Much time has passed since our move from "Mediocrity"

[cavalot]

Did you see things going this way on the day Steve Pedersen made his "Mediocrity" speech?

Where do we stand, and how did we get here? And our we headed in the right direction?

Since the dismissal of Head Coach Frank Solich in 2003, the Nebraska Cornhuskers football program has experienced a period of fluctuating performance. Here's an overview of their record from 2004 through 2023:

Overall Performance (2004-2023):

• Total Games Played: 233
• Wins: 128
• Losses: 105
• Winning Percentage: Approximately 54.9%

Season-by-Season Breakdown:

• 2004: 5-6
• 2005: 8-4
• 2006: 9-5
• 2007: 5-7
• 2008: 9-4
• 2009: 10-4
• 2010: 10-4
• 2011: 9-4
• 2012: 10-4
• 2013: 9-4
• 2014: 9-4
• 2015: 6-7
• 2016: 9-4
• 2017: 4-8
• 2018: 4-8
• 2019: 5-7
• 2020: 3-5
• 2021: 3-9
• 2022: 4-8
• 2023: 5-7

Note: The 2020 season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coaching Changes:

• Bill Callahan (2004-2007):
  • Record: 27-22
  • Winning Percentage: 55.1%
• Bo Pelini (2008-2014):
  • Record: 67-27
  • Winning Percentage: 71.3%
• Mike Riley (2015-2017):
  • Record: 19-19
  • Winning Percentage: 50%
• Scott Frost (2018-2022):
  • Record: 16-31
  • Winning Percentage: 34%
• Interim Coaches (2022):
  • Record: 2-3
• Matt Rhule (2023-Present):
  • Record: 12-13 (as of 2023)
  • Winning Percentage: 48%

Conference Transitions:

• Big 12 Conference (2004-2010):
  • Achieved multiple division titles but no conference championships.
• Big Ten Conference (2011-Present):
  • Competed in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2012 but did not secure the title.

Bowl Game Appearances:

• Total Bowl Games (2004-2023): 11
• Wins: 5
• Losses: 6

Note: Nebraska did not participate in bowl games during the 2004, 2007, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons.

Recent Performance:

In recent years, the Cornhuskers have faced challenges in achieving winning seasons and securing bowl game invitations. The program is currently under the leadership of Head Coach Matt Rhule, who is working to rebuild and restore Nebraska's storied football legacy.

Data Source: HuskerMax - Nebraska Football Records

Please note that records and statistics are subject to change as new seasons are completed.

Frank Solich to be Honored at Upcoming Nebraska Game

Corn Nation
Thursday Flakes: A Gluttony of Birthdays, American Tennis and a No Hitter
131 days ago

Sources

 

[Badger Pete]

OP, add in the 1990 seasons and do a graph. Not mediocrity but a dumpster fire. Better times are ahead soon!!!!

 

[huskerfan66]

I thought at the time, when we broke the bowl game string and had a losing record, that was rock bottom and the end of the world.

Boy was I wrong. Only just the beginning

 

[RedMyMind]

5-6 was pretty bad for a Nebraska team of that caliber/era

 

[Bugeater]

There's about 30 or so games in the loss column during that time that Nebraska very well could have won.

 

[goldencohusker]

20+ years ago being "mediocre" seemed an apocalypse. All these year later, we live with the cruel irony that improvement starts by getting to and gravitating above mediocrity.

 

[HikingHusker]

There's about 30 or so games in the loss column during that time that Nebraska very well could have won.

Including multiple conference championship games.

 

[huskerfan66]

20+ years ago being "mediocre" seemed an apocalypse. All these year later, we live with the cruel irony that improvement starts by getting to and gravitating above mediocrity.

A positive sign is this. Most bull markets begin with a double bottom. Hopefully it's in now

 

[NikkiSixx]

Should have never fired Bo Pelini.

Should have never fired Frank Solich either.

