freemason9

Exactly. People are still probably thinking it was karma that Callahan didn't work out after Solich was fired for winning 9 games. Speaking of karma, wouldn't it be a fine thing if Osborne reinstated his old pal, Frank Solich? LOL

Sounds feasible; I have no doubt that there was a lot of scheming in the background. A question, though; why did Perlemen blow millions of $$$ of taxpayer money through contract extensions, then? If this is true, isn't Perlement guilty of some violation of the law? This would have been, at the very least, highly unethical.

I have to agree that this all sounds about right. Osborne was hired to fire Callahan, and Callahan knew that a long, long time ago. That's why Callahan didn't care to be associated with him, and that's why Osborne was never supportive of the team. I'm personally hoping for T. Gill. He's got class, but we would have to give him more than four years to get things going.

No some of us are just being realistic. No way to gauge who will be where UNTIL we have a HC hired. I think that there is a boatload of talent, no doubt about it. Now we just have to hope that the talent matches the new coach--if it doesn't, there will be more sh!t hitting the fan for three or four years.

it will all be ok if we keep Bill Callahan... One question...Are you some kind of idiot or just being funny? This defense isn't even in the top 100 in the USA...and it will be okay? Heard Callahan said that he just hasn't had enough time to make it work....uh, been 4 years, he recruited most of the players on the team I think...what else does he need to do....develop a nuclear bomb to stop the opposing offense with? Give me a break. I was just being funny...apparently not that funny though poking fun at Freemason, the local Callahan apologist. Aww, give me a break, even. So I was wrong . . . or, something. I can't explain this year at all. None of it makes any sense, and I agree with TGIF up there . . . there is something else that happened. I'd love to know what it was, but we may not ever know. In any event, I'm glad that the damned thing is over. Time to move on.

Can anyone tell me if there has ever been a worse linebacker in Husker history than Bo Ruud? What was up with that guy, anyway? With him on the field, we were playing a 10-man defense.

Agreed. He would be nuts to endure a senior season of the turmoil associated with a new staff. Get ready for four more years of "rebuilding" and a subsequent coach firing.

I'm pretty neutral on the Callahan issue. I actually blame the entire season on Bo Ruud. After watching him stroll around on the field today (as he has all season), I am reminded that the coaching staff was forced to play him because of his "legacy" status, and the influence of the Ruud family in the booster and donor community. BR was more damaging to the Husker defense than any offense around. I think that I actually saw Cosgrove swearing at the defense in the second half. He should have been doing that all year. Who loses football games? Football players.

Wally --- I like that No, I am not Callahan. I do however think that right and reasonable behavior is it's own reward and that it would be great if we as a fan base were classy and great sports in both victory and in defeat. Nebraska is a great place. We long ago had to leave Nebraska for a job but still see that state as a special place. Frankly, I have been surprised that we as fans have been so classless (again, not everyone, but many). Perhaps it is just an outcrop of the internet age --- anyone can post in representation of a group and all it takes is certain critical mass of posters with poor behavior before the thing goes south. In any event, I, and I can only speak for myself, am more saddened by the fan response than what it that the fans are responding to. Robsker, I think that much of this has to do with the "new era" of unfettered (and anonymous) internet message boards, and sports talk radio. I came to this board thinking that there would be more talk of x's and o's, of different offenses and defenses, personnel, etc. It has turned into a place for folks to go to vent against the Villian of the Day. It does get tiring to see the constant postings that belittle and berate the coach ("Clownahan," according to one persistent poster). I understand the frustration of this year's season, but all teams go through this from time to time, and some of these guys would make you think that there is nothing more to life. But you must also understand that the "Clownahan" cluster is only a tiny proportion of fans. Most do not post on message boards, and most do not call in to talk radio.

you have just crushed the hopes and dreams of Freemason9 Nope. I can't defend Callahan any longer. He has let everything get to him, and I don't see how he can be effective as an NU coach any longer. His pressers have become increasingly odd and bizarre. When he reaches the point that he has to defend his actions to the media, it is over. Too much negativity in Husker nation. The next season, at the very least, will feature a team that is loaded with talent. Let's hope the next coach can weather the storm for five years.

Good post. That has been my concern all along, and I have (in the past) advocated retaining Callahan and hoping that he would learn over time. That is simply impossible now, though . . . too much animosity has developed with NU fans, too many are eager for his demise. It shows on him, too . . . his press conferences lately are borderline bizarre, and he has clearly been mentally affected by the negativism that has become associated with his name. Callahan is gone . . . I am convinced of that, due to Osborne's lack of support for this coaching staff. This next few years will be a real roll of the dice. Modern coaches are all about the money; those that are loyal to the program they are coaching will not be lured here; the ones that are enticed by the money might well be lured elsewhere by more money. Continuity is the key, and that will be the toughest part. Gill might be a good fit, but I don't know that he can be a HC at this level. This will be interesting at the very least, but you can bet that I will support the coaching staff next year, whomever it may be.

