Redout

Doesn't Pederson need to kind of listen to the public? Hell we give him enough money every year. I'm sure all the assisstants want him there. They have grown quite attached to him. I know I have enjoyed most of them (Jamrog's gone). Sanders, Pelini, Brown and even Cotton are all solid coaches. I think Cotton is trying to get a nice offense together. Trying to average something like that 200 yards rushing and passing a game. Or even 250 rushing and 150 passing, but I like it. Here's what Sanders said about Pelini: "He's(Pelini) showed great character through it all," Nebraska Assistant Coach Marvin Sanders said. "Through the unknown, he has shown great leadership. "I think if it happens that he becomes the second or third choice, Bo would still love it. Because he really believes in what we've got going here at the University of Nebraska." But it's still going to be tough to coach for an AD who has kept you in the dark for so long. “I just wish at some point that this would come to an end so we can all move on,” Sanders said.“Something needs to happen. Somebody needs to be hired so the program can move forward.” Can we escape this Pederson botch job with dignity? redout

The Democrat-Gazette, citing a source close to the situation, reported that Nebraska offered Nutt an annual compensation package of about $2 million. Arkansas countered by offering $1.4 million a year for 10 years. Nebraska came back with a $2.5 million offer, according to the Democrat-Gazette. Nutt's current deal is worth $800,000 annually. Said Broyles: "Houston asked me, `If (Nebraska) offered me a lot of money, and I turned it down, would people think I'm crazy?' Itold him that he'd be praised. Of course, I was trying to sell our program." This is an awful lot of money. I wonder how boosters feel about Pederson throwing around their money like this. redout

This is well done AR Husker Fan, thanks for your insight. That is until you said "Nutt's downside" we know there down and they hang too. The play on words with this guy. redout

ESPN weighs in with basically the same type of stuff. Here's the link in case your curious http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1698736 redout

Wholehawg would say then that Nutt will never get more than nine wins a season. Maybe he can do better with more at NU though, that's if he is hired. Is he close to his assisstants???? Most Nebraska fans would like to see most of the assisstants stay redout

New gossip has him not playing because he broke curfew. redout

You never know though. A. Green had a pretty tough soph year, went into the went room and came back for a great junior year. Horne could be the starter. Ross does have some similarities to Sanders. He should have had a few plays when he lost yardage, but fought for some. Again, though how much better can he get. "chubby??" if your a running back at NU and your chubby we've got mor problems than I thought. redout

http://www.houstonnutt.com/ After a few seconds the Arkansas fight song comes on and that hog sooy or some crap comes on. Scared the crap out of me. redout

This article tells about the bonuses of NUtt. Apparently Wanstadt told Pederson of him or I guess offered his opinion who NU should go after. redout http://arkansas.theinsiders.com/2/218999.html

I think it's kind of funny because I'm not sure Pederson had really ever been interviewing or calling until after the bowl game. Almost makes you feel like a fool for trying to play this game as some of us had for a month. redout

Actually the latest I have heard is nothing had been officially filed. If so, 99% of me says he starts without question. I'm sure Snyder will just say that. But you have to wonder if Snyder's pissed off that he's bring women into the team locker room and screwing them the day before a game. redout

Here's the link from Wy Husker http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla...200&xlc=1106550 redout DaveH you seem a bit aggrevated??

True dat dave, I think he wants that professional head coach job. I don't think it had much to do with disliking NU, but rather a number of NFL jobs open right now. Redout anyone but Spurrier

Does make you think. But I wonder if SP looking for a more intense coach. Green tends to be laid back. redout

Lack of coach costs Nebraska five-stars -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Duane 'Roz' Rossiter Huskers Illustrated Nebraska: Gain one. Nebraska: Lose one. It is fortunate that the Nebraska will be getting the commitment from a running back possibly before the announcement of a new coach, but the delay has cost them with the recruitment of a five-star offensive lineman. Taitusi 'Duece' Lutui is not only the top junior college lineman in the country, but Rivals.com has him ranked as the No. 1 junior college player in the nation. "Yeah, I did on Sunday afternoon," the 6-foot-5, 370-pound Lutui said about the report of his verbal commitment to USC. "It just felt right." "The Nebraska coaches - I just didn't feel I wanted to gamble on the coaches (at Nebraska)," he said. "I love Nebraska and the coaching staff (there now). I just think USC is for me."

