Big Red Roundtable-Back to the future edition
The Big Red Roundtable is a collaboration of different Husker sites, where the bloggers answer different questions posed to the group.
1. Steve Pederson is out as athletic director. Did you see it coming? Good move or bad move?
Considering what Steve has done for the athletic department as a whole, I can honestly say I didn’t see this coming. Unfortunately for Steve I think this was a move to satiate a growing group of boosters who held him responsible for what was going on at Memorial Stadium. Pederson obviously didn’t win himself any friends with his management style, and Paul Meyers leaving, as well as the debacle that was the football team were the straws that broke the Camel’s back. As far as whether or not it’s a good move, that has yet to be determined. Dan Cook (Cook Pavilion) has already pushed away from the table, saying he won’t donate any more money. He seems to be a vocal minority, so the financial damage might be limited.
2. Tom Osborne has returned as Pederson’s interim
replacement. Good move/bad move? What should
Osborne’s priorities be, and what does Osborne need to
do?
On it’s face, this is a fantastic move. He returns instant credibility to a program that was fading fast in the eyes of much of the National Media. I can’t think of anyone who could get the rich and powerful of Nebraska to open their purse strings any faster than Osborne. The one possible negative is the same negative that plagued Bob Devaney’s stint as A.D. Football is Osborne’s one true love, and he needs to make sure he does not ignore the other non-revenue producing sports. The baseball team in particular was put in a horrible state thanks to Devaney. Dr. Tom said all the right things yesterday, hopefully he’ll back them up with action.
3. The Huskers have been blown out two straight
weeks. What is happening with the football team, and
what does the rest of the season look like?
I’d love to say that the team can get it turned around, but it certainly appears as though Bill has lost the team. The next five games are all potential losses, there isn’t a single game I can look at and say with certainty, yeah we’ll win that game. Texas A&M is in it’s own brand of trouble, but I’ve read several articles where the Aggies are looking towards the Nebraska game to right the ship. (Are we really in this situation?)
4. firecoz.com and billmustgo.com are getting lots of
internet traffic. Steve Pederson is already gone. Tom
Osborne says nobody will be fired during the season.
What happens with this coaching staff?
I think Callahan gets one more year to prove he can turn the program around, but I would be shocked (and infuriated) to see Cosgrove coaching the defense in 2008. Cosgrove, Dennis Wagner, Phil Elmassian, and possibly even Bill Busch need to be given their pink slips after the season. My hope is that Osborne will give Callahan the same kind of ultimatum Pederson gave Solich. “Make some changes, or you’re gone.” If Callahan is sent packing, there is a nice list of candidates I’d like to see interviewed for the job
Other Participating Blogs:
Corn Nation
Husker Faithful
Big Red Network
Husker Mike’s
Husker Guy
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on Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 at 9:01 am and is filed under Big Red Roundtable, Coaching Rumors, Tom Osborne, Bill Callahan, Kevin Cosgrove.
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5 Responses to “Big Red Roundtable-Back to the future edition”
October 17th, 2007 at 10:18 am
I don’t feel that Callahan has ever grasped the culture of Husker football and maybe this is the shake up he needs to make something happen. I feel TO will support BC and staff for the remaining season and there may be changes to the coaches at the end of the season, but not right now. TO will not go off half cocked and start firing right now, thats not his nature. He is a real leader and will guide those now under him in the direction they need to go. What was interesting to me was that Tom started the PC talking about the walk-on program that used to exist at UNL and how he felt it was the back bone of the football program and it was. I would like to see that come back and I am taking that is what he will focus on as well. When Tom was asked about how he felt about the west coast offense he kind of snikered a bit and changed the subjet. So, reading into that I don’t think he cares much for it at this level of football. You know the old saying,”keep it simple stupid.” I beleive TO will make the necessary steps to righting the ship and Pearlman noted that Tom was the right man to bring the fans together not only to support the Huskers but to keep the athletic program from losing out finacially because of the way things were going, “THE WALK OUT,” after last weekend. Pearlman was right, Tom Osborne is the right man, he is Nebraska!
October 17th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
[…] Big Red Analysis […]
October 17th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
The only decision that could have been made by Perlman, once he decided to fire Pedersen, was to hire Osborne as A.D. or interim A.D.
There was no way that he could have trotted out someone from Florida State, or USC, or wherever, as the new A.D. It would have sent this program into a tail spin.
He did what was right. He hired the one person that could slow down the slide, and potentially stop the slide altogether, and of course, I am talking about T.O.
However, I am not naive enough to think that T.O. has all the answers, but from my own perspective I have my “fire” back for Husker football. That was the point of all of this.
I still don’t understand all these idiot “Husker” fans calling in radio shows, and blogging on the internet that they are afraid that TO is going to bring back the option, or bring back Turner Gill or Solich.
TO is not an idiot! He is one of the smartest football coaches to ever coach, and realizes the state of the game today. He will bring in someone (if Callahan goes) that will nurture the Nebraska culture, but also move us forward in modern day football.
Personally, I think we can give Callahan another year with new defensive coaches, maybe all assistance coaches, but if he has to go I think Bo Pelini is an obvious fit.
I like the idea of a defensive minded coach, because in the end defense will win championships.
October 18th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
I think it is important to touch on the fact that for the past several years former Husker players and Coaches felt ostracized to a certain extent for Husker Football. There has been a wedge between what was the tradition of Husker Football and the current program. I believe that Tom Osborne will be a healer in this respect and reunite the tradition with the present. This will be his most important task going forward.
Another important variable in Tom’s favor is that he is an educator. His title of Doctor Tom is more than credible as he does have a phd. He is NOT just a football guy. He is a cool, and educated head in a time of need for the Husker program.
Finally, Tom Osborne is a motivator and problem solver. This season may well be written off in some peoples minds. But, I think this is valuable time for Tom to identify the problems, and plan a course of action to rectify them for the future of Husker Nation.
The BIG question in my mind is, how long can Tom go with position. I think he would like to turn over the reigns in 2-4 years. But, who knows, if he enjoys it and maintains the support, he may go on much longer.
GO BIG RED
October 18th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
It was telling to hear Osborne had to ask where the AD’s office was. It’s a little frightening to realize just how little contact he had with Pederson. We’ll never know who’s fault that was, but a hall of fame coach should always be able to have a good relationship with a program he headed for decades
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