I have said many times, that the problems go higher than the Head Coach. I have changed in some respect as to where I feel Bo is on this ride. I see improvement, I see the pressure, I see the love the kids show for their coach. Upper management has created some of the pressure, but Bo has helped make it that way.
I think the number one problem is financial support of the program. Yea we have lots of new shiney deals, locker room, new audio system on the way, all things that count towards actual content. We seem to short step on the financial side on hiring qualified assistants, recruiting budget and mostly personnel to run that side.
As to pay raises for Bo and staff for the past year, only the required minimum. No large sums. You get paid for the results you predict and Bo has fallen short on that side by his own goals.
I would like to see the program go into this year, confident, secure and assured of backing by the upper management. But I agree the problem with that is the fact that there were questions as to whether he would be here this coming year. I think the buy out played a larger part in his staying than the hope for improvement. I truly get the feeling this is the make or break year for Bo. I saw a great improvement in him this year, yea the Iowa chapeter was bad, but he molded the team into more of team than it has ever been. I saw a team that wanted to play in the bowl game, and it seemed a different attitude from Bo during that game.
To make money you normally have to spend money. Time for Nebraska to step up with the big boys, and for me that is in the recruiting department. If I were the AD, I would look at what Bama and Oregon are doing on the recruiting scene, marry the two together, hire like numbers and go full bore to accomplish their levels. Not so much on the star level, but the ability to seek out the kids that will work.That takes more time than just signing the top kids. We are held back by location, no reason we should be held back by lack of manpower to do the job. Take every rule to the limit as the SEC does and my guess Oregon does. You want to win these days, it is more about the total preparation than the Jimmys and Joes, and that takes financial dedication. This program has the money, make it pay rewards rather than drawing interest in a bank account.
Having Tom gone, cheap old codger, lol, we may make headway on this.