Is Spurrier destined to reign as king of the Corn? The Spurrier-to-Nebraska rumor won't go away, and the concept may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. By Brian Christopherson staff writer December 31, 2003 At 12:24 p.m. Tuesday, in the rumor-filled setting of college football message boards, anonymous poster "Husker from Denver" posed the question to his fellow Nebraska fans: "Vote Now... Who do you want as HC? Spurrier or (interim coach) Bo (Pelini)?" Don't cough up your lobster meat now, Floridians. The Cornhead was serious. Advertisement For at this moment, Nebraska — a program with the third most wins in college football history — is without a head coach. And as of Tuesday morning, a love-him-or-loathe him football coach named Steve Spurrier was without job. Spurrier-to-Nebraska became the rumor in the Cornhusker State. In the name of John Deere, a square peg can't fit into a round hole, can it? After all: Nebraska runs. Spurrier passes. Nebraska's cold. Spurrier golfs. Nebraskans wear hats. Spurrier throws visors. Here's why it's not so ludicrous. Nebraska athletic director Steve Pedersen fired head coach Frank Solich more than a month ago after the team's 9-3 regular-season record. Since the firing, not one candidate has been publicly announced. Two questions to factor here: Why would a high-profile football school such as Nebraska not make public any candidates? And why would Nebraska not have announced a coach quickly after firing Solich to save this year's recruiting class? There's two plausible answers to this. Either Pedersen (who helped re-establish Pittsburgh football and basketball by hiring Walt Harris and Ben Howland while he was Panthers' AD) is in over his head, or he's been negotiating behind the scenes with a coach still in the midst of an NFL season. Also, to save Nebraska's recruiting class, Pedersen must announce a coach that makes everybody in the press room's mouth drop and say, "Wow." What guy could do that? Spurrier. Also: •Nebraska fans are anxious to see someone come in who can recruit more speed and open up the offense and not depend solely on option football anymore. •Spurrier's former defensive coordinator at Florida, Bob Stoops, is tearing up the Big 12 at Oklahoma. He'd get to go head-to-head with his old chum. •The ol' ball coach can restore a bruised ego left from a bad run at Washington. He can win at Nebraska. Both he and the school still have a name when it comes to college football. •Spurrier resigned a day after Nebraska's season finished with a 17-3 win in the Alamo Bowl over Michigan State. •It's said Pedersen, who used to work as a recruiting coordinator at Tenneesee in the early 90s, knows Spurrier. •And the best reason: Nebraskans would worship any coach that won their university football games. Mr. Superior might like that even if his hair does freeze in November.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,3...1861948,00.html

