes each day working on getting off blocks. If you can't do that, how are you going to make a play?
Reply to this
I thought the game Saturday was absolutely incredible. First, I was astonished at the end of the first half as we kicked the field goal instead of going for the touchdown. I was literally swearing at the television. At that point, I think the defense had given up 7 touchdowns on consecutive possessions. How in world did our coaches think a field goal was going to help? Everyone in the state of Nebraska knew we had to score touchdowns at that point!!! (I know it didn't matter in the end, but that signaled to me that the coaches didn't think they could win the game either...let's keep it respectable.) Arrrgggg!
TEN TOUCHDOWNS IN A ROW. Read that line and ponder on it. TEN? IN A ROW??!! I'm sure Jason Peter has a better idea than I have when it comes to summing up how difficult it is for a Division I football team to score 10 consecutive touchdowns (especially when the other team is supposed to have a similar talent level). Can most teams even do this against their own 2nd team defense in practice, Jason? Do you think that the Kansas offense could score 10 straight touchdowns against their own 2nd team defense? If I had to put my life savings on it, I'd say no. I don't think they could.
This is going to sound completely irrational, but Nebraska's best chance to stop an opposing team from scoring a touchdown at this point is to do an onside kick every time. Do we recover 15% of them? If so, that's better odds than kicking it to them and hoping the defense makes a stop. I really don't even think I'm exaggerating here...I really think that's their best chance against any team with a fairly competent offense.
Who should be the next coach? I have to think that with Osborn's emphasis on continuity in coaching staffs that he won't hire anyone that he can't see running the program for 10+ years. Do any of you see Pelini being a lifer? I don't. I think at this point it's probably easier to rule people out than speculate on who is in. Hopefully we get lucky.
Really enjoy your blog, Jason, and enjoyed watching you play for the Big Red. Wish you well.
Reply to this
Dan, I think your right about scoring 10 consecutive touchdowns on your second team defense in practice, highly unlikely. That's the thing that pisses me off, when people say the talent level is down. There is more than enough talent to win; Kansas, Missouri, these programs our kicking our tail with less talent. And that will continue to happen until we start developing our players. These kids have to be pushed day after day after day. Constantly working the fundamentals, blocking, tackling, catching....and if some of these 4 star or 5 star kids think they are too good for that type of routine, well kick him out the door, we don't want kids like that around. I want kids that are going to get their hands dirty, kids that aren't scared of a little hard work. Your lifer comment is something I am sure TO will be looking at. He wants somebody that would want to coach here for the next 25 years, not somebody who is planning to move on. JP
Reply to this
Men like Tom Osborne and Jason Peter come along once in a life time. You've spoiled us. We crave your presence. You give us hope. You're part of our family. The ugly erosion and decline of our NU football program sickens me to the core and I'm just trying to deal with it all.
Being here at the JP blog allows me to be in the midst of others doing the same thing. It's not my desire to set myself up as judge and jury or to condemn men who don't need further condemnation. I speculate that Tom Osborne will not surrender to peer pressure or lead with his heart. I believe he'll follow his ethical compass and do what is right. He's always been known as a biblical thinker. More than anything, I believe with all my heart that what he needs from each and every one of us is prayer energy. If each individual fan could unite in prayer for Tom - how potentially powerful would that be? If we could harness the collective conscience of Big Red fans across the country and cover him with prayer, wouldn't that go a long ways toward healing the wretched sickness that has permeated NU football? We gotta stop hollering and screaming and shouting and crucifying and bickering and becoming fragmented as a fan base or we'll find ourselves in the same boat as our football team. "Bad company corrupts good character." Let's help Tom flip this culture and restore its tradition and integrity. Let's 'follow' his lead. He needs our support as much as we need him. There's a darkness hovering over this football program and Tom alone cannot restore it to light. We can all benefit from Tom's leadership, but let's not forget to do our part as well. Something that we all love has been stolen. Let's unite behind Tom and go get it back. Failure IS NOT an option!
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.
Reply to this
I hear you Jan! Very well said. JP
Reply to this
The Cally era went wrong the very second it started! Period!
When Callahan first became H.C., I was very uneasy and skeptical, but was willing to give him a chance so i took a wait and see approach. Well, I waited, and I've seen... seen a real life tragedy unfold before my eyes! What I think is a lot of the problem, is the fact that Callahan had such little H.C. experience himself before he came to Lincoln? And the time he did have in as a H.C., what were the results? Not very good and his job performance has gotten even worse, which is evident only because the University, stuck with him for a longer period of time. Had the Raiders done so, i think the results would have been the same! Coaching his team to the bottom!
But, one of the biggest factors contributing to the Huskers going in the tank is the hiring of many of the other coaches, especially Coz! As part of my employment responsibilities, i am required to talk to people all over the country and world, and I've talked to many people in Wisconsin, and 100%, and i do mean 100% of them said the same thing to me: "Thank you for hiring Cosgrove away from Wisconsin... because he sucks as a Defensive Coordinator! Hire coaches based on job performance for heavens sakes, not because they've been your life long friend? Duh!
Reply to this
I agree, my father always used to say to me and my brothers,"don't go into business with each other"! He was speaking from experience. He worked with his brother for 35 years. When times are good, there's nothing better than having success with your brother or best friend but when times are tough and you have to hold each other accountable, that's when things can get difficult. Obviously Cally and Coz's relationship has made this whole process difficult, in my opinion. JP