SI: The Lincoln Leap - The Challenge That Awaits Mike Riley At Nebraska

Saunders

Saunders

Heisman Trophy Winner
LINCOLN, Neb.—The yellow beach cruiser with the giant basket chained to a rack stationed outside Nebraska's Hawks Championship Center looked exactly like the sort of thing the caricature we've drawn of Mike Riley would ride to work. Yes, he did pedal to his previous job at Oregon State, but that had more to do with proximity than it did with a love of cycling. As Nebraska's head coach, Riley drives to the office.

"People think I'm a real bicycle guy. I'm a 10-minute cruiser guy," Riley said. "It's funny how people know the story, and they've got these great trails around Lincoln. But people go on 30-mile bike rides, and I say I'm going to have to train a little bit longer."

https://www.campusrush.com/mike-riley-nebraska-cornhuskers-punt-pass-pork-1311877353.html
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That was a very nice article. Thanks for posting it.

ps did you read the last bit about Chili and Cinnamon rolls. I guess I never thought that was so unusual. I know they serve it to my kids at school here in Idaho.

 
Second, Riley didn't fall into the trap many coaches do when they take over a new team. Some coaches believe so unwaveringly in their own system and their own genius that they try to ram that system down the throats of players who weren't recruited to run it. Riley, whose offense has never included zone-read concepts, didn't scrap one of the cornerstones of the offense Tim Beck ran last year. Instead, Riley and offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf immersed themselves in the study of reading unblocked defenders, mesh points and run-pass packaged plays. Instead of trying to turn Nebraska junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. into the Sean Mannion of the Midwest, Riley and Langsdorf tried to wed the concepts that worked for them with the things they knew Armstrong did well.
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This is the way to go. If Riley and Langsdorf truly are keeping some of the offense intact we might just be able to avoid the type of painful transition year we had with Callahan. I guess we'll find out in about 11 days. 11 DAYS!!
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Knowing his program would likely never be better than the fourth choice—behind Oregon, Stanford and Washington—in the Pac-12 North among recruits had to grate on Riley as well.
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Oregon State is currently 85th in recruiting per 247 with a coach that in 2014 (I think the recruiting class he took over at Wisconsin with) ended up 33rd. Now, I know there is a lot of time before signing day this year, but I would be absolutely shocked if OSU climbed anywhere close to 33rd.

Meanwhile, the last recruiting class Riley had in Corvallis was 2014 and his class was 63rd. Right now he is sitting at 22nd at Nebraska.

There is a big difference in recruiting to Nebraska and Wisconsin than there is recruiting to Corvallis.

 
NUinID said:
That was a very nice article. Thanks for posting it.

ps did you read the last bit about Chili and Cinnamon rolls. I guess I never thought that was so unusual. I know they serve it to my kids at school here in Idaho.
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Had this conversation with my grandma last winter. She has always done tons of traveling. Turns out it's mainly a Nebraska thing, I guess. Surprised me too.
 
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Good article nothing shocking, I'm a fan of not trying to rush in a offense that the team is not staffed for, I think that it is the best bet for a good season.

 
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