Did Osborne require Pelini hire certain assistants?

[huskered17]

I really don't undestand all this talk about Grobe. He has done a good job at Wake, but I for one would not have picked him over Bo. Just look at a couple of the most successful programs in the country USC, an of course OU. Both of these programs are lead by defensive minded coaches. I am completely statisfied to emulate these successful programs. I say defense wins championships, and now we can rest assured that we will be building one of the best defenses in the country.

By the way, I keep hearing people complaing that NU should have been able to hire a proven head coach, however I think we got the next Bob Stoops/Pete Carrol right here. How much do you guys think our hiring grade of C- will matter when that proves to be the case?

JMO

GBR

This C- grade of the hiring of Bo, I have to believe is because he has no head coaching experience. I wonder what Callahan's rating would be now, if he were to get hired as a college head coach again.

Bo has listened to Tom O, on what he thought and who in their right mind wouldn't. You don't get many chances like the one Bo's getting. You might as well listen to one of the greatest college coaches of all time.

GBR!!!

 

[HANC]

I don't totally buy into the whole thing being preplanned, but I can definately entertain the idea.....if so, I guess it wouldn't "shock" me.....but, I think the only thing the boosters "preplanned" was bringing TO back as AD......from that point on, the boosters put their faith in TO's hands....... I think TO probably had the responsibility of hiring...but we all know that HE wanted some NU ties...... As far as Pelini, Gill, Grobe.... Pelini probably makes the most sense.... As someone stated, defense minded coaches seem to put strong teams on the field, year in and year out..... As the saying goes, defense wins championships...

Even though TO was offense minded, NU didn't start winning NC's until the DEFENSIVE philosophy changed and defense carried us through those years, and TO understands that....(just as KU's defense won the game the other night)....... with that in mind, Bo made the most sense...

As far as keeping Watson/Gilmore, TO may have had influence here, but it only made sense...MOST of the time, a new coach will keep a couple of "hold-overs" and Watson/Gilmore were probably the two most popular among current players, and sense Bo is defense heavy, he kept two guys with offensive minds. This was a smart move, regardless of who made the decision.....Now, Bo can come in and focus almost ALL of his energy in fixing the D..... the offense should ave. 30 pt. a game as is, and if Bo can solely focus on D, it makes us a better team....

The rest of the staff, IMO was Bo's hires without interference of TO....I will almost promise you that if Bo would have been named coach in 03, this same staff would have been hired then...... He likes and respects these guys..... Now, that he has ties with LSU, allowed him to bring in a few young guys whom he sees potential...

 

[AuroranHusker]

Bo has listened to Tom O, on what he thought and who in their right mind wouldn't. You don't get many chances like the one Bo's getting. You might as well listen to one of the greatest college coaches of all time.

GBR!!!

That is a great point. The former head coach of the Huskers despised T.O. so much, he wouldn't refer to T.O. by either first or last name in press conferences (it was "higher-up" or "supervisor").

Pelini will actually listen to ideas provided by T.O., unlike the head coaching predecessor (who will remain name-less).

 

[REDSTEEL]

I believe TO told Pelini he had to keep those two , just as TO was told by the boosters he had to pick Pelini.

Did you forget the :sarcasm ?

Nope....this stuff was all preplanned. Pelini nor TO had a chance chuckleshuffle

Yep, and in Area 51 the government has hidden secret alien bodies, technologies and UFOs. Sculley and Mulder have proven it. <_<

Damn those boosters are busy. So what big named booster are running Nebraska now, since Cook had no idea that Peterson was gone when it happened by his first statement? Was there a bloodless coup? chuckleshuffle

 

[Blackshirtsguru]

I believe TO told Pelini he had to keep those two , just as TO was told by the boosters he had to pick Pelini.

Did you forget the :sarcasm ?

