Dansker

Going to bump this thread because IMO the only guy we'd be able to get should we fire Riley and his staff after one year -- is Scott Frost. Here's an excerpt of what Tom Osborne had said after firing Bill Callahan. Link Frost was a guy who orchestrated such an identity as a player. I imagine if he were to run his own program, he would make his team play with intensity and a physical prowess that Lincoln hasn't seen in years. While I support splash hires and guys who are successful right now in CFB, its hard to imagine getting anyone on the outside to come here. Since we're in "rebuilding mode" according to Shawn Eichorst, this just leaves me flabbergasted as to why he chose a 62 year old who is in over his head and not a young rising coach like Scott Frost.

Good coaches convince players to stay while bad ones have a hill to climb just to meet those departing players halfway.

The Board of Regents don't typically hire/fire AD's and coaches. They have a history of doing nothing, really -- However, their input is crucial when times get tough. Kent Schroeder who is currently vice chairman and is one of the senior regents is outspoken on coaching decisions. He's very passive about it. His record speaks for itself. When Solich was fired, these guys got behind Pederson and when Callahan was hired, they all bought in. They did the same thing with Bo's termination and the hire of Mike Riley. There are other regents who are more in tune with the football program. We've got large donors who have donated to the program for years now, alumni who have become successful people. They donated when Callahan was here (and Bo,) they've experienced this before and when enough donors say, "I don't know, it's hard for you to sell Mike Riley to me in order for me to fund the program," then there's going to be some problems. When fan angst is at an all-time high like this and donors start to drop like flies, that's when its serious and its starting to happen otherwise Riley, Eichorst, and Perlman would not be providing all these statements of support. Really, all they are doing is showing how weak they truly are and neither of them want to be held accountable which Eichorst stated during last year's announcement firing Bo that all would be held accountable. This was a typical lie by a lawyer who is so out of touch with Nebraska football and its fan base. I do think a lot of people are torn by this. They, like many of us, want to see the football program excel. Boosters and regents were torn about Bill Callahan but that wasn't until the losses in 2007 started to amount and it really didn't get serious until the Oklahoma State beat down on homecoming. It bothers me when regents are outspoken against Nebraska fans in general and say things like we don't know what it's like to run a football program, we don't give anything back to the university is BS. I've been to numerous games, I've given money. Our sellout streak is a testament to that for all fans. There seems to be a divide in the administration. The board, all we can really do is hope that they make the right decisions. We haven't heard much from former players, The Letterman's Club and others. There will be more on the way, from what I have heard. A lot of people continue to be silent and I think a lot of people will remain mum on this situation because they've been here before. It's not just the fans that care, alumni care, former players care, and these are people that give money to UNL. When the football team displays a poor product on the field, its tough to get anyone on the same page financially. I agree with you, Perlman needs to keep his distance.

Judging from the picture in your signature, it sounds like you might still be stuck in 1995

A UNL alumi writes an open letter to AD Shawn Eichorst. Link

The only way Perlman gets the axe or resigns earlier than anticipated is if he is outnumbered by is constituents.

If it weren't for Nebraska football, UNL wouldn't be where it's at today academically.

I couldn't sell my tickets either so I just gave them to a family member. Like you said, when you get served crap food at a restaurant over and over, you stop going. Find a good parking spot just in case you have to bail at halftime.

And yet we have a sizable portion of a fan base wishing to see Nebraska lose so that firing Riley would seem more likely/plausible. Yes, those who live in glass houses do indeed throw stones. How can you say that? Every fan wanted this team to exceed expectations. Everyone knew there would be some rough spots but not on the level of what we have right now. I want the team to win as much as anyone else but I'm a realist. When I see a problem, I identify it for what it truly is. The biggest problem we face are the lawmakers in charge who push pencils for a living and lack good judgement. The fact that everything up to this point can be compared to 2004-2007 should be enough for any fan to tremble. Last week's game told us the same story all year long -- this staff is not championship caliber and the nuclear option is the only way out. And your perception of a problem is just that: a perception. There's no way to tell if it's actually Perlman/Eichorst who are really plaguing the program. There are people on here who want to see Nebraska finish 3-9, ergo watching the players lose the rest of their games this year, just for the hope that Mike Riley and the coaching staff will be handed their walking papers. They'll say, "I want Nebraska to win, but if losing out means that Mike Riley will get fired, then I'm okay with that." If that isn't pushing a personal agenda, and if that isn't exactly what people think Perlman/Eichorst are doing, then I don't know what is. We should just hope for Nebraska to win. Actively rooting for Nebraska to win means actively rooting to see the players, coaches, administration, students, other fans, etc..., win. I just don't get rooting against Nebraska, period. It might be a perception but it's shared with quite a bit of people. You and I both know that those people outnumber the sunshine pumpers. I'm not OK with having a losing record. Do I want this team to succeed? Yes! But I don't see anything at this point of the season that leads me to believe that they will succeed. This is why I've been outspoken on the staff, the athletic administration, the people above Mike Riley. This just kept building week after week and it didn't culminate until the loss to Purdue. I want to be wrong on this more than most. I'm going to be rooting for Nebraska to win this Saturday for the player's sake.