That said, let's look at the data (edited)

• Bill Callahan (2004-2007):
  • Record: 27-22
  • Winning Percentage: 55.1% (Average coach)
• Bo Pelini (2008-2014):
  • Record: 67-27
  • Winning Percentage: 71.3% (High performer)
• Mike Riley (2015-2017):
  • Record: 19-19
  • Winning Percentage: 50% (Average coach)
• Scott Frost (2018-2022):
  • Record: 16-31
  • Winning Percentage: 34% (Loser)
• Mickey Joeseph (2022):
  • Record: 2-3 (too little data, but 40% is Loser category)
• Matt Rhule (2023-Present):
  • Record: 12-13 (as of 2023)
  • Winning Percentage: 48% (Loser-Average)

This is what the data says, maybe Rhule climbs up into 55% or something next year, but he's alway been a 50% ish guy, so I don't expect anything better than that.

 

[cavalot]

20+ years ago being "mediocre" seemed an apocalypse. All these year later, we live with the cruel irony that improvement starts by getting to and gravitating above mediocrity.

Yep. We really did have a great thing, but it wasn't enough and now we are faced with the reality that D1 football had changed at that time, and getting to 9 wins or a championship game was getting increasingly harder and harder.

Hindsight is always 20/20 but some of us could see the writing on the wall. We were never going to stay Nebraska of the mid 90's.

 

[cavalot]

Should have never fired Bo Pelini.

Should have never fired Frank Solich either.

That said, let's look at the data (edited)

• Bill Callahan (2004-2007):
  • Record: 27-22
  • Winning Percentage: 55.1% (Average coach)
• Bo Pelini (2008-2014):
  • Record: 67-27
  • Winning Percentage: 71.3% (High performer)
• Mike Riley (2015-2017):
  • Record: 19-19
  • Winning Percentage: 50% (Average coach)
• Scott Frost (2018-2022):
  • Record: 16-31
  • Winning Percentage: 34% (Loser)
• Mickey Joeseph (2022):
  • Record: 2-3 (too little data, but 67%)
• Matt Rhule (2023-Present):
  • Record: 12-13 (as of 2023)
  • Winning Percentage: 48% (Loser-Average)

This is what the data says, maybe Rhule climbs up into 55% or something next year, but he's alway been a 50% ish guy, so I don't expect anything better than that.

I agree with the Solich and to an extent Pelini part.

I think MR gets us over the hump to the the Pelini level within 4 years.

Biggest mistake was trying to change the Nebraska culture from the inside out when the outside was so resistant to any such change. BC screwed the pooch on that one.

 

[Papa...Football]

• Mickey Joeseph (2022):
  • Record: 2-3 (too little data, but 67%)

67% ?

Must be that new math we’ve heard so much about

 

[NikkiSixx]

67% ?

Must be that new math we’ve heard so much about

my bad.. I misread that.. as a fraction 2/3rds.. that's only 40%.. def Loser category, but also still too little data

 

[huntered]

nebraska fans like drunken sailors allowed the ship to drift aimlessly into the abyss. will take a man of clear character and unrelenting drive to right the ship. money and sell outs are nice yet only feed repeated fails.

 

[SickOfPractice]

I'm trying to stick to the original question "Did you see things going this way on the day Steve Pedersen made his "Mediocrity" speech?"

My answer is no. Despite well meaning warnings from Sooner friends in warning us not to repeat their same mistakes I thought, "We're Nebraska. It won't take us a decade like it took OU." What an arrogant fool I was. So was Steve Pederson.

 

[cavalot]

nebraska fans like drunken sailors allowed the ship to drift aimlessly into the abyss. will take a man of clear character and unrelenting drive to right the ship. money and sell outs are nice yet only feed repeated fails.

IN 03 Nebraska fans (boosters) drove the ship into the abyss. We've tried multiple coaches since that point to steer us out of it. Not sure if we will ever make it out. If we do we probably will never get to the pinnacle of success that we once enjoyed.

 

[RedMyMind]

If Frank and Bo were such great coaches, why didn't other universities think so?

 

[otismotis08]

The college football landscape is sooooo far removed from what it was in the '90s. And it's changing faster every day.
$$$ wins.

