Comparing Nebraska's most colorful coaches of late

[True2tRA]

When I look at the bottom of the page and it says "you" are reading this forum, does it mean "you" are reading it or "you" is reading it?

 

[Landlord]

We'll see how great Miles is after next season when we only make the NIT or lose another ugly first round NCAA game. Seriously. I talked about this before. Sure everthings hunky dory now, when nothing's expected.

Do you think the shine wears off a guy like Miles though? I mean, it'd be pretty hard not to have that guys back don't you think?

If he doesn't win it'd be pretty easy.

 

[Count 'Bility]

We'll see how great Miles is after next season when we only make the NIT or lose another ugly first round NCAA game. Seriously. I talked about this before. Sure everthings hunky dory now, when nothing's expected.

Do you think the shine wears off a guy like Miles though? I mean, it'd be pretty hard not to have that guys back don't you think?

I hope not. I really dont. But facts are facts. With losing only ONE guys from this years team, the expectations for next year are going to be off the charts in regards to Nebrasketball. Now, I hope, and think, that Nebraska will have a great year next year. But for the sake of comparing Bo to Tim, what was the consensus of Bo after year 2? What was the percentage of folks whom did not like where the program was and going after that Holiday Bowl win over AZ? Bet it was less than 5%. Now compare to what Miles has done. Year 1, ending on a pretty strong note and showing great improvement throughout in establishing the mindset and philosophies, and year 2 vastly exceeding all expectations and doing something that hadnt been done in a long time and by the end of the year being one of if not thee hottest team in the conference. The comparisons to Bo's first two years are so similar it's eery.

So my point has nothing to do with Tim's demeanor and attitude compared to Bo's. It's the actual scoreboard production and it's relation to the perception in regards to the direction of the program. So what happens to that perception of Miles if we only make the NIT next year and the year after? Or make the NCAA a couple more times and lose 1st rounders. Dont finish higher than 4th/5th in the conference. Remember the year 3 expectations for Bo and compare that expected giant leap to what expected of year 3 of the Tim Miles era.

The thing is, it feels to me like Tim and Bo both did themselves somewhat of a disservice by turning around the programs so quickly and created such heightening expectations that any sort of stagnation or plateauing over the course of multiple seasons is going to feel nothing less than an absolute failure. Just like where we're at with football. Some of us like to say Bo's still building, and others like so say he's already failed.

With all that rambling done, I think Miles takes us to different heights. It feels like a different animal right now, regardless how this season ended.

 

[It'sNotAFakeID]

A big difference between Bo and Tim, though, is history. Tim has a history of continuing to build programs into winners whereas this is Bo's first head coaching gig so we don't have anything to point to to say, "we'll definitely be better."

 

[Count 'Bility]

A big difference between Bo and Tim, though, is history. Tim has a history of continuing to build programs into winners whereas this is Bo's first head coaching gig so we don't have anything to point to to say, "we'll definitely be better."

While this is true, it's also circumstantial. I'll just add that even though Bo has never had a head coach job, the jobs he has had, have seen great results under his leadership, which is why he was in position to get a HC job in the first place. Bo is not incompetent when it comes to knowing the game of football. And I'm not ready to say the same about his abilities as a head coach, cuz we dont know.

And frankly, I dont see anything about Tim Miles that allows me so say with 100% certainty that "we'll definitely get better". The coach and program's overall ability in itself go hand in hand. In his second year, Miles has already taken the program to pretty much the highest it's ever had, aside from maybe 1994 in winning a conference tournament. Finishing 4th in the Big 10 and making the dance. So now only time will tell if Miles is good enough to get this program to do more, or if this is just the max as "just the way it is" for Nebraska basketball. I think he does more, but the history of the program combats the history of Miles, and that makes a dent in the certainty argument.

 

[It'sNotAFakeID]

A big difference between Bo and Tim, though, is history. Tim has a history of continuing to build programs into winners whereas this is Bo's first head coaching gig so we don't have anything to point to to say, "we'll definitely be better."