Link

I have a problem with how you criticize Tom Osborne and Frank Solich. This season, we have entered the abyss en route to the second dark age of Nebraska football. Look for yourself at the first 4 years of them all. Tom Osborne's hires: FRANK SOLICH & BO PELINI (combined) 80-25 overall record, 48-17 overall conference record 15-19 record vs. Ranked Opponents 63-7 record vs. Unranked Opponents 8 bowl games (4-4) 2 BCS Bowls (1-1) 1 National Championship appearance 1 Conference Championship 3 Big XII North Division Championships Ranked in AP/Coaches Top 25 all 8 years combined, 3 top 10 finishes, 1 top 15 finish Best players - QB #7 Eric Crouch & DT #93 Ndamukong Suh RECRUITING 1998 (unknown ranking) 21 recruits 3.19 avg 1999 (unknown ranking) 22 recruit 2.09 avg 2000 (unknown ranking) 21 recruits 2.43 avg 2001 (unknown ranking) 19 recruits 2.06 avg *2008 (Rivals #30) 28 recruits 2.96 avg *2009 (Rivals #28) 20 recruits 3.25 avg *2010 (Rivals #22) 21 recruits 3.24 avg *2011 (Rivals) #15 19 recruits 3.53 avg (*) Indicates rivals rankings only. Harvey Perlman's hires: BILL CALLAHAN & MIKE RILEY (combined - excluding 1998 & 1999 for Mike Riley only 2003-2006) 57-52 Overall record, 33-32 overall conference record 5 Bowl games (Nebraska 1-1, Oregon State 3-0) 7-19 Record vs. Ranked Opponents 48-23 Record vs. Unranked Opponents 2006 Big 12 North Division Champion (Nebraska), 0 divisional titles for Oregon State 0 Conference championships Ranked only once in final polls, #24 in 2005 (Nebraska) Ranked only once in final polls, #21 AP & #22 Coaches poll in 2006 (Oregon State) Best players - QB #13 Zac Taylor & QB #4 Sean Mannion (Oregon State) RECRUITING (Rivals Rankings Only) 2004 Nebraska (Rivals #58) 20 recruits 2.55 avg 2005 Nebraska (Rivals #5) 30 recruits 3.33 avg 2006 Nebraska (Rivals #20) 22 recruits 3.27 avg *2007 Nebraska (Rivals #13) 27 recruits 3.33 avg 2004 Oregon State (Rivals #31) 36 recruits 2.39 avg 2005 Oregon State (Rivals #47) 20 recruits 2.6 avg 2006 Oregon State (Rivals #41) 33 recruits 2.36 avg 2007 Oregon State (Rivals #47) 35 recruits 2.51 avg (*) Indicates the year Callahan was fired, recruited nearly half the class. MIKE RILEY (Post 4 year assessment, 8 seasons 2007-2014) 55-46 Overall record, 38-34 overall conference record 10-24 record vs. Ranked Opponents 45-22 record vs. Unranked Opponents 5 Bowl games (3-2) 0 Championships Finished ranked in top 25 only 3 out of 8 seasons, highest ranking #19 Coaches & #18 AP 2015 Nebraska stands at 3-6 (1-4 in conference) RECRUITING (Rivals Rankings Only) 2008 #52 18 recruits 2.72 avg 2009 #54 24 recruits 2.63 avg 2010 #44 18 recruits 3.11 avg 2011 #56 24 recruits 2.71 avg 2012 #39 23 recruits 2.87 avg 2013 #39 25 recruits 2.92 avg 2014 #54 26 recruits 2.65 avg *2015 (Nebraska) #31 20 recruits 3.1 avg *2015 (Oregon State) #71 19 recruits 2.53 avg 2016 (Nebraska) #41 15 recruits 3.13 avg vs. Oregon State #44 16 recruits 2.88 avg (*) Indicates for Nebraska, Riley had a hand in half of the recruits for our 2015 class, but had only 4 commitments at Oregon State prior to taking the job at Nebraska. Notes: Bill Callahan was the first coach to lead Nebraska in over four decades since Bob Devaney in 1962 with no direct ties to the university either as a player or an assistant coach. Mike Riley and his staff are now in that same boat. For the first time in a half century or more (not enough data available), there are no Nebraska ties on the staff. Bill Callahan also introduced the West Coast offense to a program that had traditionally relied on a strong option running attack. Mike Riley stated he was opting to go more Spread at Oregon state and run the ball more before accepting the job at Nebraska. Nebraska's strength was multiple set primarily in Pistol and Shotg running the ball and coming off a 9-4 season in 2014. We were led to believe Riley and his staff were going to continue to do just that this year and that has not been the case. Callahan's tenure is considered to be one of the biggest failures of the 2000 decade not only for Nebraska but also it is one of the worst in coaching overall. He led the program to 2 losing seasons; a first in 46 years at the time. He is responsible for the worst loss in school history - 70-10 2004 @ Texas Tech. Conclusions & Comparisons - Solich & Pelini: Solich was fired after having a .753 win percentage and was