Shawn Eichorst's public support of Mike Riley has backfired on a national level.

[Dansker]

Our beloved program has become a national punchline after ADSE PC statement. The question is... Who out there in a position of authority loves Dear Old Nebraska U the most to do what we must?

ESPN BIG TEN

As Nebraska descends into punchline, once-unthinkable questions surface

WELCOME TO YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE.

Eighteen games, 10 Nebraska defeats and one coaching change later, those words take on new meaning as the Cornhuskers prepare Saturday for a visit from No. 6 Michigan State (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). Now, Nebraska is living the nightmare.

The narrative around this program changed overnight -- or, shall we say, in less than four hours at a sparsely filled Ross-Ade Stadium, where Purdue had not won a Big Ten game, before Saturday, since 2012. The Huskers went to West Lafayette as a hard-luck, five-time loser this season, by a total of 13 points, a team in transition under first-year coach Mike Riley.

It left as a punchline.

ESPN NCAAF MAIN
Nebraska AD Shawn Eichorst publicly backs coach Mike Riley

Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst offered a rare comment Monday on the state of his reeling football program as first-year coach Mike Riley said the Cornhuskers have "failed in the eyes of what everybody wants to do."

Nebraska fell to 3-6 last week with 55-45 loss to Purdue. Ahead of a visit Saturday from No. 6 Michigan State, the Huskers appear in danger of missing a bowl game for only the third time in 48 years and lost more games before November than during any season in school history.

USA TODAY
Nebraska AD Shawn Eichorst endorses football staff

Nine weeks into the 2015 football season, Nebraska has its most losses since 2007 and is off to its worst start since 1960. On Saturday the Cornhuskers gave up 55 points in loss at Purdue, a team whose only other win this season had been vs. FCS Indiana State.

The outlook is bleak in coach Mike Riley's first season in Lincoln, and the person who hired Riley, Nebraska Shawn Eichorst, recognizes that.

BTN
Shawn Eichorst tells fans 'future is bright' in open letter

(AP) With Nebraska off to its worst nine-game start since 1960, athletic director Shawn Eichorst released a letter to fans Monday expressing confidence that “the future is bright” under first-year coach Mike Riley.

Eichorst’s 450-word letter, posted on the athletic department’s website, came two days after the Cornhuskers’ 55-45 loss at Purdue and in advance of their toughest game to date against No. 6 Michigan State.

Riley made a 12 1/2-minute opening statement at his weekly news conference, using the last four to directly address his team’s poor performance, which he called “the elephant in the room.” He said he appreciated Eichorst’s support and understood the fans’ frustration with Nebraska (3-6).

Eichorst hired the 62-year-old Riley away from Oregon State four days after firing Bo Pelini last November. Riley’s Mr. Nice Guy personality runs counter to the volatility of Pelini. But there was consternation among some fans because Riley, who signed a four-year contract, was just 93-80 in 14 years with the Beavers and never finished higher than third in the Pac-12.

FOX SPORTS
Nebraska AD publicly supports Mike Riley

These are dark days for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and their proud fanbase.

The current 3-6 record is the worst nine game start since 1958. It is also the first time in school history that they recorded six losses before November. When you start breaking bad records like that, there will be questions about your job security even during your first season.

CBS SPORTS
Nebraska AD issues statement in support of Mike Riley after loss

Without question, it wasn't always easy for Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst to work with a coach as (for lack of a better euphemism) high-maintenance as Bo Pelini. But his hire of universally respected nice guy Mike Riley has caused its own share of headaches for Eichorst thus far. The former Oregon State coach has gone just 3-6 in his first nine games in Lincoln, hitting a new low point last Saturday when the Huskers lost 55-45 at Purdue, handing the Boilermakers just their second Big Ten win under Darell Hazell in 19 tries. Considered a Big Ten West contender this offseason, the Huskers must now sweep their remaining three games -- two of them against undefeated Michigan State and Iowa -- just to become bowl-eligible.