While this is true, it's also circumstantial. I'll just add that even though Bo has never had a head coach job, the jobs he has had, have seen great results under his leadership, which is why he was in position to get a HC job in the first place. Bo is not incompetent when it comes to knowing the game of football. And I'm not ready to say the same about his abilities as a head coach, cuz we dont know.

I understand that Bo knows the game of football--he wouldn't have been offered a head coaching job if he didn't. However, his successes have come as a defensive coordinator, and I think we can agree that being a head coach is a far different than being a coordinator. So, with no prior head coaching experience, we can't look back and say, "he's improved other programs."[/b]

And frankly, I dont see anything about Tim Miles that allows me so say with 100% certainty that "we'll definitely get better". The coach and program's overall ability in itself go hand in hand. In his second year, Miles has already taken the program to pretty much the highest it's ever had, aside from maybe 1994 in winning a conference tournament. Finishing 4th in the Big 10 and making the dance. So now only time will tell if Miles is good enough to get this program to do more, or if this is just the max as "just the way it is" for Nebraska basketball. I think he does more, but the history of the program combats the history of Miles, and that makes a dent in the certainty argument.

We can do this with Tim Miles.

 

Mayville State:

 

1995-1996: 17-11

1996-1997: 18-11

 

Southwest Minnesota State:

 

1997-1998: 16-11

1998-1999: 16-11

1999-2000: 18-10

2000-2001: 28-7

 

North Dakota State:

 

2001-2002: 11-15

2002-2003: 20-11

2003-2004: 16-13

2004-2005: 16-12

2005-2006: 16-12

2006-2007: 20-8

 

Colorado State:

 

2007-2008: 7-25

2008-2009: 9-22

2009-2010: 16-16

2010-2011: 19-13

2011-2012: 20-12

 

Nebraska:

 

2012-2013: 15-18

2013-2014: 19-13

 

So there's a little bit of a track record where he improves programs, generally over the course of his time. With the new facilities adding more appeal to recruits, there's hardly any reason to believe we won't continue to be a presence every year.

 

[Count 'Bility]

But with 100% certainty?

I'm only about 85% sure right now. Simply because, again, it's still Nebraska basketball. As great as this year was. As much as we blew past all expectation. As much as it felt completely different, like this was finally team. This group was different. New arena. New facilities. New focus. This is a different Nebraska basketball. Yet, still, we lay an egg in the NCAA tourney. It was a serious gutcheck to me, that yes, until we actually get over the hump, and not up to it, that we are still the same old Nebrasketball. That's all I'm saying. I have no arguement that Miles is not the guy, cuz I think he is too. My point is that the program's history-not Tim's-is what leaves some doubt in my mind.

 

[True2tRA]

But with 100% certainty?
I'm only about 85% sure right now. Simply because, again, it's still Nebraska basketball. As great as this year was. As much as we blew past all expectation. As much as it felt completely different, like this was finally team. This group was different. New arena. New facilities. New focus. This is a different Nebraska basketball. Yet, still, we lay an egg in the NCAA tourney. It was a serious gutcheck to me, that yes, until we actually get over the hump, and not up to it, that we are still the same old Nebrasketball. That's all I'm saying. I have no arguement that Miles is not the guy, cuz I think he is too. My point is that the program's history-not Tim's-is what leaves some doubt in my mind.

If he was in his 7th season and we were still turning our wheels laying eggs in big games, I'd say yea, the shine could wear off then. But the fact that we made 4thin the conference, and a berth in the NCAA tourney in only his 2nd season, I'd guess you would have to expect more, not less, moving forward.

We shall see.

 

[74Hunter]

The ejection is the result and not the point. It was Miles 2nd technical. He's a competitor.....a passionate competitor.

Bo gets a single foul called and everyone loses their sh#t. Miles gets throw I out of a game and he's passionate. Got it.

