New DC announced: John Papuchis; new DL coach Rick Kaczenski

[Nexus]

From the recent Q&A, I was unaware that JP has worked under Saban, Kirby Smart and Muschamp. Not a bad group of guys to be around when you are becoming a DC.

Rumor had it that JP was offered the DL job at Florida last year when Muschamp was hired. Shortly afterwards Bo gave him a raise and added RC duties to his title.

 

[ladyhawke]

Zoogies,

When we hired Bo, we paid him minimal salary compared to other major programs. He has worked his way up the ladder. I truly think we have given him way too much money for what he has accomplished. I am not sure what all our coaches make, but nothing compared to Bama, Florida, Auburn, LSU, Ohio State and I imagine a host of other programs.

I think Bo's hands are tied as to what he can spend on the staff, and he is living with that. I hope that is what is going on. Pap does not have the credentials to be a top program hire. No one else in the top 15 would have offered it to him. I also think Bo likes the Yes men idea.

I am hoping this turns out for the best, but I still feel this will be the beginning of the end for Bo. No experience on this coaching staff, Bo does not have enough to the head coach and now he is training both OC and DC. He has not learned to delegate and that is the end of a manager. I am afraid he has made a terrible error. Not in hiring a bad coach by any means, but taking on more work when he really needs to be doing less and more of the managing side of the team.

Those guys get paid like that because they get results. Bo was lucky to even get the job in the first place, let alone expect to be paid like one of the top coaches in CFB, in which he's not. I don't think money is a factor unless it comes from TO himself. NU has the boosters to pay for anyone we want. Hell, we are grossly overpaying Bo right now if you are just looking at on the field success.

I totally agree with you on your last paragraph. Without improved recruiting, Bo will be gone in two years as UM takes control of the division and we continue to regress as a second tier B1G program. And hiring a guy who is known for "finding sleepers" from Florida that usually don't wake up isn't an improvement in the recruiting department. We had a huge opportunity and whiffed.

agreed

Wheres Hunter 49? Then we have all the negative nancys together, just dont cross your streams, Memorial Stadium will expolde.

I lol'ed. +1 for the random Ghostbusters.

Me too! That was funny. I don't care who you are! lol

 

[ladyhawke]

Zoogies,

When we hired Bo, we paid him minimal salary compared to other major programs. He has worked his way up the ladder. I truly think we have given him way too much money for what he has accomplished. I am not sure what all our coaches make, but nothing compared to Bama, Florida, Auburn, LSU, Ohio State and I imagine a host of other programs.

I think Bo's hands are tied as to what he can spend on the staff, and he is living with that. I hope that is what is going on. Pap does not have the credentials to be a top program hire. No one else in the top 15 would have offered it to him. I also think Bo likes the Yes men idea.

I am hoping this turns out for the best, but I still feel this will be the beginning of the end for Bo. No experience on this coaching staff, Bo does not have enough to the head coach and now he is training both OC and DC. He has not learned to delegate and that is the end of a manager. I am afraid he has made a terrible error. Not in hiring a bad coach by any means, but taking on more work when he really needs to be doing less and more of the managing side of the team.

Those guys get paid like that because they get results. Bo was lucky to even get the job in the first place, let alone expect to be paid like one of the top coaches in CFB, in which he's not. I don't think money is a factor unless it comes from TO himself. NU has the boosters to pay for anyone we want. Hell, we are grossly overpaying Bo right now if you are just looking at on the field success.

I totally agree with you on your last paragraph. Without improved recruiting, Bo will be gone in two years as UM takes control of the division and we continue to regress as a second tier B1G program. And hiring a guy who is known for "finding sleepers" from Florida that usually don't wake up isn't an improvement in the recruiting department. We had a huge opportunity and whiffed.

Is that right? Well, I'm going to have to disagree with you and your ilk on that. Case in point: Charlie Weiss. Notre Dame paid him 2 million dollars to be their coach and ended up paying him 6.6 million dollars to leave. Real smart that. There are more just like him all over college football. I also disagree with your next point. Luck had nothing to do with it. Bo had just helped LSU win a National Chamionship when he came here. Bo Pelini is a good coach. I'm reposting this from another thread because it was just SO good. I suggest you and your ilk read it very slowly. It's good stuff. It makes you proud to be a Nebraska Husker fan:

Thanks for this Comish. Hope you don't mind that I stole it for here:

"Among schools currently in a BCS automatic-qualifying conference, Pelini has become just the 15th head coach in college football history to win at least nine games in their first four seasons on the job at that school. The group includes four Nebraska coaches (Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne, Frank Solich and Pelini). Pelini, Solich and Texas’ Mack Brown were the only coaches in Big 12 history (1996) to win nine or more games in each of their first three seasons.