 

[king_kong_]

If Frank and Bo were such great coaches, why didn't other universities think so?

Solich is in the Ohio U HoF

 

[cavalot]

I'm trying to stick to the original question "Did you see things going this way on the day Steve Pedersen made his "Mediocrity" speech?"

My answer is no. Despite well meaning warnings from Sooner friends in warning us not to repeat their same mistakes I thought, "We're Nebraska. It won't take us a decade like it took OU." What an arrogant fool I was. So was Steve Pederson.

Takes a man to admit being wrong. There are still a lot of folks who can't do that.

The writing was on the wall for me. The Big 12 was not the Big 8 of old and the patsies that we enjoyed mauling were gaining ground thanks to changes in recruiting and the college football world in general.

We had a unique system and culture that allowed us to play at a high level while filling the gaps and voids with walk on's and lower tier recruits. A necessity in our non-fertile recruiting grounds. While we added the Tommie Fraziers and Lawrence Phillips of the world, we were stabilized by the Machovickas and countless others.

Add in the weight program that was second to none and we had a recipe for success.

IMHO when we moved towards doing what other were doing in order to try to entice the best skill players on the offensive side of the ball we doomed ourselves to mediocrity. We were never going to consistently recruit with those teams in the sunshine states and metro areas.

Just my 2 cents

 

[nostromo78]

We have needed a difference maker at QB for a long, long time. Do we finally have one? Can we surround him with enough help to make it matter? Can he take a big step forward in year 2? One season like Indiana or ASU just enjoyed will really get this thing moving for a program like NU.

 

[RedMyMind]

Solich is in the Ohio U HoF

Exactly. Not a top football coach for a serious football program

 

[cavalot]

Exactly. Not a top football coach for a serious football program

Frank Solich was a very good coach. He was a system guy and honestly at that time most teams weren't interested in his system. On top of that Frank was pushing 60 and most programs weren't looking for an older coach.

No doubt in my mind had we stayed the course we would not be where we are today.

 

[king_kong_]

Exactly. Not a top football coach for a serious football program

he turned down opportunities to interview for P5 jobs during his time at Ohio.

the MAC had a better bowl record (.714) than the B1G (.625) this season.

 

[cavalot]

We have needed a difference maker at QB for a long, long time. Do we finally have one? Can we surround him with enough help to make it matter? Can he take a big step forward in year 2? One season like Indiana or ASU just enjoyed will really get this thing moving for a program like NU.

Honestly I don't think so in terms of on the field play. I think he is great for recruiting. I think his accuracy and limited mobility make him an above average qb but not the savior on the field that many think. Hopefully Im proven wrong.

 

[inWV]

NU would have better been served by allowing both Frank and Bo to fail. Solich's team the year he got canned was 10-3. Pelini never had a season of few than 9 wins.

 

[RedMyMind]

he turned down opportunities to interview for P5 jobs during his time at Ohio.

the MAC had a better bowl record (.714) than the B1G (.625) this season.

Where did Frank turn down?

 

[cavalot]

Where did Frank turn down?

Yes, Frank Solich reportedly turned down other coaching opportunities while he was the head coach at Ohio University (2005–2020). Solich became one of the most respected figures in college football for his ability to build and sustain a successful program at Ohio, a school without the extensive resources of larger programs.

Notable Points on Job Opportunities:​

1. Interest from Larger Programs:
   • Solich's success at Ohio drew attention from other programs, especially as he rebuilt the Bobcats into consistent contenders in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
   • Despite this interest, he remained loyal to Ohio, citing his commitment to the program and his satisfaction with his role in developing both players and the university's football culture.
2. Philosophy on Coaching:
   • Solich was known for valuing stability and focusing on the fundamentals of coaching rather than pursuing high-profile opportunities.
   • He expressed contentment with coaching in a smaller conference, where he could focus on player development and fostering a family-like atmosphere.
3. Offers Turned Down:
   • While specific programs have not been publicly confirmed in detail, it is well-documented that he had opportunities to return to larger programs after his success at Nebraska and Ohio.
   • These offers reportedly included roles at Power Five schools and potentially assistant or consulting positions in major football programs.