owed $1.8 million as part of a buyout in his contract along with $518,000 in guaranteed supplemental compensation. He was replaced by Bill Callahan who's initial contract was $1.5 million over five years. On September, 2007, Chancellor Harvey Perlman gave his Athletic Director Steve Pederson a contract extension and Callahan, a 3 year contract extension. Osborne and the 1997 national championship team were the guests of honor at the Huskers' 2007 Homecoming game on October 13. Just two days after the resulting 45–14 loss to Oklahoma State – Nebraska's worst home loss since being shut out 31–0 by Missouri on November 1, 1958 – athletic director Steve Pederson was fired. Athletic Director Steve Pederson was fired On October 15, 2007 just one month after all the contract extensions. Steve Pederson, the athletic director who had hired Callahan, was replaced on an interim basis by Nebraska's legendary former head coach, Tom Osborne. Nebraska had a five-game losing streak during the 2007 season, the Huskers' first since 1958 (Mike Riley and the 2015 Cornhuskers could tie that streak should they lose the remaining 3 games of the season.) On the afternoon of November 24, 2007, a day after a 65–51 loss to rival Colorado, Callahan met briefly with Osborne and was fired. Osborne announced during a press conference held at the school that despite Callahan's ouster, he would still earn $3.1 million as part of his buyout. Bo Pelini who was later hired and then fired is now owed $7.65 million $150,000 per month for the remainder of his contract. Riley: On December 4, 2014, Mike Riley from Oregon State was named head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a contract worth $13.5 million, $2.7 million annually. Riley completed his stint at Oregon State with a 93-80 record overall over the course of 14 seasons. Riley brings a West Coast offensive philosophy to Nebraska, along with a poor defensive coordinator (and good friend) that he seems to be hamstrung to, shades of the Bill Callahan era and Kevin Cosgrove - Nebraska now has the 78th ranked total defense allowing 424.3 YPG, in 2004, we finished with the 68th ranked total defense 386.8 YPG and 113th ranked total defense in 2007 at 476.8 YPG. Mike Riley is a .500 coach at best and was on his way out at Oregon State prior to becoming the head coach at Nebraska. Continues to force his West Coast Offensive principals on players that are not made for that system and refuses to play to their strengths on both sides of the ball. Riley praises Shawn Eichorst and Harvey Perlman, shades of Bill Callahan giving praise to Steve Pederson and Chancellor Harvey Perlman. Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst releases a statement of support for Mike Riley where most fans/media argue with it. Chancellor Harvey Perlman speaks to the media in support of Shawn Eichorst and Mike Riley. Perlman is now planning to propose a contract extension for Shawn Eichorst, shades of Steve Pederson and the Bill Callahan era prior to Osborne's re-entry. Nebraska is 3-6 for the first time in its 126 year program history prior to November. Nebraska is banged up mentally and physically while coming off arguably one of the worst losses in program history to Purdue to face a well rested and healthy top 10 Michigan State team. If Nebraska endures 7 losses, it will be the first time since 1959. The Bottom Line: Frank Solich was not a good recruiter and had much success in his first 4 years with Tom Osborne's recruits dating back to 1995-1997 whom was a solid recruiter himself. Bill Callahan was a good recruiter but didn't coach his players up very well. Bo Pelini was not known as a very good recruiter and had much success with Bill Callahan's recruits from 2006-2007 during his first four years. Mike Riley recruited in quantity but never had a top 25 recruiting class. He is known as a developer of talent. So far in 2015, this is not the case. Nebraska hired an aging Mike Riley who had a terrible recruiting class at Oregon State before he left and a 5-7 record. Our current recruiting class (ranked #41) mirrors his classes at Oregon State. He and his staff are not good recruiters. Harvey Perlman is finally going to step down and hopefully will stay far away from making any decisions for the future of this football program. We are all victims of the classic bait and switch scheme.

