After this off season, there will be no more excuses...

[dinglefritz]

Classic troll thread. A "newbie" starts a thread stating the same crap being spouted over and over by a select minority and the thread goes to 40 posts in a day. It doesn't matter what the minority coalition wants or how fast they want it, the powers that be hold the key to the cars and they decide who gets to drive and for how long. What a waste of time.

 

[inWV]

Everyone is terrified of that 2018 schedule, and things could change a lot with injuries or unexpected departures, but I think it's conceivable that team could go into 2018 with 19 returning starters, including 10 on offense.

It's a brutal schedule, but sans injuries, our Oline will finally be on the right side of experience. Gates, Farmer, Foster and Conrad will be seniors, with good depth behind them. Skill players should be experienced, but we may be breaking in POB or Gebbia at QB. We should be ready to compete.

 

[timnsun]

Classic troll thread. A "newbie" starts a thread stating the same crap being spouted over and over by a select minority and the thread goes to 40 posts in a day. It doesn't matter what the minority coalition wants or how fast they want it, the powers that be hold the key to the cars and they decide who gets to drive and for how long. What a waste of time.

Not only that, but another sign of trolling is that apart from the first post, he never posted again, unless I'm mistaken.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

I support Riley and staff 100%. Best coach we have had since Osborne. We need to give him the time he needs.

That said, I don't think any of us can predict what will happen, or what the attitude of the fan base will be if the bottom falls out this year as it did in 2007. I am almost certain it won't, but strange shit can happen that nobody can predict.

I just hope Riley gets the time he needs regardless of what our record is this year.

 

[jteten]

Ugh. Blanket statements of expectations and results that are loaded with variables make Angels lose their wings.

 

[hddude55]

Miles has won 10 games, so should Riley.

 

[mwulf]

I will be going all in for NU in 2018 to be in the hunt.

Have you seen our 2018 schedule...8-4 would be a major accomplishment...2019 on the other hand

 

[otismotis08]

Why is it commonly accepted here that coaching "moves," which is to say, "firings/hires," is a good thing. Most of our moves are due to the fact that the original cast never should've been at Nebraska in the first place.

And I do like us swinging for the fences - just not a fan of doing so and ending up with a .225 average. I love the class we ended with. But, let's not act as if we just signed a top 10 class here. This last class falls really close to Riley's predecessor's average over his years here.

Hindsight is 20/20. At least we're making moves, admitting mistakes, and trying to improve. I'd rather see that than sitting back and waiting for "the process" to unfold.

As much as I would have liked to see a rock star hire come walking through the doors, reality is that just is not going to happen here.

 

[nebcountry]

Why is it commonly accepted here that coaching "moves," which is to say, "firings/hires," is a good thing. Most of our moves are due to the fact that the original cast never should've been at Nebraska in the first place.

And I do like us swinging for the fences - just not a fan of doing so and ending up with a .225 average. I love the class we ended with. But, let's not act as if we just signed a top 10 class here. This last class falls really close to Riley's predecessor's average over his years here.

I've complained a bunch on the initial staff. At a certain point, it's time to move on. There may or may not be more changes made, but with Banker and Read gone, I'm reasonably confident that it's produce or be replaced.

Concerning recruiting, the class meets my criteria, so I'm not gonna move the bar after the fact.

 

[frankluv]

Have you seen our 2018 schedule...8-4 would be a major accomplishment...2019 on the other hand

The hell with the schedule, I am hoping that we will be the team to beat. If we do that, then bring on the schedule. GBR

 

[JohnRossEwing]

The hell with the schedule, I am hoping that we will be the team to beat. If we do that, then bring on the schedule. GBR

Exactly...

 

[jay-cheese]

Nine wins

GBR

 

[inWV]

Hindsight is 20/20. At least we're making moves, admitting mistakes, and trying to improve. I'd rather see that than sitting back and waiting for "the process" to unfold.

As much as I would have liked to see a rock star hire come walking through the doors, reality is that just is not going to happen here.

One could argue that Elliot is a rock star hire, perhaps more of the Charlie Watts variety.

