84HuskerLaw
New member
So you want to perpetuate this? If we want better, then we have to hire better. Imo we can’t afford to just hire a proven average coach and hope he becomes great. It will be difficult enough for a better than average coach much less one with less success. A first year coach might become a great one but there is no way to tell. A strong recruiter or a great CEO type (preferably both). Then pair him up with the best staff we can find. Nebraska has brand appeal for fans but the recruit attraction has deteriorated over the last five years dramatically. It’s a rebuild but that doesn’t equal bottom P5 or worse as a program, yet.
We first promoted from within a coach with long historical Neb ties that was given the controls of the very best program in the country, loaded with good talent very well developed (Solich). Frank lacked the recruiting gravitas and energy, and the program nearly collapsed.
We then hired a nationally known, experienced NFL coach without the college level understanding (Callahan). He failed to turn things around quick enough and didn’t see the need for a defensive upgrade (he was singularly focused on his offense).
We tried hiring an inexperienced NFL coach without recruiting strength/gravitas (Bo Pelini) with great fan support despite having but one season of DC on his resume. He struggled to be a Head Coach in areas beyond the X & Os and couldn’t deal with media pressures. He tried hard but was only an average recruiter.
We tried a very experienced coach without recruiting gravitas (Riley). He was a proven mediocre coach that people viewed mostly as ‘a nice guy’.
Finally, by popular demand, we tried a very unproven and inexperienced ‘Nebraska guy’ coach that had become the latest cfb ‘wonder boy’ with apparent national renown as a ‘splash’ hire. The presumption was he was a football genius that could recruit anyone anywhere. His resume included lots of good experience working under very respected successful coaches, presuming he learned from the best. He checked most of the boxes, except he didn’t really. He lacked any actual proven recruiting record and lacking any sustained HC record as a program and team builder and staff manager. He wasn’t prepared and failed wildly. Obviously he focused on receivers, RBs and one QB. The rest of the team and staff were basically ignored. This reflects his coaching and playing history as a QB with NFL dreams and a pass play designer type OC. He brought an inexperienced staff without proven team building record.
Now, we must focus on recruiting gravitas at the maximum level to overcome our recent deterioration as a program, and proven team and staff building and management success. This hire is too critical. Get the guy OR get the trio (HC, DC, OC). We have pieces, maybe. But recruiting the defense and O line and developing those is absolutely priority 1.
Again, if we fail to hire Urban Meyer or one of the games well established elites, then focus on defense and line of scrimmage builders.
