Who entered a better situation?

[Redux]

Would you say that Mike Riley is entering a better situation than Bo Pelini did 7 years ago?

Bo came in after a losing season with a cupboard full of good recruiting. His predecessor went out with a whimper. Nostalgia for the glory of the 90's was still in the air.

Mike comes in after 7 straight 9+ win seasons. The recruiting was serviceable but the biggest weapons from both offense and defense have moved on. His predecessor went out the door like an M80 in a metal bathtub. The kids on the most recent recruiting class weren't alive during Nebraska's last title runs.

 

[Redux]

My vote goes to Bo. He unfortunately set a high bar all the while doing his damndest to never move it. He also left a sticky situation for the new staff. An ugly exit left players confused.

 

[Count 'Bility]

I'll say Bo. It really couldve only gone up at that point. Plus, Bo was who 90% of the fanbase and "folks that matter" wanted anyway. He was our savior. Riley on the other hand was literally just a big disappointment to many-or at least the ones that actually knew who he was. And Redux also makes great points in terms of the mentality of the team and the division of the fanbase. There's actually a lot of folks that still want Bo here. it was pretty unanimouse that Callahan had to do. The biggest favor Riley could all us is for the love of god, either win 10+ or 8 or less so we can axe this 9-win horsesh#t.

 

[zoogs]

Bo had more talent, lower year one expectations, and only had upheaval on one side of the ball. The OC & WRs coaches were retained, along with a veteran senior QB who had spent years developing in the system and exploded onto the scene the year before. He also had his favorite, senior, proven receivers to throw to.

The exit also matters. Callahan lost his team and they were more than ready for new leadership to come in and take charge. But the credit is still Bo's for grabbing hold of that locker room and taking hold. The question right now is how much of that hold still remains. We don't know.

Bo did better than expected in year 1, though. An 8-win regular season capped off by a very nice bowl win against Clemson. That was a fun year. That team was getting ready to arrive, and would the next season.

 

[Scratchtown]

I'll say Bo. It really couldve only gone up at that point. Plus, Bo was who 90% of the fanbase and "folks that matter" wanted anyway. He was our savior. Riley on the other hand was literally just a big disappointment to many-or at least the ones that actually knew who he was. And Redux also makes great points in terms of the mentality of the team and the division of the fanbase. There's actually a lot of folks that still want Bo here. it was pretty unanimouse that Callahan had to do. The biggest favor Riley could all us is for the love of god, either win 10+ or 8 or less so we can axe this 9-win horsesh#t.

I thought it was more of a 4 loss thing....

 

[NUance]

I'd say it's pretty close[SIZE=11pt]—[/SIZE]the situation each guy walked into.

• Fan's wanting a new guy: When Bo took over there was much more clamor by the fans to fire Callahan and get a new coach. Bo was universally recognized as a guy who could be our savior. Back then anyway. Sure, there was a lot of talk about firing Bo five months ago. But it certainly wasn't universal like it was back in 2007. Not even close. (Edge to Bo.)
• Recruiting class loss: If you recall, when Callahan got fired we lost nearly our entire recruiting class. Sure, Bo pulled in a number of solid 11th hour recruits. But if you look back at that 2008 recruiting class you'll see a lot of names of guys who never sniffed the depth chart. The transition in bringing Riley in was MUCH more smooth. Barely even a hiccup in the 2015 recruiting. (Edge to Riley.)
• Roster Talent: Talent-wise on the whole roster, I'd say it's pretty even.
• Expectations for performance: And finally, as for fan expectations, we're another seven years removed from the period of Husker dominance that was the 90s. I think our expectations are tempered a bit too. Or at least mine are.

I voted for Riley. I think he is equipped with a better attitude and outlook to succeed at DONU. I don't think Riley will alienate the fans, reporters, refs, his boss, the kid at the drive-up window of MacDonalds, etc. like Bo had a propensity to do.

 

[Redux]

Good point Zoogs. Bo inherited a pretty good situation at the most important position. Riley is inheriting a 1.5 year starter, but the job could end up going to a guy who has never even taken a game time snap.

 

[Count 'Bility]

Hey Nuance, I think comparing the recruiting losses of each situation is kinda difficult. It was a couple of pretty different dynamics. Like Michigan this past season, everyone knew by October it was dun and it was just a matter of time. With firing Bo, even after all that had gone on and those hoping it would happen, it was still a rather shocking and bizarre development. I think a lot of the '08 class was pretty much jumping ship before Callahan was even fired, because it was a foregone conclusion.

 

[commando]

Bo entered a much better situation. almost everybody thought Bo was the rebirth of the bobfather when he was hired. half of the people on this board wanted Riley fired the day he was hired.

 

[AFhusker]

I'd say it's pretty close[SIZE=11pt]—[/SIZE]the situation each guy walked into.

