Tad Stryker: A fan responded to his article about Riley

[Bugeater]

Kind of vicious towards HCMR, some people need to take a chill pill:

Tadow Yesterday at 9:05 PM
If it takes Riley 5 years, we made a poor hire. One conference title isn't going to get it done. Nebraska needs to be a consistent nationally relevant program again. Plenty of coaches have one good year and fade into oblivion.

What makes you think Riley will establish a nationally relevant program? It certainly isn't in his history. The most significant thing he has won in the USA is a Sun Bowl trophy. Think about that a bit - and then consider what Bill Snyder has done at K-State.

Mike Riley is an average coach. I have decades of evidence to support this claim. If it does work out and Riley becomes the first coach in the history of the world to become elite in his mid-60's, then Billy Devaney will probably be the reason why.

Riley showed his poor decision making when he hired his merry band of idiots from Oregon State.

His players have demonstrated a shocking lack of accountability. Gerry being academically ineligible last year is almost incomprehensible. The highest profile recruit in years isn't even on the team because he couldn't stay away from the reefer. Nebraska's academic achievement in football has dropped every year since Riley arrived. This shouldn't be a shock as Oregon State was near the bottom of the Pac-12 almost every year.

Riley might be a nice guy, but he doesn't have the discipline or the desire to be the best. He has clearly demonstrated this over the past 25 years.

 

[bigboxes]

We have enough idiots on our own board. We don't need to look for them on other sites.

 

[Bugeater]

We have enough idiots on our own board. We don't need to look for them on other sites.

They're everywhere, and who knows, the responder may frequent this message board for all we know!

 

[Suhrreal]

Academic achievement in football is the job of the walk-ons.

 

[CC_Lemming]

Everyone knows you just have to pay Saban 20 million plus per year to come here. Do it. Alternatively, you just keep hiring and firing people until you find the next Saban. It really isn't that hard to see. It's black and white. Either a coach is good or he isn't. And if Saban won't come, in the meantime you lose all continuity between the different systems and philosophies and the players each coach recruited don't fit the next system, so you dwell somewhere between mediocrity and utterly bad for years, if not decades. However long it takes, what matters is that we get the next Saban.

What we know right now is that the guy we have is average at best because, after all, he has a long coaching history of mediocrity in places that weren't Nebraska, one of which was a perennial bottom dweller before he got there. Never mind that he is bringing in better talent than he has ever had and will now have a quarterback who fits his system. We know he is an average coach at best, just look at his record at that place that wasn't Nebraska and where he didn't have the same caliber of athlete. Just look.

 

[nebcountry]

I suppose everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Up to now the only real evidence for Riley at NU is a losing season and the second worst loss in the history of the program.

Now I suppose I could call the guy names, just means I don't have an intelligent retort. There is one line "he doesn't have the discipline or the desire to be the best. He has clearly demonstrated this over the past 25 years." I don't know Riley's desire or level of discipline, and I highly doubt anyone removed from the program would know either.

 

[timnsun]

I suppose everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Up to now the only real evidence for Riley at NU is a losing season and the second worst loss in the history of the program.

Now I suppose I could call the guy names, just means I don't have an intelligent retort. There is one line "he doesn't have the discipline or the desire to be the best. He has clearly demonstrated this over the past 25 years." I don't know Riley's desire or level of discipline, and I highly doubt anyone removed from the program would know either.

So the 9 wins last season isn't evidence for Riley at NU? Then what does that show?

9 wins isn't the ceiling... we want more. But to point out only the evidence you showed is painting a skewed picture.

Maybe I misunderstood, and if so, I apologize.

 

[jlb321]

Everyone knows you just have to pay Saban 20 million plus per year to come here. Do it. Alternatively, you just keep hiring and firing people until you find the next Saban. It really isn't that hard to see. It's black and white. Either a coach is good or he isn't. And if Saban won't come, in the meantime you lose all continuity between the different systems and philosophies and the players each coach recruited don't fit the next system, so you dwell somewhere between mediocrity and utterly bad for years, if not decades. However long it takes, what matters is that we get the next Saban.

What we know right now is that the guy we have is average at best because, after all, he has a long coaching history of mediocrity in places that weren't Nebraska, one of which was a perennial bottom dweller before he got there. Never mind that he is bringing in better talent than he has ever had and will now have a quarterback who fits his system. We know he is an average coach at best, just look at his record at that place that wasn't Nebraska and where he didn't have the same caliber of athlete. Just look.