 

[dockentwo]

You are probably not wrong on him having time. However, giving him credit for firing guys he hired is kind of ridiculous. He is not a first time HC making rookie mistakes. A veteran coach shouldn't have to "upgrade"...they should be replacing as guys gett hired away for bigger jobs.

A coach at this stage shouldn't get credit for bad hires...they should be held accountable for them. The fix really should mean produce results now or you (Riley) are not the guy.

I thought you were around more than this. They were not known to be bad hires for the " bigger stage " ; they were his friends and assistants and were given their opportunity to earn their spot, didn't happen and they are gone. IMO, this was reviewed with the AD in the hiring process. The assistants got big raises and buyouts for the move, to me, fair and now it was enough.

 

[Toms Wife]

Time for MR and staff to put up or shut up. Almost a complete overhaul of the staff the past couple of years. We''ll see if this pays off. I hope it does.

Staff Salaries

You really think there won't be any more excuses given out...Really? I don't see the "just wait until next year mantra" changing in these parts.

 

[cubsker]

took em two years, but riley did what he needed to. You have to like what they've done with the defensive staff. He's earned himself a couple of years, unless they totally tank this year.

 

[timnsun]

You really think there won't be any more excuses given out...Really? I don't see the "just wait until next year mantra" changing in these parts.

So, Tom's Wife, you've been on this boat, what, a month? And in that time you know the board well enough to make this statement?

Why don't you come clean and admit you are Tom? The split personalities thing isn't working for you.

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

You really think there won't be any more excuses given out...Really? I don't see the "just wait until next year mantra" changing in these parts.

Yeah, because you never used excuse after excuse for Osborne hires. You would be demanding Miles be fired if you had any interest on not being the worlds biggest hypocrite. Tell me some more lies, "preacher".

 

[mkbrkloster]

Time for MR and staff to put up or shut up. Almost a complete overhaul of the staff the past couple of years. We''ll see if this pays off. I hope it does.

Staff Salaries

Why does any fan care about the salaries of the coaches? It keeps coming up on here and I can't figure out why. They are either getting it done, one the path to getting it done, or not getting it done. That's the only decision tree fans should care about.

 

[huskerfan1414]

So, Tom's Wife, you've been on this boat, what, a month? And in that time you know the board well enough to make this statement?

Why don't you come clean and admit you are Tom? The split personalities thing isn't working for you.

 

[jeans15]

He won 9 this year, no reason to expect less. Why is Nebraska the only school that can't expect to win games they are not suppose to.

Look at Colorado, Ok st, Baylor.

Good coaches win games, period. Every year some team jumps up and has a great season. Why not us?

 

[cubsker]

He won 9 this year, no reason to expect to expect less. Why is Nebraska the only school that can't expect to win games they are not suppose to.

Look at Colorado, Ok st, Baylor.

Good coaches win games, period. Every year some team jumps up and has a great season. Why not us?

it is irritating that we never win a game we weren't supposed to. You'd think we would luck into one in the last 15 years.

 

[Blackshirt30]

What the hell is so freaking scary about the 2018 schedule that people been quivering in fear over for the past 2 years? Road games at Michigan & Ohio State? Colorado? Akron? Troy? Sorry, I keep looking at that schedule and it may be tougher than 2016 & 2017 in conference, but sorry, I don't see "brutal". By then, Riley will be in year 4 and should have us competing with those teams anyways.

 

[timnsun]

it is irritating that we never win a game we weren't supposed to. You'd think we would luck into one in the last 15 years.

Totally at a loss for this post and also for jeans15 post… What was Michigan State two seasons ago? What about UCLA in the bowl game?

We do win games we shouldn't win… Those are two off the top of my head. The problem is we also lose games we shouldn't lose. But then again, most teams do that as well.

EDIT: fell for it completely... good one cubsker. Sarcasm meter was definitely turned off.

 

[jeans15]

Totally at a loss for this post and also for jeans15 post… What was Michigan State two seasons ago? What about UCLA in the bowl game?

We do win games we shouldn't win… Those are two off the top of my head. The problem is we also lose games we shouldn't lose. But then again, most teams do that as well.