And yet we have a sizable portion of a fan base wishing to see Nebraska lose so that firing Riley would seem more likely/plausible. Yes, those who live in glass houses do indeed throw stones. How can you say that? Every fan wanted this team to exceed expectations. Everyone knew there would be some rough spots but not on the level of what we have right now. I want the team to win as much as anyone else but I'm a realist. When I see a problem, I identify it for what it truly is. The biggest problem we face are the lawmakers in charge who push pencils for a living and lack good judgement. The fact that everything up to this point can be compared to 2004-2007 should be enough for any fan to tremble. Last week's game told us the same story all year long -- this staff is not championship caliber and the nuclear option is the only way out.

Why on earth would you extend the contract of the AD with a new chancellor coming on board in less than a year. Let the new person evaluate and make a change if needed. Harvey is taking care of the guy he hired and that's really about all there is to the story. It wouldn't be so offensive if the football team were doing better. Its an all too familiar situation, that's why. 2007 wasn't a long time ago but somehow Harvey gets a mulligan.

All the thought and scrutiny today towards him is well deserved. If it weren't for 1962-1997, he wouldn't be here.

We all got baited to enter a time warp back to 2007.

Seriously. Harvey is in full damage control trying to get everyone who'll answer his calls to say nice things about Riley. This is truly becoming a sick joke Its just another poor effort to bait Husker fans. We're known as the greatest and even the smartest fans in football and now that we're starting to act like it, they've been running around like headless chickens this week. I'll continue to take any and all attempts that are made to divert my attention away from our 3-6 record and proceed to throw it back in their faces. Behold, another whiffer by Harvey Perlman and the athletic department.

Isn't that the dumbest response? I'm sure our record this year and Riley's record at Oregon State gives a clear indication that we are in a better position right now and in the future. Why do Riley, Eichorst, and Perlman continue to blow smoke up the fans and media's ass? First, Riley kisses up to Eichorst and Harvey about how "involved" they are with the football team. Shawn Eichorst then releases a statement filled with grammatical errors and run off sentences. The media and fans have a WTF moment followed by the Chancellor who publicly backs the AD and says he intends to give him a contract extension? And finally, Eichorst says he won't be available for comment until the end of the season. What in the hell? So, they publicly back one another for being failures and kiss up to one another and smile, rob us of our money, our donations, kick us in the nuts, and pat each other on the back. They aren't fooling anybody and its no surprise that everything they say or do from here on out is put under a microscope. They deserve it.

The calm before the storm.

The hire would have made much more sense had he went with different assistants. When Ed Orgeron was saying, "Pick me! Pick me!" I was ecstatic. I thought to myself, "Wow, we can't go wrong with Riley. He's going to hire some top notch assistants! Orgeron is a good coach and excellent recruiter!" Gee golly, what a fumble.

If the Board has any aspiration for the football program, they'll block any proposed contract extension for Shawn Eichorst. That will send a clear message to the three stooges HP, SE, MR. You don't have to go back very far to find out about our past when we extended a contract to a previous incompetent in over his head Athletic Director. Let's hope the local media invokes the past and whether or not we learned anything from it.

Even Harvey has a defeatist attitude. "How would you hire the next coach?" You offer a successful coach a crap ton of money or hire someone who deserves a chance to prove themselves at a major program like Nebraska not a .500 coach with 40 years of experience getting curb stomped. Really? Six candidates? From what I can remember Bret B @ Arkansas was the only other possible mentioned candidate. Eichorst interviewed and hired Riley on the spot. I don't blame Hal for feeling this way. At least he has the stones to go public with that. It's extremely unfortunate but I think the only way this mess gets cleaned up is if the sellout streak comes to a halt and ticket sales go down. We've been down this familiar road before and it's going to continue to snowball.

Or we'll end up with a consecutive poor season such as these: 1997 Oregon State 3–8 1998 Oregon State 5–6 2010 Oregon State 5–7 2011 Oregon State 3–9 2013 Oregon State 7–6 2014 Oregon State 5–7 And if we get blown out by 35 points this Saturday, I'm not sure Patrick O'Brien is going to sign a LOI and come to Lincoln.

Former staff doesn't hold blame for this current INCOMPETENT coaching staff! An incompetent coach hired by an incompetent AD who is backed by an incompetent Chancellor. The comparison to Tom Osborne is a disgrace. Riley and his staff are washed up career losers who will never get this program on the right track. Where is Hank Bounds? I can't wait till Hank fixes this disaster. The board of regents is going to continue to face disappointment, donors are going to get fed up over it while fans continue to complain and nothing gets done. Did we learn anything from Harvey's self-centered, pompous, misguided ideals back in 2002? When he hired Steve Pederson to fire Solich? And then to not even at least be open to input from Tom Osborne for an AD to succeed him? Why wait? Why give a timeline? Everyone can see this train will inevitably derail. We need some freaking janitors in Lincoln.

I believe current President Hank Bounds has the ability to terminate ADSE and bring in someone else. He's already revealed outlines as far as what he's looking for in a new chancellor. Hank's a football guy so it's not like he's unaware of the current sate of Husker football either.

With the way our season has gone it wouldn't surprise me to see MSU run up the score a little bit. This could get ugly. Real ugly. I'm talking 63-17 ugly.