Pelini also was among a group of 18 FBS head coaches who were hired for their jobs beginning with the 2008 season. Pelini leads that group of 18 head coaches in victories over the past four years with 38 wins, three more than Houston’s Kevin Sumlin, who just left his job to take over at Texas A&M. Pelini, in fact, is one of only seven coaches in the group of 18 still in the job they were hired for prior to the 2008 season.

There’s more. When looking only at those in their first head coaching job at a BCS Conference school, Pelini is one of only six to win nine games in each of their first four years on the job. To me, it’s fairly fascinating that three of those six coaches are from Nebraska: Osborne (1973-74-75-76), Solich (1998-99-2000-01) and Pelini (2008-09-10-11). The other three are Oklahoma’s Barry Switzer (1973-74-75-76), Miami’s Larry Coker (2001-02-03-04) and Louisville’s Bobby Petrino (2003-04-05-06).

(referenced from Dirk's Bites at the Omaha World Herald 12.23.11)

I like them apples!!! GBR!

 

[ladyhawke]

As far as I'm concerned, I am a Nebraska fan, and Bo is the coach of my team. He has shown throughout the past 4 years that he has the drive to make great teams, and I believe he has the ability and the knowledge to do so. 9 or 10 wins each year is WAY more than most teams in the nation would DREAM of having. While I hope someday soon to be hoisting that national championship trophy, 9 or 10 wins a year are very respectable until we break through that barrier.

Bo is a young head coach who is still learning on the job, and I have complete faith that if we stick with him, he will lead us back to be champions sooner than later.

Here! Here! I'm in the same corner that you are! I'm totally baffled by those who have such anger and almost hatred against Bo. Yet we have consistently won at least 9 and sometimes 10 games a year since he got here. Get over yourselves! There's a very simple solution to your problem: If you dislike the program that much then simply choose another one to root for. No one is forcing you to root for Nebraska. If you're so enamoured by those 'big teams that win all the time' then pick one of them! Go on their boards and ooze out all of your love for them because frankly, you're rants are getting a little old. It really wouldn't matter who was chosen as DC-you would've found something to complain about them as well. Your type is never satisfied. It's sad really. All that passion spent on hating/debasing someone like that. What a waste!!

 

[ladyhawke]

My whole point was I am tired of the negative comments.

Which is fair. I'm not a fan of the Pap hire, but I'm certainly willing to give the guy a fair shake and I will be the first to give him his props if it works out. But it would be dishonest of me (and I think anyone, really) to express a high level of comfort with a second year offensive coordinator, a first year defensive coordinator, and a fifth year head coach heading into a season when we're losing Lavonte David and Alfonzo Dennard after the lackluster defensive season we had this year. Call me crazy.

But Husker-X at least you're fair. At least you let people try and at least you're honest without dismissing people. I don't mind that people have concerns about our team and about Bo's coaching but sheesh! Give the guy a chance. You do that. I appreciate that.

 

[ladyhawke]

Hey Badgerfan,

Did you know that our new DL coach has connections with your USC boys:

"Rick was on the staff at South Carolina from 1999-2001. As a graduate assistant he worked in recruiting and also coached with the offensive line and wide receivers. The Gamecocks appeared in the Outback Bowl following the 2000 and 2001 seasons."

Very cool!

 

[Excel]

Hey Badgerfan,

Did you know that our new DL coach has connections with your USC boys:

"Rick was on the staff at South Carolina from 1999-2001. As a graduate assistant he worked in recruiting and also coached with the offensive line and wide receivers. The Gamecocks appeared in the Outback Bowl following the 2000 and 2001 seasons."

Very cool!

Nah I had no idea...it always amazes me who has connections to USC. Dantonio was a Gamecock and could end up coming back if (when) OBC leaves and Charlie Weis (who had his first collegiate job as a GA at USC) said the first game he keeps up with each weekend is USC but to be honest I never want him near the program.

If he coached in those Outback bowls thats probably a good sign for you guys. Just ask Muck and all the other Buckeyes how those games went...

 

[NoLongerN]

Coach Kaz's father is from Youngstown, color me not surprised.

