November 28, 2007
Is Tom Osborne the next Nebraska coach?
There have been some interesting turns in the search for a new Nebraksa head coach.
While interim AD Tom Osborne has completed interviews with LSU DC Bo Pelini, Buffalo HC Turner Gill, and Wake Forest HC Jim Grobe, the interviews seem to have stalled.
Instead of conducting further interviews, Osborne will spend Thursday and Friday visiting Nebraska recruits. While this move will likely assuage any concerns that recruits might have, the move has others questioning Osborne's intent.
But on the other hand, it makes you wonder if Osborne isn't secretly looking to jump back into the coaching game. There were reports in the late 1990's that when Osborne was consulting with the University of Houston over their football program, Osborne ended up seriously considering taking the head coaching job there. Last month, Osborne joked that if he tried to coach again, his wife Nancy would shoot him. And while I'm sure that Osborne knows that at age 70, his coaching days are behind him, Osborne's jumping back in the saddle might be a little disconcerting to the coaches on his short list.
Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Jeremy Crabtree said that an in-home visit by an AD is unheard of.
"I've never seen an AD go on the road," Crabtree said. "I've seen Athletic Directors make phone calls and we've seen them get involved with recruiting, but to see one go out on the road, no that's definitely a rarity."
Given Osborne's reputation, I am certain that he has told everyone he has interviewed that he intends to visit recruits this week. He's an up-front, no-nonsense kind of guy, in that regard. And I'm sure the candidates appreciated his efforts, even if they could be perceived as him being more "hands on" than ADs at other schools.
But... is there something to Osborne's off-hand remarks and jokes about coaching again? Is the truth said in jest?
Would it really be that far out of the question for Osborne to step in as head coach, perhaps with Gill and/or Pelini in an associate head coach role for a few years of mentoring?
Could Tom Osborne be the next Nebraska coach?
Comments:
posted on November 28, 2007 9:35 AM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue
said:
Another NU development from Omaha.com....
The news media was thrown a curveball on Tuesday when it lost the ability to track the private plane used by Osborne and Perlman on Sunday and Monday. The aircraft registered to Norfolk Iron and Metal Co., owned by NU booster Richard Robinson, paid a fee to have it removed from flight-tracking Web sites.
Bo Vandy
posted on November 28, 2007 10:32 AM — 164.119.14.241 — link — abuse? said:
This is without a doubt, the most idiotic, and ludicrous leap of faith I've ever seen printed. Even if Jim Grobe, Brian Kelly, Turner Gill, and Bo Pelini all died tomorow in horrible tragic accidents, Tom would not be the head coach.
There's a better chance I'll be named President of Norway, than there is Tom will name himself the head coach at Nebraska
Big Tide said:
posted on November 28, 2007 11:10 AM — 69.34.227.69 — link — abuse?
The worst thing that ever happened to Georgia football (IMHO) was Vince Dooley becoming the AD. These coaches need to move on. Why don't they just change the name to Tom Osburne University while they are just giving this guy complete control over things. Is he the de facto University President as well. Maybe martial law has been declared and Tom's going to install a provisional government. This just shows how bad things have really gotten at Nebraska.
OU-Ron
posted on November 28, 2007 1:39 PM — 216.201.209.146 — link — abuse? said:
Rumors pop up every 10 minutes, some of them will happen and some of them won't. I honestly think that Pelinni or Gill will be the HC for Nebraska. What might surprise everyone is if Les Miles is not the new HC for Michigan, but is not coaching at LSU next year either. There's just too many coaching positions open for there not to be any surprises...
hrposon said:
posted on November 28, 2007 7:23 PM — 98.200.123.115 — link — abuse?
I've had the feeling that the Tom Osborne shadow was hanging over Stolich and Callahan. If he takes the job, the shadow is gone.
He would do well to learn from Paterno and Bowden. It's time to move to the lake and go fishing...Jeff said:
posted on November 28, 2007 7:59 PM — 12.47.224.8 — link — abuse?
And I thought Lloyd Carr's philosophy was old...
Bringing back Osborne is like Dodge announcing the return of the Javelin...
Oh golly gee...
Can't wait 'til he dusts off the 'ole Wishbone...
Who's gonna be his O-coordinator?? Tommie Frazier?? Let's get Lawrence Phillips in uniform while were at it. I'm quite sure he can get work release somehow...
Dillikin said:
posted on November 28, 2007 10:53 PM — 66.168.134.159 — link — abuse?
The search for a new Athletic Director takes a back seat to finding a new head coach right now. Tom Osborne is likely to be Athletic Director for quite awhile, since he said he will stay until Nebraska football is back on solid ground. I hope his health holds out that long.
Brushpile Bill said:
posted on November 29, 2007 12:17 PM — 70.138.228.38 — link — abuse?
Bo Vandy said:
posted on November 28, 2007 10:32 AM — 164.119.14.241 — linkThere's a better chance I'll be named President of Norway, than there is Tom will name himself the head coach at Nebraska
Bo, Does interim coach count? :)Sounds like the search is taking longer than expected and TO is adding interim coach to his interim AD title so he can visit recruits. My guess (and its just a guess) is that they all though Pelini was the guy but he didn't fit well with TO and now they are having to expand the search.
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gatorstud said:
posted on November 28, 2007 9:04 AM — 69.95.111.248 — link — abuse?i have to agree w/ crabtree.......i have NEVER heard of an athletic director going to talk to potential recruits...let alone go on the road to visit them....
this is very..very strange....remember the old saying....
if it looks like a coach, talks like a coach, and acts like a coach ...then....
jmho...
go gators...and hokies....