Nope....this stuff was all preplanned. Pelini nor TO had a chance chuckleshuffle

I agree with you 100% Eric! Although having TO as our AD is great, I just fear TO will have too much influence on the coaching staff and their decisions. No I haven't conjured up some sort of "conspiracy theory". This is just my opinion

 

[Hunter94]

I don't totally buy into the whole thing being preplanned, but I can definately entertain the idea.....if so, I guess it wouldn't "shock" me.....but, I think the only thing the boosters "preplanned" was bringing TO back as AD......from that point on, the boosters put their faith in TO's hands....... I think TO probably had the responsibility of hiring...but we all know that HE wanted some NU ties...... As far as Pelini, Gill, Grobe.... Pelini probably makes the most sense.... As someone stated, defense minded coaches seem to put strong teams on the field, year in and year out..... As the saying goes, defense wins championships...

Even though TO was offense minded, NU didn't start winning NC's until the DEFENSIVE philosophy changed and defense carried us through those years, and TO understands that....(just as KU's defense won the game the other night)....... with that in mind, Bo made the most sense...

As far as keeping Watson/Gilmore, TO may have had influence here, but it only made sense...MOST of the time, a new coach will keep a couple of "hold-overs" and Watson/Gilmore were probably the two most popular among current players, and sense Bo is defense heavy, he kept two guys with offensive minds. This was a smart move, regardless of who made the decision.....Now, Bo can come in and focus almost ALL of his energy in fixing the D..... the offense should ave. 30 pt. a game as is, and if Bo can solely focus on D, it makes us a better team....

The rest of the staff, IMO was Bo's hires without interference of TO....I will almost promise you that if Bo would have been named coach in 03, this same staff would have been hired then...... He likes and respects these guys..... Now, that he has ties with LSU, allowed him to bring in a few young guys whom he sees potential...

pretty good post Hanc, i agree with most of your thoughts.

 

[AuroranHusker]

I don't totally buy into the whole thing being preplanned, but I can definately entertain the idea.....if so, I guess it wouldn't "shock" me.....but, I think the only thing the boosters "preplanned" was bringing TO back as AD......from that point on, the boosters put their faith in TO's hands....... I think TO probably had the responsibility of hiring...but we all know that HE wanted some NU ties...... As far as Pelini, Gill, Grobe.... Pelini probably makes the most sense.... As someone stated, defense minded coaches seem to put strong teams on the field, year in and year out..... As the saying goes, defense wins championships...

Even though TO was offense minded, NU didn't start winning NC's until the DEFENSIVE philosophy changed and defense carried us through those years, and TO understands that....(just as KU's defense won the game the other night)....... with that in mind, Bo made the most sense...

As far as keeping Watson/Gilmore, TO may have had influence here, but it only made sense...MOST of the time, a new coach will keep a couple of "hold-overs" and Watson/Gilmore were probably the two most popular among current players, and sense Bo is defense heavy, he kept two guys with offensive minds. This was a smart move, regardless of who made the decision.....Now, Bo can come in and focus almost ALL of his energy in fixing the D..... the offense should ave. 30 pt. a game as is, and if Bo can solely focus on D, it makes us a better team....

The rest of the staff, IMO was Bo's hires without interference of TO....I will almost promise you that if Bo would have been named coach in 03, this same staff would have been hired then...... He likes and respects these guys..... Now, that he has ties with LSU, allowed him to bring in a few young guys whom he sees potential...

pretty good post Hanc, i agree with most of your thoughts.

I didn't say that I thought it was necessarily a bad idea to keep Watson & Gilmore..... it could be an outstanding link: the continuance of the recruiting & mentoring of the high-quality young men both have brought to the Big Red.

What's interesting is that Pelini, in the past, has spoken very favorably of a power running team AND then he's also mentioned having a spread offense, a "much better" spread attack than Florida's. Seems like there could be a big difference between those two statements.

Now, out of T.O.'s recommendation, Pelini just hired two hold-overs -- two of the newest offensive coaches on B.C.'s staff -- who have worked in the WCO for the past few seasons. It needs to also be noted that Watson and Gilmore have quite a bit of experience in multiple offenses, it's not just WCO or Spread.

It's just a little bit interesting to make note of these things.....

 

[skersfan]

Thanks AR Husker for your support and kindness, it is appreciated.

Clarification for some of you.

My family has been invovled with the University for nearly 100 years. My family has donated money and land since my great great gandfather started it in 1916. I have known Coach Osborne for nearly 40 years. We are not close friends by any means, but he does know me and I know him. I admire him as much as any of you do, trust me.

