It doesn't surprise me that TO would give Coach Pelini his blessing to coach in the NC game. I know it's been 10 years, but I think many of us have forgotten that commitment, hard work, finishing the job, and loyalty, are traits that then Coach Osborne instilled in all of his players and assistant coaches. I would not expect anything less from someone that TO hired for the HC position. Put yourself in LSU fan's shoes. During our run from (94'-97'), if another college's AD met with Coaches Gill or Mc Bride before one of our NC games, and they accepted a job with that school, we as NU fans would be pissed to a near riot against that school. The boards would be filled with "How Dare They" topics and such. In a sense, we're dumping our problems on LSU during their run, and it's not fair for them, but that's the nature of the business of college football today. Coach Pelini could have waited till after the bowl game to take the reigns here, but he knew that he needed to get his staff in place immediately to keep the recruits that Callahan and Co. had been neglecting since the firing of Pedersen, and the rumblings of a coaching change here. Almost all but one coaching staff position has been filled as of today, the recruits are getting visited, plus one 6' 6" TE Ben Cotton who was set to commit to Louisville, decided to commit to NU after his dad Barney, received the OL Coach's job. Looks to me like the job is getting done here, so what's the problem with Coach Pelini finishing the job he started down there?
Some here are so concerned what the players here will think if he's at LSU coaching his final game there. Frankly I don't care. They are adults, and if they are so fragile that they can't handle this, then maybe they should consider a transfer. For the ones that can handle it, maybe they'll watch and learn how the game is supposed to be played. When spring practices start we are going to find out how fragile these players are when they meet the likes of Brown, Cotton, and Pelini. Take a look at all the coaching positions that are being filled. Most all of the position coaches are intensely physical coaches. We wanted smash-mouth knock-your-teeth-down-your-throat-and-send-you-crying-to-your-momma football, well we have it here with this group.
The National Championship game will be the only game on TV that night. With that being said, the network will hype this to the Nth degree to create drama, because it's all about the ratings. Maybe we will finally get some good coverage for NU for a change, instead of being ridiculed for getting rung up like a pinball machine. They will bring up the last game for Pelini at LSU probably more times that we can count that night. If the D plays well, how can that not help in future recruiting? Even though Coach Pelini wasn't my first choice for coach, but he was selected, and I'm behind him 100%. So let's not be selfish, and let Coach have his time in the spotlight. It doesn't happen to many coaches in a lifetime, except for a few of the greats. So let's support him. If you ask anyone who has coached or played in the NC game, they can't explain it, but all they want to do is get back there and play for another one. So I have a feeling Coach Bo will want to get back to the National Championship game, come hell or high water real soon.
GBR