I like Mike Riley. I want to see him be successful here because everything he does is first class and he has represented the Big Red with honor and integrity. However, if we end up winning only three more games this year then he will most certainly get fired. I don't think you can go 4-8 at Nebraska in year three and retain your job.
Having said that, then will that circumstance be the nail in our coffin of our program? I mean we still have a chance to bring in some better talent with this recruiting class this year if Riley remains the coach. If he is fired, then I suspect we will have another lost year of recruiting that will set us back even further than we have been.
The way I see it, we are almost in a no win situation if he has to be fired. Our talent level is just not where it needs to be to have an outstanding team right now. If we lose another year in recruiting it will only get worse.
As much as I hate to say this, I actually think if the recruiting class continues to be strong, then we have to try and keep Riley. If we don't, it could get much harder for the next guy. If the recruiting class falls apart, then I think it is over. More than anything, we need to have more talent on campus. Unless we bring in a Saban, Meyer, etc type of guy to replace him we will lose another year in recruiting. I don't think anyone can bring us back from the depths we are right now unless we could attract that coach who can recruit here just because of their name. I just don't see any of those things happening.
My question is can we survive another coaching change and another lost recruiting year this quickly or do we swallow hard and allow Riley another year to get things turned around? Even with the chance that he has never been more than a 50//60 winning percentage coach. I am afraid that is the no win situation that will be in front of us this November!
Having said that, then will that circumstance be the nail in our coffin of our program? I mean we still have a chance to bring in some better talent with this recruiting class this year if Riley remains the coach. If he is fired, then I suspect we will have another lost year of recruiting that will set us back even further than we have been.
The way I see it, we are almost in a no win situation if he has to be fired. Our talent level is just not where it needs to be to have an outstanding team right now. If we lose another year in recruiting it will only get worse.
As much as I hate to say this, I actually think if the recruiting class continues to be strong, then we have to try and keep Riley. If we don't, it could get much harder for the next guy. If the recruiting class falls apart, then I think it is over. More than anything, we need to have more talent on campus. Unless we bring in a Saban, Meyer, etc type of guy to replace him we will lose another year in recruiting. I don't think anyone can bring us back from the depths we are right now unless we could attract that coach who can recruit here just because of their name. I just don't see any of those things happening.
My question is can we survive another coaching change and another lost recruiting year this quickly or do we swallow hard and allow Riley another year to get things turned around? Even with the chance that he has never been more than a 50//60 winning percentage coach. I am afraid that is the no win situation that will be in front of us this November!