Solich's Legacy at Ohio:​

• During his tenure, Solich became the winningest coach in MAC history, leading the Bobcats to 11 bowl appearances and four division titles.
• His decision to stay at Ohio helped solidify his reputation as a coach who prioritized program stability and long-term success over personal career advancement.

Would you like to explore his specific achievements or more details about his coaching career?

 

[JDCasson02]

Should have never fired Bo Pelini.

Should have never fired Frank Solich either.

That said, let's look at the data (edited)

• Bill Callahan (2004-2007):
  • Record: 27-22
  • Winning Percentage: 55.1% (Average coach)
• Bo Pelini (2008-2014):
  • Record: 67-27
  • Winning Percentage: 71.3% (High performer)
• Mike Riley (2015-2017):
  • Record: 19-19
  • Winning Percentage: 50% (Average coach)
• Scott Frost (2018-2022):
  • Record: 16-31
  • Winning Percentage: 34% (Loser)
• Mickey Joeseph (2022):
  • Record: 2-3 (too little data, but 40% is Loser category)
• Matt Rhule (2023-Present):
  • Record: 12-13 (as of 2023)
  • Winning Percentage: 48% (Loser-Average)

This is what the data says, maybe Rhule climbs up into 55% or something next year, but he's alway been a 50% ish guy, so I don't expect anything better than that.

When you keep getting hired to rebuild programs it’s hard to be much better than 50%. If you’re going to put this stuff out then put out all of the info. Rhule will be much better than a 50% coach if he continues to be retained.

 

[goldencohusker]

NU would have better been served by allowing both Frank and Bo to fail. Solich's team the year he got canned was 10-3. Pelini never had a season of few than 9 wins.

I would have liked the program's chances better sticking with Solich vs Bo, and think it would have ultimately faltered under Bo. Of course he hated Eichorst, but looking back with hindsight, I think he was losing interest in being a P5 HC when still at NU. He was only 47 when he was fired by NU, and his career after that consisted of 5 lackluster years at the FCS level, and a one year failure returning to LSU as as DC. He was out of football at 53. Seemed like a guy who lost interest or his edge at a relatively young age.

 

[AVeritas]

sometimes coaches like solich are better suited for g5 programs. mark few comes to mind in hoops. he knows it and stays in spokan.

 

[RedMyMind]

Yes, Frank Solich reportedly turned down other coaching opportunities while he was the head coach at Ohio University (2005–2020). Solich became one of the most respected figures in college football for his ability to build and sustain a successful program at Ohio, a school without the extensive resources of larger programs.

Notable Points on Job Opportunities:​

1. Interest from Larger Programs:
   • Solich's success at Ohio drew attention from other programs, especially as he rebuilt the Bobcats into consistent contenders in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
   • Despite this interest, he remained loyal to Ohio, citing his commitment to the program and his satisfaction with his role in developing both players and the university's football culture.
2. Philosophy on Coaching:
   • Solich was known for valuing stability and focusing on the fundamentals of coaching rather than pursuing high-profile opportunities.
   • He expressed contentment with coaching in a smaller conference, where he could focus on player development and fostering a family-like atmosphere.
3. Offers Turned Down:
   • While specific programs have not been publicly confirmed in detail, it is well-documented that he had opportunities to return to larger programs after his success at Nebraska and Ohio.
   • These offers reportedly included roles at Power Five schools and potentially assistant or consulting positions in major football programs.

Solich's Legacy at Ohio:​

• During his tenure, Solich became the winningest coach in MAC history, leading the Bobcats to 11 bowl appearances and four division titles.
• His decision to stay at Ohio helped solidify his reputation as a coach who prioritized program stability and long-term success over personal career advancement.

Would you like to explore his specific achievements or more details about his coaching career?

For all we know, it was KU and Iowa State.

 

[king_kong_]

For all we know, it was KU and Iowa State.

