Comparing Nebraska's most colorful coaches of late

[kchusker_chris]

Which brings me to my point, look at the first few steps each coach took when starting. Miles has made calculated, smart steps to involve everyone, make them feel part of something, put some good will in the bank, and generally made the program everyone's. Bo....well Bo didn't do that, let's just leave it at that. Unfortunately I believe some of the first critical choices Bo made were absolutely wrong, and he's paying for it now. And unfortunately, I think some of the incorrect choices he made he should have known better, and he should suffer the consequences. I think that's why he's scrambling around letting media back in, tweeting at people, etc. sure it's the right move, but it was the right move six years ago too. And this all feels a little desperate to me.

I usually agree with you, and I'm rarely supportive of Bo - but I disagree here - at least in your comparisons to Mile's. Bo's first couple of years were very welcoming. Sure he blew up a time or two, but he (or maybe Tom) reinvigorated the walk-on program, he reached out to former players, opened up the stadium to em, etc. It wasn't until things got rough for him that his true colors started showing. Now did he make some bad hires and pay for it? Absolutely. Did he lack and emphasis on recruiting, let the D go to crap. Sure. But his first couple of years he was very open with the program in my opinion. Very similar to Miles in those regards. (did twitter even exist back then?)

 

[sd'sker]

???

I knew that Miles was the head coach at CSU, and had them in the dance with some Nebraska talent when he was hired here. And I'm far from a passionate college basketball fan.

yeah, i mean he was a media darling doing good things. i remember him from march madness, but he was definitely on the rise and becoming a known coach.

 

[NUpolo8]

Which brings me to my point, look at the first few steps each coach took when starting. Miles has made calculated, smart steps to involve everyone, make them feel part of something, put some good will in the bank, and generally made the program everyone's. Bo....well Bo didn't do that, let's just leave it at that. Unfortunately I believe some of the first critical choices Bo made were absolutely wrong, and he's paying for it now. And unfortunately, I think some of the incorrect choices he made he should have known better, and he should suffer the consequences. I think that's why he's scrambling around letting media back in, tweeting at people, etc. sure it's the right move, but it was the right move six years ago too. And this all feels a little desperate to me.

I usually agree with you, and I'm rarely supportive of Bo - but I disagree here - at least in your comparisons to Mile's. Bo's first couple of years were very welcoming. Sure he blew up a time or two, but he (or maybe Tom) reinvigorated the walk-on program, he reached out to former players, opened up the stadium to em, etc. It wasn't until things got rough for him that his true colors started showing. Now did he make some bad hires and pay for it? Absolutely. Did he lack and emphasis on recruiting, let the D go to crap. Sure. But his first couple of years he was very open with the program in my opinion. Very similar to Miles in those regards. (did twitter even exist back then?)

Fair points, and bringing back old lettermen that BC inexplicably shut out was an obvious one. But he's never been an angel with the media, and he's walked around with an aloof manner to a lot of outside folk.

My real point is I have a hard time believing that if Miles' squad goes 17-14 next year, he's going to storm up to the microphone, say there's nothing to be ashamed of, and say how much they'll miss him when he's gone.

 

[Landlord]

Polo, I pretty much agree with you, although even if we are a ways removed from our championships in football, the fanbase is still affected by them and in turn affects Bo with the expectation of them, so while the situations were similar I don't think they were near equal.

Miles has done a tremendous job, producing on-the-court results, but also marketing himself. I consider that a bonus, not a necessity, although in today's world it's becoming more and more necessary. Either way, Miles is pretty much playing with house money and so far he's getting us a good return when we didn't expect anything so we're happy, whereas Bo is (at this point anyways) being chased by the ghosts of those who came before him.

The double standard in expectations is understandable, but there's actually a double double standard or something when we turn around and compare the two when they shouldn't be comparable.

