September 23, 2005
Callahan gone at Nebraska?
Husker Mike highlights Mark Beech's SI article which asks how Nebraska football can strive under Bill Callahan.
Callahan was brought to Nebraska because --despite his 9-3 record-- the powers at NU thought that the Huskers couldn't win with the Frank Solich option attack. So, did the Huskers buy into the West Coast offense hype?
Under Callahan, the Huskers finished 5-6 last season and ranked 81st in passing offense. A lot of the blame was laid at the feet of Solich's recruits, so Callahan brought in players to run the West Coast.
The results? In a word - ugh. Nebraska ranks 106th in total offense, 104th in passing. .Nebraska is barely 3-0 after limping past Maine, Wake Forest and Pitt. (Note to Husker fans - Solich's Ohio team outscored Callahan's West Coast offense when both teams beat Pitt. Whatever.)
Beech says that Nebraska looks lost:
As for Callahan, I don't know if he has much more time. Against Pitt, the Cornhuskers were called for six procedure penalties, two for setting up with only six men on the line of scrimmage. Nebraska looks lost out there, which is not a vibe I get when I watch Notre Dame or Florida. I know these Huskers were recruited to run the ball, and Callahan might have more success if he tried to do more of that, but something tells me his problems go deeper.
If you ask me, it's not a matter of wrong place, wrong time, or even wrong recruits. It's wrong coach.
Comments:
Cdog923 said:
posted on September 28, 2005 10:39 AM — 129.93.179.6 — link — abuse?
Wow...you guys want to run Callahan out of here before he has a chance to actually get his recruits ready to play...before he has his offense fully in place...before he has a chance to recruit ANOTHER top 5 class and before things turn around, which they will. Bravo, I commend you for being true fans. The bandwagon left for Ohio a couple of years ago; I think you missed your ride.
Husker Mike said:
posted on September 28, 2005 9:56 PM — 204.26.88.148 — link — abuse?
Most of the people grumbling aren't expecting national championship, or even conference championship talent. But Nebraska's start is extremely disturbing; one of the worst offenses in college football (106th out of 120 1-A schools). And that's against the 156th toughest schedule, so it's not like they are playing tough teams.
Bill Callahan may be a great recruiter, but as a head coach, he still has a lot to prove. However, he will have at least 1 more year, and probably another one after that to start to show some progress.
FmrHskrFan said:
posted on October 2, 2005 3:34 PM — 216.170.58.10 — link — abuse?
The same ISU defense that gave up 365 yds passing to ARMY! I wouldn't read too much into the yards against a very mediocre Cyclone defense. Nebraska has yet to play a decent team this year and all their games have been at home. Callahan is still a terrible coach.
Ben said:
posted on October 2, 2005 6:54 PM — 204.26.80.13 — link — abuse?
You Frankie fan see no good in a win. A win is a win. Deal with the fact that Frankie and the offense of old is gone. If you can move on, we REAL husker fans don't want you to be fan. I don't care how we win, as long as it is done within the rule of the game.
FmrHskrFan said:
posted on October 2, 2005 7:11 PM — 216.170.58.10 — link — abuse?
"A win is a win." Yet that didn't seem to be good enough for you so called Husker fans when Solich won close games over inferior oponents. Now it's a GOOD win? I was never a Solich fan but at least the team was Nebraska.
Please, if being Husker fan is settling for mediocrity then there are some seroius issues that need dealt with.
F-ing haters said:
posted on October 3, 2005 2:38 AM — 169.229.94.122 — link — abuse?
Being a husker fan isn't settling for mediocrity. It's being excited and hopeful after seeing incredible improvement in our struggling offense. This is only year number two with Callahan and to be honest I wasn't expecting a 4-0 start this year. You can't bring in a new coach with a new system and expect to be a conference champ in two years. In four years...maybe. Callahan is still using mainly solich recruits in his offense, and he's trying to make due with some older JuCo players right now. If we're starting to get things rolling with guys like zack taylor and co. imagine what things will be like when the freshman class has some experience. Mark my words, by 2007 we'll be giving USC as good a game as anybody.
