Interview with MR

[LBremser]

Shatel had an article in the OWH today on his interview with Coach Riley. On the DL coach front:
Q: First question on Hank Hughes. Did you fire him?

A: “I did. Hank is a good football coach, a great guy. I won’t comment on specifics, just to say it was an overall evaluation of where we needed to go.

“It’s very similar to what we’re doing right now: evaluating a need to get better. It’s all a matter of how it all fits, how we can get better, whether it’s run a zone play or recruiting. One of my jobs is to continually evaluate what we have to do to get better.”

Q: What are you looking for in a replacement? Young? Veteran? Good recruiter?

A: “I’m putting a profile together. It’s going to be a blend of football coach, recruiter and right staff member. I’ve got an initial list of 50 people that I’ve pared down to 10, from across the country, people who contacted us.”

Link: http://www.omaha.com/huskers/shatel...cle_0f50b3de-31ce-526c-bdac-58960ea1658b.html

 

[Husker.Wed.]

"God dang"? "God darned"? Next thing you know he will be saying dadgummit. I liked the line about not needing to read (the noise) about how they were doing because he could tell how they were doing by how people acted around him. Even though he tries to be nonchalant because everywhere he has been people wanted to win, I read between the lines that he was never at a place like Nebraska where his every move is followed by so many.

I have been, and will be a Ri-liever, at least for a few years. I really like how he is doing all kinds of things to continuously improve. However, it is sort of odd that a staff with so much experience were not able to "blend" what they wanted to do with the strengths of players on offense. I had hoped we were past coaches learning on the job. Also, I really hope one of the improvements they have in their spiral notebooks for next year is to readjust Cavanaugh's policy that you pick five guys and the rest of the scholarship lineman don't sniff the field. That is the one thing about this staff so far that really really bothers me.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

I liked the interview. He is candid and blunt. He does not try to hide the staff's failings this year and he, unlike Callahan, is unafraid to fire coaches he thinks are not getting it done.

That said... I find it shocking (no exaggeration) that it took them most of the year to figure out that we should not have Armstrong throwing 45 times a game and that we needed to pound the rock instead, followed by high percentage passes that Armstrong can handle. I like what was said above that it is sad that a veteran staff needed to learn on the fly.

 

[scarletred]

I agree with you Husker.Wed, on Cavanaugh not playing enough linemen in a game for 2 reason's
1) keeping players fresh for the 4th quarter 2) building depth during and future seasons.
I understand if certain true Freshman aren't ready to contribute and I'm not saying he needs to play another 5 guys he needs the best 8 and rotate.

I know Tenopir liked to develope depth and I know Ferentz and Iowa have so much success because they also play more than 5 linemen.

 

[KSSK]

Staying with your best players is not wrong as long as development is occurring during practice. You have to understand where the physicality and tenacity and strength were of the players that coach cav inherited was poor and our current strength and conditioning coaches will and have improved this over the last year. Developing a mentality of team which includes the twelfth man, the fans, vs us against the world will also help in improving the winning attitude. We at least have a staff with a backbone to make staff changes or player changes if needed.
I also don't know of any progressive job where leaders and coaches are not learning on the job. The ones that don't will not exceed expectations.

 

[TurboHerbie]

Two ways to look at this: 1.) Even veteran coaching staffs have to make big adjustments when adapting to a new program. HCMR was at Oregon State for a long time, and reliable methods in that environment needed to be changed upon arrival at NU, to a greater degree than they initially anticipated. They came in without any insider knowledge of the history and culture here, which I believe to be fairly unique in the college football world. However, because this is a veteran staff, they have a system in place that will allow them to adjust more quickly and effectively in terms of scheme, personnel, recruiting, conditioning, and will be better positioned to evaluate the results of those adjustments. 2.) Mike Riley is clueless and too damn old to be making these kinds of judgement calls. The Huskers are doomed to at least another several years of football purgatory.

For now at least, I choose to believe the former. While there was clearly mismanagement at times during last season, this staff has already proven to be far more willing and able to make major adjustments than the prior staff. They actively seek feedback and advice from sources both within, and outside of, the Husker program. There appears to be a willingness to undertake deeper self evaluation by the staff than there was previously. The next 2-3 seasons will prove if that's truly the case or if they're just really good at hiding the evidence from scenario #2.

