Eichorst statement on Bo

[Saunders]

You look at the state of the program Franklin inherited at Penn State w/ sanctions, or Kiffin inherited at USC w/ scholy reductions, or Dooley got at Tennessee after all the thugs Kiffin brought in walked away, or 3-9 roller coaster of a program Malzahn came into, or Meyer at Ohio State with the bowl ban, or Kelley taking over Weis's dumpster fire, or Golden getting in right after the Nevin scandle, or Fedora taking over for Butch Jone's and his clan of cheaters - and all of a sudden the job Pelini took over doesn't look that bad.

Those are all things that directly impact the ability for a program to recruit and win. We weren't on probation, there weren't any sanctions or bowl bans or losses of scholarships. We didn't have 20 scholarship transfers, or donor issues. The program wasn't in a poor position financially, the fans hadn't given up. The talent wasn't at a DII level. Cally wasn't good for the program, but in the grand scheme of things nothing he did was more than a small speedbump on the way to success. There was nothing lasting about the impact he had. You don't destroy a culture built over 4 decades in 4 years.

Pelini taking over a program in shambles is an exaggeration that lacks perspective in regards to the rest of college football.

It's funny you mention those programs. Every single one of them was loaded to the gills with talent, much more so than NU had. Sure they lacked depth, but the 1st/2nd team guys were/are good enough to compete with anyone.

 

[True2tRA]

wat

the "Callahan disbanded the walk-on program", or the "program was in shambles", etc.

I think Nebraska fans view the program's state in 2007 as much more dire than Bo Pelini and other coaches saw it. From a pure football standpoint, we weren't winning and he lost the team. That's not something insurmountable to an even mediocre coach. In fact, him losing the team might have sped things up for Bo because he wasn't fighting for 2-3 years the "cally guys" - that wanted their old coach back. Didn't have a mass exodus of transfers.

What fans saw however was a cultural shift in the program. A political mess. From the access, to the way he conducted things - it was different. And it wasn't all good for sure. But did taking down the photos of former players really negatively impact the team Bo coached in 08' and 09'? Because "alienating former players" is always included in every argument for why the program was in shambles and why Bo had it so tough - but if we're really honest about it, taking down some photos and not inviting Peters to a practice or two had zero impact on the 08' season.

That's why I think Callahan did more damage to the fan base, than he did to the actual football program - especially in regards to wins/losses. I'd say Bo's early success proves that.

Callahan didn't fire Cosgrove. Period. End of story.

And why would he?

Seriously.

I see where KCChris is going with his "I wonder what wouldve happened if Callahan wouldve been allowed to fire Cosgrove" deal. I mean, he wasnt gonna fire him after '06. They were playing NC caliber defense at the end of '06. So yeah, I guess we never will know.

Why would he? I don't follow?

Why would he? I don't follow?

He means Callahan didn't have a reason to until it was too late.

This is where the discussion of the teams "record" doesn't quite match the product your seeing in the field all the time. I understand you play the schedule your given, but in no way was Nebraska play playing NC caliber defense during any of those seasons. SunBelt Conference Champs sure. A lot of padded stats maybe. Dominating Kansas one year and being ripped apart the next. Wins over Iowa State are always a good measuring stick for your program.....? Against top 25 teams our record was horrid. As goes anything, we can spin it how we choose I guess. Defense looked like a huge problem for us, at least from where I was sitting. I saw reasons a plenty.

Aside from that Landlord, I was always under the impression that had Callahan been willing to make a move at DC, he may have been retained, but Callahan showed no desire to do so? Is this not the case? That loyalty thing....it can be good and bad some times.

 

[Count 'Bility]

it was halftime in the nw game.

but up until that point i had accountabilities attitude of "this defense has to be better than it was in 2012." and after wyoming and sdsu and the collapse against ucla i was pretty sure it was going to be a long season. then after minny, i was pretty afraid. good thing they figured it out though. we will see how they come out at the start of next year.

I never had that feeling about the defense last year. I knew they were probably more talented, but that the youth and inexperience would be an issue. The Wyoming deal really did not shock me. I was way more surprised by the offense's pants-crapping against UCLA than the defense's. But we saw glimpses of potential on that side of the ball. The Minnesota game was just the 2013 version of Bo's week. Outside of that we saw pretty steady improvement. Even before this halftime deal against NW, the defense had their way with Illinois and Purdue. Bad teams or not, they did what they were supposed to do.

