Bill Callahan inherited a team with Joe Dailey, Ross Pilkington, and Grant Mulkey

[Suhrreal]

Why are people -- 4 years later -- still making excuses for Frost's incompetence?

Bill Callahan had to do a full rebuild from an option team to a WCO and still won 5 games his first year. That was with a team that had lost 7 games in a season just 2 years prior. Rebuilding to a baseline of mediocrity does not take 5 years.

I will also remind you, Frost is THIS BAD with a 4th year QB and the best defense we've had in over a decade. He is not going to get another huge break with a defense loaded with 6th year veterans. The rankings are a joke and have been for a while so close games against "top 10" teams don't mean much. The pollsters had IOWA RANKED #2 WITH THAT QB!!!!!!!!!! The rankings are a joke!

Frost blew his chance flat out. He thought with Moos and a few big names in his back pocket along with a guaranteed contract that he could do whatever he wanted instead of putting in the actual work needed to get over the hump. If he replaced all the time he spent lifting weights and the other extracurriculars with recruiting OL maybe he would be in a different situation right now. Frost buried himself, not Mike Riley. Mike Riley's last recruits are tearing it up for us and anchoring our defense. JoJo could be playing himself into a first or second round draft pick. Frost is pretty damn lucky that Luke Reimer chose to walk on here and Nick Henrich came down the Omaha pipe when he did. If these guys didn't fall into his lap you would be looking at the "close game" excuse being the closed door.

 

[TheHuskerFreak]

Sure. Callahan was a good recruiter and had a potent offense in years 3 and 4. Had he fired cosgrove and hired a great DC that might have been our best hope at being an elite program out of any moment post TO

 

[bama_husker]

You can argue the value of this, but the composite computer rankings have us at #59 now, and they generally look at level of competition and margin of victory.
We are the highest ranked 3 win team, so I guess we are better than our record suggests, but not much.

 

[GBR_Atlanta]

If Callahan would’ve made the call on replacing Cosgrove a year earlier who knows…he may still be here. That West Coast spread he was rolling out the second half of that season was putting points up.

 

[JabroniBlvd]

Nebraska went 10-3 in 2003....Bill took over in 2004. What are you smoking and how is that in any shape or form the same? Look at 2005, they had a good year because of the defensive players that weren't from Bill - from Solich prior.

 

[JOHNNY N]

Callahan shouldn't have been fired...so there's that

 

[Bruce1981]

Sure. Callahan was a good recruiter and had a potent offense in years 3 and 4. Had he fired cosgrove and hired a great DC that might have been our best hope at being an elite program out of any moment post TO

He wanted to fire Cosgrove. Osborne wouldn't allow it and fired him.

 

[oldjar07]

Why are people -- 4 years later -- still making excuses for Frost's incompetence?

Bill Callahan had to do a full rebuild from an option team to a WCO and still won 5 games his first year. That was with a team that had lost 7 games in a season just 2 years prior. Rebuilding to a baseline of mediocrity does not take 5 years.

I will also remind you, Frost is THIS BAD with a 4th year QB and the best defense we've had in over a decade. He is not going to get another huge break with a defense loaded with 6th year veterans. The rankings are a joke and have been for a while so close games against "top 10" teams don't mean much. The pollsters had IOWA RANKED #2 WITH THAT QB!!!!!!!!!! The rankings are a joke!

Frost blew his chance flat out. He thought with Moos and a few big names in his back pocket along with a guaranteed contract that he could do whatever he wanted instead of putting in the actual work needed to get over the hump. If he replaced all the time he spent lifting weights and the other extracurriculars with recruiting OL maybe he would be in a different situation right now. Frost buried himself, not Mike Riley. Mike Riley's last recruits are tearing it up for us and anchoring our defense. JoJo could be playing himself into a first or second round draft pick. Frost is pretty damn lucky that Luke Reimer chose to walk on here and Nick Henrich came down the Omaha pipe when he did. If these guys didn't fall into his lap you would be looking at the "close game" excuse being the closed door.

Ross Pilkington was actually pretty good. Joe Dailey was asked to perform in a completely different offense than what he was recruited for. Callahan also inherited the Bullocks brothers, the Ruud brothers, Fabian Washington, Carriker, Moore, Matt Herian, and Stewart Bradley. That's a ton of defensive talent that he quite frankly underperformed with. We had nothing on the offensive end for the West coast offense, but that's just another brain dead decision by the administration.