 

[chicolby]

Many can argue that offensive line chemistry is maybe second in importance only to talent. That bunch has to operate as one. If you look at NFL teams, you never see backups getting snaps on the line to develop them.

I am of the belief that the backups are being coached up during practice so that if they are called upon they will be ready.

 

[NikkiSixx]

Some of you may not like this and that is fine, but in that article, it mentions that Coach may not build a house after all and might just rent for now. I know this first hand in my own experience. When I worked in another city and kept my options open, that position or arrangement never lasted very long. I don't think it's a conscious thing, but just something to think about. I don't think coach Hughes bought a home either, and while each situation is different, the end result can often be the same.

 

[scarletred]

Some of you may not like this and that is fine, but in that article, it mentions that Coach may not build a house after all and might just rent for now. I know this first hand in my own experience. When I worked in another city and kept my options open, that position or arrangement never lasted very long. I don't think it's a conscious thing, but just something to think about. I don't think coach Hughes bought a home either, and while each situation is different, the end result can often be the same.

Considering his wife's situation I can understand why he hasn't purchased a home in Lincoln but living in a motel for over a year would seem to be very difficult. Like the idea of them thinking about renting a down town condo so they can get back to a normal life style especially at their age.

 

[Husker.Wed.]

Some of you may not like this and that is fine, but in that article, it mentions that Coach may not build a house after all and might just rent for now. I know this first hand in my own experience. When I worked in another city and kept my options open, that position or arrangement never lasted very long. I don't think it's a conscious thing, but just something to think about. I don't think coach Hughes bought a home either, and while each situation is different, the end result can often be the same.

I really don't read too much into it. They have a house they like in Corvallis. All their stuff is in that house. They make no bones about eventually retiring there. They will be here probably 8-10 years max. If I am in that situation I have to ask myself would I want to empty my house back there and move all the stuff to Lincoln, then move it all back? I probably wouldn't, so buying a 4000 sq ft house in Lincoln and furnishing it would not be high on my list, especially if my wife was ill after I bought my first house in Lincoln.

 

[Tyante]

Some of you may not like this and that is fine, but in that article, it mentions that Coach may not build a house after all and might just rent for now. I know this first hand in my own experience. When I worked in another city and kept my options open, that position or arrangement never lasted very long. I don't think it's a conscious thing, but just something to think about. I don't think coach Hughes bought a home either, and while each situation is different, the end result can often be the same.

I read before the Riley did purchase a home in Lincoln but Dee's allergies made it so she couldn't live there so they sold it. IMO this is a different situation.

 

[little a]

I liked the interview. He is candid and blunt. He does not try to hide the staff's failings this year and he, unlike Callahan, is unafraid to fire coaches he thinks are not getting it done.

That said... I find it shocking (no exaggeration) that it took them most of the year to figure out that we should not have Armstrong throwing 45 times a game and that we needed to pound the rock instead, followed by high percentage passes that Armstrong can handle. I like what was said above that it is sad that a veteran staff needed to learn on the fly.

"God dang"? "God darned"? Next thing you know he will be saying dadgummit. I liked the line about not needing to read (the noise) about how they were doing because he could tell how they were doing by how people acted around him. Even though he tries to be nonchalant because everywhere he has been people wanted to win, I read between the lines that he was never at a place like Nebraska where his every move is followed by so many.

I have been, and will be a Ri-liever, at least for a few years. I really like how he is doing all kinds of things to continuously improve. However, it is sort of odd that a staff with so much experience were not able to "blend" what they wanted to do with the strengths of players on offense. I had hoped we were past coaches learning on the job. Also, I really hope one of the improvements they have in their spiral notebooks for next year is to readjust Cavanaugh's policy that you pick five guys and the rest of the scholarship lineman don't sniff the field. That is the one thing about this staff so far that really really bothers me.

I want to be a Ri-Liever, I really do (nice guy, blah blah) but maybe this staff IS what its record says it is ......mediocre. And I somewhat agree with poster below that it is odd to live in hotel for year and half. Almost like a toe in the water deal with one foot on beach. You want your coach/employee to be all-in (which I'm sure he is) but u wonder if other recruiters can/are using that against Nebraska ie "that 62 year old coach has been their a year and a half and is still in a hotel--one more bad year and he's toast, and he knows it!!" Just my Opinion and I hope I'm wrong

 

[scarletred]

I read before the Riley did purchase a home in Lincoln but Dee's allergies made it so she couldn't live there so they sold it. IMO this is a different situation.

