http://www.tennessean.com/story/spo...nnections-clausen-rooting-tennessee/95584250/
Casey Clausen’s loyalties won’t be split.
Despite having developed a close relationship with the Nebraska football coaches, the former Tennessee quarterback will be cheering for the Vols (8-4) when they play the Huskers (9-3) in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 (TV: ESPN, 3:30 p.m. EST) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
“My allegiance will always be with Tennessee and it’s no exception for this bowl game,” said Clausen, who ranks second all-time in career total offense at UT with 9,557 yards from 2000-03. “I want the Vols to go out and have some fun and get the big W on the board. Friends are friends, but my alma mater is Tennessee.”
Clausen is the head coach at Calabasas High in Southern California. His program has become a recruiting pipeline for Nebraska recently that is so plentiful it’s inspired the moniker “Calabraska.”
Second-year Nebraska coach Mike Riley is familiar with the Southern California recruiting terrain from his time as the head coach at Oregon State and as the offensive coordinator at USC.
Calabasas graduate Marquel Dismuke is a freshman defensive back at Nebraska. Two of Clausen’s top players this season have committed to the Huskers – four-star quarterback Tristan Gebbia and four-star wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson Jr., the son of the former University of Southern California great.
Nebraska has offered Calabasas junior linebacker Reggie Hughes and remains in pursuit of five-star senior defensive back Darnay Holmes, who made an unofficial visit to the campus in September.
The connection extends to the Calabasas coaching staff. One of Clausen’s assistant coaches, Bryan Wilson, is a former Nebraska defensive back.
Just the thought of a Calabasas player being recruited by a Power Five program would have been laughable before Clausen was hired in 2014.
Prior to his arrival, Calabasas had endured five 0-10 seasons and four one-win seasons since 2002. The Coyotes suffered through a 30-game losing streak and hadn’t reached the playoffs since 2001.
Clausen has quickly lifted Calabasas from a moribund program into a powerhouse.
He led them to their second straight section championship this season with three Nebraska coaches watching from the sideline. Calabasas ended its season last weekend with a 60-53 overtime loss in the state semifinals to finish 14-1.
“We have quite a few younger guys who are going to be juniors and seniors next year and will receive quite a few offers,” said Clausen, a broker for Flintridge Insurance, a family business started by his father. “Our job is just to make sure they handle their business in the classroom and get them as exposed to as many different schools as they can to see what they feel is best for them.”
Clausen has tried to interest some of his players into playing for Tennessee, and has met with Vols defensive backs coach Willie Martinez during his recruiting trips to the Los Angeles area.
“For most of the West Coast kids, not just California kids, I think you have to get them on campus to really have a shot,” Clausen said. “They need a chance to see the environment and see how football is 365 days of the year at Tennessee. It can really expand their horizons once they realize what the school is like and may discover they love the place.”
Although they have separate rooting interests for the Music City Bowl, Clausen said there hasn’t been any trash talking yet between him and his Nebraska-bound players.
“They are actually going to Nebraska after the bowl game. A few of them will be enrolling there in a few weeks,” Clausen said. “But we haven’t really discussed the bowl game much here because we’ve been so focused on our season. I am just looking forward to it being a good game. I think it’s a really good matchup.”
Casey Clausen’s loyalties won’t be split.
Despite having developed a close relationship with the Nebraska football coaches, the former Tennessee quarterback will be cheering for the Vols (8-4) when they play the Huskers (9-3) in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 (TV: ESPN, 3:30 p.m. EST) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
“My allegiance will always be with Tennessee and it’s no exception for this bowl game,” said Clausen, who ranks second all-time in career total offense at UT with 9,557 yards from 2000-03. “I want the Vols to go out and have some fun and get the big W on the board. Friends are friends, but my alma mater is Tennessee.”
Clausen is the head coach at Calabasas High in Southern California. His program has become a recruiting pipeline for Nebraska recently that is so plentiful it’s inspired the moniker “Calabraska.”
Second-year Nebraska coach Mike Riley is familiar with the Southern California recruiting terrain from his time as the head coach at Oregon State and as the offensive coordinator at USC.
Calabasas graduate Marquel Dismuke is a freshman defensive back at Nebraska. Two of Clausen’s top players this season have committed to the Huskers – four-star quarterback Tristan Gebbia and four-star wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson Jr., the son of the former University of Southern California great.
Nebraska has offered Calabasas junior linebacker Reggie Hughes and remains in pursuit of five-star senior defensive back Darnay Holmes, who made an unofficial visit to the campus in September.
The connection extends to the Calabasas coaching staff. One of Clausen’s assistant coaches, Bryan Wilson, is a former Nebraska defensive back.
Just the thought of a Calabasas player being recruited by a Power Five program would have been laughable before Clausen was hired in 2014.
Prior to his arrival, Calabasas had endured five 0-10 seasons and four one-win seasons since 2002. The Coyotes suffered through a 30-game losing streak and hadn’t reached the playoffs since 2001.
Clausen has quickly lifted Calabasas from a moribund program into a powerhouse.
He led them to their second straight section championship this season with three Nebraska coaches watching from the sideline. Calabasas ended its season last weekend with a 60-53 overtime loss in the state semifinals to finish 14-1.
“We have quite a few younger guys who are going to be juniors and seniors next year and will receive quite a few offers,” said Clausen, a broker for Flintridge Insurance, a family business started by his father. “Our job is just to make sure they handle their business in the classroom and get them as exposed to as many different schools as they can to see what they feel is best for them.”
Clausen has tried to interest some of his players into playing for Tennessee, and has met with Vols defensive backs coach Willie Martinez during his recruiting trips to the Los Angeles area.
“For most of the West Coast kids, not just California kids, I think you have to get them on campus to really have a shot,” Clausen said. “They need a chance to see the environment and see how football is 365 days of the year at Tennessee. It can really expand their horizons once they realize what the school is like and may discover they love the place.”
Although they have separate rooting interests for the Music City Bowl, Clausen said there hasn’t been any trash talking yet between him and his Nebraska-bound players.
“They are actually going to Nebraska after the bowl game. A few of them will be enrolling there in a few weeks,” Clausen said. “But we haven’t really discussed the bowl game much here because we’ve been so focused on our season. I am just looking forward to it being a good game. I think it’s a really good matchup.”