If we were to hire a younger coach who turned out to be Saban - do you think he stays? I don't think Nebraska is a destination job - definitely top tier but not elite. If you win a couple of BIG championships and average double digit wins at Nebraska it might be hard to keep a coach if the truly elite programs come calling.

 

[timnsun]

If we were to hire a younger coach who turned out to be Saban - do you think he stays? I don't think Nebraska is a destination job - definitely top tier but not elite. If you win a couple of BIG championships and average double digit wins at Nebraska it might be hard to keep a coach if the truly elite programs come calling.

All depends on the money imo.

If the money is right, the fan support, facilities, tradition all are comparable to the best programs today.

If the money is right, the only way that coach leaves is if the NFL comes calling.

 

[Husker.Wed.]

I hate to use the term, but the Stryker article was "fake news". To quote Perry Mason, he wrote an entire article using "facts not in evidence". While I admit the fan base was torn apart in years past, I don't see it now, and I get together with groups of Husker fans often. While none of us is satisfied with where NU is at right now, none of us were satisfied with the lack of championships and blowouts in past years. The difference is only someone who is super-uninformed or stubborn cannot tell NU is trending up, and meanwhile we don't have a raving, sullen maniac in charge of the program.

As far as the poster from the other board, this is what you get in the off season from people with no lives. Feel sorry for him.

 

[CC_Lemming]

If we were to hire a younger coach who turned out to be Saban - do you think he stays? I don't think Nebraska is a destination job - definitely top tier but not elite. If you win a couple of BIG championships and average double digit wins at Nebraska it might be hard to keep a coach if the truly elite programs come calling.

Depends on the situation and personality. I agree with your sentiment that Nebraska may no longer be a destination job, depending on what one's requirements for that are. For instance, regarding recruiting and proximity to recruits, we certainly are not a destination job. In terms of support and resources for our coaches and athletes, we're second to none. The same goes for our tradition and history.

What is the state of the conference at the time we're talking about? Are we practically guaranteed an opportunity to play in the conference championship game every year? Does this guy have a strong sense of loyalty to the program (e.g., he is very grateful we gave him an opportunity, or has roots here)? Where does he want to live - are mountains and beaches important to he and his family's quality of life, or are they OK with looking at cows and cornfields every day?

So, if we hired the next Saban, do I think he stays? Not if he is Saban, and not if Nebraska is in the situation it is in right now. But I don't think there exists some decisive a priori reason why the next Saban would not stay.

 

[nebcountry]

So the 9 wins last season isn't evidence for Riley at NU? Then what does that show?

9 wins isn't the ceiling... we want more. But to point out only the evidence you showed is painting a skewed picture.

Maybe I misunderstood, and if so, I apologize.

I guess we are looking at it from different angles, but you have no reason to apologize.

9 wins is kind of par for the course at NU. I can't declare Riley a great coach for 9 wins, I can't declare Riley a bad coach for 9 wins. The verdict on Riley is still out for me. One 20th ranked recruiting class and one 9 win season, basically what I think any reasonably competent coach should be able to achieve almost all the time at NU. This is not overachieving to me, this is baseline, basically minimum expectations.

The person that wrote the blog/article isn't asking if we should have a reasonably competent coach. The writer wants nationally relevant, championship football at NU and a coach that can deliver just that. If I were asked to point out reasons to make a decision, I will list those reasons that fall farthest from average, either good or bad, to base my argument. So far, there's no good results for me to list.

 

[headcard]

I suppose everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Up to now the only real evidence for Riley at NU is a losing season and the second worst loss in the history of the program.

Now I suppose I could call the guy names, just means I don't have an intelligent retort. There is one line "he doesn't have the discipline or the desire to be the best. He has clearly demonstrated this over the past 25 years." I don't know Riley's desire or level of discipline, and I highly doubt anyone removed from the program would know either.

Pretty ridiculous. "The only real evidence is a losing record and the second worse loss in the history of the program". WTF? What about the win over #4 Michigan State, the 9 win season and being ranked in the Top 10 before last year's Wisconsin game? I think the fact that you chose to pick out two negatives as the only "real evidence" is pretty telling. The bad season in the transition year is real evidence, the 9 win record the next year isn't. The bad loss is "real evidence" the good wins aren't. This is clearly a work in progress, but I see plenty of real evidence that gives me reason for optimism.

