Why not just can Riley now?

[f00tball_fan]

I know some still hold out hope for some odd reason that we can produce a winning season.....but I have always been a fan of taking your medicine and starting to get better.

Worst case scenario is he pulls out a couple of miracle wins, gets us an 8-5 record, and our new AD has to stick with it or fire a nice guy who turned the season around. We know we need change. Hell, have Parella be the interim for all I care.

Then Riley does what we expect and it is a 6-6 or 7-6 2018. Fire him then? What is our timetable looking like? If we somehow manage to get an excellent coach to turn it around it sound like 2022 may be our year to get back in the spotlight.

I say take your medicine now. Riley isn’t the guy. And you don’t fire Eichorst if you think he is. So let’s get a move on.

 

[Bruce1981]

Let him fail. That way there are no questions. If he doesn't fail then even better.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

I know some still hold out hope for some odd reason that we can produce a winning season.....but I have always been a fan of taking your medicine and starting to get better.

Worst case scenario is he pulls out a couple of miracle wins, gets us an 8-5 record, and our new AD has to stick with it or fire a nice guy who turned the season around. We know we need change. Hell, have Parella be the interim for all I care.

Then Riley does what we expect and it is a 6-6 or 7-6 2018. Fire him then? What is our timetable looking like? If we somehow manage to get an excellent coach to turn it around it sound like 2022 may be our year to get back in the spotlight.

I say take your medicine now. Riley isn’t the guy. And you don’t fire Eichorst if you think he is. So let’s get a move on.

Nebraska has a history/reputation of firing winning coaches. It makes it harder to hire someone new if they know 9-4 isn't good enough. Riley had a winning season last year and is now 2-2 this year. I think, if he is going to be fired, you have to wait until the season unfolds.

 

[f00tball_fan]

Let him fail. That way there are no questions. If he doesn't fail then even better.

I guess the difference is I think he already failed. Big time. In so many ways.

Yes, he wins “nice guy of the century” award. However, that doesn’t count for diddly squat in my book. Eichorst cared about stuff like that and he is gone.

 

[f00tball_fan]

Nebraska has a history/reputation of firing winning coaches. It makes it harder to hire someone new if they know 9-4 isn't good enough. Riley had a winning season last year and is now 2-2 this year. I think, if he is going to be fired, you have to wait until the season unfolds.

Do you honestly think that any coach or anyone in the media would be surprised if Riley got canned right now and thought it undeserved?

 

[gldnglv165]

What if he goes 8-5 this year and then pulls some crap like 10-3 next year when his guys have developed just a little bit more? Then your stuck with a coach that's had 3 winning seasons in a row. Nobody wants that....

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Do you honestly think that any coach or anyone in the media would be surprised if Riley got canned right now and thought it undeserved?

Yes I do. Especially any potential coach who might think of coming here.

You have to treat people fairly and with dignity. This is just year three for Riley. What if he can still turn us around this year? I doubt he will, but a coach who might think of coming here should we ask him is going to see that we didn't even give Riley a chance to rebound this year

 

[gldnglv165]

Do you honestly think that any coach or anyone in the media would be surprised if Riley got canned right now and thought it undeserved?

I agree, and I think you can say the same thing for Solich and Pelini. Their firings were not unexpected. Coaches are ultra competitive and extremely self confident. They understand the expectations and nature of the job.[/QUOTE]

 

[Bruce1981]

What if he goes 8-5 this year and then pulls some crap like 10-3 next year when his guys have developed just a little bit more? Then your stuck with a coach that's had 3 winning seasons in a row. Nobody wants that....

Actually, yes we do. If you have a problem with that happening go do it for a different team.

 

[f00tball_fan]

Yes I do. Especially any potential coach who might think of coming here.

You have to treat people fairly and with dignity. This is just year three for Riley. What if he can still turn us around this year? I doubt he will, but a coach who might think of coming here should we ask him is going to see that we didn't even give Riley a chance to rebound this year

I look at it differently, I think as a coach they would understand more than anyone else why he got fired. There is one way to have job security in Nebraska and I would be surprised if college coaches don’t know it: Respect our culture and don’t embarrass us.

It really isn’t that tough to accomplish those two things. I can think of quite a few coaches that would find that pretty simple. Problem is we haven’t hired one in over 2 decades.

 

[f00tball_fan]

What if he goes 8-5 this year and then pulls some crap like 10-3 next year when his guys have developed just a little bit more? Then your stuck with a coach that's had 3 winning seasons in a row. Nobody wants that....

