December 2, 2007
Pelini named new head coach at Nebraska
Although much of the suspense has been cast out of the coaching search for the better part of a week, Nebraska introduced LSU DC Bo Pelini as the new head coach of the Huskers.
"We need a head coach with strong defensive credentials and great leadership,” Osborne said. “We were also looking for someone who can inspire confidence and get players to play with great effort. And, of course, we also wanted our new head coach to understand our traditions, including the importance of our walk-on program and the importance of football in this state.”Osborne said Pelini “fit the bill in all respects.”
Pelini becomes the 28th head coach of the Nebraksa Huskers football team.
It's expected that Pelini will retain several key Huskers assistant coaches and may continue the current offensive scheme with current assistant Shawn Watson at the helm as OC.
Two sources told the Journal Star that former Husker assistant Ron Brown will definitely be part of Pelini's Nebraska staff. Marvin Sanders is also in town and will be part of the staff.Past interviews indicate that other leading candidates to be part of Pelini’s staff at Nebraska would include Carl Pelini and Barney Cotton. It also seems likely that current assistant Shawn Watson could be on the staff.
No word yet on contract terms. Nebraska has posted the Pelini press conference online, for the internet inclined Husker fans.
Comments:
1st_and_NOLE
posted on December 2, 2007 7:02 PM — 71.14.108.232 — link — abuse?
said:
The big question is...
Is Pelini going to finish the season with LSU for their bowl game? Or he is going to Neb immediately to start his new job?
If I were Pelini I'd leave LSU right now and head to Neb. He's got a lot of work to do. He still needs to smooth out the details of his staff. He also needs to hit the recruiting trail hard.
I don't think he has time to prepare LSU for it's bowl game.
posted on December 2, 2007 7:08 PM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue
said:
Pelini addressed that in his presser, saying that he would like to coach LSU in the bowl but that Nebraska and LSU must agree. Given that it's the "dead period" for recruiting, I'm not sure it would be an issue. I would expect LSU to agree because any change could impact their game plans.
TE
posted on December 2, 2007 8:14 PM — 70.180.43.182 — link — abuse? said:
I'm glad Pelini's gone...
This is NO SHOT AT NEBRASKA, but I'll be honest...
This guy NEVER disguises coverages. He is stubborn about his system. He allowed LSU to be skinned alive against South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee with check with me's at the line...
For any quarterback who can read a defense, they're not going to change the angle on the defensive line. They're not going to run twists. They're not going to run stunts. They're not going to shade coverage or try to confuse the quarterback pre-snap.
The read at the line will be the read after the snap. Period.
Pelini puts a premium on turnovers, and yes, he does get them, but if he doesn't have superior athletes running that system, don't expect amazing things out of that defense early.
Pelini got figured out this year after Spurrier skinned him alive, and a lot of people were not happy the last two weeks of the regular season. 466 to Ole Miss, and 500+ to Arkansas...Failure to pressure the quarterback in crucial situations cost LSU dearly in a failure to turn the ball over and get off the field against both of those teams, and ultimately (on the 4th down in the 1st overtime) the game...
Pelini was also not an on the road recruiter for LSU. It's also said that he does NOT like the program maintainace part of the program, IE-glad handing, fund-raising, and hob-nobbing with the guys that cut the really big checks.
Some here say he's got the pedigree as a recruiter, but we considered him a liability...But, that was probably just a slight negative for him, as Miles and LSU have a top flight, out of this world lineup of staff coaches and recruiters...
All in all, we are glad that Pelini didn't cost us a shot at the Crystal, we're glad we have become a breeding ground/stepping stone to hire up...But, Bo's time had come, in more ways than one.
Congrats, Bo...and I sincerely hope that Husker Fans don't take this as a shot at Bo...It's a completely honest (if somewhat blunt) assessment of the guy...
College Pigskin Fan said:
posted on December 3, 2007 5:12 PM — 4.245.18.27 — link — abuse?