 

[dinglefritz]

Ross Pilkington was actually pretty good. Joe Dailey was asked to perform in a completely different offense than what he was recruited for. Callahan also inherited the Bullocks brothers, the Ruud brothers, Fabian Washington, Carriker, Moore, Matt Herian, and Stewart Bradley. That's a ton of defensive talent that he quite frankly underperformed with. We had nothing on the offensive end for the West coast offense, but that's just another brain dead decision by the administration.

We really didn't have much coming back on offense to run option for Frank either. We were woefully short on O line talent and RBs. Dailey might have been a serviceable option QB but man our O line roster was baaaaad. Frank was going to struggle to get to 7 wins if he had not been fired. JMO.

 

[HuskerAlum92]

We really didn't have much coming back on offense to run option for Frank either. We were woefully short on O line talent and RBs. Dailey might have been a serviceable option QB but man our O line roster was baaaaad. Frank was going to struggle to get to 7 wins if he had not been fired. JMO.

So you’re staying Frank had us gravitating to mediocrity?

 

[dinglefritz]

So you’re staying Frank had us gravitating to mediocrity?

The offensive depth chart was already there. Make no mistake just having the continuity in offensive system would have probably meant more wins than what Callahan got that first year but his recruiting was in the dumpster. Frank's last 2 classes were ranked in the mid 40s.

 

[Herbert Husker]

Sure. Callahan was a good recruiter and had a potent offense in years 3 and 4. Had he fired cosgrove and hired a great DC that might have been our best hope at being an elite program out of any moment post TO

I’ve never understood the Cosgrove argument. When exactly should Callahan have fired him? Midseason 2007? Because the defense in 2006 was pretty good… definitely not worthy of firing the DC.

 

[dinglefritz]

I’ve never understood the Cosgrove argument. When exactly should Callahan have fired him? Midseason 2007? Because the defense in 2006 was pretty good… definitely not worthy of firing the DC.

Bill had met with Tom after he took over as AD and specifically asked him if he wanted him to fire Cosgrove. Tom said he would never tell a head coach what assistants to hire or fire. So Bill decided at that point his best chance to win some games was to ride with Cosgrove. He really didn't have an option at that point. I don't think there was anybody on his staff who would have been better and you can't go out and find a replacement from outside in the middle of the season to take over. Callahan was a dead man walking unless he won out and we all knew that wasn't going to happen. The defensive players had bailed on Coz led by a couple of guys with older brothers who were former Blackshirts.

 

[tpmcg]

Bill had met with Tom after he took over as AD and specifically asked him if he wanted him to fire Cosgrove. Tom said he would never tell a head coach what assistants to hire or fire. So Bill decided at that point his best chance to win some games was to ride with Cosgrove. He really didn't have an option at that point. I don't think there was anybody on his staff who would have been better and you can't go out and find a replacement from outside in the middle of the season to take over. Callahan was a dead man walking unless he won out and we all knew that wasn't going to happen. The defensive players had bailed on Coz led by a couple of guys with older brothers who were former Blackshirts.

the loss of carriker, daganduro, and I think one other up front were big hits from the year before did not get replaced. lbr’s got killed that year.

 

[HuskerHusaria]

Why are people -- 4 years later -- still making excuses for Frost's incompetence?

Bill Callahan had to do a full rebuild from an option team to a WCO and still won 5 games his first year. That was with a team that had lost 7 games in a season just 2 years prior. Rebuilding to a baseline of mediocrity does not take 5 years.

I will also remind you, Frost is THIS BAD with a 4th year QB and the best defense we've had in over a decade. He is not going to get another huge break with a defense loaded with 6th year veterans. The rankings are a joke and have been for a while so close games against "top 10" teams don't mean much. The pollsters had IOWA RANKED #2 WITH THAT QB!!!!!!!!!! The rankings are a joke!

Frost blew his chance flat out. He thought with Moos and a few big names in his back pocket along with a guaranteed contract that he could do whatever he wanted instead of putting in the actual work needed to get over the hump. If he replaced all the time he spent lifting weights and the other extracurriculars with recruiting OL maybe he would be in a different situation right now. Frost buried himself, not Mike Riley. Mike Riley's last recruits are tearing it up for us and anchoring our defense. JoJo could be playing himself into a first or second round draft pick. Frost is pretty damn lucky that Luke Reimer chose to walk on here and Nick Henrich came down the Omaha pipe when he did. If these guys didn't fall into his lap you would be looking at the "close game" excuse being the closed door.

