Turning Point for Pelini

[Hujan]

Who would have thought that Pelini's coaching career at Nebraska would come down, not to the X's and O's, but the administration of his program. Pelini is at a crossroads in the players he selects and the coaches he keeps on his staff.

 

It should be painfully obvious to any college football fan that a head coaches' unreasonable loyalty to staff and coordinator responsibilities can destroy an otherwise good team. As much as I hate to say it, Callahan might still be coaching at Nebraska if he would have cut Cosgrove loose and brought in a solid defensive coordinator. Mack Brown's program is suffering from his failure to break ties with his old friend, offensive coordinator Greg Davis. His refusal to fire Davis may ultimately cost Mack his job. Solich might have saved himself if he'd had the desire (or ability) to clean house and bring in his own guys.

 

Similarly, there are plenty of occasions when head coaches meddle too much in coordinating responsibilities, particularly on the side of the ball with which they are least familiar. As a USC follower, I can tell you that USC's offensive production declined the more Pete Carroll---a defensive-minded coach---got involved. USC's offense was at its best when Carroll had an offensive coordinator (Norm Chow) that ran the show independently. Oklahoma State's offense was consistently mediocre until Mike Gundy recognized that he had to swallow his pride, step aside, and bring someone in who could call the plays.

 

Pelini is at a similar crossroads. It is painfully obvious that the offense is inept and that the coaches---particularly Gilmore, Cotton, and Watson---are failing to discharge their duties. In order to succeed, Pelini needs to fire several coaches, recognize that less is probably more when it comes to his involvement in the offense, and bring in someone who can build a system of their desire without too much outside influence.

 

But if Pelini misses this opportunity and Nebraska continues down this road, the program will slip into mediocrity. Nebraska will suffer a string of several so-so seasons with disappointing results not unlike the Callahan years. Pelini's behavior, already concerning when the program is relatively successful, will become intolerable. He will be fired and the cycle will begin anew. And Husker fans will be left wondering whether things could have been avoided had Pelini been able to swallow his pride, get out of his own way, and put his loyalty to the program ahead of his loyalty to friends on the coaching staff.

[Blackshirtsguru]

The only problem is that Watson isn't Bo's old friend...so he doesn't have to break ties. Tom Osborne told Bo that he wanted Watson to say. This decision is actually on Dr Tom's shoulders if you get down to it.

[suh_fan93]

Sometimes change is for the better. A lot of times it isn't easy but it's necessary. Callahan and Cosgrove for example simply weren't a good fit at NU and were probably better suited as was Nebraska by coaching someplace else. I think the same holds true for several of our current coaches. It just has not been a good fit and a change would most certainly suit everyone for the better now and in the long run.

 

The biggest question for me is will it happen. We know it needs to, I think it's pretty safe to say that at this point but the question is will it?

 

We simply cannot continue to improve defensively while staying the same course and getting the same results as we have offensively. It's going to be interesting to see what changes if any Pelini is willing to make.

[Enhance]

Pelini isn't going anywhere any time soon, so that's not really a discussion point in my opinion.

 

This offensive staff was put together with familiarity. Watson was hired because Pelini did not want to revamp both sides of the ball as a first time head coach, Gilmore was a hold over, Cotton and Pelini go back to '03, and Brown and Pelini know each other from back then as well.

 

Right there, you have 4 of 9 positions filled for your assistants.

 

Pelini has brought the defense back to the top of the nation. Is first goal has been accomplished.

 

I don't know if Watson is the overwhelming problem or if it is the assistants. I think they all share a level of blame for the way the offense has performed, because they also share a level of praise when the offense performs well.

[The Snork]

Who would have thought that Pelini's coaching career at Nebraska would come down, not to the X's and O's, but the administration of his program. Pelini is at a crossroads in the players he selects and the coaches he keeps on his staff.

 

It should be painfully obvious to any college football fan that a head coaches' unreasonable loyalty to staff and coordinator responsibilities can destroy an otherwise good team. As much as I hate to say it, Callahan might still be coaching at Nebraska if he would have cut Cosgrove loose and brought in a solid defensive coordinator. Mack Brown's program is suffering from his failure to break ties with his old friend, offensive coordinator Greg Davis. His refusal to fire Davis may ultimately cost Mack his job. Solich might have saved himself if he'd had the desire (or ability) to clean house and bring in his own guys.