I don't understand you "fans" that are pissed at Callahan when the offense doesn't produce, even though it's only year number two, and then when we throw for 430 yards your pissed because it wasn't against a good enough defense. Even if it was against a terrible defense (which I don't think it was), it's quite an improvement from the first three games. At least admit that much.
By the way, the reason we weren't satisfied when solich was winning games against inferior teams was because we weren't getting any better. What was Solich's record against top 25 teams again? Solich had a number of years, (6 was it) to keep us as a national contendor, but once Osborne's recruits were gone (after 2002) we quickly sank in to mediocrity. Under our old system with solich's recruiting abilities we never would have won more than 9 games again.
Please all you Callahan haters out there, give him this year and next year to work with the program. If by 2007 we're still terrible and not getting better than you win. Get rid of him. By the way, Pete Carroll's first season at USC wasn't very successful with a record of 6-6, now look where they are. Just some food for thought.
Tim said:
posted on October 5, 2005 10:44 AM — 134.6.78.205 — link — abuse?
I believe I lot of ppl on here do not remember the time after Barry Switzer of Oklahoma. NCAA violations, new head coach (Bob Stoops), and new offense and defense. If I recall correctly, Oklahoma was out of the college football powerhouse picture for three to four years and did not make the bowl games until the kid from Vermillion, SD gave them a National Championship ring.
bottom line: I know there are still supporter of the Option Attack (like me). I would give Callahan two more years before putting him on a rail right out of Lincoln along with Peterson.
Russell said:
posted on October 7, 2005 3:25 PM — 130.157.50.229 — link — abuse?
There's nothing tougher to watch than a seeing good but misplaced coaches like Ty Willingham or Bill Callihan take the west coast style to the midwest and turning a bunch of tough kids into a namby pamby finesse team. The legendary Nebraska power football attack is dead, and it is a shame. Hadn't they just made a trip to the Nat'l Champ. game? And true they got worked, but nobody was going to beat Miami that day. The change of philosophy at Nebraska marked the end of what to me was one of the most beautiful things to watch in sports, the Nebraska Cornhuskers putting good old fashion whoopings on people.
Ed said:
posted on October 31, 2005 8:22 PM — 68.12.123.80 — link — abuse?
I am a Sooner Fan and I would be livid if I had this looser (Callahan) and John Blake on the coaching staff. Nebraska football and its its fans are famous as a class act--Callahan's remarks and conduct does not fit with NU Football.
Greg said:
posted on November 1, 2005 8:55 AM — 216.170.58.10 — link — abuse?
Callahan is an embarrasment to the University of Nebraska. He continues to say and do classless things that make the uninversity look ridiculous. He doesn't belong at Nebraska and the sooner the Husker powers that be see that, the better off Nebraska will be. It's pitiful to see what he is doing to that great school. Hopefully after he and their idiot athletic director are gone, Nebraska can get back on top.
The Woodman said:
posted on November 2, 2005 10:41 PM — 64.19.45.58 — link — abuse?
Bill Callahan is a guy who happened to be in the right place at the right time in Oakland and got the gig, then lucked into a super bowl appearance, then lost his team. I was shocked when Solich was sacked, and even more shocked when this clown was hired.
Let me just say, I am a Mizzou fan, and something is wrong when we can kick your ass like we did. I'm used to the Huskers killing us by 50 or so. I would go to a Mizzou- Nebraska game, tailgate beforehand, go into the game, watch the Huskers dominate, go back to my tailgate, get hammered, and not have to worry I was going to miss something. NOW....... Well, I had to stay sober enough to enjoy this win.
SOMETHING IS WRONG HUSKER NATION!!!! I love my Tigers, but come on!!! Get his ass out of there!!! How about this. Barry Alvarez is stepping down at Wisconsin. Offer him a butt load of cash and get back to business!!!