And what if I catch a leprechaun and he hands me a pot of gold?

The thing is....facts and history matter. I will give you 50-1 odds on your scenario, want to place a bet?

 

[Bruce1981]

And what if I catch a leprechaun and he hands me a pot of gold?

The thing is....facts and history matter. I will give you 50-1 odds on your scenario, want to place a bet?

 

[Pennsyhusker]

And what if I catch a leprechaun and he hands me a pot of gold?

The thing is....facts and history matter. I will give you 50-1 odds on your scenario, want to place a bet?

But what's the rush? Go ahead and can him now. Put in an interim coach. Langsdorf? Diaco? You still have to wait until the end of the season to hire someone new. No way a successful, active, D1 coach is going to quit his job four weeks in and leave his current team out in the cold

 

[f00tball_fan]

But what's the rush? Go ahead and can him now. Put in an interim coach. Langsdorf? Diaco? You still have to wait until the end of the season to hire someone new. No way a successful, active, D1 coach is going to quit his job four weeks in and leave his current team out in the cold

No doubt about it.

I run a small business and for one of my locations, for the top job I hired someone and within a month it became clear he could not do any of the basics things he had claimed in the interview. As soon as it was clear he wouldn’t work out, I fired him. Much better to bite the bullet in my opinion and admit you made a mistake and begin the path to fixing it.

To me it seems like the leadership is done with Riley. Might as well send him to pasture and begin fixing the problem.

P.s. The last person I would put at the helm of my team is Langsdorf.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

No doubt about it.

I run a small business and for one of my locations, for the top job I hired someone and within a month it became clear he could not do any of the basics things he had claimed in the interview. As soon as it was clear he wouldn’t work out, I fired him. Much better to bite the bullet in my opinion and admit you made a mistake and begin the path to fixing it.

To me it seems like the leadership is done with Riley. Might as well send him to pasture and begin fixing the problem.

P.s. The last person I would put at the helm of my team is Langsdorf.

I think you have a good argument that the administration has already decided to fire Riley. Why else fire Eichorst when they did? Unless, as Tuco and Archie claim, it was just a purely emotional and reactionary move. But I don't think so. If it was emotional and reactionary I think they would have fired Riley then too.

Interesting times

 

[gldnglv165]

Actually, yes we do. If you have a problem with that happening go do it for a different team.

Guess sarcasm doesn't translate well on a message board

 

[timnsun]

Fire him now and watch the recruiting class fall apart. By the time the new coach is named many in the class have moved on and there is no hope of turning them back to Nebraska.

Fire him at the end of the season and the new coach who gets hired quickly can still try to salvage some of the class.

 

[Huskercigar]

No doubt about it.

I run a small business and for one of my locations, for the top job I hired someone and within a month it became clear he could not do any of the basics things he had claimed in the interview. As soon as it was clear he wouldn’t work out, I fired him. Much better to bite the bullet in my opinion and admit you made a mistake and begin the path to fixing it.

To me it seems like the leadership is done with Riley. Might as well send him to pasture and begin fixing the problem.

P.s. The last person I would put at the helm of my team is Langsdorf.

Hey small business owner myself but that's a different scenario. These are seasons. You cannot replace the guy until after the season.

 

[TwinsRRUs]

First off, why the hell are you guys awake at 4 AM (5 AM EST Pennsy) on a Sunday morning? Get some sleep guys!

What if he goes 8-5 this year and then pulls some crap like 10-3 next year when his guys have developed just a little bit more? Then your stuck with a coach that's had 3 winning seasons in a row. Nobody wants that....

At this point, the only way we win more games next year is by getting rid of Cav and Langs.

If Riley is kept for 2018, the same powers that got rid of Banker will get rid of Langs (and probably Cav).

No way we have a bad year and Riley keeps his job without making any changes for the better.

Hell, they went 9-4 last year and he made changes that caught most of us by surprise. No way we win more than 8 games this year with our offense not putting up more points and putting the defense in crappy situations.

History repeats itself. 2009 worked out because the offense was made to play 'qb manage the game' style. If the defense actually is improving (and not just appearing to improve as its playing against lesser teams), the offense needs to stop f'ing up the game for the D.

 

[Huskercigar]

Here is my take. Our coordinators are tied directly to the hip of Mike Riley. They are just as responsible for this debacle as him as he is a hands off Head coach. We gain nothing taking Riley out of the equation in the middle of the season. Adding additional duties to either of their plates isn't the answer.

