TarheelTrojan
Five-Star Recruit
Strong ties
Several Trojan coaches have interesting connections to Nebraska’s football program
By Ben Malcolmson
USCRipsIt.com
Kicker Jordan Congdon transferred to USC this offseason from Nebraska after playing last season for the Huskers.
He’s the only Trojan player with a remote connection to the school or the state.
For the coaching staff, though, it’s a completely different story.
An astounding five members of the Trojan coaching staff, along with two strength coaches, have some interesting ties to Nebraska’s football program.
In his first season with the Trojans, passing game coordinator John Morton will be seeing his old boss Saturday. In 2002 and 2003, Morton was a senior offensive assistant with the Oakland Raiders under current Nebraska coach Bill Callahan, who was then the head coach of the Silver and Black. In 2002, the Raiders went to the Super Bowl.
“He treated me very well and really took care of me,” Morton said of Callahan. “He let me have a lot of input and was the one guy who really gave me a chance.”
Trojan defensive line coach Dave Watson will be going up against his college defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt, who coached at Minnesota from 1992-1995 while Watson played defensive end there from 1994-1996. Wyatt now coaches defensive line at Nebraska.
“He’s a great guy and a great coach,” said Watson, who’s in his third year with the Trojans. “I love him to death. He was a great influence for me.”
Offensive line coach Pat Ruel is no stranger to Nebraska and Memorial Stadium, as he coached at conference rival Kansas for nine years from 1988 to 1996. Ruel was also an assistant coach at Texas A&M for two seasons in the early ’80s when current Nebraska associate athletic director for football Tim Cassidy was a graduate assistant.
“Nebraska’s a great atmosphere to play in,” said Ruel, who went 0-4 with the Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium. “I’m looking forward to going back and feeling the excitement of being in that stadium.”
Tight ends coach Brennan Carroll and graduate assistant Yogi Roth both played at the University of Pittsburgh when current Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson was athletic director for the Panthers. Carroll was a reserve tight end at Pittsburgh from 1999 to 2001, while Roth played wide receiver for the Panthers from 2000 to 2003.
Also, current head strength coach at Nebraska, Dave Kennedy, also worked at Pittsburgh from 2002 to 2003, and current Nebraska executive assistant athletic director Marc Boehm was in the Panthers’ athletic administration during Roth and Carroll’s time at the university.
“It’ll be a Pitt reunion for us,” Roth said. “They’re all awesome guys and people I try to stay in touch with.”
Bryan Bailey, an assistant strength coach for the Trojans, worked for 20 years in the Nebraska strength program before coming to USC three years ago.
“It’s always fun to go against old friends, especially if you win,” Bailey said.
USC’s head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle also has ties to the state of Nebraska. As a kid, he grew up for several years in many cities across the state, as his father was a traveling railroad worker. Carlisle went to Chadron State College and became a three-year starting offensive lineman from 1981-1983. Carlisle then began his coaching career in 1985 as head football coach at Dodge High, about 75 miles northwest of Omaha.
• Ben Malcolmson is the Director of Online Media for USCRipsIt.com. You can contact him at Ben@USCRipsIt.com.
Several Trojan coaches have interesting connections to Nebraska’s football program
By Ben Malcolmson
USCRipsIt.com
Kicker Jordan Congdon transferred to USC this offseason from Nebraska after playing last season for the Huskers.
He’s the only Trojan player with a remote connection to the school or the state.
For the coaching staff, though, it’s a completely different story.
An astounding five members of the Trojan coaching staff, along with two strength coaches, have some interesting ties to Nebraska’s football program.
In his first season with the Trojans, passing game coordinator John Morton will be seeing his old boss Saturday. In 2002 and 2003, Morton was a senior offensive assistant with the Oakland Raiders under current Nebraska coach Bill Callahan, who was then the head coach of the Silver and Black. In 2002, the Raiders went to the Super Bowl.
“He treated me very well and really took care of me,” Morton said of Callahan. “He let me have a lot of input and was the one guy who really gave me a chance.”
Trojan defensive line coach Dave Watson will be going up against his college defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt, who coached at Minnesota from 1992-1995 while Watson played defensive end there from 1994-1996. Wyatt now coaches defensive line at Nebraska.
“He’s a great guy and a great coach,” said Watson, who’s in his third year with the Trojans. “I love him to death. He was a great influence for me.”
Offensive line coach Pat Ruel is no stranger to Nebraska and Memorial Stadium, as he coached at conference rival Kansas for nine years from 1988 to 1996. Ruel was also an assistant coach at Texas A&M for two seasons in the early ’80s when current Nebraska associate athletic director for football Tim Cassidy was a graduate assistant.
“Nebraska’s a great atmosphere to play in,” said Ruel, who went 0-4 with the Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium. “I’m looking forward to going back and feeling the excitement of being in that stadium.”
Tight ends coach Brennan Carroll and graduate assistant Yogi Roth both played at the University of Pittsburgh when current Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson was athletic director for the Panthers. Carroll was a reserve tight end at Pittsburgh from 1999 to 2001, while Roth played wide receiver for the Panthers from 2000 to 2003.
Also, current head strength coach at Nebraska, Dave Kennedy, also worked at Pittsburgh from 2002 to 2003, and current Nebraska executive assistant athletic director Marc Boehm was in the Panthers’ athletic administration during Roth and Carroll’s time at the university.
“It’ll be a Pitt reunion for us,” Roth said. “They’re all awesome guys and people I try to stay in touch with.”
Bryan Bailey, an assistant strength coach for the Trojans, worked for 20 years in the Nebraska strength program before coming to USC three years ago.
“It’s always fun to go against old friends, especially if you win,” Bailey said.
USC’s head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle also has ties to the state of Nebraska. As a kid, he grew up for several years in many cities across the state, as his father was a traveling railroad worker. Carlisle went to Chadron State College and became a three-year starting offensive lineman from 1981-1983. Carlisle then began his coaching career in 1985 as head football coach at Dodge High, about 75 miles northwest of Omaha.
• Ben Malcolmson is the Director of Online Media for USCRipsIt.com. You can contact him at Ben@USCRipsIt.com.