NBC SPORTS
Nebraska AD offers show of support for Mike Riley and staff

Things are not going well for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in year one of the Mike Riley era. Riley may be the nicest college football coach in the country, but his Huskers are on the brink of being ineligible for postseason play. After hitting a ceiling of nine wins under Bo Pelini, Nebraska has now come close to falling through the floor under Riley. With this most recent loss against Purdue, Nebraska Athletics Director Shawn Eichorst felt the time was now to put out a public statement showing support for Riley and his coaching staff. he did that today.

YAHOO SPORTS

Nebraska AD gives vote of confidence to Mike Riley after 3-6 start

Nebraska has gotten off to a disastrous start in its first year with Mike Riley as head coach.
The Huskers dropped to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in Big Ten play with a 55-45 loss at Purdue on Saturday. Purdue’s lead was as big as 42-16 in the third quarter before the Huskers rallied to make the final score somewhat respectable. It was just the second Big Ten win in 20 tries for Purdue during the Darrell Hazell’s three seasons with the program, so the loss was especially ugly for Nebraska.

Understandably, the poor start has caused quite a bit of uproar from the Nebraska fanbase with some even calling for Riley to lose his job. As a result, Huskers athletic director Shawn Eichorst issued a statement of support for Riley on Monday morning.

COACHES HOT SEAT

1. Mike Riley, Nebraska

Although we talk to people all over the country about college football programs who we will quote anonymously in this blog to protect their identity we have only quoted current college coaches THREE times in the last 9 football seasons and today will make it FOUR times. A couple of days after Mike Riley was hired by Nebraska from Oregon State last December we were having a drink with a current Pac-12 assistant coach who said to us the following:

“Perennially, the coach with the softest team in the Pac-12 is hired to be the head coach at Nebraska? Please…tell me what sense that makes! None is the answer to that question!”

THINK about this for a second…

Mike Riley who spent the vast majority of his life on the West Coast and almost all of his coaching career at Oregon State which has played on TV dozens of times so there is plenty of tape of the Beavers for anyone that was interested in hiring Riley to watch where in watching that tape they would have found mediocre football for the most part, but more importantly teams that could and often were pushed around when playing the big boys in Pac-12 conference play is the FIRST choice by Nebraska to be their head football coach?

Please…the Idiocy of the hiring of Mike Riley at Nebraska really knows NO DAMN bounds and points to someone….whether that be Nebraska AD Shawn Eichorst or him and others that were involved in hiring Riley….that these folks just have…

No Damn Freaking Clue About Nebraska Football!

 

[walksalone]

 

[NUance]

Some good quotes about the situation from the local beat writers:

From Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World-Herald, who describes Riley's first season as "a complete disaster":

Nebraska basically has two options: Fire the athletic director now, then the coach at the end of the season, as it did in 2007. Or ride this thing out. ... Practically speaking, Nebraska has no choice but to endure this disaster for three more weeks. Hope like heck that Riley can make the proper offseason decisions to turn it around in 2016.


From Lincoln Journal Star columnist Steven M. Sipple:

University leaders may soon -- very soon -- have to make a choice: gamble that Eichorst hired the right guy in Riley and ride out the rough waters, with or without Eichorst. Or start over again from scratch -- new AD, new coaching staff.


From Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel:

It doesn’t get any lower, does it? Mike Riley was hired by Shawn Eichorst to avoid these embarrassments. Now the pitchforks are out and it’s not because of Halloween. Forget it. Neither Eichorst not Riley is getting fired and shouldn’t. The Nebraska job would become radioactive in the coaching frat. Moreover, it’s not how Nebraska needs to do things. This is Riley’s first year. Give the man some room.

That's the thing, we aren't going to fire Mike Riley in season one. No matter how bad the results. If we did, there is no way we'd be able to attract a decent coach. Lincoln would be toxic.

 

[brophog]

Some good quotes about the situation from the local beat writers:

From Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World-Herald, who describes Riley's first season as "a complete disaster":

Nebraska basically has two options: Fire the athletic director now, then the coach at the end of the season, as it did in 2007. Or ride this thing out. ... Practically speaking, Nebraska has no choice but to endure this disaster for three more weeks. Hope like heck that Riley can make the proper offseason decisions to turn it around in 2016.