Sources expect hiring by Sunday BY ELIZABETH MERRILL AND LEE BARFKNECHT WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS RELATED STORIES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- » NU staff on hiatus awaiting Pederson's call » Amid confusion, Spurrier resigns as Redskins coach » Huskers see bright future » NU football staff plays waiting game » Huskers home, await a coach » Spartans accuse NU's Incognito of spitting RELATED LINK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- » W-H Online Edition: NU in Transition SAN ANTONIO - The mystery of Nebraska's coaching search will end by Sunday. Steve Pederson Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson is closing in on naming a new coach and will have it wrapped up by the end of the weekend, said two people who have had conversations with Nebraska athletic officials. The two sources spoke Tuesday under the condition of anonymity. The hire will come five weeks after Frank Solich was fired and days after the Huskers wrapped up a 10-3 season. Pederson, who flew to San Antonio with the team last week, slipped out of town sometime after the Huskers wrapped up a 17-3 win over Michigan State on Monday night in the Alamo Bowl. For nearly five weeks, he's stayed mum on his search, saying he won't comment until a new coach is hired. But with signs that Pederson is looking to the NFL for his guy, at least two Nebraska assistants expressed pessimism Tuesday that they'll keep their jobs. Interim Head Coach Bo Pelini, who was asked to coach the team through the bowl game, said the staff is in "shut-down phase" until Pederson makes a decision. "They're all pretty much unemployed right now," Pelini said. When asked if that means he's looking for another job, Pelini said, "I've got to make sure my family is taken care of." Two NFL names surfaced again Tuesday in Nebraska's search - Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Al Saunders and Washington Redskins Coach Steve Spurrier. Spurrier resigned Tuesday morning, and within minutes, Internet chat rooms were buzzing with speculation that the visored one could be coming to Lincoln. Spurrier quickly quashed that rumor, telling the Washington Post, "I think I'm out of coaching for a good year or so." The Saunders scenario, though, continue to pick up steam. At Dick Vermeil's press conference in Kansas City on Tuesday, the Chiefs coach was asked if Saunders would interview at Nebraska. "Possibly," Vermeil said. Saunders hasn't returned phone calls from reporters seeking his comment. Pelini said he planned to relax for a few days and wasn't consumed with the search. He said recent rumors that he was negotiating with Pederson were "inaccurate." Then he walked out of the downtown Hyatt and headed for the airport. Pederson met with the staff briefly Monday before the bowl game kickoff and shook Pelini's hand as they walked to the locker room amid the postgame celebration. When the team plane arrived back in Lincoln on Tuesday afternoon, Pelini was seen chatting with NU Executive Associate Athletic Director Marc Boehm, who repeatedly told the coach, "I'll see you again." Boehm then thanked Pelini, called him a class act, and asked where he was going. "I don't know," Pelini said. "Home." World-Herald correspondent Steve Beideck contributed to this report.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Bayshore's Adams commits to Spartans BY ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT BRADENTON -- Christmas has always been a special day for Sirdarean Adams, afterall, it's also his birthday. But this past Christmas, the Bayshore High quarterback made it the most memorable day of his life when he verbally committed to play football at Michigan State University. The just turned 18-year-old, who is being heavily recruited by many of the major college programs in the country, had narrowed his choices down to Michigan State and Miami. More than a week ago, he decided on the Spartans, but wanted to wait until Christmas Day to make the commitment. "I called coach (John) Smith on Christmas Day morning and told him I was coming there and he told me he was excited," Adams said. "I wanted to wait until Christmas Day to commit because it's also my birthday and I thought that would be the perfect day to do it." The Spartans plan to use the speedy six-foot, two-inch, 215-pound Adams at wide receiver. The chance to get on the field next year as a starter at the position and his desire to play for Smith, Big Ten Coach of The Year, sold him on Michigan State. "I wanted to play for coach Smith because he is so much like my coach here (Bayshore High head coach Raymond Woodie)," Adams said. "Coach Woodie is like a father to all his players and is a tough disciplinarian, which I like. I think coach Smith is exactly the same." Michigan State finished its season with an 8-5 record, losing 17-3 to Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl. Ironically, Nebraska at one time was at the top of Adams' list, but when the Huskers fired head coach Frank Solich they lost Adams. Adams limited his visits to Michigan State and Nebraska. He said Miami, which wants to use him as a defensive back, told him he could still visit the school. But Adams said he isn't going to change his mind and he prefers playing wide receiver. "I chose Michigan State because they need help and I want to be the one who can take them over the hump," Adams said. "They throw the ball a lot and I think I have a chance to be a starter next season." Adams was a Herald-Tribune first team All-Area selection this year. He quarterbacked Bayshore to its best season in school history, but most colleges were recruiting him as an athlete, a lot of it based on his athleticism and 4.4 40-yard dash he ran at several Nike summer camps.

The thing about MU basketball is they are very closely related to Texas football in the way that they are suppose to be good ever year and then go nowhere. MU should have a top ten basketball program every year. They have two large cities in their state. You grab the two best players from St. Louis and one from KC and get the other from anywhere and thats a top ten recruiting class every year. redout

I read a great article on Norm Chow the offensive wizard out at USC. I haven't heard his name in a while. I believe he would make a great candidate. A bit old, but does that matter? redout

I couldn't help but notice Horne didn't make a single appearance in the game. Remember how bad it seemed we needed that 4-star RB a couple years ago. Why is he not playing?? He's fast, he's quick... ANyone have the inside on this guy redout

