Breaking in a new coach - the 2008 Huskers explain the process

[knapplc]

Good stuff from Rich Kaipust, who interviewed Mike Smith about what it was like starting Spring Practice under then new Head Coach Bo Pelini:

Ask ’08 Huskers: With new staff, auditions intense

Seven years later, a different Nebraska team is preparing for its first on-field practices under Mike Riley and nine new assistant coaches. NU takes the field Saturday for the first of 15 workouts that will culminate with the annual Red-White scrimmage on April 11.

Several Huskers from that 2008 team said they don’t so much remember drastic changes to practice structure or drills. But they do remember a different mentality.

“It’s a fresh start for everyone,” former NU linebacker Tyler Wortman said. “Everyone starts off even. It’s a chance for those who had been overlooked, or had a few strikes against them for whatever reason, to make an impact. And it was a chance for returning players or starters to strive and show they’re versatile and can play within any system.”

 

 

 

 

[Redux]

“It’s a fresh start for everyone,” former NU linebacker Tyler Wortman said. “Everyone starts off even. It’s a chance for those who had been overlooked, or had a few strikes against them for whatever reason, to make an impact. And it was a chance for returning players or starters to strive and show they’re versatile and can play within any system.”

 

That quote alone makes me pretty hopeful for this season. It felt like we had the wrong guys plugged into the wrong spots a lot of the time. We know how adamant Bo was towards not changing things that didnt work.

 

Ive felt for a couple years we had the talent to compete but lacked the actual execution for multiple reasons. As long as the players buy in right away, we many not see a rough transition.

[NUance]

With Bo it really was a matter of "breaking in a new coach"—it being his first HC gig and all. But Riley comes to us with a quarter century of head coaching experience. Riley's spring and fall camps will concentrate on evaluating player talent, and teaching techniques and schemes. Not figuring out how to do things for the first time.