Woodman (The Tiger Fan)
brett said:
posted on November 5, 2005 4:23 PM — 207.200.116.133 — link — abuse?
I have been a Husker fan all of my life. I understand that it's going to take time to implement in a new offence but even Callahan's play calling is ridiculous. He doesn't know what he is doing out thier. Nebraska has one of the best backs in Cory Ross but they hardly use him. The defense is terrible too. Most of the blame has to go to the defensive coordinator who couldn't even coach a Pee-wee football team to save his life. As a life long Husker fan I,am extremely disappointed and believe that the only way Nebraska will retain it's glory is to fire Bill Callahan and his staff.
Morris said:
posted on November 6, 2005 12:34 AM — 67.85.199.184 — link — abuse?
Callahan and Pedersen continue to destroy one Husker record after another. What is most disturbing in today's loss to KU is not the fact that our beloved Huskers lost, it is the fact that Callahan takes no accountability for the loss in his postgame statements. He simply places all of the blame on the the players. It's his job to make sure the team is UP for every game. There is simply no overall direction or leadership anymore and the players are suffering as a result.
People say what a great recruiter Callahan is, then let him be a recruiter and get someone to fill the role of head coach that will inspire and lead the players and the fans.
Solich was fired for winning seasons, Callahan gets to stay and be paid more for losing seasons. There's a message to inspire. Go figure.
If this continues, the next record to to become a victim of the Pedersen-Callahan era will be the consecutive sell-outs at home.
Husker89 said:
posted on November 6, 2005 2:48 AM — 69.23.140.153 — link — abuse?
OK..so...Kansas finally kicked Nebraska's @ss.
Another Husker record down the drain. Callahan has no concept of Nebraska tradition nor does he care. Wins? He gets paid no matter what. Is the next record to be broken the sellout record at Memorial Stadium?
If Callahan wants to do that "throat slashing" thing again....let's give him a real knife...and then hand it to Pederson next.
They both need to go along with Callahan's hand picked coaches.
Anyone know Bo and Barry's phone numbers?Mel said:
posted on November 7, 2005 11:23 AM — 67.142.130.11 — link — abuse?
Where is the Huskers now under Callahan and Pedersen send them both packing without PAY!! Get rid that staff & bring back good ol Nebraska Players as coaches. Go back to what won games & character! Where is Turner Gill? I live in the South now & Nebraska used to be feared, but not is laughing stock now & it not the kids problem but Coaches!!
FormerRecruit said:
posted on November 10, 2005 3:09 PM — 205.132.119.10 — link — abuse?
Sadden by the hiring, sicken by the results, but still proud to be a fan. The experiment has failed. Would Turner Gill have been much worst? Was Frank really that bad? Being the head coach of one of the finest college football institutions should not be used as an entry on ones resume’ but as an Achievement in life. Again, the experiment has failed. Fire him!
Husker89 said:
posted on November 10, 2005 11:10 PM — 69.23.140.153 — link — abuse?
I received this in an email from a fellow Nebraska fan...I can verify that it is authentic..but it sure sounds like it to me!
11/10/05
Scott's Thoughts by Scott FrostSometimes I think that I care too much. I was in Lawrence on Saturday and I saw our guys go down in defeat at the hands of a team that we had beaten every year for almost four decades. I can’t tell you how hard it was to watch. Seeing Jayhawk fans yelling and jeering and storming the field made my stomach turn. Now in the wake of that loss I have been hearing all sorts of opinions about what is going wrong and what should be changed. Some of them make some sense and some are ridiculous. People everywhere I go are asking me for my views on the program. I certainly don’t have all of the answers, but I can offer you some of my feelings as a former player who has bled, sweat, thrown-up, cried, fought, been criticized, been vindicated, and been a part of a champion while wearing Husker red. I have concerns and a few problems with some of the things that have happened surrounding our beloved program. I have talked to a lot of other players and they have the same concerns. I cannot speak for any of them or for anyone else, but I think people would like to know how ex-players feel, and I think that my opinions probably reflect those of most of the guys who have been a part of Husker football.
