SI article on coaching canidates

[SkersNblackshirts]

Who's Next?

Who's Next for Huskers?

 

By Stewart Mandel

 

Ron Zook may have been a punchline at Florida, but he at least went to bowl games every year. John Cooper couldn’t beat Michigan, but he beat most everybody else. In four years’ time, Callahan managed to lead a team that hadn’t missed a bowl game in 43 years to two losing seasons. A team that used to regularly put up 76 points on the likes of Kansas this year allowed 76 to the Jayhawks -- and 65 to Colorado, and 45 to Oklahoma State, and 40 to Ball State.

 

The two most commonly rumored names are Turner Gill and Bo Pelini. Personally, I don’t think either is the best man for the job right now -- both could use more seasoning, with Gill only holding two years of head-coaching experience at low-level Buffalo and Pelini not yet a head coach. Of the two, Gill seems more plausible (mostly because of his direct ties to Osborne), but Nebraska, one of the most prestigious programs in the country, can and should do better than that.

 

A perfect candidate for the Huskers would be Wake Forest’s Jim Grobe. He’s not only orchestrated one of the most impressive turnarounds in the country, turning the long-struggling Demon Deacons into an 11-win team last season and a bowl team again this year, but his blue-collar approach and penchant for developing unheralded talent fit Nebraska well.

 

Another possibility is Navy’s Paul Johnson, a logical thought considering he’s both a great coach and the reigning master of the triple-option. I don’t necessarily think Nebraska needs to return to the days of the triple-option to be successful, but Johnson’s version is also a little more modern. My one concern with Johnson would be that he’s never recruited at the highest level.

 

A couple of weeks ago, I suggested Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly, a career-long winner whose spread offense would be a great fit for Nebraska’s current personnel. It’s believed, however, that Kelly could be a serious candidate at Michigan, the state where he spent most of his career. If Osborne wants to hire a coach quickly, Kelly might not be an option.

[Texan in Nebraska]

I'm sorry but IMO we need us a young(er) coach that will hopefully build a dynasty not an old(er) coach, Grobe would proably do some good but then would he be here for more than 5 years? what we need is a coach that can be here for 10+ years.

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Man it's going to be a tough decision because so much is riding on it. It really comes down to whether or not these guys want to even consider Nebraska given our sometimes unrealistic expectations. I think we are going to need to pay more money than we paid Callahan to get the right guy here as well. I don't want Gill and I don't want Pelini. I don't think either of these guys is the right fit for Nebraska. I don't want an experiment anymore.

[HuskerKing130]

Grobe couldnt even beat Callahan. I dont want him.

[Hunter94]

Grobe couldnt even beat Callahan. I dont want him.

 

 

wf should have beat us, the way we played.

[HuskerKing130]

But they didnt. Just another reason not to hire Jim Grobe.

[Hunter94]

OK, that one game eliminates Grobe......pure genius.

[HuskerKing130]

My point was that as bad as Nebraska played that game, Grobe should've been able to find a way to win but he didn't. After firing Callahan, do we really want to hire a guy who's record against Callahan is 0-2. Grobe would be a huge gamble, IMO.

[restored_order]

My point was that as bad as Nebraska played that game, Grobe should've been able to find a way to win but he didn't. After firing Callahan, do we really want to hire a guy who's record against Callahan is 0-2. Grobe would be a huge gamble, IMO.

You must not pay attention to much college football outside of Nebrasksa. The 3 coaches listed here are all thought of a great football guys and have turned programs around in positive ways, unlike Calllllllahan.

 

I like the idea of Grobe as HC with Turner as assistant HC/OC, running a spread offense. Maybe bring Marvin Sanders back in as DC, Scott Frost as LB or DB coach. I think Jimmy Williams would be a good bet, too.

[kjstrouble]

My point was that as bad as Nebraska played that game, Grobe should've been able to find a way to win but he didn't. After firing Callahan, do we really want to hire a guy who's record against Callahan is 0-2. Grobe would be a huge gamble, IMO.

You must not pay attention to much college football outside of Nebrasksa. The 3 coaches listed here are all thought of a great football guys and have turned programs around in positive ways, unlike Calllllllahan.

 

I like the idea of Grobe as HC with Turner as assistant HC/OC, running a spread offense. Maybe bring Marvin Sanders back in as DC, Scott Frost as LB or DB coach. I think Jimmy Williams would be a good bet, too.

 

Where is Marvin Sanders now? And would Turner realistically be willing to go down to an OC position to come back to NU? Somehow I doubt it.

[Bleeding Husker Red]

OK, that one game eliminates Grobe......pure genius.

 

 

Yeah, that ACC title he won doesn't mean anything either.

[Dan_F_30]

This article expresses my opinions exactly. I do not want another experiment with an unproven or unseasoned coach. Callahan only had 2 years of HC experience. Pelini has none, Gill has 2. It's refreshing to read a national sentiment that just doesn't point to the rumored candidates and make cases for them but offer an objective opinion on what would be BEST for the program and hits it right on the head.