Cornhuskers' Lord doesn't feel the love By Tim Griffin San Antonio Express-News Web Posted : 12/27/2003 12:00 AM Angry Nebraska fans haven't hesitated to make their feelings known about their quarterback, Jammal Lord. (Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Sports Information) Nebraska quarterback Jammal Lord has rushed for 2,494 yards in his career but has caught much of the blame for the team's shortcomings. MasterCard Alamo Bowl Matchup: (22) Nebraska vs. Michigan State When, where: 8 p.m. Monday @Alamodome TV: ESPN Tickets: $65.50, $45.50, $35.50 and $15.50. Call (210) 224-9600 or go to www.alamobowl.com Jammal Lord file Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 220 pounds Class: Senior Hometown: Bayonne, N.J. Facts: Lord has rushed for a team-leading 869 yards on 205 carries this season to rank sixth among all NCAA Division I-A quarterbacks. He is the first Nebraska quarterback in history to lead his team in rushing in back-to-back seasons. Lord leads the Cornhuskers with 10 touchdowns. Lord set the Nebraska single-season record for total offense last year, by amassing 2,774 yards, including 1,412 rushing yards — a school record for a quarterback. Lord has 5,182 yards of career total offense to rank fourth in Nebraska history. He needs 102 yards in Monday's game to move past Jerry Tagge into third place. — Tim Griffin The worst two-season run in 42 seasons has left frustrated Nebraska fans looking for a scapegoat. Playing the role of most hard-luck quarterbacks, Lord has been the easiest and most obvious target for hecklers trying to place blame for the sudden cracks in the once-proud Cornhuskers dynasty. Lord said it has been difficult to silence his emotions while the booing intensified during his struggles. "Sometimes, I wanted to say something, but it's not really my style to tell them what I thought," Lord said. "I kept it to myself and just played football. That's how I take out my frustrations and my anger — by just playing football." Lord heads into the MasterCard Alamo Bowl on Monday night against Michigan State with a reputation as one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the country. Each of the past two seasons, he has emerged as Nebraska's leading rusher. He ranks second on Nebraska's career rushing list for a quarterback with 2,494 yards and needs 29 yards to crack the school's top-10 career rushing list. But if the catcalls that have dogged him throughout his career are any indication, Lord likely will be remembered more for his struggles than his success. Ten Cornhuskers losses during the past two years are the statistic that demanding Nebraska fans will remember — particularly considering that the Cornhuskers had lost nine games in the previous five years before Lord took over. Lord's passing shortcomings have marred his career — even though Nebraska has never been known as a haven for strong-armed quarterbacks. Lord has failed to complete 50 percent of his passes in either season as a starter and has thrown 22 interceptions against 18 touchdown passes during his career. "Maybe one day, this will all soak in, what I did good or bad," Lord said. "And then I'll laugh or I'll cry." When asked before coming to San Antonio what would be the best part of the bowl experience, he responded by saying that the game would be played outside Nebraska. "I've aged a thousand times in experience and in life," Lord said about his college career. "I see things more clearly now, not only in football, but in life." Before going to college, Lord learned lessons about overcoming life's struggles. He lost his father in 1995 when Juan Lord Sr., was robbed and shot the day before he and his Jammal's mother, Claudia, were scheduled to end a vacation in their native Panama. Jammal helped raise his younger brother, Jerel, bringing him to Lincoln, Neb., last summer from their hometown of Bayonne, N.J. Lord said his struggles during his college career have tested his resolve more than anything he has faced in his life. "In some ways it's been tougher for me, but you live and learn," Lord said. "What I've gone through over the past two years has made me stronger as a person. I'm more mature now as an adult and a man. I'm ready to move on." Nebraska coaches say the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Lord leads his team by example and toughness. "I don't agree with what's happened (the booing), but I think Jammal has handled it as well as anybody," Nebraska offensive coordinator Barney Cotton said. "He could have easily thrown in the towel and quit, but he's been out there for practice every day. I know his teammates appreciate that and I do, too, because we know we can count on him." Lord has been the victim of diminished offensive talent around him. The Cornhuskers have had one all-conference lineman during his two seasons as a starter — a marked decrease for a program that once churned out Outland Trophy winners like clockwork. Josh Davis' 600 rushing yards are the lowest for a Cornhusker I-back since Monte Anthony rushed for 587 in 1974. Those factors have caused Nebraska coaches to lean on Lord more than any quarterback in recent Nebraska history. While he might not be Eric Crouch, the Heisman Trophy winner who preceded him as the team's starter, he's still clearly the Cornhuskers' top offensive weapon. "I think they'll remember him a lot more fondly when he's gone than when he was here," Cotton said. "Jammal Lord is a football player. That's probably the greatest compliment you could give somebody. "Does he meet everybody's expectations? Maybe not. But he's still a great football player and we're fortunate to have a guy like him."

