secretasianman

Looks like Dave Wannstedt will be unemployed soon. Who was the Pitt AD, and where did he go?

What about the "Pedey-shine"!!!???

Hey, this is no Husker gear Callahan. Time to break out the beige, Husker fan..

Yep... he is. Right after the meeting with Howard Schnellenberger.

This is not true. About 3 weeks ago on Yahoosports.com, there was an interview with Pelini. The article talked about how he was ready for a head coaching job, and talked about how good he was at developing relationships with his players. The article also talked about how he was a family man, and on a Saturday morning, he is commonly seen at his kid's soccer games IN BATON ROUGE.. and then coaches the LSU games on Saturday night.

Yes, the KETV 7 news showed this "true Husker fan" on the 10:00 news. The guy was wearing a leather "National Champions" jacket and waving a flag from the 94-95 Championship years. He had a Husker hat on and he was wearing thick black framed glasses with one of the arms missing. Yeah... he looked a little "off" to say the least. hahaha.. *But* in his defense, I have seen posts on various message boards that stated, "If Callahan gets fired, I'll be the first one celebrating at the intersection!" ---and this guy was the only one to show up! hahaha..

My first post on this board was in support of Coach Callahan and a new defensive staff. I still believe that Callahan could have turned this team around with a new defensive staff. The biggest reason that I supported him staying was not so much his abilities as a coach as it was the possibility that a complete staff change would have bigger and more negative repercussions going forward. Usually, the first year of any staff takes a big step backwards from even the previous regime. It's tough to think that if we have a losing season next year that it'll just be chalked up as the "learning" year for the new staff. What if it takes 3 more years to see if that staff would pan out? Whereas Callahan and a revamped defensive staff could be contending for championships in 2-3 years. Like anything, it's a guessing game. I'm a Husker through and through, and I support and trust Osborne's decisions. It's so apparent when he speaks that the program is in the right hands again. We may all have different opinions on how things should be run, but let's just focus on our mutual admiration for this program and cheer them on!

I'll stand up and support him. Once again, the offense worked. Once again, the defense didn't. Cosgrove must go. Callahan can stay. By mixing a little spread option in with the west coast offense, Callahan and Watson showed that they are innovators on offense, and with a better defense, this season could have been 100% different. This is the first season that Nebraska has had an all-out defensive collapse. There was not clear evidence in the previous seasons that Cosgrove needed to go. Towards the end of last season, the defense played very well. Imagine this same good offense, with a "Pelini-style" defense. That's all we need-- a better defense. If Callahan would have dismissed Cosgrove during the season-- who knows.. maybe things could have been different. But the thing to remember is that their was not clear evidence, until this season, to suggest a change for the defense. Callahan needs at least one more season, with a new defensive staff.

The blame for this loss lies on the shoulders of Cosgrove and his defensive staff. The defense looked unprepared (as usual), and could not adjust.

Thanks, Mo!!! Go get 'em on the next level!

I don't understand the fascination with Watson. So many people have presented a scenario where Watson become the interim head coach if Callahan is fired. Why Watson? What has he shown? Callahan calls the plays, and runs the offense. Watson is an OC by title alone. What his actual role is remains a mystery.

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2007/1...95610701607.txt

I think his inability to coach FAR outweighs his potential. I guess my question to the people thinking he deserves more time would be, when is enough enough? He's had two "good" recruiting classes and two "OK" recruiting classes, so allegedly talent should not be the issue. He's had four years to acclimate himself to the college game/routine, so that should not be an issue. He's had ample time to evaluate his coaching staff and make any changes where there are deficiencies, so staff should not be an issue. But even with all that time and whatnot in his favor, his overall record is still barely above .500. He should have been much further along than he is now. He should be beyond correcting mistaken assumptions by now. He should be in a position of strength both from on-field play and recruiting. But he’s nowhere near those positions. So what will happen to make the future Bill Callahan do a better job than the present Bill Callahan? Why would one more year make any difference? You bring up great points. I do not think that Callahan has had enough time to make changes with his staff. Until this season, nobody seemed to have major problems with Cosgrove's defense. Yes, there have been issues with the defense, but the strong performances closing out last season really made alot of people feel that the defense was headed in the right direction. Nebraska competed well with every top team they played. Poor play of the defense this season has crippled the offense. Rather than being able to carry out a gameplan, the offense is forced to play catch up. I do feel that there are definite playmakers on defense-- we just need a fiery, d-coordinator that can bring that out. I know the writing on the wall suggests Callahan's firing, but if you look at Osborne's philosphies, they suggest second chances.