The poor guy really needs to turn in his resignation. There's no sense in going through this, and there is nothing good on the horizon for him here. I do feel for him, because it seems that he does take the defensive failure to heart. For whatever reason, though, it just isn't working for him here. Resign, take some time off, and take a deep breath.

He could careless about who plays the game. It's only the starters and those who played WELL that he talks about. “Well, like I said, I’m just going to talk about the starters and players that did well,” Callahan answered. I just can't take this anymore. I've defended Callahan, and even thought that the need for continuity in the program required his retention--but I just can't take this anymore. I thought that he was a smart guy. Until these recent press conferences, that is. I can't take that crap anymore. If he doesn't know how to communicate, how can he coach? I can only assume that he is already packing. The time has come for his tenure to end.

Your complete lack of understanding of college football is astounding, the more so since you spend so much time on these boards. You're blaming the poor defense on Ruud and Bowman? You have no freaking clue what you're talking about. These guys never had a chance with the dunderheaded DC we've had here. This is the guy who defends Callahan - the guy who hasn't got a clue what's been going wrong here the last four years. Funny enough, that makes perfect sense. The clueless defending the clueless. Now you're getting personal. 10 to 1 that I had more tackles for losses during my college career than you, despite your agressive keyboarding skills. And I was trying to keep it civil.

Yes, it does suck, but we're only fixing the plumbing down here. I believe we passed one another on the stairs.

Hey, this is college football. Talking smack to opposition fans is half the fun.

Bottom Line.. He will be fired after the CU game.. IMO.. If TO had any thoughts of keeping BC, he would be rallying around BC and saying --hey fans this is our coach.. Bill is the coach and everyone should support him.. All that keeps being said is, we will evaluate.. etc.. You know what? You're absolutely right. If Callahan was staying, Osborne would surely have helped him out by giving him a show of support. He hasn't, though, even though Callahan desperately needs it. Someone of Osborne's high moral sense wouldn't leave leave Callahan out to dry so long. I don't know if Osborne even publicly congratulated the team after KSU. It seems as if Osborne is avoiding the coaching staff. Now I'd have to say that Callahan is gone, especially after KSU. If he was staying, Osborne would have surely come to his aid. Don't you think?

If...and I do mean if the Red truly has gotten their mojo back, Colorado is in BIG trouble. Otherwise it's gonna be a looooong offseason.

Great idea, but if that happened, I think that many of the posters here would have nothing of interest to say.

These will be missed: 40 Brandenburgh, Lance LB 6-1 230 Sr. Big Loss Worked hard, despite a difficult environment on defense, and having to work with Ruud. 46 Eisenhart, Ben S 5-11 200 Sr. Middle of the road He came in and performed when he was needed. Did not pout. 2 Grixby, Cortney CB 5-9 170 Sr. Middle of the road Hardest worker on the team. 83 Nunn, Terrence WR 6-0 190 Sr. Middle of the road Dazzling at times! 15 Octavien, Steve LB 6-0 240 Sr. Big loss Not that big of a loss, though. He slacked off in the four games prior to K-State, but he finally showed up for that one. A pouter. 16 Purify, Maurice WR 6-4 220 Sr. Big loss Huge loss. Too bad he didn't have one more season. All in all, though, it is a wonderful thing that this class will be gone.

And don't forget that these seniors are graduating. There might actually be some team leadership developing next year.

Curious, what evdince would one have to help them form this opinion? Enlighten us. No sh#t. Enlighten us. Callahan is gone at the end of the season. Theres no doubt. Don't waste your time...you're dealing with the #1 Callahan apologist on the board. I'm sure that his explanation would probably be too technical for you to understand. To answer the original question, I will always support the team. I would support Osborne because I feel that he would do what he feels is best. However, I will never support Callahan as he has proven to be arrogant, egotistical, and incapable of accepting responsibility for the problems of the program. He refuses to accept the history and traditions fo the program, and seems to be more interested in proving that his way of playing is the ONLY way, and that everyone else is wrong, or at least f-----g hillbillies. "What is different this week?" "I don't know..." That's priceless. I guess that it was probably too technical for HIM to understand. I'm not an apologist; I simply see the problem differently than you. Callahan undoubtedly has made his share of screwups, but I have to think that a man that manages to reach the level of professional football has some things going for him. Many say that he should have fired Cosgrove, and that might be right; however, the emphasis on recruiting was on offensive players due to the system changeover. The defense didn't need the overhaul. Nobody expected that (1) the seniors on defense would quit the way that they did, and (2) there was no--repeat, NO--leadership on that defense from Ruud and Bowman. In a way, I wouldn't mind seeing Callahan go, just to ease the bickering some. I'm just not convinced that burning down the house AGAIN is the best way to rebuild it. With someone like Pellini, you might end up with 3-4 more years of pouting, mutinous players again. It could happen. That's why I'm not anxious for a new coach. It's very risky at a place like Nebraska. I would rather see Callahan "mentored" over time by Osborne and the fans.

I didn't know that Lincoln had an airport.

We, on this board, have already developed a method for handling that contingency: (1) Fire the athletic director. (2) Fire the head coach. (3) Repeat until obscurity engulfs the entire program.