The Nebraska football program's history was forged, for about a 25-year period, by a man whose integrity was never questioned. He had a very difinitive plan, some would say he was stubborn to a fault, but he worked that plan to the tune of nine win seasons and consistent championship contention. People jumped his case each year that we lost a bowl game or failed to win "the big game." At the end of the day, however, it was very easy to see how close Nebraska was to getting those wins and championships. We all could reasonably expect that, with continued hard work on the recruiting trail, we would be able to run down a title at some point. Then the dam broke and we won three titles in a four year stretch. Magic.
Maybe that created unrealistic expecations and that led to the firing of Frank, the train wreck of Billy C, the return of Bo from his southern D.C. stints.
At the end of the day, we have to compare Bo, not with the train wreck of Billy C. or the Solich administration that followed the greatness of T.O.
The comparison is directly to T.O., sans the championships. We need a coach that carried himself with great integrity, who worked hard to make Nebraska great and one whose legacy was more than nine win seasons. He needed a legacy of competitive teams that gave Nebraskans hope that someday, with continued hard work, we might get a breakthrough.
How did Bo do?
Integrity? Please. After his failures, he blamed the media, the fans, the administration and the officials for his shortcomings. He carried himself with almost no class at all. The outburts after the 2009 title game in Texas and the 2010 blow up at Texas A&M are, by themselves, a reason to fire someone. It was embarassing.
And then there are the results.
In 2011 against Wisconsin and Michigan. We didn't just lose games. We fell apart and were destroyed.
That's Ok. It's just one year.
In 2012 against Ohio State and Wisconsin. We didn't just lose games. We fell apart and were destroyed.
In 2013 after a solid half of football against UCLA, we didn't just lose. We fell apart and were destroyed.
In 2014, against Wisconsin again. We didn't just lose. We fell apart and were destroyed.
If our losses were in games like the Minnesota loss last year, this would not be a topic of discussion. We were very close to winning there.
If Bo's obsurd sideline behavior was limited to one or two incidents, we would not be talking about it. He would still be here.
But the combination of blow out losses, the knowledge that we were close to losses in a handful or more other games, and a continued insistance on blowing up and embarrasing everyone in the university if not the entirety of the state of Nebraska.
Well that was too much. Firing was all that could be done.
It wouldn't have gotten better. Bo was doomed to fail. There is no way I see us breaking through.
Sure, judge Mike Riley for what the team does or does not do on the field, but look for the integrity, the hard work and the evidence that we can reasonably expect future success.
Leave Bo out of the discussion. He didn't belong here and he is gone.