I'm speaking about with something on the line.....teams like OK St, Baylor, Michigan St and others have beaten better teams and won championships behind them.

You could argue in those games neither one of those teams respected us at the time of the game.

 

[cubsker]

we were like 4 pt dogs to sparty, not really much of an upset. a little surprising, i guess. bowl games are meaningless crapshoots. I expected us to beat ucla and jorja in those games. other than that, not much to point at.

 

[ellobo]

I thought you were around more than this. They were not known to be bad hires for the " bigger stage " ; they were his friends and assistants and were given their opportunity to earn their spot, didn't happen and they are gone. IMO, this was reviewed with the AD in the hiring process. The assistants got big raises and buyouts for the move, to me, fair and now it was enough.

My basic point is this...your hired a veteran. One who has held 4 HC jobs (if you include his two stints at Oregon State as two). He also coached at the highest level (NFL). There are many approaches to hiring a HC including getting a top assistant from a top program or a successful HC from a smaller program...a hopefully future star. When you do that you have to expect a learning curve and give that guy some rope to self correct.

But you didn't hire that guy...again you hired a veteran. At this point in his career if he doesn't have a formula and a little black book of coaches (he should of brought in right away) that fit his plan that is not a good sign. I'm not saying a mistake or two is unforgivable but as a veteran guy firing people shouldn't reset the clock...it should put you on it as in if you don't get it right, and quickly, it's time for a new direction.

 

[Morgan747]

Nah, I'm ready to give this staff another five years. They are actually making good changes and putting in the work on the recruiting trail. This is in stark contrast to what Bo did. We still have two of Bo's half-assed recruiting classes to work with.

Another 5 years? Lol - Why don't we just give them 8 more?

 

[blackhusker]

My basic point is this...your hired a veteran. One who has held 4 HC jobs (if you include his two stints at Oregon State as two). He also coached at the highest level (NFL). There are many approaches to hiring a HC including getting a top assistant from a top program or a successful HC from a smaller program...a hopefully future star. When you do that you have to expect a learning curve and give that guy some rope to self correct.

But you didn't hire that guy...again you hired a veteran. At this point in his career if he doesn't have a formula and a little black book of coaches (he should of brought in right away) that fit his plan that is not a good sign. I'm not saying a mistake or two is unforgivable but as a veteran guy firing people shouldn't reset the clock...it should put you on it as in if you don't get it right, and quickly, it's time for a new direction.

Bingo right on

 

[Morgan747]

Easy there sparky don't get your panties in a bunch. It was making fun of the OP for saying Year 3 was a make or break year for Riley. Time to put up or shut up in the OP's eyes. Yet Riley is still straddled with a Roster that has not recovered from Pelini's incompetence in roster management.

"Time for MR and staff to put up or shut up. Almost a complete overhaul of the staff the past couple of years. We''ll see if this pays off. I hope it does."

Many people like you keep making the Pelini excuses. Most on here said this was a professional staff so they need to show it!

 

[dockentwo]

You really think there won't be any more excuses given out...Really? I don't see the "just wait until next year mantra" changing in these parts.

Which is your version of nothing is ever good enough?

 

[nebcountry]

My basic point is this...your hired a veteran. One who has held 4 HC jobs (if you include his two stints at Oregon State as two). He also coached at the highest level (NFL). There are many approaches to hiring a HC including getting a top assistant from a top program or a successful HC from a smaller program...a hopefully future star. When you do that you have to expect a learning curve and give that guy some rope to self correct.

But you didn't hire that guy...again you hired a veteran. At this point in his career if he doesn't have a formula and a little black book of coaches (he should of brought in right away) that fit his plan that is not a good sign. I'm not saying a mistake or two is unforgivable but as a veteran guy firing people shouldn't reset the clock...it should put you on it as in if you don't get it right, and quickly, it's time for a new direction.