I think the last coaching search proved that this job may not attract a "big name", proven head coach.

Haha.. I've heard those-- it's hilarious. After Callahan's recent Christian views, I thought those guys would come up with a "Bible-Thumpin' Callahan". I thought about calling up myself, but I can't do that voice!

You really do have no idea do you. The only reason players are even allowed on the sidelines is because when TO took over the first thing he did was send a letter to all the former players saying they were welcomed at any home game. A bunch of former players have stated that under BC and SP they didnt even feel welcomed. Jason Peter who is on the Nebraksa All-Time team was told by the athletic department to "look somewhere else" when he told them he would pay double for USC tickets. And i have not heard a single thing about McBride talking to the players, or former players in the locker room. BC is not responsible for the sudden increase in restoring tradition at NU that is TO's doing. Seriously asianman i am trying not to take shots at you but you need to do some research before you get on here and start claiming this and that. NPHusker--- I am 32 years old, and I live in Omaha, NE. I am a lifelong Husker fan, and my family has had season-tickets going back to the Devaney years. I graduated from UNL in 1998. I understand what it means to be a Husker fan. I need to research before I post this and that? Gee, I didn't know you were the fact book. If YOU did the research, you would see that since 2004, McBride has spoken to Callahan's team on several occassions. Listen to 590AM in Omaha-- I heard Matt Perrault interview McBride twice before Osborne's return and McBride talked about his visits to Callahan, staff and the team. Callahan himself has talked about the signifigance of McBride speaking to the team. I know the former players returning is TO's doing, not Bill Callahan's. You have to realize that with Steve Pedersen in charge, Callahan was only free to reign within that command. It is believed that Pedersen had much to do with the erasing of tradition-- what was Callahan to do? Go over his boss's head? I've heard the stories about the former players not feeling welcomed, but most of them attribute that to Pedersen. I think with Osborne's guidance, Callahan would embrace tradition. Anything to the contrary is also an opinion. There are alot of people here that have problems with opinions that don't reflect their own. I love NU as well, and I don't want to see another staff come in and not succeed. I don't want this program to become a revolving door of head coaches, or go through 10 years of misery, like OU. My OPINION is that Callahan may succeed with at LEAST a revamped defensive staff. Bring in a new coach, and it may take 3 years to get the system in place-- and what if that staff doesn't work out? Just because you disagree with me, doesn't mean you're right.

I know I defend Callahan in my post. This isn't a "blind" defense. I see all the reasons why he should be fired, and I agree with alot of them. I think alot of the comments Callahan has made have been misconstrued and overanalyzed. I truly feel that he has the best interest of the program in mind-- but he has made mistakes. The reason I chose to defend him is because I feel that his mistakes are correctable. I also think about how Osborne gave players second chances, and set up a system of goals or "steps to attain" to get back to the proper standing-- and I think he might go this route with Callahan. After the OSU game, I wanted the whole staff gone. But then I thought about Osborne's words, and started to think, "wow.. what if he actually keeps Callahan, that would suck." And after thinking about it over the last few weeks, I tried to construct the best scenario if Callahan stayed.. and that's the point of my post.

That was under Pedersons rule that these restrictions with past players and staff come about. So you're saying Callahan will embrace past Huskers now that Pederson is gone? What has Callahan done to make you believe that? I think Callahan will embrace past Huskers, evident by the numbers that have been on the sidelines since Osborne's return. He's had McBride speak to the team on several occassions, and has allowed past Huskers into the locker room. I think Osborne would help teach Callahan the tradition--- and I think that he'd be open to it. I think when you're an outsider, you have to grow into this job, and I think Osborne could help Callahan, if Callahan is open to it.