Your correct, she still could not leave in it so they sold it.

 

[JohnRossEwing]

I really don't read too much into it. They have a house they like in Corvallis. All their stuff is in that house. They make no bones about eventually retiring there. They will be here probably 8-10 years max. If I am in that situation I have to ask myself would I want to empty my house back there and move all the stuff to Lincoln, then move it all back? I probably wouldn't, so buying a 4000 sq ft house in Lincoln and furnishing it would not be high on my list, especially if my wife was ill after I bought my first house in Lincoln.

I don't think Riley would be calling his buddies over and offering up some pizza and beer to help with the move...

 

[jlb321]

I am probably way off base but the cynic in me thinks that when mama Riley was asked about taking the Neb job and moving to Lincoln the response might have been "whatever you think honey" (which translates to "please no") or her voice said yes but her eyes and body language said No

apologize for the negativity .. just can't shake getting that vibe

 

[Husker.Wed.]

I don't think Riley would be calling his buddies over and offering up some pizza and beer to help with the move...

I thought about that before I made my post. My last move 17 years ago was a beer and pizza deal. My next and last move when we retire in 5 years will definitely be Bekins Van and Storage. Even then, I don't expect Bekins to pick the paint and have the next house painted inside, hang a couple TV sets, hang 25 pictures exactly where I want them, set up drip irrigation for 20 potted fruit trees, etc. Moving is a pain even if professionals do it.

 

[timnsun]

I am probably way off base but the cynic in me thinks that when mama Riley was asked about taking the Neb job and moving to Lincoln the response might have been "whatever you think honey" (which translates to "please no") or her voice said yes but her eyes and body language said No

apologize for the negativity .. just can't shake getting that vibe

I thought it's been pretty well documented that Dee actually told Mike to consider it, not the other way around.

 

[JohnRossEwing]

I thought about that before I made my post. My last move 17 years ago was a beer and pizza deal. My next and last move when we retire in 5 years will definitely be Bekins Van and Storage. Even then, I don't expect Bekins to pick the paint and have the next house painted inside, hang a couple TV sets, hang 25 pictures exactly where I want them, set up drip irrigation for 20 potted fruit trees, etc. Moving is a pain even if professionals do it.

Moving a sucks ass!

I agree with that.

 

[little a]

I am probably way off base but the cynic in me thinks that when mama Riley was asked about taking the Neb job and moving to Lincoln the response might have been "whatever you think honey" (which translates to "please no") or her voice said yes but her eyes and body language said No

apologize for the negativity .. just can't shake getting that vibe

I think your probably 100% correct in that assumption- Riley is not dumb and realized with Nebraska offer he could still save face (live and retire in Corvallis instead of awkward firing and hanging around) and go on "one more adventure" as he put it.

 

[phoenix4nu]

Moving a sucks ass!

I agree with that.

Just wait. Somebody will probably disagree with you on that. Ha.

 

[timnsun]

I think your probably 100% correct in that assumption- Riley is not dumb and realized with Nebraska offer he could still save face (live and retire in Corvallis instead of awkward firing and hanging around) and go on "one more adventure" as he put it.

No, this is not 100% correct, at least according to how it has been reported. Mike said something to his wife about the Nebraska job and she encouraged him to pursue it. This is how it has been reported on numerous sites.

Maybe it is one last hurrah, but I don't believe Dee was against it and just didn't speak up. No interview supports that at all.

We can throw stuff at the wall, and yeah, maybe it sticks, but if we are taking Mike and Dee at their word, she was not an unwilling participant here.

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

I read before the Riley did purchase a home in Lincoln but Dee's allergies made it so she couldn't live there so they sold it. IMO this is a different situation.

Purchased a home and the lot next to it. Dee tried living in it and couldn't. She even tried two assistants houses and couldn't. What I find strange is, how does the Embassy have the "right chemicals" but not new(er) houses? Well, maybe I just answered my own question, new vs old, who knows...

IMO, it's not about her (Dee) not wanting to live in Lincoln and has more to do with their daughter not wanting to uproot herself and her kid. I'm pretty sure that's why they bought the lot next to their house as they were going to build.