From Lincoln Journal Star columnist Steven M. Sipple:

University leaders may soon -- very soon -- have to make a choice: gamble that Eichorst hired the right guy in Riley and ride out the rough waters, with or without Eichorst. Or start over again from scratch -- new AD, new coaching staff.

From Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel:

It doesn’t get any lower, does it? Mike Riley was hired by Shawn Eichorst to avoid these embarrassments. Now the pitchforks are out and it’s not because of Halloween. Forget it. Neither Eichorst not Riley is getting fired and shouldn’t. The Nebraska job would become radioactive in the coaching frat. Moreover, it’s not how Nebraska needs to do things. This is Riley’s first year. Give the man some room.

That's the thing, we aren't going to fire Mike Riley in season one. No matter how bad the results. If we did, there is no way we'd be able to attract a decent coach. Lincoln would be toxic.

People keep saying that, but no one provides any evidence.

 

[huskerfan92]

I went on Coaches Hot Seat to read the rest of that blog. Those guys did their research. They hammer Perlman and Eichorst pretty hard there and rightfully so.

[SIZE=12pt]…and Nebraska Football is NOT about a quarterback standing three yards behind the center throwing the football and we thought that everyone in Lincoln had come to understand that FACT when Bill Callahan’s Sorry a$$ was hired and then appropriately run out of the Great State of Nebraska![/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]…will also have his Stupid a$$ run out of town and NEVER be hired again at a big-time football program like Nebraska![/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]We have a list here at Coaches Hot Seat…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Worst Head Coaching Hires in the Post-Bear Bryant College Football History[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]….and here is the Top 10 of that list as it stands today:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]1. Charlie Weis, Kansas[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]2. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]3. Gerry Faust, Notre Dame[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]4. Bill Callahan, Nebraska[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]5. Lane Kiffin, Tennessee[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]6. Lane Kiffin, USC[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]7. Mike Riley, Nebraska[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]8. Mike Price, Alabama[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]9. Howard Schnellenberger, Oklahoma[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]10. Ron Zook, Florida[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Do you feel ashamed fans of Nebraska football?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]You should feel ashamed BUT be ashamed for the RIGHT thing and the RIGHT thing is that you let THREE Complete Morons get into positions of power at the University of Nebraska:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Chancellor Harvey Perlman[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Former AD Steve Pederson[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Current AD Shawn Eichorst[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Without the THREE Husker Stooges as they are known here at Coaches Hot Seat there is NO…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Bill Callahan[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]….thus no reason to hire Bo Pelini and then there is also no Idiot around to hire Mike Riley who we point out posted a record in Pac-12 Conference play at Oregon State of…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]58 – 63[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]….and over the last FIVE seasons at Oregon State posted a Pac-12 Conference record of…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]19 – 26![/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]A record of 19 – 26 in Pac-12 Conference play over the last FIVE seasons can get you the…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Freaking Head Coaching job at the University of Nebraska?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Please…is there ANYONE in the state of Nebraska that can explain to us how current Nebraska AD Shawn Eichorst is still employed at the University of Nebraska?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Geez….getting back to the point here…that Mike Riley after the Huskers Total Debacle against a Purdue team that has been getting its a$$ whipped for a few years now is on the No. 1 Hot Seat after that Total Debacle against Purdue are 3 – 6 on the season and still have to play games against…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Solve the Damn Problem[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]….which is Harvey Perlman’s Sorry a$$ should be run out of Lincoln before he does more damage to the University and the Nebraska football program.[/SIZE]

 

[walksalone]

People keep saying that, but no one provides any evidence.

 

[NUance]

Some good quotes about the situation from the local beat writers:

From Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World-Herald, who describes Riley's first season as "a complete disaster":

Nebraska basically has two options: Fire the athletic director now, then the coach at the end of the season, as it did in 2007. Or ride this thing out. ... Practically speaking, Nebraska has no choice but to endure this disaster for three more weeks. Hope like heck that Riley can make the proper offseason decisions to turn it around in 2016.