A few facts about LSU's defense under Bo.
The 500+ yards that Arkansas racked up on them was in triple overtime.
The yards Kentucky racked up on them was also in triple overtime.
LSU defense numbers under Bo this year. My source is the NCAA web site...
Ranked 3rd in the nation in total defense. They have done this three years in a row.
Ranked 14th in the nation in rush defense.
Ranked 9th in the nation in pass defense.
Ranked 3rd in the nation in pass efficiency def.
Ranked 20th in the nation in scoring defense.
The Tigers have surrendered about 284 yards per game this season, and the 33 turnovers they forced is tied for fourth in the country.
Some facts about the 2006 LSU defense.
The 2006 Tigers led the Southeastern Conference in six defensive categories and ranked among the top five nationally in four. That group also had streaks of 16 and 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown.
The 242.8 yards LSU allowed per game in 2006 were the fewest surrendered by a Tiger team since the 1976 squad allowed 233.1.
In addition, there are always good position coaches that can be hired to assist in recruiting, all coaches have them.
Attention Big 12, the Black Shirts Are Back.
Husker Chris said:
posted on December 3, 2007 6:58 PM — 71.31.220.199 — link — abuse?
It's amazing how ridiculously ungrateful some LSU fans (ahem...TE...ahem)are about Bo. 3 years of one of the best defenses in the nation and these ingrates still bitch and moan? Pelini's defenses were highly successful at LSU, OU, and NU. He's also impacted the players at all of those schools as a very motivated player's coach. Maybe TE should pay a little more attention to what the LSU players have to say about Bo Pelini. Personally, I'm thrilled with this hire for the Nebraska. He'll be a good fit with the Huskers, he'll mend the defense immediately and have Nebraska back on top of the Big 12 sooner rather than later. It'll also be interesting to see a new twist to an old rivalry between a Pelini Nebraska and a Stoops Oklahoma...
OU-Ron
posted on December 3, 2007 7:14 PM — 72.198.24.199 — link — abuse? said:
Husker Chris, Pelinni has been your coach for all of 3 days and already Nebraska is back on top of the BIG XII, keep it quite will ya, I don't think Stoops knows it yet. If LSU knew he was a miracle coach, I doubt they would have let him leave...
Husker Chris said:
posted on December 3, 2007 7:51 PM — 71.31.220.199 — link — abuse?
Um, Ron... I did not say by any stretch of anyone's imagination that Nebraska is back on top of the Big 12 now. Nor did I say that Pelini is a "miracle coach". I only said that a fresh coaching change that respects our traditions could very easily result in NU returning to some of it's former glory sooner rather than later. So before you tell me to "keep it quiet", maybe you should learn to read and interpret the English language.
Zac said:
posted on December 3, 2007 8:21 PM — 205.188.116.136 — link — abuse?
Without question, Pelini is an outstanding DC. The question which remains is, "Is he, at the very least, a good HC?" There's lots of great OC's, DC's, and SC's out there. Some of them do nothing but recruit, because that's all they're good at. Some successful HC's can't recruit their way out of a wet paper bag. It's all in what the man is best at, his best destiny, so to speak.
Terry Bowden, without question, was a decent player's HC. He was able to motivate a team with nothing to gain or loose to go undefeated. With the exception of his last year, when he was "let go", he continued a good streak of respectable seasons. For some reason, he wasn't the best recruiter.
Larry Coker inherited a strong nucleus at Miami, led them to a NC, and also had a good streak of respectable seasons before being fired. Offensively, he excelled; defensively he was handicapped.
Bill Callahan did a great job at Arizona as an OC. We've seen what he couldn't do at NE, even with his pick of QB's.
Look how long it took Greg Schiano to produce 3 winning seasons at Rutgers. Sometimes, it takes time.
Weiss was finally exposed, after 4 seasons at ND, and Carr has taken MI as far as he's able; a great job for many schools, but not good enough for MI.