 

Similarly, there are plenty of occasions when head coaches meddle too much in coordinating responsibilities, particularly on the side of the ball with which they are least familiar. As a USC follower, I can tell you that USC's offensive production declined the more Pete Carroll---a defensive-minded coach---got involved. USC's offense was at its best when Carroll had an offensive coordinator (Norm Chow) that ran the show independently. Oklahoma State's offense was consistently mediocre until Mike Gundy recognized that he had to swallow his pride, step aside, and bring someone in who could call the plays.

 

Pelini is at a similar crossroads. It is painfully obvious that the offense is inept and that the coaches---particularly Gilmore, Cotton, and Watson---are failing to discharge their duties. In order to succeed, Pelini needs to fire several coaches, recognize that less is probably more when it comes to his involvement in the offense, and bring in someone who can build a system of their desire without too much outside influence.

 

But if Pelini misses this opportunity and Nebraska continues down this road, the program will slip into mediocrity. Nebraska will suffer a string of several so-so seasons with disappointing results not unlike the Callahan years. Pelini's behavior, already concerning when the program is relatively successful, will become intolerable. He will be fired and the cycle will begin anew. And Husker fans will be left wondering whether things could have been avoided had Pelini been able to swallow his pride, get out of his own way, and put his loyalty to the program ahead of his loyalty to friends on the coaching staff.

 

I'd remind you that Solich DID clean house ... it was Pedy's DISLOYALTY to the program and its values that did us in this decade.

[knapplc]

Bo is not "at a crossroads." Displeasure with the OC by the fans doesn't mean we HAVE to fire the OC, or that the program is in some decision-making phase. We've just finished our second straight season winning our division and barely losing the championship game. We lost to two teams with long-established coaching staffs running long-established systems, while on our end we have a guy who has yet to complete his third year of head coaching anywhere.

 

We are just fine. It's no fun to lose this game, but losing it doesn't destroy our season, or where this program is headed, which is UP.

[Hujan]

Bo is not "at a crossroads." Displeasure with the OC by the fans doesn't mean we HAVE to fire the OC, or that the program is in some decision-making phase. We've just finished our second straight season winning our division and barely losing the championship game. We lost to two teams with long-established coaching staffs running long-established systems, while on our end we have a guy who has yet to complete his third year of head coaching anywhere.

 

We are just fine. It's no fun to lose this game, but losing it doesn't destroy our season, or where this program is headed, which is UP.

 

You are crazy if you think you're going to see anything different next year unless changes are made to the coaching staff. We will lose at least four games in the regular season next year if nothing changes. We played some of the worst defenses in the country this year.

 

The point of my post is that now is the time for Bo to be proactive about making the changes that put us in the best position to win. We can't wait until we go 5-7 to realize something is off.

 

And if you think Bo isn't going anywhere, just wait until we have a couple 6-6 or 5-7 seasons, which will not only make Bo's sideline blow ups more frequent and intense, but less tolerable at the same time.

 

I am a HUGE Pelini supporter and could not have been happier when he was hired. But he is at a crossroads right now. I will lose tremendous respect for him if he refuses to pull the trigger right now and the team's offense continues to cost us games with its ineptitude.

[Enhance]

Bo is not "at a crossroads." Displeasure with the OC by the fans doesn't mean we HAVE to fire the OC, or that the program is in some decision-making phase. We've just finished our second straight season winning our division and barely losing the championship game. We lost to two teams with long-established coaching staffs running long-established systems, while on our end we have a guy who has yet to complete his third year of head coaching anywhere.

 

We are just fine. It's no fun to lose this game, but losing it doesn't destroy our season, or where this program is headed, which is UP.

 

You are crazy if you think you're going to see anything different next year unless changes are made to the coaching staff. We will lose at least four games in the regular season next year if nothing changes. We played some of the worst defenses in the country this year.

 

The point of my post is that now is the time for Bo to be proactive about making the changes that put us in the best position to win. We can't wait until we go 5-7 to realize something is off.

 

And if you think Bo isn't going anywhere, just wait until we have a couple 6-6 or 5-7 seasons, which will not only make Bo's sideline blow ups more frequent and intense, but less tolerable at the same time.

 

I am a HUGE Pelini supporter and could not have been happier when he was hired. But he is at a crossroads right now. I will lose tremendous respect for him if he refuses to pull the trigger right now and the team's offense continues to cost us games with its ineptitude.

Nebraska will not have 6-6 or 5-7 seasons while Pelini is the coach. The defense will be too good and even with a completely ABYSMAL offense in 2009, we still won 10 games.

 

Furthmore, knapplc isn't saying changes don't need to be made, he's just saying we're not at some climactic crossroads that you are insinuating. We didn't reach our ultimate season goal, and I for one DO think changes need to be made somewhere, but I don't think we've reached such an ultimatum in our program yet.