I posted a status about a month ago asking people when Bo Pelini has ever overachieved. The fact that nobody thought to mention the 2008 season is pretty indicative, to me, that though we aren't performing at the level we are capable of, even if we were, the expectations are unfair and that still wouldn't be good enough.

 

[NUpolo8]

Polo, I pretty much agree with you, although even if we are a ways removed from our championships in football, the fanbase is still affected by them and in turn affects Bo with the expectation of them, so while the situations were similar I don't think they were near equal.
Miles has done a tremendous job, producing on-the-court results, but also marketing himself. I consider that a bonus, not a necessity, although in today's world it's becoming more and more necessary. Either way, Miles is pretty much playing with house money and so far he's getting us a good return when we didn't expect anything so we're happy, whereas Bo is (at this point anyways) being chased by the ghosts of those who came before him.

The double standard in expectations is understandable, but there's actually a double double standard or something when we turn around and compare the two when they shouldn't be comparable.

I posted a status about a month ago asking people when Bo Pelini has ever overachieved. The fact that nobody thought to mention the 2008 season is pretty indicative, to me, that though we aren't performing at the level we are capable of, even if we were, the expectations are unfair and that still wouldn't be good enough.

Did I not say 08? I meant to, because I remember when you asked that. I literally thought NU was winning 5 games tops that year.

If Bo had come after Solich, I'd agree with you about Bo living up to ghosts. He was endorsed by the living deity of Nebraska football. If there's any ghosts or goblins chasing Bo, he made them himself, unfortunately.

 

[Count 'Bility]

Now, accountability was spot on about this year being the "salad year" for Nebrasketball. Now, it's possible, but I suppose Miles could start getting short with the new expectations, start barking at officials more, cut off fan interaction, curse out people, and demand what he's doing is good enough, and so on, but I kinda doubt it.

.

My real point is I have a hard time believing that if Miles' squad goes 17-14 next year, he's going to storm up to the microphone, say there's nothing to be ashamed of, and say how much they'll miss him when he's gone.

Please tell me this is not seriously what youre taking away from my comments.

 

[StPaulHusker]

Bo was a big name coordinator at big name schools. That goes a long way in CFB.

Barry Collier and Doc Sadler both had HC experience and they both sucked so having experience doesn't make you a worthier hire.

i agree. but i do remember being excited about miles. thinking they really got it right.

just for a separate discussion, it seems like many successful coaches these days started out as head coaches rather than as coordinators.

JImbo Fisher was a coordinator before taking over at FSU. Gus Mahlzan was a HC for 1 year. Bob Stoops was a coordinator. Brett Bielema was a coordinator. Charlie Strong was a coordinator. Rich Franklin was a coordinator. Mark Dantonio-coordinator. David Shaw-coordinator. Mark Helfrich-coordinator. Sarkisian-coordinator.

 

[kchusker_chris]

I posted a status about a month ago asking people when Bo Pelini has ever overachieved. The fact that nobody thought to mention the 2008 season is pretty indicative, to me, that though we aren't performing at the level we are capable of, even if we were, the expectations are unfair and that still wouldn't be good enough.

But I think the 2008 season goes to show you that getting to 8 or 9 is not all it's cracked up to be. The expecations were low, but he didn't have a major issue getting to that number...getting blown out by a couple of good teams and beating up on the patsies that schedule was littered with. Getting your 4 sunbelt wins, then going .500 the rest of the way is something Bo has perfected, and we saw it in 2008. Bo's biggest achievement in 2008 was getting the team to buy into what he was selling. 99% of the kids did that. And that alone got him to those 8 reg-season wins. The talent was there.

I think a lot more coaches could consistently win 9 wins if they weren't trying to win 12, 13, or 14. There's a little bit of risk to getting to those higher numbers. Do you think Bo is taking those risks, or has he settled on 9/10 win seasons and will ride it out hoping that without change, something will change?

I think to get to 12, he's going to have to make a major change - and in doing so risk the 9. I don't think he has the balls to do it though.

 

[Count 'Bility]

Bo was a big name coordinator at big name schools. That goes a long way in CFB.