 

[GBR_Atlanta]

We just hired a new DC...And we haven't even had a QB that can throw a football. When Gebbia comes in as a 17 year old and spins it better than any QB we've had in the program the last decade...I don't care that it was the spring game.

I think Riley is doing great. And I really believe we're going to start to see that this season.

 

[Bugeater]

We just hired a new DC...And we haven't even had a QB that can throw a football. When Gebbia comes in as a 17 year old and spins it better than any QB we've had in the program the last decade...I don't care that it was the spring game.

I think Riley is doing great. And I really believe we're going to start to see that this season.

You forgot to do what Ric Flair does after every interview, Woooooooo!

 

[huskerfan1414]

Its year three.
His first year sucked and dropped a few they shouldnt have that you could put on coaching.
They also beat someone they shouldnt have.
Also had an impressive bowl game that the team was obviously well prepared for, that you could put on coaching.
His second year saw improvement, starting out with 7 in a row against teams you should beat, which was an improvement over the year before.
He suffered a humiliating loss, something we thought we were over, to OSU.
He lost to a lethargic Iowa team by 30, which should never happen. Ever.
Won 9 games, again an improvement but still an expectation and nothing more.
Recruiting has been very well organized and university is being sold well by a staff that loves it.
I cant really argue with anyone who thinks we arent getting anywhere, and i cant argue with anyone who believes great things are coming. The truth for the unbiased eye is that at this point we dont know. This season will say a lot as far as actual play on the field. If we have a well coached team, with our recruiting you can bet on championships. If we dont show improvement, it doesnt matter who you bring in when it comes to championship football, you aint gettin it without coaching.
I dont think we know yet. But this year is important.

 

[Truehuskerfan]

His second year saw improvement, starting out with 7 in a row against teams you should beat

One thing I get so tired of hearing is coaches getting no credit for beating the teams they should beat. If everybody beat the teams they should beat, there would never be any upsets. We all know that will never happen. Upsets happen every year and they will continue to happen. If you're not one of the teams getting upset, you are doing something right.

 

[huskerfan1414]

One thing I get so tired of hearing is coaches getting no credit for beating the teams they should beat. If everybody beat the teams they should beat, there would never be any upsets. We all know that will never happen. Upsets happen every year and they will continue to happen. If you're not one of the teams getting upset, you are doing something right.

I said many times last season during our run that there are steps to becoming a great team, and one of the most difficult steps is simply beating the teams you should beat. Thatsa why the 7-0 last year was promising even though some were saying it wasnt against big teams so who cares etc. i guess i was cautiously optimistic.
Beating teams you should is easier said than done. I hate to bring him up, but even though he won 9 a year one of pelinis biggest issues was he would always lose to a team we should beat. ISU, northwestern, etc.
Omce you beat the teams you should beat, then you can move on to beating teams perceived as better than you, and that is what gets you up the ladder. But beating a good team every now and then and getting beat by a 6 win team the next week gets you nowhere.

 

[Truehuskerfan]

On another note, the whole point of the article saying we have a divided fanbase right now is absurd. Of course, not everybody is on board with Riley, but then again not everybody was on board with TO back in his day either. I think things are less divided now than they have been for awhile. The most divisive thing in the fanbase in the post-TO era was Frank Solich's firing and the hiring of Bill Callahan(or more specifically Steve Pederson's mishandling of the whole situation).
But that is long past, and none of the current coaches or athletic department staff had any connection with it and while there may be a few fans left who still want to argue about that, for the most part, people's opinions of the current situation are not influenced by their opinions of that. Bo was more divisive in the fanbase because of his personality and behavior. Again, there are many people that aren't completely happy with what is going on now, but I just don't get the sense of division like there has been in the past. There are those who don't believe in Riley, but he just doesn't generate the type of passionate dislike in some of the fanbase that Bo did.

 

[nebcountry]

Pretty ridiculous. "The only real evidence is a losing record and the second worse loss in the history of the program". WTF? What about the win over #4 Michigan State, the 9 win season and being ranked in the Top 10 before last year's Wisconsin game? I think the fact that you chose to pick out two negatives as the only "real evidence" is pretty telling. The bad season in the transition year is real evidence, the 9 win record the next year isn't. The bad loss is "real evidence" the good wins aren't. This is clearly a work in progress, but I see plenty of real evidence that gives me reason for optimism.