This is just my opinion.
- In our recent football past, we've had coaches that were stubbornly resistant to change in the face of overwhelming failure. So, some fans see self directed change as a positive sign.
- I don't know the specific performance criteria for our head coach to keep his job, but I highly doubt the performance criteria has been lowered for this year (i.e. clock reset). Some fans may treat this as year 0 as a fan, but it's year 3. I also think the fan base in general has higher expectations than what is actually required for the head coach to keep the job. As an example, there will be some fans that will demand a conference championship this year or demand that heads will roll. Nobody is gonna be fired solely for not winning the CC this year.
- As with a lot of threads on here, we don't know at what level of success people are making their arguments from (i.e. success = a certain # of games won, division winner, CC, playoff berth, etc.). So, we see arguing without knowing what anyone else thinks is acceptable.

 

[Mtnhusker]

Many people like you keep making the Pelini excuses. Most on here said this was a professional staff so they need to show it!

My point is the OP is saying the Riley needs to succeed next year in year 3 yet Miles is in year 5 and still sub 500 plus at the bottom part of the league. Many posters are still making excuses for Miles with the usual excuse of "Next Year". I think 5 years is enough time but not sure 4 years is. As long as I am seeing continued improvement on the field, recruiting and coaching then I am happy. I am a big fan of Riley but even a blind person can see that Pelini left him a shell of a team to work with that was riddled with bad attitudes and huge holes in the Roster Management. Let me ask you this, what do you see from Riley's staff that doesn't reflect a "professional staff"?

 

[Toms Wife]

I heard for nearly eight years that it's Bush's fault. Now I hear that everything is Obama's fault. I hear my pastor-wives friends always wanting to fault the church's problems on the former pastor. Now here it's all Pelini's fault...or Osborne's fault...or Frank's fault. I am always amazed in our world that when someone does well in their first few years in a new position it is never the previous regime's "fault."

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

I heard for nearly eight years that it's Bush's fault. Now I hear that everything is Obama's fault. I hear my pastor-wives friends always wanting to fault the church's problems on the former pastor. Now here it's all Pelini's fault...or Osborne's fault...or Frank's fault. I am always amazed in our world that when someone does well in their first few years in a new position it is never the previous regime's "fault."

To totally discount the decisions and actions of the predecessor is probably naive too don't you think? In your examples your church, the United States of America and Nebraska Athletics, football specifically, are not start ups. The actions, inactions, decisions made, situations not addressed, problems not properly identified by all the previous leaders in your church, the U.S., and Nebraska athletics are the reason those things are in the positions they are. We also give credit those who came before when they aid in the successes. Without the leadership of the previous pastor, maybe you don't have a new annex, without policies created by previous presidents, later successes maybe aren't realized, without Callahan's recruiting classes, maybe Pelini only wins 6 games year 1.

Now if we had to totally start over with each change in leadership, you would have a point. But we don't, so we have to live with and adjust for the mistakes of our predecessor as well as be thankful for their successes.

 

[Skerz4Life50]

My basic point is this...your hired a veteran. One who has held 4 HC jobs (if you include his two stints at Oregon State as two). He also coached at the highest level (NFL). There are many approaches to hiring a HC including getting a top assistant from a top program or a successful HC from a smaller program...a hopefully future star. When you do that you have to expect a learning curve and give that guy some rope to self correct.

But you didn't hire that guy...again you hired a veteran. At this point in his career if he doesn't have a formula and a little black book of coaches (he should of brought in right away) that fit his plan that is not a good sign. I'm not saying a mistake or two is unforgivable but as a veteran guy firing people shouldn't reset the clock...it should put you on it as in if you don't get it right, and quickly, it's time for a new direction.

While I understand your general view on this, Nebraska's situation was quite different from many other coaching changes because Bo never had a losing season and he always won at least 9 games. Both very rarely involve a coach being fired unless there is some non football related issues going on. Because of this there was a lot of issues with the players truly buying into Riley.

So say Riley comes in without his trusted assistants, then what? You are starting over trying to gain the trust with your coaches and your players. That would be an incredibly difficult situation for someone to be in while also being expected to win (which I know he didn't in year 1 anyway). So he brought in some trusted coaches to try and help change the culture and get the program headed in the direction he wanted it to go. Now after having gotten the culture going in the right direction, he has been able to truly evaluate his assistants. And I think he saw they weren't getting it done, but they did help with the transition.