 

[Saunders]

Weis went 3-9, 7-6, and 6-6 in his last 3 years. Cally was 1 year removed from having Nebraska on a "comeback". We started they year top 10ish if I remember right. Notre Dame had become a perennial loser by the time Weis left. We had a bad season. Still plenty of hype and excitement around the program for 08'.

Perennial loser, with one losing season in five years under Weis? What does that make Nebraska's two losing seasons and far worse record under Callahan?

yes, 7-6 and 6-6 are stellar since they aren't "losing seasons". How long would Bo last with one of those non-losing seasons? Which side of the fence will you sit on if he goes 6-6 this year?

Unless there's a plane crash, he's gone.

 

[Count 'Bility]

What the f#*k is this thread even about now?

Eichorst said he has had nothing to do with the improving public image of coach Bo Pelini, who has boosted his popularity since his blowups both during and after last season's loss to Iowa. "Bo's the same guy that I met when I arrived on campus," Eichorst said. "I see those sort of qualities from him on a day-to-day basis. What's out there in the community and the perception and all that other sort of stuff is certainly hard to control. He's a good ball coach, a good person. He's serious about his craft and very disciplined in his approach and we're lucky to have him at Nebraska."

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=bigten&id=100856

The only thing debatable in that statement is if you disagree on the lucky to have him or not part. It's fairly obvious who is on each side of the fence, so what the f#*k are we doing now other than just making idiotic arguments just for the sake of arguing?

 

[Saunders]

...because at the end of the day, most of the Bo supporters like QMany care little about anything else. As long as the 9 is there, that's good enough for them.

Once again, this fallacy. And husker fans wonder why people around the country think we're delusional or entitled.

The "explain it like I'm five" version: If you fire a coach who has never won less than 9 games, and has a clean program, you become toxic to new hires.

 

[Abdullah the Butcher]

...because at the end of the day, most of the Bo supporters like QMany care little about anything else. As long as the 9 is there, that's good enough for them.

Once again, this fallacy. And husker fans wonder why people around the country think we're delusional or entitled.

The "explain it like I'm five" version: If you fire a coach who has never won less than 9 games, and has a clean program, you become toxic to new hires.

Prove that statement.

 

[HuskerNationNick]

You look at the state of the program Franklin inherited at Penn State w/ sanctions, or Kiffin inherited at USC w/ scholy reductions, or Dooley got at Tennessee after all the thugs Kiffin brought in walked away, or 3-9 roller coaster of a program Malzahn came into, or Meyer at Ohio State with the bowl ban, or Kelley taking over Weis's dumpster fire, or Golden getting in right after the Nevin scandle, or Fedora taking over for Butch Jone's and his clan of cheaters - and all of a sudden the job Pelini took over doesn't look that bad.

Penn State is Penn State man. They are RICH in tradition and is nationally know. Kids out of state actually WAKE UP wanting to go there. Can you say the same thing about Nebraska, even in our Glory days? Same goes for every one of those other schools you listed, except for maybe Tennessee and Auburn, but both of these schools are in the HEART of a HOT recruiting area.

Meyer to Ohio St, and Malzahn to Auburn, not a very good comparison AT ALL. Meyer took over a VERY well built, national title contending team. IMO, its not as strong as it was when Tressell was there. It shows as well. Defense is crap. Malzahn took over a roster that was also built pretty damn well. There is no way you can deny that, especially with the commits they had the year after they won the MNC with sCam Newton and Gene Chizik with his shady ways.

The only thing that those schools you listed have over Bo, are coaches going into schools who recruit themselves. We can all be delusional and think Nebraska is that school as well, but its not. It really never has been and no matter how many MNC's we get, it won't be. Might be a bit easier to recruit, but we will still have a harder time getting someone if they are interested in those "higher profile" schools.

 

[Saunders]

...because at the end of the day, most of the Bo supporters like QMany care little about anything else. As long as the 9 is there, that's good enough for them.

Once again, this fallacy. And husker fans wonder why people around the country think we're delusional or entitled.

The "explain it like I'm five" version: If you fire a coach who has never won less than 9 games, and has a clean program, you become toxic to new hires.

Prove that statement.

I've posted comments from various media and coaches about it. Use the search function.

 

[HuskerNationNick]

...because at the end of the day, most of the Bo supporters like QMany care little about anything else. As long as the 9 is there, that's good enough for them.

Once again, this fallacy. And husker fans wonder why people around the country think we're delusional or entitled.

The "explain it like I'm five" version: If you fire a coach who has never won less than 9 games, and has a clean program, you become toxic to new hires.

Prove that statement.

Bo's still here right? That alone should be enough proof.