Pelini was fiery and compassionate the first couple of years, too. Now the Bo-leavers decided that winning 9/10 games per year isn't good enough and it deprives them of their birthright.

 

[beanman]

The ejection is the result and not the point. It was Miles 2nd technical. He's a competitor.....a passionate competitor.

Bo gets a single foul called and everyone loses their sh#t. Miles gets throw I out of a game and he's passionate. Got it.

Pelini was fiery and compassionate the first couple of years, too. Now the Bo-leavers decided that winning 9/10 games per year isn't good enough and it deprives them of their birthright.

I see you have over 2000 posts over at Hawkeye Nation. At least I now understand your willingness to accept our football team's performance. You hang out on that board too much.

 

[Count 'Bility]

But with 100% certainty?
I'm only about 85% sure right now. Simply because, again, it's still Nebraska basketball. As great as this year was. As much as we blew past all expectation. As much as it felt completely different, like this was finally team. This group was different. New arena. New facilities. New focus. This is a different Nebraska basketball. Yet, still, we lay an egg in the NCAA tourney. It was a serious gutcheck to me, that yes, until we actually get over the hump, and not up to it, that we are still the same old Nebrasketball. That's all I'm saying. I have no arguement that Miles is not the guy, cuz I think he is too. My point is that the program's history-not Tim's-is what leaves some doubt in my mind.

If he was in his 7th season and we were still turning our wheels laying eggs in big games, I'd say yea, the shine could wear off then. But the fact that we made 4thin the conference, and a berth in the NCAA tourney in only his 2nd season, I'd guess you would have to expect more, not less, moving forward.

We shall see.

Yes, we shall. It's just a what if game I'm playing. I do expect more. And I think we'll get there. I just think the comparisons to Bo's first two years are rather interesting. Relative to each respective programs, each coach took over a pretty abismal situation and turned it around rather quickly and created some pretty lofty expectations. After year 2, each had brewed and insane amount of excitement for the future of the programs. In football, we've plateaued, and maybe even regressed a little, and to many, that feels like failure. Will it be the same in basketball? Would football feel this way had we gone say, 7-6, 8-5, 94- and then 10-4 in Bo's first few years? Would the feeling around football now still be a feeling of rebuilding and progress? These are the kinds of things I could talk about for hours.

 

[beanman]

The difference being Bo took over a team with a ton of talent. Miles doesn't have that.

 

[zoogs]

I just think the comparisons to Bo's first two years are rather interesting. Relative to each respective programs, each coach took over a pretty abismal situation and turned it around rather quickly and created some pretty lofty expectations.

Woah woah woah, huge difference between taking a program to lofty heights it hadn't seen in 16 years and being one win from the highest program achievement ever, and returning Nebraska football to 2006 levels.

 

[Landlord]

I just think the comparisons to Bo's first two years are rather interesting. Relative to each respective programs, each coach took over a pretty abismal situation and turned it around rather quickly and created some pretty lofty expectations.

Woah woah woah, huge difference between taking a program to lofty heights it hadn't seen in 16 years and being one win from the highest program achievement ever, and returning Nebraska football to 2006 levels.

I think 2009 is far beyond 2006 levels, personally.

 

[Count 'Bility]

I just think the comparisons to Bo's first two years are rather interesting. Relative to each respective programs, each coach took over a pretty abismal situation and turned it around rather quickly and created some pretty lofty expectations.

Woah woah woah, huge difference between taking a program to lofty heights it hadn't seen in 16 years and being one win from the highest program achievement ever, and returning Nebraska football to 2006 levels.

I think 2009 is far beyond 2006 levels, personally.

That's what I was thinking. As well as a top 5 ranking, even if for a week, in 2010. 2006 was Callahan's absolute high point. It would take some convincing on anyone's part to get me to agree that any part of the Pelini tenure has been worse than 2006. MAYBE equal at the very worst.