Better yet......at 64 years old lets see what happens in the next few weeks. If letting him go is on the table lets see what his post Nebraska plans are. If he is going to retire than lets negotiate with him to give him the remainder of his contract.....the same as firing him......and let the University save face. He announces with a few games left in the season effective at the end of the season and we give him all the fanfare and horse and pony show that goes along with it. In the mean time we can be conducting a public coaching search and helping our "firing the coach" reputation.

 

[dinglefritz]

I think you have a good argument that the administration has already decided to fire Riley. Why else fire Eichorst when they did? Unless, as Tuco and Archie claim, it was just a purely emotional and reactionary move. But I don't think so. If it was emotional and reactionary I think they would have fired Riley then too. Interesting times

SE was fired now because the Hawks and powers that be finally had enough ammo to get a new President and Chancellor to pull the trigger. They've wanted him gone since the day he was named AD. Once he canned Pelini over the objections of Hawks, Clare, Pillen and Tom his fate was sealed and they just bided their time. Powerful people who give boat loads of money don't like it when they don't get their way and in some ways I don't blame them.

 

[chicolby]

You simply can't fire a guy 4 games into his third season sitting at 2-2. You have to let a season play out because you're assuming you can predict the future performance (or lack of it.)

The one audience you fail to recognize in this scenario are the players. They love coach and deserve the chance to straighten the ship for him.

You don't want the whole team to have bad feelings about the SCHOOL (reminder this isn't a professional team) and administration.

 

[Big Red Menace]

Yes I do. Especially any potential coach who might think of coming here.

You have to treat people fairly and with dignity. This is just year three for Riley. What if he can still turn us around this year? I doubt he will, but a coach who might think of coming here should we ask him is going to see that we didn't even give Riley a chance to rebound this year

Like he treated Banker? Not saying he didn't deserve to be fired, but the way it was done by a man he's known for years was not fair or with dignity.

 

[Huskercigar]

Like he treated Banker? Not saying he didn't deserve to be fired, but the way it was done by a man he's known for years was not fair or with dignity.

Stop being so rational

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Like he treated Banker? Not saying he didn't deserve to be fired, but the way it was done by a man he's known for years was not fair or with dignity.

Good point

 

[jlb321]

Do you honestly think that any coach or anyone in the media would be surprised if Riley got canned right now and thought it undeserved?

Trevor Maddock had a tirade on ESPN radio yesterday blasting Nebraska for considering firing Riley. He had a number of facts wrong - stated Riley was in year 2, etc.- even blasted us for firing a 9 win Pelini.

Anything equal or better than 6-6 and we are going to take a PR hit if we fire Riley. In addition he is universally liked in the coaching fraternity. Both those factors might play a role in who is and isn't interested in the job next year.

Coaching is a close knit fraternity most analysts (many are coaches) are going to be critical of a Riley firing in year 3.

The above are not reasons to keep him if you have made up your mind he isn't the right fit - just that it will be complicated.

 

[dinglefritz]

Like he treated Banker? Not saying he didn't deserve to be fired, but the way it was done by a man he's known for years was not fair or with dignity.

As I stated when it happened, I still don't believe it was Riley's idea to can Banker. I still believe that deal has the fingerprints of Billy Devaney and SE all over it. Logically the way it happened doesn't appear like Riley's way of doing things in any way shape or form. JMHO and no insde info on that one.

 

[otismotis08]

Go shopping now, agree in principle with your guy, and make the move at the end of the regular season.

 

[yort2000]

Like he treated Banker? Not saying he didn't deserve to be fired, but the way it was done by a man he's known for years was not fair or with dignity.

It wasn't fair or with dignity for Banker, but it was fair and with dignity for the recruits Banker was about to go visit.

 

[yort2000]

I think you have a good argument that the administration has already decided to fire Riley. Why else fire Eichorst when they did? Unless, as Tuco and Archie claim, it was just a purely emotional and reactionary move. But I don't think so. If it was emotional and reactionary I think they would have fired Riley then too.

Interesting times

You don't just fire the AD at that time because you have already made up your mind to fire the coach. You would fire the coach also. You fire the AD at that time, because it looks like there is a higher probability that you will have to fire the coach at the end of the season and you want to have all of your ducks in a row if that is to happen and you don't want that AD making the next coaching hire. Riley's future is in his and the new AD's hands. I also think a new AD would love for Riley to turn this around and continue on with successful seasons until Riley retires as the new AD's future wouldn't be tied to a new coach that he had to hire his first few days on the job.