Now we know the truth! Lately if you don't have a Y-town (Cardinal Mooney) connection you won't get hired onto this staff. If a man from Youngstown wants to coach he just needs to put his shingle out and either Stoops or Pelini's will hire them. Nepotism at it's finest.

What a failure, We went from bad, to worse yet again. Tell me we didn't bring the D-Line coach from one of the few teams we were able to move the ball on. Wow Bo must really be POed he was overlooked in 03, he's doing everything he can to turn us into the Youngstown Fighting Irish

Ya, I'm sure that's what he is doing. Since his plan is to make us worse I suppose that was your last post. I'm done with this team as well.

 

[bshirt]

We get it, we will only win games when we have easy schedules. We will never beat teams that are actually good.

Not like in '77 (Osborne's 5th year) when we lost in Memorial Stadium to Washington State and Iowa State and went 9-3.

Or '78 when we lost at home to Mizzou and went 9-3.

or in '92 when we lost to a 4-7 Iowa State team and went 9-3.

Osborne won 9 games in 6 of his first 9 seasons. Fire Osborne!

All jokes aside, TO would have been fired if he was coaching in today's generation. If he didn't get the axe in the 70's, it would have come during the 7-8 bowl game losses. Thankfully, TO is the AD. This is why Bo will be safe as long as TO continues to be the AD.

Not likely, its exactly the same as it ever was, Tom was losing to National Champions and the occcasional close loss to someone he should have beat. Bo gets beat and blown out consistently by teams we should beat

We should've beaten Wisconsin in Camp Randall? We should've beaten Michigan in the Big House? We got blown out by Northwestern at home? We got blown out by Texas at home? We got blown out by a talented Virginia Tech team at home in 2008? We got blown out by Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in 2009? Do you think OT against your so highly held Mike Leach's Texas Tech team in Lubbock in 2008 is a blowout? We should've beaten the national champion runner up Oklahoma in Norman? We should've beaten an eventual #1 in Missouri in 2008? How about at Kyle Field with a slew of injuries and a officiating debacle last year?

There have been two bad losses in the Pelini era: 2009 Iowa State and 2009 Texas Tech. But that's it. You can claim Northwestern this year was a bad loss, but they are a talented team and played very well that day. You can claim Texas last year was a bad loss, but to do that, you have to intentionally forget that even with a poorer record, Texas is still Texas and they will always have better talent than us on both sides of the ball.

This is possibly the most hilarious thing Ive read or heard even from the biggest Tradition Coalition Ostrich, I thank You

Things just aren't the same for you & BRB since the mighty Clownahan left, huh? Well, maybe your mother will get you a NY Jets ball-cap for Christmas.

 

[bshirt]

This was a new conference too. The expectations were too high this year. Having to play 12 games and most of them were brand new opponents, you are built for stopping and playing one style and have to change a little. There are bound to be bumps in the road.

Stop with the excuses. Our defense sucked and we have a defensive minded coach. We were dominated once again by mobile QB's and Bo still hasn't figured out how to beat one.

At NU the conference title is the expectation every year. If anyone thought about the MNC, then they were delusional. NU should NEVER be mentioned as a MNC contender until we can win a Conference first.

Statistically, the D has dropped off significantly. Blame this on the loss of all everything SUH and then Haag, Gomes and Prince. Lack of depth (playing time) really meant we had very few guys to step in immediately. This year, as much as I bagged on Raymond, our pass D has improved tremendously. I think he realized that it is ok to play grab a$$ all over the field as the B1G does not really appear to call interference on anyone. So there is hope. I also think that recruiting for the spread has hurt. Next year we should be more physical. Trying to get quick kids big got them slow ie Cam, Martin I will even throw in Austin and Thorell. Both seemed quicker last year.

The mobile QB is the achilles heel of Bo. No doubt. I really hope that between now and Jan 2 he talks with someone who can figure out how to stop one. This season, Robinson, the kid from Wyoming, rolling Carr out, NW etc....played very well against us. Our D this season looked like the plodding slow D of 2007. I am still a huge proponent of unleashing Osborne/Cooper/SJB in a Super D role and unvail this beast upon USC. I can not remember the first game Super D was unleashed in 2003, but I remember being in awe of a guy who seemed to rack up 10 sacks, 10 TFL and 10 fumbles in one game. If Bo does this, USC will not have an answer.

I am too.

We "need" to get heat on these mobile qbs & a Super D clone would be just what the doctor ordered. Or a J. Williams, or a T. Farley, etc. I'm with ya brother.

