People that think that Zook or Stoops would have been a great hire for DC are a little crazy as well I think. Why would you want someone who is going to look to move on after a year or two with your ideas as well? I think what Bo is doing is a great way of hiring for the future and for cohesiveness. Yes you will have the Raymond situation once in a while, but I truely think Bo likes the ones willing to learn and be commited to the program and the beliefs he has. Yes he does say he wants his assistants to better themselves and if they get an opportunity that they can't pass up then take it. His main goal I believe, is to keep his assistants for the long haul if possible, people he can trust, but not afraid to speak their minds as well. This is how championship teams start especially in a place like Nebraska.
I've discussed my view on this before. Why do you think it's so crazy? Because Zook/Stoops are likely to leave in a couple years? Remember, we were led to believe that JP was on the way out the door if he wasn't promoted to coordinator...so what makes you think he'll be here 10 years from now? To me that sounds crazy. I give him 3-4 tops. With that said, lets say you rate experience on a scale of 1-10. Zook/Stoops being a 9-10, JP being a 2-3. Bo is going to need to train JP up to that level, and it will take 2-3 years to get him up to a 6-7. That means you're likely 3 years out before he can produce near the level of Zook/Stoop. And if he's gone after 4 then you got a single year of elite coaching out of him to go w/ your 3 wasted years investing in him. That's the same thing we'd be guarenteed to get w/ Zook/Stoops, without needing to invest 3 years. JP is a big risk IMO. He might be gone in 2 years. He might stay for 10 (in which case this promotion would have been a worthwhile investment)...but how many DCs stay put for 10 years? Even 5-7? Zook/Stoops were sure things, no matter how short their time here is.
And as for your last statement about championship teams being built on continuity.
2011: Alabama - they have some continuity w/ the coordinators being there 4/5 years.
2010: Auburn - gene's second year as HC, ted roof's second year as DC. gene goes out and finds the best OC in the game, in his 1st year Gus pulls in a championship.
2009: Alabama - Saban's 3rd year, MecElwain/Smart in their second years. Smart is the best indication that JP could be a success. He didn't exactly have extensive experience prior to Saban. He did have some athletes JP won't have.
2008: Florida - Meyer 4th year, Mullen's 4th year, Strong's 4th year under Meyer. [a little continuity here]
2007: LSU - Miles in his 3rd year, Crowton in his 1st year, some guy named
Bo Pelini in his 3rd year as DC.
2006: Florida - Meyer in his 2nd year, Mullen 2nd, Strong 2nd.
2005: Texas - Mack Brown in his 8th season, Davis in his 8th season. This is the only guy I can find as a championship coach/DC that has been in the system more than 4-5 years. But his counterpart that year, Chizik, is in his first year as DC.
All-in all, championship coordinators
DO NOT stay around for long - and they certainly
DO NOT need to be there for 5-10 years before they can have an impact. Assuming JP will be here 10 years from now is crazy. Championship coordinators can have an impact on the team in year 1, or year 2. Guys like Zook/Stoops could have had an impact on the Huskers in 2012/2013. A guy like JP is an investment in 2014/2015. If history proves anything, it's unlikely he'll be on staff comes 2016/2017.