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Our defense will most likely always be good with Bo as our coach. He's got to find the offensive mind to make this offense productive.

[Hujan]

I hope you guys are right, but I have a feeling you're in for a rude awakening. If Pelini doesn't make widespread changes on the offensive side of the ball, he will be fired or leave in 5 years. You can count on it.

 

Also, LOL at you guys saying "we're not at a huge crossroads where we need to make changes or else . . . but we should make changes on the offense."

[MCAT800]

What changes should be made??????

 

I am not a Watson supporter but changing OC's only moves you backwards until the new coach "gets his guys" How many times have we heard that.

 

I would prefer to stay with the current staff, as long as they can evolve and continue to learn. Change is not always for the better.

[CFHusker]

Bo is not "at a crossroads." Displeasure with the OC by the fans doesn't mean we HAVE to fire the OC, or that the program is in some decision-making phase. We've just finished our second straight season winning our division and barely losing the championship game. We lost to two teams with long-established coaching staffs running long-established systems, while on our end we have a guy who has yet to complete his third year of head coaching anywhere.

 

We are just fine. It's no fun to lose this game, but losing it doesn't destroy our season, or where this program is headed, which is UP.

 

 

Well said

[knapplc]

Bo is not "at a crossroads." Displeasure with the OC by the fans doesn't mean we HAVE to fire the OC, or that the program is in some decision-making phase. We've just finished our second straight season winning our division and barely losing the championship game. We lost to two teams with long-established coaching staffs running long-established systems, while on our end we have a guy who has yet to complete his third year of head coaching anywhere.

 

We are just fine. It's no fun to lose this game, but losing it doesn't destroy our season, or where this program is headed, which is UP.

 

You are crazy if you think you're going to see anything different next year unless changes are made to the coaching staff. We will lose at least four games in the regular season next year if nothing changes. We played some of the worst defenses in the country this year.

 

The point of my post is that now is the time for Bo to be proactive about making the changes that put us in the best position to win. We can't wait until we go 5-7 to realize something is off.

 

And if you think Bo isn't going anywhere, just wait until we have a couple 6-6 or 5-7 seasons, which will not only make Bo's sideline blow ups more frequent and intense, but less tolerable at the same time.

 

I am a HUGE Pelini supporter and could not have been happier when he was hired. But he is at a crossroads right now. I will lose tremendous respect for him if he refuses to pull the trigger right now and the team's offense continues to cost us games with its ineptitude.

 

We are no more "at a crossroads" because you think we are than we are "the best team in all the land" because I think we are. One man's opinion doesn't mean we have to hit the panic button.

 

Again, everyone is frustrated that we lost. It doesn't mean the program is going to hell in a handbasket if we don't fire Watson.

[Enhance]

I hope you guys are right, but I have a feeling you're in for a rude awakening. If Pelini doesn't make widespread changes on the offensive side of the ball, he will be fired or leave in 5 years. You can count on it.

 

Also, LOL at you guys saying "we're not at a huge crossroads where we need to make changes or else . . . but we should make changes on the offense."

There is a difference between what I'm saying and what you're saying.

 

What you are saying is essentially this - our program ABSOLUTELY NEEDS to make changes immediately because we are at a make or break point for Pelini's career. If we don't fix thinks things now at the brink of our apocalypse, then we are doomed to spiral into mediocrity for Pelini to be fired.

 

Whether it is your intention or not, you're turning it into some 'end of the world' type discussion.

 

I, on the other hand, think this. Something isn't right on the offensive side of the ball. Not changing anything will mean we are more than likely doomed to have 10-11 win seasons with sad losses and good defensive performances. I don't think we're at some ultimate decision point, but we are at a place where we need to at least evaluate what is going on. Things aren't at this terrible point that you are either intentionally or unintentionally hinting towards.

[Nexus]

I hope you guys are right, but I have a feeling you're in for a rude awakening. If Pelini doesn't make widespread changes on the offensive side of the ball, he will be fired or leave in 5 years. You can count on it.

 

Also, LOL at you guys saying "we're not at a huge crossroads where we need to make changes or else . . . but we should make changes on the offense."

 

As long as Tom Osborne is A.D. you can take it to the bank that he will NOT fire Bo based on Win/Loss record. We're talking about a man whose own head was called for damn near every season for 22 years until he won that first national title. Osborne will stand by Bo come hell & high water, just like his predecessor Bob Devaney did for him when he was A.D. until retiring in 1993.