Iowa state

What a shit job and loser program (please refrain from comparing our records and accomplishments since Solich was let go)

 

[cavalot]

For all we know, it was KU and Iowa State.

Maybe. I tried to find more information. There was a follow up video that i didn't post with regards to his post retirement. I didn't take the time to watch as it really doesn't matter anymore.

It's just refreshing to finally see a few admit that maybe it was the wrong move to can him after a 9-3 season.

 

[cavalot]

Iowa state

What a shit job and loser program (please refrain from comparing our records and accomplishments since Solich was let go)

You mean this.... (I highlighted a few notable things)

Conference Transitions:

• Big 12 Conference (2004-2010):
  • Achieved multiple division titles but no conference championships.
• Big Ten Conference (2011-Present):
  • Competed in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2012 but did not secure the title.

Bowl Game Appearances:

• Total Bowl Games (2004-2023): 11
• Wins: 5
• Losses: 6

Note: Nebraska did not participate in bowl games during the 2004, 2007, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons.

National Rankings:

• AP Poll Rankings (2004-2023):
  • Ranked in the Preseason AP Poll: 5 times
  • Ranked in the Final AP Poll: 4 times
  • Highest Final Ranking: 14th (2009)
• College Football Playoff (CFP) Rankings:
  • Nebraska has not been ranked in the final CFP rankings since their inception in 2014.

Comparison to Historical Performance:

• All-Time Record (1900-2024):
  • Total Games Played: 1,332
  • Wins: 889
  • Losses: 405
  • Ties: 38
  • Winning Percentage: Approximately 68.7%
• National Championships:
  • 5 titles (1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997)
• Conference Championships:
  • 43 titles

Data Source: Sports Reference - Nebraska Cornhuskers Poll History

Please note that records and statistics are subject to change as new seasons are completed.

In summary, over the past two decades, Nebraska's football program has experienced a decline from its historic dominance, with fewer appearances in national rankings and a lower winning percentage compared to its all-time performance.

 

[BTF69]

Yes, Frank Solich reportedly turned down other coaching opportunities while he was the head coach at Ohio University (2005–2020). Solich became one of the most respected figures in college football for his ability to build and sustain a successful program at Ohio, a school without the extensive resources of larger programs.

Notable Points on Job Opportunities:​

1. Interest from Larger Programs:
   • Solich's success at Ohio drew attention from other programs, especially as he rebuilt the Bobcats into consistent contenders in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
   • Despite this interest, he remained loyal to Ohio, citing his commitment to the program and his satisfaction with his role in developing both players and the university's football culture.
2. Philosophy on Coaching:
   • Solich was known for valuing stability and focusing on the fundamentals of coaching rather than pursuing high-profile opportunities.
   • He expressed contentment with coaching in a smaller conference, where he could focus on player development and fostering a family-like atmosphere.
3. Offers Turned Down:
   • While specific programs have not been publicly confirmed in detail, it is well-documented that he had opportunities to return to larger programs after his success at Nebraska and Ohio.
   • These offers reportedly included roles at Power Five schools and potentially assistant or consulting positions in major football programs.

Solich's Legacy at Ohio:​

• During his tenure, Solich became the winningest coach in MAC history, leading the Bobcats to 11 bowl appearances and four division titles.
• His decision to stay at Ohio helped solidify his reputation as a coach who prioritized program stability and long-term success over personal career advancement.

Would you like to explore his specific achievements or more details about his coaching career?

Is...is this ChatGPT??? NICE!

 

[cavalot]

Is...is this ChatGPT??? NICE!

Of course. Why not.

 

[Mrs.Jeans15]

If Frank and Bo were such great coaches, why didn't other universities think so?

They did technically.

 

[RedMyMind]

Iowa state

What a shit job and loser program (please refrain from comparing our records and accomplishments since Solich was let go)

Iowa State is a shit program with a little recent success. No denying that

 

[Bruce1981]

It's just refreshing to finally see a few admit that maybe it was the wrong move to can him after a 9-3 season.

You're right. He should have been fired after going 7-7