MichSt was a good win for us that year. You can make a list of "good wins" and "bad losses", it's not gonna be pretty. Talking individual wins or losses is still not big picture enough. Iowa State beat us a handful of times in the Osborne era, kept us out of the title race, did nothing for Iowa State.

A losing season is big. Let's see, how many losing seasons have we had in the last 50 years. 2nd worst loss in the history of our program. Again, no biggie, right?

Out of curiosity, why, oh why did you have to remind me that our season cratered to such a level that we fell from top 10 to completely outside the top 25? You do recognize that your argument is supposed to be listing the positives.

 

[jedimasterjed]

I will take the conference title in the next couple of years, that would be a great accomplishment.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Given our lack of population for recruiting, our non "flashy" geography and location, our diminishment as a "brand"' coupled with a rabid fan base with (currently) unrealistic expectations, the NU head coaching job is not every aspiring coach's dream job. Getting Mike Riley here was a stroke of genius in my view. A very respected coach with an ability to sell our program to high end recruits and assistant coaches is a blessing we should be celebrating, not denigrating.

Riley reminds me in so many ways of Osborne. And I think he is highly motivated to bring NU back to elite status. I am very optimistic about our future under Riley and excited for this season. Bring it on.
GBR

 

[headcard]

MichSt was a good win for us that year. You can make a list of "good wins" and "bad losses", it's not gonna be pretty. Talking individual wins or losses is still not big picture enough. Iowa State beat us a handful of times in the Osborne era, kept us out of the title race, did nothing for Iowa State.

A losing season is big. Let's see, how many losing seasons have we had in the last 50 years. 2nd worst loss in the history of our program. Again, no biggie, right?

Out of curiosity, why, oh why did you have to remind me that our season cratered to such a level that we fell from top 10 to completely outside the top 25? You do recognize that your argument is supposed to be listing the positives.

Just wanted to reaffirm that you are trying to make an agrument against the current staff by picking and choosing the the things you believe do that and acting like nothing else matters. I think Coach Riley inherited a giant mess and is in the process of turinging thing around the right way.

 

[ctscts]

MichSt was a good win for us that year. You can make a list of "good wins" and "bad losses", it's not gonna be pretty. Talking individual wins or losses is still not big picture enough. Iowa State beat us a handful of times in the Osborne era, kept us out of the title race, did nothing for Iowa State.

A losing season is big. Let's see, how many losing seasons have we had in the last 50 years. 2nd worst loss in the history of our program. Again, no biggie, right?

Out of curiosity, why, oh why did you have to remind me that our season cratered to such a level that we fell from top 10 to completely outside the top 25? You do recognize that your argument is supposed to be listing the positives.

Talking big wins or losses isn't big picture enough? Then why do you mention one of the worst losses as one of your only 2 facts? Are we to beleive 50% of your argument is debunked?

How about big picture focusing on trajectory of the program? From losing season to 9 wins. Positive. Recruiting we are getting more kids on campus and have a better class committed early than a really long time. Positive.

Just a view of 2 other facts.

 

[cecilB]

Small sample sizes are worthless. Long haul (lets say 10 years fits) in the new conference, particularly the West, a conference where no team has a significant resource advantage, it will almost assuredly break out something like this-

Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa 2-3 west titles
Northwestern 1-maybe 2
Illinois 1 ( they usually do something once a decade then crater)
Minnesota, and Purdue have won 1 title b/w them of any kind once since the 1960s

Gotta be in striking distance w/2 weeks to go. Who in the past 6 years have been there w/2 weeks to go....Nebraska, Wisconsin,and Iowa....with Minny and NW having a mathematical chance, but never controlling their own fate.

i for one like the intrigue of our new annual race against tough, physical teams. Riley will get to a title game in the next 3 years inmy opinion, it likely it will be Iowa and/or Wisconsin right with them until the end in that year

 

[jlb321]

all the positive things noted above are valid and can be used to point to a solid future

2 years is a reasonable transition period

it is now year 3 .... at the end of the year I don't want to sit here after finishing 3rd in the west, unranked nationally and pleading "no mas" to Iowa because of the physical ass whipping we were taking trying to manufacture sunshine about not having been upset, or once upon a time being ranked.

I like Riley a lot, there are many things to be optimistic about, but it is now show me rather than tell me time.

 

[Bugeater]

all the positive things noted above are valid and can be used to point to a solid future

2 years is a reasonable transition period

it is now year 3 .... at the end of the year I don't want to sit here after finishing 3rd in the west, unranked nationally and pleading "no mas" to Iowa because of the physical ass whipping we were taking trying to manufacture sunshine about not having been upset, or once upon a time being ranked.