Let me begin by reiterating that the reason so many of us are so frustrated is that we care so much. That concern is what sets Nebraska apart. I started my career at another institution where it is not nearly as rare to go five and six, and I’ve seen first hand how much more passion there is surrounding Husker football than almost every other program in the country. Sometimes I don’t think that some of the people in the program right now knew what they were getting themselves into when they signed up to come here. That leads me to my first major concern about what is happening at Memorial Stadium- the complete and intentional departure and detachment from anything that had to do with the way it was.
Let’s start with the people. We didn’t just get a new coaching staff two years ago, there was basically a house cleaning. So many of the people in South stadium who made Nebraska what it was either left or were forced to leave that many of us as former players do not even feel comfortable coming around the campus anymore. That’s a shame. It was commonplace when I was playing to have ex-players like Cory Schlessinger, Tyrone Williams, and Will Shields come to meetings or compete against us in passing league. Now, most guys don’t even know who to call if they want to watch a practice. I know they kept Coach Gill around when they brought in the new staff and he was a link to the past, but he moved on. Jimmy Williams and Marvin Sanders weren’t asked to return. Their excellent coaching abilities aside, it sure would be nice to have someone like them on the staff that is familiar with the traditions of Nebraska football.
It isn’t just university employees either, it’s also the players. When we won the national championship in 1997, nine out of our eleven starters on offense were from the state of Nebraska. We had a system in place that was able to organize and develop more athletes, therefore there were more players on a Nebraska practice field than most schools normally have. A great number of those players were walk-ons from the state of Nebraska who would give their heart and soul for the football team. Not only did that create a team that cared more about winning, it also made for a huge amount of caring and involvement throughout the state. When you live in a town like Funk, Nebraska, and you know Kyle Larson personally, it generates a sense of pride in our state for a program that could take boys from our own hometowns and develop them into players who could compete with and beat anyone. I’m all for going to California and Florida to recruit great players. Heaven knows we need guys like Marlon Lucky and Harrison Beck to make us better, but I also wish we wouldn’t stop making the effort to bring home-grown athletes along as Huskers.
If you want more proof about the complete overhaul of Nebraska football, look at some of the small things. Why after so many years did “Husker Power” fail to be a worthy slogan for our team? Now it’s “the power of red”. Why did the program where the coaches went to Lincoln, Omaha, and a town out west to show loyal fans the game film end? Talk about a way to help keep fans interested and loyal (fundraising!). Even Herbie Husker got an overhaul from blonde to brunette. It almost feels like anything that symbolizes or relates to the Huskers of Devaney, Osborne, and Solich was simply not good enough anymore.
That leads me to the next major concern that I have right now-its character. I’m not making this point to attack or demean anyone. I just know the kind of character that people throughout the program used to have. It all started with Tom Osborne. The man simply has more honor and integrity than anyone I have ever known. When he knew something was right, he did it. When he knew something was wrong, he always stayed away. I never once got cursed at by a Nebraska coach on the football field. Our coaches had a biblical devotional every morning before they started their meetings. Tom would never promise a recruit playing time, he would simply tell them that they would get a fair opportunity to show what they could do. The best complement that you could get from him is that you were “a pretty good player”. He’s the kind of guy that could lead a group of people to accomplish the absolute most that they were capable of accomplishing.
The character didn’t just end with Tom either. Ron Brown and Turner Gill are two of the best people I know. Milt Tenopir was like a father to most of the guys who played for him. The relationship that Charlie had with most of his guys, while slightly different, was wonderful. It was like a big family, and that environment made us all want to work harder and succeed that much more. We simply did things better and cleaner at the University of Nebraska than they did it anywhere else. There was an element of class about the program that was the envy of every other college football team.
