I tried to think through the situation if we'd gotten Tressel...or any of the "big" names that were tossed around. I found there was probably more downside than upside.
We'll go with Tressel. He gets a big contract...in the $4 - $5.5 million range. He still has to assemble a staff. He has baggage. That baggage would arrive on campus with him. Knowing that the school will get extra scrutiny from the NCAA, how many big name assistants would welcome that hanging over their shoulders?
Now, put aside Tressel and his issues. Fill in the blank with any "splash" hire you had in mind. They also would command a huge salary. They also would have to bring a staff to Lincoln. They likely would also be high $$ guys if we truly wanted the top all across the board. So you've got a huge amount of $$ tied up in staff, with absolutely no guarantee they can bring their former success to Memorial Stadium. Chances of any coach making any team a perennial top 10 team are pretty small if you think about it. What was successful at Miss State would probably not translate to Lincoln, or to South Bend or to Oregon for that matter. Add to that, that we'd be looking over our shoulder to see who was going to steal these dudes away after one good season. But, chances are, the new staff doesn't perform any better than 9 /4 for a couple of years. I think the fan base would be ballistic, even at a higher level, when the "splash" hire doesn't produce.
Take Riley. Long time experience at many levels of the game...(knows people). Has an outstanding character / reputation as a person. Recruits well. Has shown he can "coach up kids" both on the field and in life. Calm demeanor. Positive attitude. Humble enough to know he needs top notch assistants and not buddies running the trenches. Jeez...aside from red hair, we're describing TO almost. If we look at what he's done in Corvalis, with funding and resources that most junior colleges exceed, he's had brilliant success. Given the opportunity to do those basic things as the "CEO" and bring along some skilled coordinators (the key for sure), and give him access to the resources at Nebraska, he has a higher chance of success than any of the "splash" hires mentioned the last week.
Finally...everyone of the "splash" hires that people were wanting, were at one time "just some coach" that got a chance.