I like Riley a lot, there are many things to be optimistic about, but it is now show me rather than tell me time.

Well said!

 

[steelclaw]

MichSt was a good win for us that year. You can make a list of "good wins" and "bad losses", it's not gonna be pretty. Talking individual wins or losses is still not big picture enough. Iowa State beat us a handful of times in the Osborne era, kept us out of the title race, did nothing for Iowa State.

A losing season is big. Let's see, how many losing seasons have we had in the last 50 years. 2nd worst loss in the history of our program. Again, no biggie, right?

Out of curiosity, why, oh why did you have to remind me that our season cratered to such a level that we fell from top 10 to completely outside the top 25? You do recognize that your argument is supposed to be listing the positives.

We need to see how he continues to do with his own players. Year one was undone by players who didn't want to buy in to a new coach according to Nate Gerry. Year two was 9 wins without a QB who can pass and shitty team depth. Let's see how it goes.

 

[SnohomishRed]

We need to see how he continues to do with his own players. Year one was undone by players who didn't want to buy in to a new coach according to Nate Gerry. Year two was 9 wins without a QB who can pass and shitty team depth. Let's see how it goes.

Year one had a lot of problems including some clock management and decisions by coaches that cost us games. Last year we gave up 63 points to OSU and were physically handled by Iowa those were not QB passing issues

 

[JohnRossEwing]

Year one had a lot of problems including some clock management and decisions by coaches that cost us games. Last year we gave up 63 points to OSU and were physically handled by Iowa those were not QB passing issues

No no no...it was all the toxic players...come on!

 

[steelclaw]

No no no...it was all the toxic players...come on!

I didn't say that, but it was certainly a part of it. So...get real.

 

[steelclaw]

Year one had a lot of problems including some clock management and decisions by coaches that cost us games. Last year we gave up 63 points to OSU and were physically handled by Iowa those were not QB passing issues

Coaching mistakes, poor depth, injuries galore, learning completely new systems, non player buy in all contributed. And only a goddam idiot wants to fire a coach after two seasons.

 

[timnsun]

Year one had a lot of problems including some clock management and decisions by coaches that cost us games. Last year we gave up 63 points to OSU and were physically handled by Iowa those were not QB passing issues

You're right... were we perfect last year? Far from it... but was there improvement from year one to year two? Those two things you referenced from last year likely contributed to Diaco being brought on board.

Those two losses may not have been QB passing issues, but don't forget he also mentioned the lack of depth... both of those issues are continuing to be addressed, and hopefully we will begin to see it pay off this year.

 

[Wagasapi]

I'm with HCMR.

 

[bigboxes]

 

[JohnRossEwing]

I didn't say that, but it was certainly a part of it. So...get real.

It wasn't...it never is. Look at the losses.

 

[steelclaw]

It wasn't...it never is. Look at the losses.

Lol WUT. Several players said it was.

 

[timnsun]

It wasn't...it never is. Look at the losses.

Seriously? You think the mentality of the players had nothing to do with their losses? Even the most disappointed fans of the Mike Riley hire admit morale and attitude among the players in year 1 was pretty bad.

 

[JohnRossEwing]

Lol WUT. Several players said it was.

They have to say it...just like they say that every off season has been the best off season ever and they lifted harder and conditioned more than ever.

You are not going to toss the coach under the bus while you are still trying to get playing time and stay on the team. Just like the coach doesn't throw the player under the bus until they graduate/leave.

Were their players that thought some of the coaches were morons? Sure...and so did Riley, he fired a lot of them. Did some of the coaches think that some of the players were morons, sure...and they probably did their best to chase them off or not play them.

That is normal...but I don't think anyone was tanking on purpose. I don't think they missed tackles on purpose or crap like that.

 

[SnohomishRed]

Seriously? You think the mentality of the players had nothing to do with their losses? Even the most disappointed fans of the Mike Riley hire admit morale and attitude among the players in year 1 was pretty bad.

Sure it did, player morale was an issue to be sure however I am not sure all the coaches addressed it very well. For example a defensive players stated before he left that he had talked with Banker only a few times.
But no need to go back in time and place blame - I like the moves Riley has made, I am not calling for his firing or anything like that. I was simply responding to a poster who placed all the blame at factors outside of Rileys control. I dont believe that to be the case and based on his coaching replacements Riley did not either