I spoke with Coach Osborne on the 4th or 5th December. I spoke to him about Coach Pelini's hiriing, and my family's annual donation that is due on the 16th of January. I came away from that conversation with the feeling that he had very little to do with the hiring of Coach Pelini. My feelings are is that he is a figure head to make the Husker family happy. I feel the hiring of Coach Pelini was decided by a major booster, about the time I and I bleed Red gave information we had heard. Very close to correct in a lot of areas, too close to be just coincidene in my mind. I had posted that I did not believe some of it at the time, but some one knew what was going on with Pelini way way to early. This was actaully prior to the firing of Pederson. Trusted posters on this and other sites made the coment that it was a done deal before the coaching search even started raises question. One of Coach Osborne's coments was that Pelini had friends in high places.

He did speak of Grobe, who I think he would have hired if he had the choice. But it seems he had to have certain coaches on the team. Again I feel this was decided by who ever is paying for this. Most likely a large Texas Booster. In my mind there was no coaching search. Money bought our coach, and I think that was because he was the cheapest opiton out there.

I will also say, that I am not on the Pelini band wagon. But his staying with the LSU team through the bowl is a positive for him in my mind. Always finish what you start. I am still Husker Red, just not kicking out the money like I have in the past. I still have many concerns about Coach Pelini. And that has nothing to do with wins or losses. I think he is good coach, but I am concerned about how he goes about his business. Something went down that very few know the facts about.

 

[HANC]

skersfan:

Thank you for the insight.......and I really believe everything you are reporting....have no reason not too......

but, I would like to think that TO has earned the right and reputation to not come back to UNL to only serve as a figure head or "puppet"...... I just don't seeing TO agreeing to accept the job of AD if he wasn't allowed to make the decisions he wanted........... TO has spent his time on the sidelines, and didn't always make the "popular" decisions (ala LP), so he isn't one to give into other people's opinions or wishes...he usually makes his decisions based on what he believes, regardless of public opinion...... TO had no reason to come back to the university, other than to help rebuild the program he loves.....If he isn't/wasn't allowed to do this, then I do not understand why he would come back....

in short, IMO, TO is way too classy and too strong in his beliefs to let "someone" pressure him or tell him who to hire......remember, this hire will be pinned on TO, just as BC was on Pud...... I don't see why TO would lay his own rep. on the line if he didn't believe Bo could do the job....... It would have been VERY, VERY, EASY for TO to just stay away as he has done in the past...... I don't think he is just a "figure head"....He has too much pride to be in such a role.....JMO

 

[HANC]

skersfan: understand that I am not trying to refute your story or post.......... I just would like someone to explain to me why TO would return as AD under that circumstances you describe.....if there is a logical reason, then I could truly believe it all.....I am just trying to understand why he would return if this is the case...

 

[skersfan]

I think, and it is just my opinion, that he feels somewhat responsible for the situation. He did not say that by any means. I think he would do anything to right the ship and he sees this as a way to heal the family.

But I do believe him coming back was all planned even before Pederson was fired. I know Coach Osborne and Mr. Pedrson are close friends, and that Pederson had to be fired before he let his name surface. I could not ask that question of what was known, out of respect for the man. I truly believe he will do everything possible to make this work. And in the long run that is all that is important. We need to be reunited, and who could we ask for better than Coach Osborne.

I know that he feels Coach Pelini has matured and will do a fine job. I sure hope so, as Coach Osborne's name and reputation are on the line for this.

Of course these are my thoughts after talking with Coach Osborne. They may be spot on or 180 out, but I shared what I talked with him about. As we all know he is a good man, a great coach and the biggest Nebraska fan there is. I seriously doubt he would have agreed if he did not feel the idea had legs.

 

[HANC]

Thank you for sharing the info.... and the insight...... this is all very interesting.....

 

[melscott62]

Thanks AR Husker for your support and kindness, it is appreciated.

Clarification for some of you.

My family has been invovled with the University for nearly 100 years. My family has donated money and land since my great great gandfather started it in 1916. I have known Coach Osborne for nearly 40 years. We are not close friends by any means, but he does know me and I know him. I admire him as much as any of you do, trust me.