Solich backers demand Steve P flee BY MATTHEW HANSEN / Lincoln Journal Star This isn't the grassroots fund-raising effort Steve Pederson had in mind. Steve P Must Flee, a group of "20 or so people right now," according to founder Moe Moravec, is angry at the University of Nebraska athletic director for firing former head coach Frank Solich. They're angry enough that they want Pederson himself fired, and they're taking that anger to the state's highways and media outlets, one road and newspaper at a time. Moravec and Tim Szynskie, both Papillion business owners, set out west in awhite Ford pickup Friday, hoping to raise money and a ruckus with a homemade sign propped in the truck's bed. "FIRE NU'S AD NOW" reads the sign's first sentence in black stenciled letters, then it offers a phone number to call and a post office box for donations. The corresponding phone sat in Moravec's breast pocket, occasionally ringing with a curious driver or a friend wondering how things were going. He registered the post office box number and opened the bank account last Friday. The group's complaints, when totaled, comprise one side of a seemingly unending argument in Nebraska coffee shops and Internet chat rooms since Pederson fired Solich on Nov. 28. They don't think Pederson treated Solich fairly. (Although the coach did receive a nearly $800,000 buyout.) They don't think a new coach will preserve the Nebraska tradition built by Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne. (Remember, Devaney was from Wyoming.) They don't care to hear about Pederson's success at Pitt. (But Pederson built a new arena and Top 25 basketball and football programs from nearly nothing.) "Basically, all of us are P.O.'d about Solich getting sacked after 7-7 and then 9-3," said Moravec, who says he was there when Solich broke NU's single-game rushing record, rumbling for 204 yards, at Air Force in 1965. Solich's record has been broken repeatedly by NU I-backs, but it still stands for Husker fullbacks. "He's given his life, his heart and soul to Nebraska football,"Moravec said. "And Pederson fired him." Szynskie, meanwhile, is angry because Dick Vitale is. He heard the college basketball analyst bash Pederson's decision on ESPN recently. "I turned to my wife and I said, `Do you know who that is? That's Dick Vitale,'" Szynskie said. It's not the anger but the action that separates the group from many Husker fans statewide. Most confine their grumbling to friends and family. Moravec and Szynskie hope to appear in every newspaper and on every television station in Nebraska. The pair planned to reach Hastings by Friday afternoon and said they would drive as far as Scottsbluff in the next week. Moravec refused to provide specifics on how much money the group had raised, its membership list or how many members had contributed to the fund. "That's none of your damn business," he said. The former Papillion city councilman did say he'd put up $1,000 of his own money in the battle to defeat Pederson. The group has discussed raising enough to buy out the athletic director's remaining contract if he were fired. Moravec also said the group planned to go over the head of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman, Pederson's immediate superior. Perlman was out of the office for the holidays and was unavailable for comment. Pederson has said he won't talk to the media until after he's chosen a new head coach. Various group leaders will call each member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents in the next several weeks, urging Pederson's removal as athletic director. Two regents contacted Friday said they weren't concerned about anti-Pederson sentiment. Regent Jim McClurg of Lincoln said he had full confidence in both Perlman and Pederson. And Regent Chuck Wilson of Lincoln wishes the state's citizens would talk about something besides Nebraska football. "I don't hire and fire football coaches or athletic directors,"Wilson said. "Anyway, it's a done deal. Let's move on." Moravec is still focused on Solich's firing and thinks he can change the regents' minds. "Perlman said he was the boss,"Moravec said. "Pederson thinks he's the boss. "We'll see who the boss is." There's no question who's leading Steve P Must Flee. It's Moravec, who says he's seen "more Husker football than anyone"and whose son is president for Alaskans for Nebraska. It's Moravec, who says he's twice been named national salesman of the year for different companies and who sprinkles asides about school integration -- he opposed busing in Omaha -- and ROTC -- he made his son join during the height of anti-Vietnam furor -- between soliloquies about Nebraska football history. It's also Moravec who came up with the group's initial fund-raising campaign. He wanted to lead a bus carrying Pederson opponents and a polka band across the state. Those plans have been scrapped for now, but not for a lack of anger or good polka music, he says. Steve PMust Flee has no bus. "We're having some problems with that right now. But we still hope to get (a bus) and make it happen. "Wouldn't that be something?" Reach Matthew Hansen at 473-7245 or mhansen@journalstar.com.