From Lincoln Journal Star columnist Steven M. Sipple:

University leaders may soon -- very soon -- have to make a choice: gamble that Eichorst hired the right guy in Riley and ride out the rough waters, with or without Eichorst. Or start over again from scratch -- new AD, new coaching staff.

From Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel:

It doesn’t get any lower, does it? Mike Riley was hired by Shawn Eichorst to avoid these embarrassments. Now the pitchforks are out and it’s not because of Halloween. Forget it. Neither Eichorst not Riley is getting fired and shouldn’t. The Nebraska job would become radioactive in the coaching frat. Moreover, it’s not how Nebraska needs to do things. This is Riley’s first year. Give the man some room.

That's the thing, we aren't going to fire Mike Riley in season one. No matter how bad the results. If we did, there is no way we'd be able to attract a decent coach. Lincoln would be toxic.

People keep saying that, but no one provides any evidence.

I'll head right over to Shawn Eichorst's house, tap on his bedroom window, and get a signed affidavit from him.

 

[Stumpy1]

At least we are relevant in the national media again. That should take care of some of the complaining.

 

[RunRedRun]

Some good quotes about the situation from the local beat writers:

From Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World-Herald, who describes Riley's first season as "a complete disaster":

Nebraska basically has two options: Fire the athletic director now, then the coach at the end of the season, as it did in 2007. Or ride this thing out. ... Practically speaking, Nebraska has no choice but to endure this disaster for three more weeks. Hope like heck that Riley can make the proper offseason decisions to turn it around in 2016.

From Lincoln Journal Star columnist Steven M. Sipple:

University leaders may soon -- very soon -- have to make a choice: gamble that Eichorst hired the right guy in Riley and ride out the rough waters, with or without Eichorst. Or start over again from scratch -- new AD, new coaching staff.

From Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel:

It doesn’t get any lower, does it? Mike Riley was hired by Shawn Eichorst to avoid these embarrassments. Now the pitchforks are out and it’s not because of Halloween. Forget it. Neither Eichorst not Riley is getting fired and shouldn’t. The Nebraska job would become radioactive in the coaching frat. Moreover, it’s not how Nebraska needs to do things. This is Riley’s first year. Give the man some room.

That's the thing, we aren't going to fire Mike Riley in season one. No matter how bad the results. If we did, there is no way we'd be able to attract a decent coach. Lincoln would be toxic.

People keep saying that, but no one provides any evidence.

I'll head right over to Shawn Eichorst's house, tap on his bedroom window, and get a signed affidavit from him.

And this would prove the coaching job is toxic how? The lack of logic here befuddles me!

 

[GOAT]

That letter was nothing but an insult to our intelligence. We can smell his bullsh#t from a mile away.

 

[GOAT]

Some good quotes about the situation from the local beat writers:

From Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World-Herald, who describes Riley's first season as "a complete disaster":

Nebraska basically has two options: Fire the athletic director now, then the coach at the end of the season, as it did in 2007. Or ride this thing out. ... Practically speaking, Nebraska has no choice but to endure this disaster for three more weeks. Hope like heck that Riley can make the proper offseason decisions to turn it around in 2016.

From Lincoln Journal Star columnist Steven M. Sipple:

University leaders may soon -- very soon -- have to make a choice: gamble that Eichorst hired the right guy in Riley and ride out the rough waters, with or without Eichorst. Or start over again from scratch -- new AD, new coaching staff.

From Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel:

It doesnt get any lower, does it? Mike Riley was hired by Shawn Eichorst to avoid these embarrassments. Now the pitchforks are out and its not because of Halloween. Forget it. Neither Eichorst not Riley is getting fired and shouldnt. The Nebraska job would become radioactive in the coaching frat. Moreover, its not how Nebraska needs to do things. This is Rileys first year. Give the man some room.

That's the thing, we aren't going to fire Mike Riley in season one. No matter how bad the results. If we did, there is no way we'd be able to attract a decent coach. Lincoln would be toxic.