Any "outsider" coach that is hired would have no idea what being a Husker is all about unless it is taught. You don't know if the alienation of past coaches/players and the dismantling of tradition is because of Pedersen, Callahan or both. My OPINION is that is was Pedersen. After four years, what did Osborne do for Nebraska? What did he add to the program? It's too quick to decide entirely what Callahan has added to the program. He has to be given some credit for totally revamping the offense with playmakers---who could've made a bigger impact with a more effective defense. The point of my post is that we shouldn't be so quick to hang somebody. Things aren't going well, and I see so many people just saying "fire them all", without recognizing some of the positives. The big problem has been the defense. To me, starting over with an entirely new staff vs. allowing Callahan to revamp his staff has the same risk factor.

In Tom Osborne's books, he talks about how society today is too quick to judge, expects instant results, demands perfection and lacks forgiveness. I think that it is important to remember those things as we look at Bill Callahan. I feel that Callahan should revamp his staff and be given another 1-2 years. The stark defect of this year's team has been the defense--plays, effort and schemes. Imagine this season if we had a better defense. When your defense gives up points, and the offense has to play from behind, it limits your playbook and changes the gameplan, and the mindset of the players. It's not easy to be under that pressure and have a successful offense. With a better defense, I think 3 of the losses could have been wins. I think about the Solich era, and how under Craig Bohl, the defense was mediocre, but with Pelini, they shined. Solich was not a motivator, but Pelini fired up that defense. In one year, that defense was transformed!! Perhaps Callahan should be afforded that opportunity. A revamped defensive staff could work wonders. Coaches always seem to hire who they know, and he probably thought that his selections were good coaches that could do well here. Do we fire a guy for an oversight, or mistake that can be corrected? Most people hated Charlie McBride until the mid 90s. Heck, alot of people hated Osborne for that matter until the mid 90s. Osborne's offense had evolved throughout his coaching career. Callahan should be given that same opportunity. With Ganz controlling the offense, we're seeing that perhaps a mobile QB, rather than the "pocket NFL QB" is a better fit for this scheme. Maybe Callahan will target mobile QB's for the future. It's true that he hasn't made the best playcalling decisions, but it's so easy to be the Monday morning QB. If most of his trick plays had worked, he'd be called an genius! Maybe he isn't the best playcaller, but you have to remember, it's easy to criticize after the fact. Just as Solich was given an opportunity to have an offensive coordinator, perhaps Callahan would benefit from utilizing Watson more, or with new ideas from a new offensive coach-- maybe Callahan and staff could develop an even more dynamic offense and better play selection. Simple things like more two-back sets, or utilizing the mobile QB could really intensify the running game. This offense can work well, and this staff has recruited playmakers on offense. Now, the gray area. I think that we look at Callahan's actions and statements and try to over-analyze everything towards what he "really meant" or what he's really saying. The guy just simply can't win around here. He accredits some of Joe Ganz's success to being a product of the system-- and everybody calls Callahan an arrogant s.o.b. for taking the credit. Well, last I checked, Ganz didn't teach himself everything that he showed the last 2 Saturdays. Callahan is never given the benefit of the doubt in the "gray areas"-- like walking off the field at KU and "snubbing Osborne"-- he honestly may not have seen Osborne, yet a news station makes it "breaking news". The erasing of tradition like walk-ons, and the pictures of the All-Americans, ex players being allowed to visit-- cannot be entirely attributed to Callahan. It's probably all Pedersen, yet Callahan doesn't catch a break in that regard. The way Callahan runs his program was definitely guided by Pedersen. With Osborne in charge, maybe he can help Callahan understand the tradition better and reintroduce it. If Pedersen wanted it erased, why do we expect Callahan to uphold it? The bottom line here is that he's only had 4 years. Until this year, things have been progressing each year. With a better defense, we could have been 8-3 at this point possibly. Because things progressed each year, perhaps the call for change by Callahan himself didn't exist. Maybe now, if given the chance, he'd revamp his staff/schemes and we'd see some change. He probably realizes now that he needs to make changes to succeed. Look at when Osborne started to recruit speed and when they junked the 5-2 for the 4-3-- huge results from those changes. The success of the 90s was from changes on the defensive side of the ball. Why shouldn't Callahan be afforded that opportunity? Funny how Osborne is revered, yet if you look at his total bowl record, or his total record vs ranked teams-- it would surprise you. In his book "On Solid Ground", Osborne writes, "what each of us does with a second chance is up to us." I think we need to be more patient and forgiving with Callahan.