I want to become a college football coach, and I plan on looking for a place to start a career in that field after this season is over. A few months ago I told Ron Brown that I wanted to coach. His advice to me was that if I was getting into coaching just to try to win games and be around football, then it wasn’t worth it. It would drive me crazy and the hours wouldn’t be justified. If I was going to coach on the other hand, with my primary goal being to try and impact the lives of the guys that you work with than the job could be more rewarding than almost anything else I could do. I’m paraphrasing a little bit, but you get the point. I really think that for most of the staff, winning was a goal that was secondary to shaping us as players into good men. I’m not saying things are different now, I don’t know. I would just hate to see us become like everybody else in college football. We have always been special, and I hope we always will be.
Building on that point, I would like to add this. It is not fair to be calling for the firing of any of our coaches right now. Everyone is entitled to their opinions about how things are going on the field, but we owe these guys a fair chance to get things turned around. If I was a coach that took over a program like Nebraska I would feel like I deserved at least three or four years to fully integrate my philosophies and tactics as a coach and leader. Granted there probably needs to be signs of improvement along the way, but it’s not fair to be talking about a change right now. It also doesn’t make sense to be firing so many arrows at the staff in the middle of the season. These guys have a job to do, and the fewer distractions they have, the better they will perform. On top of that, we don’t want the players feeling like they are in the midst of a firestorm. We don’t want them worried that they might have a new coach in a year or two or three. I have heard rumors that some of our vaunted freshmen are kicking around the idea of transferring. We can’t lose these kids. Whoever is coaching needs talented players. There is a time and a place for everything. If things haven’t improved by the end of the ’06 season then maybe people should voice their opinions on who is the right person to lead our program, but not right now. Now is the time that we should be supporting our team and our players so that they understand that they are a part of something special.
People always ask me what I think about the West Coast Offense. I simply say this. They are going to have to prove to me that it is the best way to win in Lincoln, Nebraska before I believe it. I’m not saying it can’t work. There are all sorts of different kinds of offensive systems that work in college football; everything from Utah’s spread offense to USC’s west coast, to Air Force’s option attack. If you have the right players and you coach your system well, most offenses can be successful. You can’t argue with the success that the WCO has had at both the collegiate and professional levels. It can work, but the jury is still out as to whether it will work here. On the other hand, I hear people arguing that a running and or option attack like the one we used to run is outdated and won’t work anymore. Let me tell you something- not that much has changed since the mid-nineties. The athletes are not that much bigger and stronger. Einstein didn’t come back to life and invent a defense that can stop a properly run belly option. Like I said, any system can work if you teach the right players the right way. That being said, there were reasons why Tom Osborne ran the system that he did (reference my blog from 9/14). You don’t have to throw the ball every down to win. You don’t have to run it every down either, but some kind of running game sure would help.
Finally, my biggest frustration as a former player is the way in which some decisions have been made by the administration as well as the way some things have been handled. It is hard for me to comment on some of these situations because I have heard most of the stories second and third hand, but there are a few things I feel alright talking about. The first is the dismissal of the old coaching staff. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but I know that some of those people were not treated very well and not given a fair chance. There were a lot of Nebraskans who wanted to see a change in the coaching staff when Frank was in charge. Whether you wanted a change or not, you have to agree that those guys deserved to be treated with respect and they deserved to have the administration be up front with them. From letters slipped under doors to pointless and insincere interviews, the whole process seemed to be devious and harmful to a lot of people that many of us as former players are loyal to.