Regardless, his Hilton points have to be

 

[dinglefritz]

Purchased a home and the lot next to it. Dee tried living in it and couldn't. She even tried two assistants houses and couldn't. What I find strange is, how does the Embassy have the "right chemicals" but not new(er) houses? Well, maybe I just answered my own question, new vs old, who knows...

IMO, it's not about her (Dee) not wanting to live in Lincoln and has more to do with their daughter not wanting to uproot herself and her kid. I'm pretty sure that's why they bought the lot next to their house as they were going to build.

Regardless, his Hilton points have to be

They have some darned nice suites AND she NEVER has too cook or clean. He can walk to work and doesn't have to mow the yard. Sounds good to me.

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

They have some darned nice suites AND she NEVER has too cook or clean. He can walk to work and doesn't have to mow the yard. Sounds good to me.

As someone that's traveled extensively, it gets old, real quick.

 

[jlb321]

Rick Majerus lived out of a hotel suite his entire tenure while at Utah

 

[Nebraska Fan]

As someone that's traveled extensively, it gets old, real quick.

when I travels extensively to the same location a suite was ok for just me but with a spouse and/or kids not so good. So long as there is some cooking utensils and refrigerator I was ok.

In MR situation flight from Omaha to Portland are cheap and he is on the road quite a lot so it would make sense to buy/rent a smallish condo in Lincoln.

 

[Husker.Wed.]

when I travels extensively to the same location a suite was ok for just me but with a spouse and/or kids not so good. So long as there is some cooking utensils and refrigerator I was ok.

In MR situation flight from Omaha to Portland are cheap and he is on the road quite a lot so it would make sense to buy/rent a smallish condo in Lincoln.

I stay at Marriott properties like Residence Inn, Springhill, etc. Same old same old, scrambled eggs and turkey sausage every morning. Once in awhile I kick my heels up and make a waffle - WooHoo.

 

[Lincoln100]

I want to be a Ri-Liever, I really do (nice guy, blah blah) but maybe this staff IS what its record says it is ......mediocre. And I somewhat agree with poster below that it is odd to live in hotel for year and half. Almost like a toe in the water deal with one foot on beach. You want your coach/employee to be all-in (which I'm sure he is) but u wonder if other recruiters can/are using that against Nebraska ie "that 62 year old coach has been their a year and a half and is still in a hotel--one more bad year and he's toast, and he knows it!!" Just my Opinion and I hope I'm wrong

You really sit around and think of stuff like this?

 

[Tulsa Tom]

Shatel had an article in the OWH today on his interview with Coach Riley. On the DL coach front:
Q: First question on Hank Hughes. Did you fire him?

A: “I did. Hank is a good football coach, a great guy. I won’t comment on specifics, just to say it was an overall evaluation of where we needed to go.

“It’s very similar to what we’re doing right now: evaluating a need to get better. It’s all a matter of how it all fits, how we can get better, whether it’s run a zone play or recruiting. One of my jobs is to continually evaluate what we have to do to get better.”

Q: What are you looking for in a replacement? Young? Veteran? Good recruiter?

A: “I’m putting a profile together. It’s going to be a blend of football coach, recruiter and right staff member. I’ve got an initial list of 50 people that I’ve pared down to 10, from across the country, people who contacted us.”

Link: http://www.omaha.com/huskers/shatel...cle_0f50b3de-31ce-526c-bdac-58960ea1658b.html

Really good article by Riley. He took a lot of responsibility for the play calling and the progression of that calling. He also realized late in the season we can have the identity of a good run game. If he can get Langs to buy in we could be tough to beat.

This interview is the best thing I have seen from Riley yet. Gives me hope for the future if he follows through.

 

[jlb321]

Purchased a home and the lot next to it. Dee tried living in it and couldn't. She even tried two assistants houses and couldn't. What I find strange is, how does the Embassy have the "right chemicals" but not new(er) houses? Well, maybe I just answered my own question, new vs old, who knows...

IMO, it's not about her (Dee) not wanting to live in Lincoln and has more to do with their daughter not wanting to uproot herself and her kid. I'm pretty sure that's why they bought the lot next to their house as they were going to build.

Regardless, his Hilton points have to be

maybe she is allergic to Lincoln?

 

[NikkiSixx]

There is this guy at work, whenever he doesn't want to do something, his allergies suddenly flare up.