I have to agree with OU-Ron. 3 years hasn't been enough for many a HC to prove himself. 3 days, therefore, is nothing. I just hope NE really gives the man a chance. Just a thought.
T-Mac
posted on December 3, 2007 8:46 PM — 66.78.139.117 — link — abuse? said:
Zac, good post brother.
T-Mac hopes Pelini does great at Nebraska.
Coaching at the CFB level is just like the rest of the working world.
You have a chance at advancement if you do well and prove yourself.
Husker fans, just give the guy a chance.
Major Applewhite(OC) at Alabama should be a Head Coaching candidate in about 3-5 years.
He is a great OC. When he and Saban get their players in there, it should be off the hook.
*T-Mac approved this message.
Tomcat said:
posted on December 4, 2007 3:29 AM — 68.93.140.127 — link — abuse?
Hey T-Mac
Ya I agree that the Tide should improve and it takes several years for a staff to get their system in place.
Lot of coaching changes
Art Briles at Baylor great coach, now they will have to recruit against UT, OU, T A&M, TTech, Neb, Missu,OK ST, TCU etc etc.
How bout Nutt at Ole Miss -good for Ole Miss sometimes ARK fans and Alumni kinda remind me of Tex A&M. At those places you can go 9-4 and it aint good enough.
Ark beat LSU and Tex A&M beat UT
both beat their biggest rivals and had winning seasons- answer new coaches??
Sometimes the folks making the decesions are not former coaches or players, but big money contributers, that are never happy, kinda like this guy TE praising Miles then bitching about the Def Coord after Macfaddin & Co spanked that ass.
Hookem-HornsTE
posted on December 4, 2007 10:48 AM — 204.68.245.11 — link — abuse? said:
College Pigskin Fan,
That's a weak argument if ever there was one...They had 500 yards of total offense in 3 overtimes, correct...
They had 460+ in regulation...
WOW! That makes all the difference, right?
He rotated five defensive lineman-including a seriously hobbled one-while up against the toughest rushing attack we faced all year. This on a D-Line that rotates 9 men most Saturdays...
We sat multiple starters and got DNP's out of them when we desparately needed depth and fresh legs out there to stop the run.
I've watched 39 games of Bo Pelini's defense, and while it's good, his personnel decisions-which no one even touched in my initial post-and his lack of disguised coverages will be exposed in the Big XII, unless he adapts once he gets there.
He won't have anywhere near the caliber of athlete he was blessed with at LSU. Especially not at first.
We forced a lot of turnovers, but we couldn't get the defense off the field in crucial situations (Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas)...
Again, that wasn't a shot, but just an honest assessment, guys...
But, I don't know what I'm talking about...You guys do...Thanks for setting me straight!
Zac said:
posted on December 4, 2007 3:49 PM — 209.36.193.14 — link — abuse?
OU-Ron (Post 12), ironic indeed. I wish our teams could be playing each other for the NC, but I guess it wasn't in the cards. While I must concede the early edge to your Sooners, unlike the Pitt debacle, I think my Mountaineers will make a more than serious game of it. It'll be interesting, and no doubt entertaining, to say the least. Best of luck to you and yours.
OU-Ron
posted on December 4, 2007 4:06 PM — 216.201.209.146 — link — abuse? said:
Zac, Thanks and same to you, OU had it's chance to be in the big dance but couldn't come thru when it counted. I'm just excited that we made it to the Fiesta Bowl, should be a great end to the most screwed up teams ranking year that I can remember...
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Husker Chris said:
posted on December 2, 2007 6:58 PM — 71.31.223.23 — link — abuse?I am so exited. This is the perfect hire for Nebraska. The only remaining question is who will be OC. Bo was impressive in the press conference this afternoon. You really get the feel he understands Nebraska football in a way that Callie and Co. never did. Welcome back Blackshirts!...