 

[Landlord]

but in no way was Nebraska play playing NC caliber defense during any of those seasons.

Aside from that Landlord, I was always under the impression that had Callahan been willing to make a move at DC, he may have been retained, but Callahan showed no desire to do so? Is this not the case? That loyalty thing....it can be good and bad some times.

1. Our defense was pretty damn good in 2006. It wasn't 2009 or 2010 good, but to call it championship-caliber defense (defining that as good enough to win championships) is reasonable and accurate.

We held a #4 ranked USC team to 28 points despite anemic offense, a #5 Texas team to 20 points, a #10 Oklahoma team to 21 points, and a #10 Auburn team to 17 points. That's good.

So just remember that nobody had any serious criticisms towards Cosgrove before the third game of the 2007 season. Who knows what would have happened if he fired Cosgrove, but I don't think it is the case that it would have changed anything. Callahan was fired based on his inability to turn around the second half of that season, according to the words of Tom Osborne. That wasn't going to change regardless of Cosgrove.

 

[Count 'Bility]

but in no way was Nebraska play playing NC caliber defense during any of those seasons.

Aside from that Landlord, I was always under the impression that had Callahan been willing to make a move at DC, he may have been retained, but Callahan showed no desire to do so? Is this not the case? That loyalty thing....it can be good and bad some times.

1. Our defense was pretty damn good in 2006. It wasn't 2009 or 2010 good, but to call it championship-caliber defense (defining that as good enough to win championships) is reasonable and accurate.

We held a #4 ranked USC team to 28 points despite anemic offense, a #5 Texas team to 20 points, a #10 Oklahoma team to 21 points, and a #10 Auburn team to 17 points. That's good.

So just remember that nobody had any serious criticisms towards Cosgrove before the third game of the 2007 season. Who knows what would have happened if he fired Cosgrove, but I don't think it is the case that it would have changed anything. Callahan was fired based on his inability to turn around the second half of that season, according to the words of Tom Osborne. That wasn't going to change regardless of Cosgrove.

Callahan and Pedersen both were fired for as much of what went on off the field as for what went on on.

 

[Abdullah the Butcher]

...because at the end of the day, most of the Bo supporters like QMany care little about anything else. As long as the 9 is there, that's good enough for them.

Once again, this fallacy. And husker fans wonder why people around the country think we're delusional or entitled.

The "explain it like I'm five" version: If you fire a coach who has never won less than 9 games, and has a clean program, you become toxic to new hires.

Prove that statement.

Bo's still here right? That alone should be enough proof.

Or the buyout could be too much, they didn't like the field of candidates, they are truly happy with Bo etc etc, the fact that Bo is still around proves nothing about firing a 9 win coach.

 

[NUpolo8]

...because at the end of the day, most of the Bo supporters like QMany care little about anything else. As long as the 9 is there, that's good enough for them.

Once again, this fallacy. And husker fans wonder why people around the country think we're delusional or entitled.
The "explain it like I'm five" version: If you fire a coach who has never won less than 9 games, and has a clean program, you become toxic to new hires.

Prove that statement.

I've posted comments from various media and coaches about it. Use the search function.

This means he doesn't know or he can't.

 

[Guy Chamberlin]

but in no way was Nebraska play playing NC caliber defense during any of those seasons.

Aside from that Landlord, I was always under the impression that had Callahan been willing to make a move at DC, he may have been retained, but Callahan showed no desire to do so? Is this not the case? That loyalty thing....it can be good and bad some times.

1. Our defense was pretty damn good in 2006. It wasn't 2009 or 2010 good, but to call it championship-caliber defense (defining that as good enough to win championships) is reasonable and accurate.

We held a #4 ranked USC team to 28 points despite anemic offense, a #5 Texas team to 20 points, a #10 Oklahoma team to 21 points, and a #10 Auburn team to 17 points. That's good.

So just remember that nobody had any serious criticisms towards Cosgrove before the third game of the 2007 season. Who knows what would have happened if he fired Cosgrove, but I don't think it is the case that it would have changed anything. Callahan was fired based on his inability to turn around the second half of that season, according to the words of Tom Osborne. That wasn't going to change regardless of Cosgrove.

Callahan and Pedersen both were fired for as much of what went on off the field as for what went on on.

Solich, too.

But a championship season -- or just avoiding that 7 loss season -- might have saved everyone's job.

Would Bo have survived the Iowa loss if Kellogg's Hail Mary wasn't answered a few weeks earlier?

That's a fingertip margin of error right there.