 

[Tulsa Tom]

Ehhhhh...don't really care about his wife. She can live in Corvallis and it is fine by me. I do care the direction that Riley wants to take the program. This article shows he realized he really screwed it up last year. The first step to change is realizing the problem.

“Nobody that came here expects 5-7 is acceptable,” Riley said. “We know we failed. We know it’s got to get better. How are we going to do that?”

“Some of it’s painfully obvious. Look around at the teams that are winning, and there are common denominators.”
Turnover margin and penalties come to mind. Riley says to be a championship team, the run game and defense need to be in the top three in the Big Ten.

“This is what this team has to do to be good: run the ball, be selective what you do in the passing game, make these isolated throws from the quarterback because you’re running the ball well."

“I know that sounds late, but in our first year, we found out more about ourselves as we went. We ran the ball well against Michigan State. We’ve got to blame ourselves — look at the sequence of calling, how we call plays. We’ll take all the criticism. We get it."

“I think we can look in hindsight: This [running the ball] might have been a better identity for this team all along. And it was something, unfortunately, we uncovered late."

“I really like the number of times, and how Tommy complemented the run game in the bowl game. The designated runs. There weren’t an overabundance of them, but boy, were they effective....This quarterback run deal is new to us. We are discovering the subtleties in how to block it. We have so much evidence here, video across the country, our league opponents and also the teams they played. You can do a lot of (studying) here. That’s what our guys are doing right now.”


Will he change and get committed to the run like he says above? I hope so. This is EXACTLY what many of us have been saying in the face of opposition on this board for months. I may have more hope today than at any point since Riley was installed as the head coach.

 

[StrongArm517]

"This quarterback run deal is new to us."

Must admit,, this comment bothers me.

 

[Tulsa Tom]

"This quarterback run deal is new to us."

Must admit,, this comment bothers me.

I think he thought he could just do things the Oregon State way and be fine. Give him props for honesty and hopefully learning. The only issue now is that we wasted a year of teaching on Tommy where we ignored his strengths. Hopefully he can have a stellar senior season.

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

"This quarterback run deal is new to us."

Must admit,, this comment bothers me.

It shouldn't, pretty obvious why, but go ahead and continue to be bothered.

 

[StrongArm517]

I think he thought he could just do things the Oregon State way and be fine. Give him props for honesty and hopefully learning. The only issue now is that we wasted a year of teaching on Tommy where we ignored his strengths. Hopefully he can have a stellar senior season.

Agree with you and do appreciate the honesty. I'm very supportive of MR but with all the trends in College football, playing against in state rival Oregon, and coming into a situation with Tommy Armstrong's skill set, I find this head scratching.

 

[phoenix4nu]

Will he change and get committed to the run like he says above? I hope so. This is EXACTLY what many of us have been saying in the face of opposition on this board for months. I may have more hope today than at any point since Riley was installed as the head coach.

It would be more encouraging if he was recruiting dual threat quarterbacks. O'Brien ran some in high school, but he is considered a pro-style quarterback. And both the transfer quarterback from Tulane and the quarterback they recently offered from NY appear to be immobile.

 

[timnsun]

It would be more encouraging if he was recruiting dual threat quarterbacks. O'Brien ran some in high school, but he is considered a pro-style quarterback. And both the transfer quarterback from Tulane and the quarterback they recently offered from NY appear to be immobile.

This doesn't necessarily mean doing away with the run, although we will have to wait and see. I could see him getting more pure passers who are better with the ball and leave the running to the running backs. Does that mean we pass more than run? Could be. And if so, and it doesn't work, it will be a short run for Riley and company.

 

[jlb321]

i disagree that it is a given that you need a dual threat QB to be successful.
Alabama, FSU with winston (he was a pocket passer who could run if needed), Stanford has owned the PAC-12, USC,
Michigan state and Iowa played in the BIG championship last year, I believe MSU has won 2 of the last 3 BIG titles
Wisconsin has won the BIG recently
Michigan - remains to be seen what there ceiling is - but they had a pretty good year with a statue for QB

I agree that TAs talents should be maximized - ie run> pass, but to say you have to have a dual threat QB to be successful is false

 

[Tulsa Tom]

Does that mean we pas more than run? Could be.

I see nothing in this article that indicates that. In fact, I see just the opposite. Riley knows that successful teams run the ball. For Nebraska to be successful we have to run the ball and then we can pick our spots passing.