one year ago today...

[hack]

one year ago, stevo pederson done got the ax.

 

for your consideration...

 

NU better off a year later?

Published Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008

Has it really been a year?

 

There's an anniversary on Wednesday. Some people will celebrate. Do you remember?

 

For a hint, let's go back to the College World Series and a T-shirt I saw in the parking lot — worn by a Husker fan, we presume.

 

It read, "The six greatest dates in Nebraska history." On the back, there were six dates in history. Five of the dates were early January dates. Those were easy to guess. The dates of the five national football championships won by NU.

 

The sixth — Oct. 15, 2007 — took a little more time to figure out.

 

It was the day Steve Pederson was fired, a year ago Wednesday.

 

Has it really been a year since Pederson was ushered out on a Monday, and Tom Osborne was ushered back in on Tuesday? Yes. But it seems longer than that. In some ways, it seems like Osborne and Bo Pelini have been here all along.

 

So is Nebraska better off? Are you, the Husker fan, better off?

 

Nebraska is 3-3. When Pederson got the ax, two days after the Oklahoma State debacle, NU was 4-3. Donations are up, but not necessarily by a significant amount. The economy no doubt has a hand in that.

 

What is up is trust and confidence in the athletic department and the football team. The lines of communication with the public are wide open. The team is well coached (though the penalties need cleaning up) and looks like it's headed in the right direction. Except for a few Pederson and Bill Callahan diehards out there, the majority of Husker fans would say they feel better — by 180 degrees — about the future of football and athletics.

 

Just one year ago today (Oct. 14), that wasn't yet the case. Some year, huh?

 

So how will you celebrate this week? A year ago this week, Lincoln liquor stores ran out of champagne. Will you raise a glass again? Will this be one of those dates where everyone remembers where they were when it happened? Will this be a date that lives forever?

 

I doubt it. History is made for revising, but Pederson's place in NU annals looks pretty cemented. Still, as Nebraska becomes more successful in football, the Pederson/Callahan Era will become a footnote, not worth remembering. Even the end. So, for now, cheers.

[Texan in Nebraska]

I still remember the day clearly, me my mom and my brothers were on our way back from Norfolk after visitin my grandpa in the hospital and we stopped in David City for gas and heard the news of Pederson from the cashier.

[skerfan1705]

I remember thinking that this was finally the beginning of SOMEONE thinking straight and that the Huskers might be put on the right track soon...heading towards greater things...and ending their gravitation towards mediocrity.......

 

 

i couldn't help it.......

[admo]

Heard the news from a friend. And I said "And Callahan too??"

 

I remember seeing parts of the press conference on ESPN2. Things were a mess at that time. I think the right direction was TO. Even if it will last for just a few years.

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Oh what a great day...........

[dustinl15]

I think that deserves a celebration drink

 

 

....well maybe not right now, but when I get off work this afternoon.

[bbhusker]

I remember this being such a happy day last year, after hearing the news. It was such a relief to finally have the big shots around the athletic department take a stand and fire someone. Pedy and Callllahan were like the 4 year flu, it will just take some time to get our muscles built back up so we can dominate the North and get back to what we do, WIN! GBR!!!

[indianahusker]

I think the Gubner should declare a state-wide holiday!

[HuskerTrucker]

I will never forget that day...that moment when it was announced for sure, but was still waiting for the moment BC and crew got canned, too. We are sooo much better off than we were under the Dark Empire...Callahan and Pederson are two names that I hope we never hear again in future Nebraska history. They should put up fences around the state to keep them out...

 

Being the fair person that I am...sometimes...I also recognize that Ped did do a lot bringing in money to make improvements on facilities, etc. But that is all he did...if he could of done nothing more than fund raising and capital improvements, he would have been alright. But he had no business messing with Nebraska's tradition, and should have never been involved in hiring a coaching staff...he was totally worthless and proved as much bringing in BC to try and make radical change on Nebraska's tradition.

 

 

It is also nice to see that Michigan is starting now to have rumors and going through what we did last year...with the AD having to come out and say the HC is safe, players being suspended for getting drunk and being in fights with other students, ets. Nobody I would rather see this happen to, besides Colorado, that is. Anyone that misses the pit in the stomach feelings we all had last year can go to their boards and go through it all again, looks like the wheels are just beginning to fall off, so if you hurry you can still get most of the show!!

[kstatehater]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pedro Guerrero]

He was still better then Bill Byrne. He may have been a mess but Byrne was an elitist prick and he was responsible for those TERRIBLE uniforms in 2002. That alone makes him the worst ever. Boosters of substance anyone? Barry Collier?

 

At the end of the day I think Pud’s intentions were good it was just TERRIBLE execution and once he dug the hole he had NO CHANCE of getting out because he always seemed to just keep digging. Plus the fact that he came across as a Politician or a Car Salesman didn’t help his cause at all. I believe he wanted this program to succeed I just think he went about it the wrong way.

[skersfan]

I agree newearth, he wanted to expand the program and make his name more important than it was. He was a Nebraska boy and had done a good job here before. For some reason he just did not fit when he returned, maybe to ambitious, head strong. I personally know the jerk and can not stand him. I didn't much care for him in his first go around. But he was far more arrogant this time around. I must admit I was happy he was selected because we were keeping it in the family so to speak and he had done a pretty good job at Pitt.

 

But I do agree also that he was better than Byrne. Byrne really put us in this tail spin. I don't know that Tom will be able to do the job that either of them before him did, but I would think if he can get the program rolling again, the big buck boosters will open the wallets. He has a history you know.

[junior4949]

This is the thing that I really never understood about Pud. He had been here before. He had been here when we somewhat struggled. He knew the traditions and things. He came highly recommended and was highly thought of especially by people like TO. I have no idea when he became so in love with himself that he had to have his name and ideas all over the program.

[Pedro Guerrero]

I agree newearth

 

Holy crap strike up the band, call the family, wake up the neighbors we actually agree on something.

 

Waits for the local news to come on with this "Breaking News" story.

[huzkerbob]

Petersen's whole buisness model of an athletic program was a HUGE disaster! I'm hoping the staff can regain some kind of family feel back in the offices with T.O. back.

 

At least now folks won't have to worry about quarterly reviews, and the corporate B.S. atmosphere that comes with them!