That's baloney. Money talks. You throw 4 or 5 mil at a hot young coach who's confident in his abilities and looking to make a name for himself, plus all the resources Nebraska has to offer, and he couldn't care less what the last coach did.

 

[Blackshirt96]

Some good quotes about the situation from the local beat writers:

From Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World-Herald, who describes Riley's first season as "a complete disaster":
Nebraska basically has two options: Fire the athletic director now, then the coach at the end of the season, as it did in 2007. Or ride this thing out. ... Practically speaking, Nebraska has no choice but to endure this disaster for three more weeks. Hope like heck that Riley can make the proper offseason decisions to turn it around in 2016.

From Lincoln Journal Star columnist Steven M. Sipple:

University leaders may soon -- very soon -- have to make a choice: gamble that Eichorst hired the right guy in Riley and ride out the rough waters, with or without Eichorst. Or start over again from scratch -- new AD, new coaching staff.

From Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel:

It doesn’t get any lower, does it? Mike Riley was hired by Shawn Eichorst to avoid these embarrassments. Now the pitchforks are out and it’s not because of Halloween. Forget it. Neither Eichorst not Riley is getting fired and shouldn’t. The Nebraska job would become radioactive in the coaching frat. Moreover, it’s not how Nebraska needs to do things. This is Riley’s first year. Give the man some room.

That's the thing, we aren't going to fire Mike Riley in season one. No matter how bad the results. If we did, there is no way we'd be able to attract a decent coach. Lincoln would be toxic.

I'm scared it is already toxic. Two questionable firings in Solich & Pelini. A nightmare coach in Callahan & Riley has started out worse then Callahan did. My guess is another questionable season from Riley & the new Chancelor will find a new AD & Coach. We might just test that $$$$ will bring a better coach.

 

[Sargon]

I'll head right over to Shawn Eichorst's house, tap on his bedroom window, and get a signed affidavit from him.

Any news? hehe

Perlman is out mid next year. Seems unlikely that MR or SE would be replaced prior. NU firing a year 1 coach is almost impossible but not entirely, IMO. This will be a rough year to compete for HC talent. MR's buyout cost is just over $2MM/yr ending early 2020 and all other coaches probably get a year. NU will get a massive income bump in '17 from new TV contract money and a BTN full share. MR seems to be signing a maybe should be 5 star QB arriving in January and WR talent and others and is in the running for a big 2017 haul.

The keep em or fire him now analysis is quite a bit more complicated than most seem to acknowledge and the case for patience is pretty strong.

 

[NUance]

Some good quotes about the situation from the local beat writers:

From Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World-Herald, who describes Riley's first season as "a complete disaster":

Nebraska basically has two options: Fire the athletic director now, then the coach at the end of the season, as it did in 2007. Or ride this thing out. ... Practically speaking, Nebraska has no choice but to endure this disaster for three more weeks. Hope like heck that Riley can make the proper offseason decisions to turn it around in 2016.

From Lincoln Journal Star columnist Steven M. Sipple:

University leaders may soon -- very soon -- have to make a choice: gamble that Eichorst hired the right guy in Riley and ride out the rough waters, with or without Eichorst. Or start over again from scratch -- new AD, new coaching staff.

From Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel:

It doesn’t get any lower, does it? Mike Riley was hired by Shawn Eichorst to avoid these embarrassments. Now the pitchforks are out and it’s not because of Halloween. Forget it. Neither Eichorst not Riley is getting fired and shouldn’t. The Nebraska job would become radioactive in the coaching frat. Moreover, it’s not how Nebraska needs to do things. This is Riley’s first year. Give the man some room.

That's the thing, we aren't going to fire Mike Riley in season one. No matter how bad the results. If we did, there is no way we'd be able to attract a decent coach. Lincoln would be toxic.

People keep saying that, but no one provides any evidence.

I'll head right over to Shawn Eichorst's house, tap on his bedroom window, and get a signed affidavit from him.

And this would prove the coaching job is toxic how? The lack of logic here befuddles me!

Wut?