Ross Pilkington quit.

Pilkington to leave Cornhuskers | Football | journalstar.com

Pilk

 

[Husker_AMG63]

Callahan was TRASH and his offenses weren't all that. The OC's we had after him did a FAR BETTER JOB....up until 2014k

 

[pharvey0829]

Callahan was TRASH and his offenses weren't so that. The OC's we had after him did a FAR BETTER JOB....up until 2014k

What about the win over Michigan in the Alamo Bowl?

 

[RedBaloneyPony]

He wanted to fire Cosgrove. Osborne wouldn't allow it and fired him.

Source?

 

[dinglefritz]

Source?

Tom Osborne. I don't recall Tom saying that Callahan wanted to fire Coz. Rather he would have if that was what Tom wanted.

 

[RedBaloneyPony]

Tom Osborne. I don't recall Tom saying that Callahan wanted to fire Coz. Rather he would have if that was what Tom wanted.

Thought TO said Callahan should fire cosgrove to keep his job, but Callahan refused

 

[dinglefritz]

Thought TO said Callahan should fire cosgrove to keep his job, but Callahan refused

No. The story was according to Tom that when he and Bill met Bill asked him if he wanted him to fire Coz. Tom said that he told Bill that he would never tell a head coach what assistants to hire or fire. Now we all know that Tom was involved with some of the staff Bo hired and we also know that Tom was involved with Carl's departure.

 

[dinglefritz]

the loss of carriker, daganduro, and I think one other up front were big hits from the year before did not get replaced. lbr’s got killed that year.

considering that Cozgrove was a linebacker coach and he had a rep as a good recruiter, how thin we were at linebacker was puzzling. Some of it was Callahan's wild use of scholarships trying to find enough O linemen and WRs. I was at the game at Texas and Coz had McCoy completely flumoxed until our starting backers ran out of gas in the 4th quarter. Then Jamaal Charles finally broke one when our backer couldn't get to where he needed to be to fill.

 

[RedBaloneyPony]

No. The story was according to Tom that when he and Bill met Bill asked him if he wanted him to fire Coz. Tom said that he told Bill that he would never tell a head coach what assistants to hire or fire. Now we all know that Tom was involved with some of the staff Bo hired and we also know that Tom was involved with Carl's departure.

Well all be god damned

 

[dinglefritz]

Well all be god damned

Tom repeated that story multiple times in interviews afterwards. I'm not sure Tom was always forthcoming with the whole truth when he talked to the media but I suspect this is pretty close to what happened. Firing Coz at that point wouldn't have saved Bill's job. The move to bring Tom back started when Tom lost his election and it was with one purpose. Get rid of Pedie and get rid of Callahan. Former players were leading the revolt and in fact were undercutting the defensive staff. Some of that was maybe warranted because guys like Elmo had no business coaching at a P5 school.

One of my family members knew all of those guys pretty well.

 

[TheHuskerFreak]

I’ve never understood the Cosgrove argument. When exactly should Callahan have fired him? Midseason 2007? Because the defense in 2006 was pretty good… definitely not worthy of firing the DC.

Àfter the okie state game in 2006

 

[cornwoman]

So you’re staying Frank had us gravitating to mediocrity?

Yes

 

[Husker_AMG63]

Yes

BS. If Frank had us at MEDIOCRITY then what the hell are we NOW??!

 

[dinglefritz]

BS. If Frank had us at MEDIOCRITY then what the hell are we NOW??!

I don't think there's a term that has been invented yet to accurately describe our futility now.

 

[Herbert Husker]

Àfter the okie state game in 2006

Defense had been good all year before that game. You don’t can a guy mid season after one bad game.

 

[GBR_Atlanta]

I don't think there's a term that has been invented yet to accurately describe our futility now.

There is. I believe the experts call it bottom dwellers, doormat. Kansas, Vanderbilt, UCONN are also popular terms.

 

[TheHuskerFreak]

Defense had been good all year before that game. You don’t can a guy mid season after one bad game.

It wasnt that good. Kansas ran up and down the field in lincoln that year. Considering how bad it had been the previous year, cosgrove should have been on a short leash. He was not a good coach and that has been Proven from his time at minnesota and his more recent stint at tech.