GBR!!

 

[caveman99]

Turner got the shaft. Two years is not enough time and then to be so stupid to bring in frontbutt. What a bunch of morons.

I am not impressed with this hire/promotion, but I beginning to think Bo has no choice. It seems Nebraska has no desire to pay for the top coaches, proven by hiring Bo for pennies at the time. I am going to believe Bo took the best he could afford. I have to.

This was not the case when Bo was hired, or the last time around (last spring), and I doubt it is this time, either. Bo got who he wanted. As others have said though, up and comers may be better than fired proven hands.

We shall see. Pap as DC, I am really skeptical of, that's all. The new DL coach sounds like he has a solid resume.

yes-men could be one interpretation, or another would be guys Bo is familiar with and trusts.

I like the hire, Bo basically hired himself as DC, kept one of his best recruiters and up and coming coaches happy, and has brought in a solid coach. Oh and this solution has the potential to last a few years, I think this is better than a 1 year Hitman Hire that Stoops or Zook would have been. Bo would have been in a similar position next year in that scenario.

 

[caveman99]

Hey Badgerfan,

Did you know that our new DL coach has connections with your USC boys:

"Rick was on the staff at South Carolina from 1999-2001. As a graduate assistant he worked in recruiting and also coached with the offensive line and wide receivers. The Gamecocks appeared in the Outback Bowl following the 2000 and 2001 seasons."

Very cool!

Nah I had no idea...it always amazes me who has connections to USC. Dantonio was a Gamecock and could end up coming back if (when) OBC leaves and Charlie Weis (who had his first collegiate job as a GA at USC) said the first game he keeps up with each weekend is USC but to be honest I never want him near the program.

If he coached in those Outback bowls thats probably a good sign for you guys. Just ask Muck and all the other Buckeyes how those games went...

Not sure about that, before Spurrier USC was never really relevant. They still aren't an "established" team, but their last 2 years have been the best two in a row ever so they seem like a rising team. They don't have near the same pedigree that MSU has. If Spurrier keeps USC on an upward path, then maybe, I just don't think that position is a draw yet. Give it 5 years and we shall see for sure IMO.

 

[Excel]

Hey Badgerfan,

Did you know that our new DL coach has connections with your USC boys:

"Rick was on the staff at South Carolina from 1999-2001. As a graduate assistant he worked in recruiting and also coached with the offensive line and wide receivers. The Gamecocks appeared in the Outback Bowl following the 2000 and 2001 seasons."

Very cool!

Nah I had no idea...it always amazes me who has connections to USC. Dantonio was a Gamecock and could end up coming back if (when) OBC leaves and Charlie Weis (who had his first collegiate job as a GA at USC) said the first game he keeps up with each weekend is USC but to be honest I never want him near the program.

If he coached in those Outback bowls thats probably a good sign for you guys. Just ask Muck and all the other Buckeyes how those games went...

Not sure about that, before Spurrier USC was never really relevant. They still aren't an "established" team, but their last 2 years have been the best two in a row ever so they seem like a rising team. They don't have near the same pedigree that MSU has. If Spurrier keeps USC on an upward path, then maybe, I just don't think that position is a draw yet. Give it 5 years and we shall see for sure IMO.

Sure but USC is still probably a better job than MSU. It has better opportunities for recruiting, pays about $1m more, plays in a better conference and is a more profitable program...sure MSU's got a great history but USC's on the uptick and I think that matters more, its shown in the coaches they've been able to hire with Holtz and Spurrier.

 

[bshirt]

My whole point was I am tired of the negative comments.

Which is fair. I'm not a fan of the Pap hire, but I'm certainly willing to give the guy a fair shake and I will be the first to give him his props if it works out. But it would be dishonest of me (and I think anyone, really) to express a high level of comfort with a second year offensive coordinator, a first year defensive coordinator, and a fifth year head coach heading into a season when we're losing Lavonte David and Alfonzo Dennard after the lackluster defensive season we had this year. Call me crazy.

But Husker-X at least you're fair. At least you let people try and at least you're honest without dismissing people. I don't mind that people have concerns about our team and about Bo's coaching but sheesh! Give the guy a chance. You do that. I appreciate that.

Very good point. Husker-X is always fair which is a great asset he has.

 

[It'sNotAFakeID]

Yeah, it seems some people are quick to fire the new hires before they even coach a game. Husker-X, not one of those people