Barry Collier and Doc Sadler both had HC experience and they both sucked so having experience doesn't make you a worthier hire.

i agree. but i do remember being excited about miles. thinking they really got it right.

just for a separate discussion, it seems like many successful coaches these days started out as head coaches rather than as coordinators.

JImbo Fisher was a coordinator before taking over at FSU. Gus Mahlzan was a HC for 1 year. Bob Stoops was a coordinator. Brett Bielema was a coordinator. Charlie Strong was a coordinator. Rich Franklin was a coordinator. Mark Dantonio-coordinator. David Shaw-coordinator. Mark Helfrich-coordinator. Sarkisian-coordinator.

Tom Osborne-coordinator, errr, N/M. We wanted to oust his a$$ after six miserable years too. LOL

 

[TheSker]

Yes, 9 wins is pretty easy. Everyone's doing it.

 

[kchusker_chris]

Yes, 9 wins is pretty easy. Everyone's doing it.

30+ a year

 

[sd'sker]

JImbo Fisher was a coordinator before taking over at FSU. Gus Mahlzan was a HC for 1 year. Bob Stoops was a coordinator. Brett Bielema was a coordinator. Charlie Strong was a coordinator. Rich Franklin was a coordinator. Mark Dantonio-coordinator. David Shaw-coordinator. Mark Helfrich-coordinator. Sarkisian-coordinator.

the coaches underlined were not first time coaches where they ultimately ended up. just like urb and saban. of course every coach begins a coordinator, but most cut there teeth as a head coach before they make it at a big time program. i would like to think nebraska is a big time program.

the coaches not underlined were coordinators at programs where they took over for the head coach, generally pretty successful programs were left to them.

 

[74Hunter]

I get the feeling from some people that they don't care what success Bo has (Conf Champ, National Champ, etc), they want him gone no matter what.

That might be true for some but I doubt that we'd be having these conversations if he had won those games in the past 6 years.

The real issue for me is that past results seem to show that he isn't capable of winning big games. I'd sure love for him to prove me wrong but I think that we all have a point where we say that he has had more than enough time.

I'm there now. More will join every season until Bo leaves or wins something.

Edit: if you think that this offseason is long and exhausting . . . just imagine 2015 . . . or god forbid, 2016 . . . if we have similar results.

After my last post, I'm pretty cool with everything that has been said, good discussion, with the exception of this.

True, Bo hasn't done it yet. It doesn't mean that he won't this year or next. And I the meantime, he's changed quite a bit, and has been successful in trying to find his way.

I distinctly remember that Dr. Tom couldn't win the big one for 20 years, then all of a sudden he won 3 big ones. Sometimes the process takes longer than most would like, but I guess that in today's instant gratification society, a coach doesn't have that opportunity, even when he has had pretty good success.

 

[VA Husker Fan]

I think a lot more coaches could consistently win 9 wins if they weren't trying to win 12, 13, or 14. There's a little bit of risk to getting to those higher numbers. Do you think Bo is taking those risks, or has he settled on 9/10 win seasons and will ride it out hoping that without change, something will change?

I think to get to 12, he's going to have to make a major change - and in doing so risk the 9. I don't think he has the balls to do it though.

What kind of risks are we talking about? I really don't understand what the decision point would be for a coach to settle for 9 or risk it going to 12 or more.

 

[Landlord]

I think a lot more coaches could consistently win 9 wins if they weren't trying to win 12, 13, or 14. There's a little bit of risk to getting to those higher numbers. Do you think Bo is taking those risks, or has he settled on 9/10 win seasons and will ride it out hoping that without change, something will change?

I think to get to 12, he's going to have to make a major change - and in doing so risk the 9. I don't think he has the balls to do it though.

What kind of risks are we talking about? I really don't understand what the decision point would be for a coach to settle for 9 or risk it going to 12 or more.

Yeah I'm not understanding the thought process behind that either.