 

[dinglefritz]

There is. I believe the experts call it bottom dwellers, doormat. Kansas, Vanderbilt, UCONN are also popular terms.

Well the problem with that is that those teams don't have the resources or talent that NU does. No. I think NU is in a unique position indescribable by mere words.

 

[GBR_Atlanta]

Well the problem with that is that those teams don't have the resources or talent that NU does. No. I think NU is in a unique position indescribable by mere words.

Ha. True. How about “cursed?”

 

[dinglefritz]

Ha. True. How about “cursed?”

I've said it multiple times this year. I think this is a curse put on us by God for our idol worship of Tom and his charges.

 

[chicolby]

This whole conversation is so tiring. We had a miserable year. Frost is ultimately in charge and responsible. He was given another year. This is all factual and nothing we can do to change the past.

We also know that he ultimately has one more year to prove he is the right man for the job. Let the performance next season do all the talking. In the meantime, focus your attention on the basketball team. They’ve got some talented players and when they figure out chemistry, they’ll be a very fun team to watch.

 

[huskerbaseball13]

Ahhh yes, the good ole days when Osborne told Callahan that get to 7-5 and he would “maybe” keep his job. Now look at us move the goal post for a 3-9 coach.

Speaking of Osborne, can we get an update on his thoughts about what the Golden Boy has done to the program? Preseason he thought this team was being underrated.

The former head coach said, “I think were going to have a pretty good year. My guess is some of the prognosticators and pundits are probably underrating a little more than they should.”

 

[pharvey0829]

BS. If Frank had us at MEDIOCRITY then what the hell are we NOW??!

Moral victory national champions

 

[Yantzeee]

the loss of carriker, daganduro, and I think one other up front were big hits from the year before did not get replaced. lbr’s got killed that year.

Jay Moore & Barry Cryer. We basically had to completely replace our front 4 (which had been a good one in 2006). It was a major red flag going into the 2007 season but people wanted to overhype us going into that season and when we got smacked by USC , the team folded the season. Remember the photo shop pics of a truck driving thru the wholes USC made of our line?

The ironic thing about that 2007 D-Line is it eventually turned into that 2009 beast group. Suh, Allen, & Turner.

The question is if the “crusty old f” minds his own business and BC retains Coz, do we win a Natty in 2009? Bo didn’t go shopping for those ingredients on D so that D would still be intact as far personal. and maybe the D takes a step back or two but the offense is much better. Gabby is probably the QB and a pretty good one cause Suh wouldn’t have murdered him.

 

[oldjar07]

Jay Moore & Barry Cryer. We basically had to completely replace our front 4 (which had been a good one in 2006). It was a major red flag going into the 2007 season but people wanted to overhype us going into that season and when we got smacked by USC , the team folded the season. Remember the photo shop pics of a truck driving thru the wholes USC made of our line?

The ironic thing about that 2007 D-Line is it eventually turned into that 2009 beast group. Suh, Allen, & Turner.

The question is if the “crusty old f” minds his own business and BC retains Coz, do we win a Natty in 2009? Bo didn’t go shopping for those ingredients on D so that D would still be intact as far personal. and maybe the D takes a step back or two but the offense is much better. Gabby is probably the QB and a pretty good one cause Suh wouldn’t have murdered him.

Maybe have some respect for one of the greatest minds in college football history in TO and stop bringing up nicknames that only Husker haters and trolls use. Also Bo and the assistants played a huge role in turning that defense around from the 2008-2010 seasons. Marvin Sanders and the DB's were every bit as impactful as Suh and the DL. We wouldn't have been anywhere near as good without Bo's influence. So no, there is no scenario where we keep BC where we come anywhere close to a natty.

 

[Yantzeee]

Maybe have some respect for one of the greatest minds in college football history in TO and stop bringing up nicknames that only Husker haters and trolls use. Also Bo and the assistants played a huge role in turning that defense around from the 2008-2010 seasons. Marvin Sanders and the DB's were every bit as impactful as Suh and the DL. We wouldn't have been anywhere near as good without Bo's influence. So no, there is no scenario where we keep BC where we come anywhere close to a natty.

It was a reference to Bill‘s book. And as great as TO was as a coach, he was awful both politically and administratively at UNL. The AD part is what’s relative to the time we are talking about, not his coaching.