I spoke with Coach Osborne on the 4th or 5th December. I spoke to him about Coach Pelini's hiriing, and my family's annual donation that is due on the 16th of January. I came away from that conversation with the feeling that he had very little to do with the hiring of Coach Pelini. My feelings are is that he is a figure head to make the Husker family happy. I feel the hiring of Coach Pelini was decided by a major booster, about the time I and I bleed Red gave information we had heard. Very close to correct in a lot of areas, too close to be just coincidene in my mind. I had posted that I did not believe some of it at the time, but some one knew what was going on with Pelini way way to early. This was actaully prior to the firing of Pederson. Trusted posters on this and other sites made the coment that it was a done deal before the coaching search even started raises question. One of Coach Osborne's coments was that Pelini had friends in high places.

He did speak of Grobe, who I think he would have hired if he had the choice. But it seems he had to have certain coaches on the team. Again I feel this was decided by who ever is paying for this. Most likely a large Texas Booster. In my mind there was no coaching search. Money bought our coach, and I think that was because he was the cheapest opiton out there.

I will also say, that I am not on the Pelini band wagon. But his staying with the LSU team through the bowl is a positive for him in my mind. Always finish what you start. I am still Husker Red, just not kicking out the money like I have in the past. I still have many concerns about Coach Pelini. And that has nothing to do with wins or losses. I think he is good coach, but I am concerned about how he goes about his business. Something went down that very few know the facts about.

I have trouble believing TO would come back and work under such conditions.... why would he? I'm not buying this story.

 

[DaveH]

Thanks AR Husker for your support and kindness, it is appreciated.

Clarification for some of you.

My family has been invovled with the University for nearly 100 years. My family has donated money and land since my great great gandfather started it in 1916. I have known Coach Osborne for nearly 40 years. We are not close friends by any means, but he does know me and I know him. I admire him as much as any of you do, trust me.

I spoke with Coach Osborne on the 4th or 5th December. I spoke to him about Coach Pelini's hiriing, and my family's annual donation that is due on the 16th of January. I came away from that conversation with the feeling that he had very little to do with the hiring of Coach Pelini. My feelings are is that he is a figure head to make the Husker family happy. I feel the hiring of Coach Pelini was decided by a major booster, about the time I and I bleed Red gave information we had heard. Very close to correct in a lot of areas, too close to be just coincidene in my mind. I had posted that I did not believe some of it at the time, but some one knew what was going on with Pelini way way to early. This was actaully prior to the firing of Pederson. Trusted posters on this and other sites made the coment that it was a done deal before the coaching search even started raises question. One of Coach Osborne's coments was that Pelini had friends in high places.

He did speak of Grobe, who I think he would have hired if he had the choice. But it seems he had to have certain coaches on the team. Again I feel this was decided by who ever is paying for this. Most likely a large Texas Booster. In my mind there was no coaching search. Money bought our coach, and I think that was because he was the cheapest opiton out there.

I will also say, that I am not on the Pelini band wagon. But his staying with the LSU team through the bowl is a positive for him in my mind. Always finish what you start. I am still Husker Red, just not kicking out the money like I have in the past. I still have many concerns about Coach Pelini. And that has nothing to do with wins or losses. I think he is good coach, but I am concerned about how he goes about his business. Something went down that very few know the facts about.

I have trouble believing TO would come back and work under such conditions.... why would he? I'm not buying this story.

Who knows. I do know that skersfan doesn't make stuff up, that's for sure. This is about as close to "from the horses mouth" as you get.

 

[Hunter94]

i think there are lots of underlying "power currents" all over the country in college football, NU is not the only one effected by behind the scene big money boosters, it happens everywhere.

how much TO was "influenced" will likely remain unknown, as well it should be. the point is callahan and his approach was never going to be successful here or i doubt anywhere else in college football. a change was made and needed and we have acquired a defensive minded head coach, which i think is a good thing. and Watson had the benefit, if there was one, of working under callahan and learning some of his philosophy regarding the WCO. point is, we never took what we wanted and we needed a change. let's give it a chance.