Every time Nebraska fires a coach — Scott Frost being the fifth straight individual to occupy that place after which get proven the door — there’s this narrative that who on earth would need that job. The expectations don’t match the sources, and it’s now not a sexy gig for big-name coaches.
Then, inevitably, the pundit will listing off Bo Pelini’s file in Lincoln, and make a perplexing remark like, “I don’t know why they fired him.” Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle. A pair will emphatically say, “It’s over, Nebraska. The ’90s are never happening again.”
Never thoughts the truth that Pelini’s most up-to-date job —defensive coordinator at LSU — was proof that he’s too cussed to be a head coach, let’s discuss in regards to the job itself. I don’t know who inside this system thinks it’s nonetheless doable to waltz by a common season on the way in which to recurrently taking part in for nationwide championships. Only like one-and-a-half faculties can pull that off anymore.
There are greater than a few deranged followers, for certain, and sadly, these are at all times the loudest and most annoying on social media. Trust me, I do know in addition to anybody how irritating the delusional Husker supporter might be. So, please, spare me the condescending bemusement at Pete from Kearney calling in with discuss of nationwide titles and restoring glory. When he’s not on maintain with you, he’s sending me and the opposite dozen regular guys on the group thread hype movies from the Skers’ official Instagram account.
After the 49-14 blowout loss to Oklahoma on Saturday — which was a recreation for all of a quarter and a half — much more folks will pile on with no different takes than confusion and borderline delight. Modest candidates will crop up, and Nebraska AD Trev Alberts will make his choice, probably an skilled white man who recites the values most consistent with the varsity’s glory years. Then in one other 4 or 5 years, he’ll be let go for failing to recreate a renaissance out of crayons and building paper.
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The only time Nebraska has been in the national conversation in the past 10 to 15 years was when they’ve fired/hired a coach. The program has progressively gotten worse over that period. People forget that Pelini was trending downward at a rapid pace, and had they kept him, it would’ve been just as bad if not worse than Mike Riley. How convenient it is to overlook Melvin Gordon’s 408-yard game in 2014, or last year when Pelini returned to coach LSU’s defense, and he was whatever is worse than horrible.
We know how bad Riley was, and somehow Frost was even worse than him. This is a continued spiral since Tom Osborne handed the reins to Frank Solich. I saw a story about a Solich curse. Yet this isn’t a hex. The team had a transcendent football mind at the helm and should’ve never expected to replicate what he did. The guy drew up trick plays that were so good they got banned.
A phenomenal coach is the only way Nebraska regains its competitiveness, and even then it won’t look like Alabama or Georgia. It probably resembles Iowa or Wisconsin’s best teams. However, the Huskers aren’t an attractive enough job to steal an all-world candidate from mid-tier programs right now. So it’s either get really lucky with an unknown commodity, or try an unseemly candidate who is one more scandal away from getting canceled, which won’t ever happen at Nebraska.
Regardless of how many felons Osborne had on his roster, he still conducted himself in a manner that Nebraskans accepted. The student section can chant “We want Urban!” until they’re without a voice, but if Meyer returns to coaching, his charades in Jacksonville will prevent him from going to Lincoln. Honestly, I don’t know why I’m even addressing that rumor. There are 25 programs he would go to tomorrow before he’d pick the Huskers.
If you can’t lure away an established coach, and even the scummiest of the scumbags won’t take your money, you’re left with the current list of candidates. The thought of trying to poach a Kansas, Kansas State, or Iowa State coach is demoralizing. A Stoops not named Bob would be alright, I guess. That’s also if he, you know, wants to leave Kentucky for Nebraska.
The most depressing part of the Frost firing was the realization that there’s never been a Black head coach — of any team — at Nebraska. Considering how many well-respected Black players/football minds have come through the program alone, it’s atrocious that Mickey Joseph had to break the barrier as an interim.
College football isn’t the NFL as far as Black head coaches are concerned. It’s a university-by-university basis, and if you’ve ever lived in Nebraska, it’s not shocking that the school wouldn’t trust a Black person with the most important job on campus — hell, maybe in the state considering the revenue generated by the Big Red.
The thing that made Osborne great went beyond his scheme and recruiting prowess. It was his ability to see where the game was going and adapt as quickly if not quicker than everyone else. After he saw Miami’s speed up close, he changed his defensive philosophy. The walk-on program was revolutionary at its peak. He didn’t think twice about having a Black starting quarterback.
Asking Alberts to find the next Osborne is foolish and unrealistic. However, the hire can be progressive. That’s an option, and one not being fully explored, according to the candidate lists I’ve seen.
Above all else though, it’s comically overdue.
Trying to restore the program using the same trial-and-buyout method employed by the rest of the college football world isn’t working. Maybe Joseph will show something during the next couple months to deserve a legitimate shot at becoming permanent. Even if he doesn’t, there are more Black candidates than just him.
The Huskers have tried an ex-NFL head coach, a hot coordinator, an established college coach, and the hometown hero. There aren’t many other versions of a white guy left. It’s only fair to give someone different an honest chance.
That will not be the reply Nebraska followers wish to hear, but it surely’s higher than the conventional shrug, chortle, and dismiss schtick I usually see provided.
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