There's really few situations we can compare this too. Michigan under both Rich Rod and Hoke had losing seasons to end their time there. Bo never had that. He just was good at being mediocre, while getting his players to be loyal to him. So it easy for both the administration and the players to understand a firing when coaches aren't getting the wins. It's not the same when the team and coaches are consistently getting wins, just not enough of them.

 

[SeaOfRed75]

I heard for nearly eight years that it's Bush's fault. Now I hear that everything is Obama's fault. I hear my pastor-wives friends always wanting to fault the church's problems on the former pastor. Now here it's all Pelini's fault...or Osborne's fault...or Frank's fault. I am always amazed in our world that when someone does well in their first few years in a new position it is never the previous regime's "fault."

So you are saying the credit and fault always lie with the current management?

So all your church's faults and failings are Tom's fault? Oh my. How long does the congregation want to give him to fix all these problems of his?

 

[timnsun]

I heard for nearly eight years that it's Bush's fault. Now I hear that everything is Obama's fault. I hear my pastor-wives friends always wanting to fault the church's problems on the former pastor. Now here it's all Pelini's fault...or Osborne's fault...or Frank's fault. I am always amazed in our world that when someone does well in their first few years in a new position it is never the previous regime's "fault."

I don't fault Tom's Wife for all her terrible posts, I fault Tom.

 

[dockentwo]

While I understand your general view on this, Nebraska's situation was quite different from many other coaching changes because Bo never had a losing season and he always won at least 9 games. Both very rarely involve a coach being fired unless there is some non football related issues going on. Because of this there was a lot of issues with the players truly buying into Riley.

So say Riley comes in without his trusted assistants, then what? You are starting over trying to gain the trust with your coaches and your players. That would be an incredibly difficult situation for someone to be in while also being expected to win (which I know he didn't in year 1 anyway). So he brought in some trusted coaches to try and help change the culture and get the program headed in the direction he wanted it to go. Now after having gotten the culture going in the right direction, he has been able to truly evaluate his assistants. And I think he saw they weren't getting it done, but they did help with the transition.

There's really few situations we can compare this too. Michigan under both Rich Rod and Hoke had losing seasons to end their time there. Bo never had that. He just was good at being mediocre, while getting his players to be loyal to him. So it easy for both the administration and the players to understand a firing when coaches aren't getting the wins. It's not the same when the team and coaches are consistently getting wins, just not enough of them.

Very Good, imo there were a lot of non football issues; its our program, coaches don't own it for their gratification.

 

[inWV]

While I understand your general view on this, Nebraska's situation was quite different from many other coaching changes because Bo never had a losing season and he always won at least 9 games. Both very rarely involve a coach being fired unless there is some non football related issues going on. Because of this there was a lot of issues with the players truly buying into Riley.

So say Riley comes in without his trusted assistants, then what? You are starting over trying to gain the trust with your coaches and your players. That would be an incredibly difficult situation for someone to be in while also being expected to win (which I know he didn't in year 1 anyway). So he brought in some trusted coaches to try and help change the culture and get the program headed in the direction he wanted it to go. Now after having gotten the culture going in the right direction, he has been able to truly evaluate his assistants. And I think he saw they weren't getting it done, but they did help with the transition.

There's really few situations we can compare this too. Michigan under both Rich Rod and Hoke had losing seasons to end their time there. Bo never had that. He just was good at being mediocre, while getting his players to be loyal to him. So it easy for both the administration and the players to understand a firing when coaches aren't getting the wins. It's not the same when the team and coaches are consistently getting wins, just not enough of them.

Let's be honest with ourselves re Pelini. Had he won five more games during his tenure in Lincoln (let's say 09/TX, 10/OU plus three others), he could well be still coaching here, regardless of his deficiencies. That said, those things didn't happen and he's not. Pelini left the cupboards pretty bare at some positions and a bad locker room culture for the succeeding staff. Riley has worked to correct those areas and has also addressed the shortcomings in his own staff. Whether these changes translate to wins on the field is still open to question, but we certainly hope it does.