 

[TwinsRRUs]

As I stated when it happened, I still don't believe it was Riley's idea to can Banker. I still believe that deal has the fingerprints of Billy Devaney and SE all over it. Logically the way it happened doesn't appear like Riley's way of doing things in any way shape or form. JMHO and no inisde info on that one.

This is why I believe that if Riley is kept, then Langs and Cav are gone.

 

[f00tball_fan]

First off, why the hell are you guys awake at 4 AM (5 AM EST Pennsy) on a Sunday morning? Get some sleep guys!



At this point, the only way we win more games next year is by getting rid of Cav and Langs.

If Riley is kept for 2018, the same powers that got rid of Banker will get rid of Langs (and probably Cav).

No way we have a bad year and Riley keeps his job without making any changes for the better.

Hell, they went 9-4 last year and he made changes that caught most of us by surprise. No way we win more than 8 games this year with our offense not putting up more points and putting the defense in crappy situations.

History repeats itself. 2009 worked out because the offense was made to play 'qb manage the game' style. If the defense actually is improving (and not just appearing to improve as its playing against lesser teams), the offense needs to stop f'ing up the game for the D.

Mike Riley has made it difficult to sleep on Saturday nights.

 

[PeliniTheCrutch]

This is why I believe that if Riley is kept, then Langs and Cav are gone.

Man that would be a waste of time. It's not like any of these coaches were forced on him. He was allowed to hand-pick his entire staff. If none of them are good enough, than he's not good enough.

 

[StrongArm517]

Media perception is important, unfortunately.
It can work for or against you. Callahan was hated from day 1, Bo got a pass. Frost is a darling. Riley is loved for being kind. Riley is also recognized for being Mediocre. Hence we'll never get a Harbaughesque #7 preseason ranking no matter how good we look on paper. You can almost hear the TV announcers scream how poorly coached we are.
It's important to just let Riley die his own natural death, because he will. Then we can move on, finally, with the blessings of the perception Gods and maybe for once get this right.

 

[jlb321]

This is why I believe that if Riley is kept, then Langs and Cav are gone.

Have posted several times before ... If you are an off line coach or OC with options are you packing up and moving to Lincoln knowing the head coach is 1) on the hottest of seats and 2) is at an age that he may be pondering retirement.

 

[SnohomishRed]

Here is my take. Our coordinators are tied directly to the hip of Mike Riley. They are just as responsible for this debacle as him as he is a hands off Head coach. We gain nothing taking Riley out of the equation in the middle of the season. Adding additional duties to either of their plates isn't the answer.

Better yet......at 64 years old lets see what happens in the next few weeks. If letting him go is on the table lets see what his post Nebraska plans are. If he is going to retire than lets negotiate with him to give him the remainder of his contract.....the same as firing him......and let the University save face. He announces with a few games left in the season effective at the end of the season and we give him all the fanfare and horse and pony show that goes along with it. In the mean time we can be conducting a public coaching search and helping our "firing the coach" reputation.

Plus there is a chance Diaco turns this defense into what we hoped it would become. They have been pretty impressive over the last 2 and a half games. Rutgers we held them to under 200 yards that is difficult to do no matter how good their offense is.

Let the season play out let's hope some good comes from it

 

[yort2000]

Have posted several times before ... If you are an off line coach or OC with options are you packing up and moving to Lincoln knowing the head coach is 1) on the hottest of seats and 2) is at an age that he may be pondering retirement.

Yes, because if you do a great job, you are in line to be a head coach at a school with a great situation. Riley has set up a great foundation to handle the administrative side (recruiting and compliance) of coaching and you would just have to keep that in place without having to worry about how to handle that stuff.

 

[RedSea]

If Cav and Langs really have to go, then Riley really has to go to. If Cav and Langs really have to go, then it shows that Riley had/has no idea how to assemble a staff to compete at the highest level.

 

[jlb321]

Yes, because if you do a great job, you are in line to be a head coach at a school with a great situation. Riley has set up a great foundation to handle the administrative side (recruiting and compliance) of coaching and you would just have to keep that in place without having to worry about how to handle that stuff.

You have to believe that Riley is going to be around beyond 2018. No way is a coordinator after just one season, in which the head coach is going to be cut lose going to get the head job. With regards to the retirement - that in a vacuum would be attractive to a high level coordinator. If Riley turned things around and retired after 5-6 yrs the coordinators are in great postitions. But that premise is based on Riley winning here. My retirement statement above was directed at prospects of Riley retiring rather than being let go.

 

[mwulf]

Any chance that a new staff keeps Diaco and the Williams'?