• Fan's wanting a new guy: When Bo took over there was much more clamor by the fans to fire Callahan and get a new coach. Bo was universally recognized as a guy who could be our savior. Back then anyway. Sure, there was a lot of talk about firing Bo five months ago. But it certainly wasn't universal like it was back in 2007. Not even close. (Edge to Bo.)
• Recruiting class loss: If you recall, when Callahan got fired we lost nearly our entire recruiting class. Sure, Bo pulled in a number of solid 11th hour recruits. But if you look back at that 2008 recruiting class you'll see a lot of names of guys who never sniffed the depth chart. The transition in bringing Riley in was MUCH more smooth. Barely even a hiccup in the 2015 recruiting. (Edge to Riley.)
• Roster Talent: Talent-wise on the whole roster, I'd say it's pretty even.
• Expectations for performance: And finally, as for fan expectations, we're another seven years removed from the period of Husker dominance that was the 90s. I think our expectations are tempered a bit too. Or at least mine are.

I voted for Riley. I think he is equipped with a better attitude and outlook to succeed at DONU. I don't think Rile will alienate the fans, reporters, refs, his boss, the kid at the drive-up window of MacDonalds, etc. like Bo had a propensity to do.

I don't think that this team has anywhere the talent that Bo was left. Granted that talent still needed to be molded which Bo did a great job of doing, but I don't see any Suh's or Amukamara's on this team.

 

[AFhusker]

Bo had more talent, lower year one expectations, and only had upheaval on one side of the ball. The OC & WRs coaches were retained, along with a veteran senior QB who had spent years developing in the system and exploded onto the scene the year before. He also had his favorite, senior, proven receivers to throw to.

The exit also matters. Callahan lost his team and they were more than ready for new leadership to come in and take charge. But the credit is still Bo's for grabbing hold of that locker room and taking hold. The question right now is how much of that hold still remains. We don't know.

Bo did better than expected in year 1, though. An 8-win regular season capped off by a very nice bowl win against Clemson. That was a fun year. That team was getting ready to arrive, and would the next season.

Very well said...Too bad they disappeared the year after they "arrived."

 

[AFhusker]

Bo entered a much better situation. almost everybody thought Bo was the rebirth of the bobfather when he was hired. half of the people on this board wanted Riley fired the day he was hired.

I know I never thought he deserved the job. But thought I was wrong after the first two years. Only to be let down for good in 2010 where it only got worse from that point forward as Bill's recruits were for the most part gone.

 

[NUance]

I'd say it's pretty close[SIZE=11pt]—[/SIZE]the situation each guy walked into.

• Fan's wanting a new guy: When Bo took over there was much more clamor by the fans to fire Callahan and get a new coach. Bo was universally recognized as a guy who could be our savior. Back then anyway. Sure, there was a lot of talk about firing Bo five months ago. But it certainly wasn't universal like it was back in 2007. Not even close. (Edge to Bo.)
• Recruiting class loss: If you recall, when Callahan got fired we lost nearly our entire recruiting class. Sure, Bo pulled in a number of solid 11th hour recruits. But if you look back at that 2008 recruiting class you'll see a lot of names of guys who never sniffed the depth chart. The transition in bringing Riley in was MUCH more smooth. Barely even a hiccup in the 2015 recruiting. (Edge to Riley.)
• Roster Talent: Talent-wise on the whole roster, I'd say it's pretty even.
• Expectations for performance: And finally, as for fan expectations, we're another seven years removed from the period of Husker dominance that was the 90s. I think our expectations are tempered a bit too. Or at least mine are.

I voted for Riley. I think he is equipped with a better attitude and outlook to succeed at DONU. I don't think Rile will alienate the fans, reporters, refs, his boss, the kid at the drive-up window of MacDonalds, etc. like Bo had a propensity to do.

I don't think that this team has anywhere the talent that Bo was left. Granted that talent still needed to be molded which Bo did a great job of doing, but I don't see any Suh's or Amukamara's on this team.

Yeah, Suh was one of a kind. We don't have a game changer like him. But Nate Gerry could easily be a first round pick in a couple years. And who know how big of an impact Pierson-El will be in Riley's offense.

If you look at the whole roster I don't think we're lacking for talent right now. Not far off from where we were when Pelini started out. /JMHO

 

[NUance]

Hey Nuance, I think comparing the recruiting losses of each situation is kinda difficult. It was a couple of pretty different dynamics. Like Michigan this past season, everyone knew by October it was dun and it was just a matter of time. With firing Bo, even after all that had gone on and those hoping it would happen, it was still a rather shocking and bizarre development. I think a lot of the '08 class was pretty much jumping ship before Callahan was even fired, because it was a foregone conclusion.

Agreed. It wasn't Callahan or Pelini's fault that much of our 2008 recruiting class bailed out. It was more of a timing thing like you say.

By contrast, the firing of Pelini and hiring of Riley had to be one of the most seamless, well orchestrated coaching changes ever. Props to Eichorst for that.