After the firing of these people, the search for a new coach began. It was this process that left many of us confused and agitated, because it was done solely and completely by one man. Most major programs, when they hire a new coach, will put together a search committee. There are people who are loyal to our program who would have been tremendous resources in the selection process. I would have loved to have seen a committee made up of gentlemen such as Tom Osborne, Charlie McBride, Monte Kiffin, Ahman Green, Grant Wistrom, Mike Minter, Barry Alvarez, and Al Papik help identify the best candidate to take over our program. I guarantee that when Notre Dame picked a new head coach last year, more than one person was in on the decision. It’s just hard for me to believe that someone who probably couldn’t draw up an over front or and under front is the best person to pick a football coach. I actually think that things could have ended up worse, especially when you consider some of the other coaches that were rumored to have planes waiting at their local airports.
The decision was made; our program is headed in a completely new direction. Now we all have to deal with it. All of us, including the administration. If those guys get things turned around and we start winning games and championships than everyone will look like a genius. If things don’t turn around, then we all know where the majority of the criticism will be directed. I know as a quarterback that when the team did well, I got a lot more praise than I deserved. When the team didn’t do well, far more than my rightful share of the blame fell on my shoulders. It goes with the territory. Steve Pedersen brought that on himself when he was so cavalier in making these tough decisions. Right or wrong, hero or villain, he took a big risk and painted himself into a tight corner. Time will tell how everyone is viewed in the history of our program.
I know I am not the only one who feels this way about all of these issues. Most of the guys that I played with are more vocal than I am about many of these things. It isn’t just former players either. I know the stadium project hasn’t raised all of the money that they need yet. There are several people, and most of us know who they are, who could write a check tomorrow to have the whole facility finished. They’re not doing it because they are not happy with the state of affairs at South Stadium. I love Nebraska football. I love the state of Nebraska. I long for the days when the characteristics of the team we put on the field on Saturdays exemplified the characteristics of the hard working people of our state. We used to have the Taj mahal of college football programs. Now it feels like someone took 40 tons of dynamite to our proud and noble masterpiece and built a three bedroom ranch in its place. I’m not saying all of these things to be malicious or overly critical of anyone, but when it comes to a state institution, people have the right to be judgmental. I just want to share my opinions with all of the Husker fans out there who care as much about the program as I do.
BigRedMax said:
posted on June 26, 2006 8:36 PM — 152.163.100.196 — link — abuse?
How's GHB boy---a.k.a. little Frankie Soilich doing nowadays?
While Frankie's getting coked up at the nearest meth lab, Callahan's working hard to repair the damage Solich the Slouch left at Nebraska.
Don't worry former Husker fans---Frank's taking his own set of spankings at dear old Party U, whoops, I mean OHIO---whoops again----same thing.
Go Frankie go!!!!!!!! Pass me some more roofies, please.
Tommie Trojan said:
posted on September 13, 2006 7:54 PM — 206.135.38.195 — link — abuse?
That's right! It's time for that CB Jones from Fresno to eat his words. He was recruited by SC - but, decided he wanted to try and guard Jarrett, Smith and Turner instead. Well, good luck to him. Oh, and let's see if he can tackle anyone also. He's gonna have to. I think instead of the two tackles a game that he is averaging, that he'll get plenty more opportunities in this one, as Trojan ball carriers will be bursting into the Husker secondary like all dayum day.
Tommie T
illinoisforhuskers said:
posted on September 23, 2006 6:11 PM — 75.5.43.92 — link — abuse?
Coach Callahan threw the baby out with the bath water. almost all winning coaches still say today that you have to establish a running game to be effective. the players have lost the passion and drive to excel as a Nebraska Husker.
Bo Pelini was a great addition and I feel he would come back...let's give it a try. I'm on the fire Callahan bandwagon!!!
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brent said:
posted on September 24, 2005 10:35 AM — 68.97.1.178 — link — abuse?i couldnt agree more ive hated callahan since he turned on his players at Oakland I couldnt believe it when Nebraska hired him because i thought and still do think that no one wants to play for the guy standards should be high in Lincoln and with callahan they seem to be slummin' can him and give norm chow his own team in lincoln id hate it cause im a sooner fan but the huskers would be mighty again