Someone explain this hire? The guy had like 4 9 win seasons in 14 years, Bo was 7 for 7. From our own coaching hire blunders, hire a winner or suffer Michigan's fate you will
Oregon State played in six bowls over his 14 years, that aint bad considering. They did that with 2 and 3 star recruits at max. Get some 3 and 4 star recruits at Nebraska and you can see what the Nebraska brass was thinking when they hired him.
I agree it was a pretty lack luster hire but look at the available candidates... Without gambling on a coordinator for their first HC position... what other head coach would Nebraska realistically lure in?
As a Nebraska fan I was skeptical of this decision. I think it was made to quickly and we hired a guy that has a track record that isn't the best. However, I am willing to give him a chance. Nebraska has a respectable program. This guy has the ability to bring in some great people underneath him. I thought Scott Frost (OC for Orgeon) was going to be the next coach. This guy and Scott Frost are extremely close, but why would Frost want to leave a Powerhouse like Oregon, to not be a head coach. Frost is a guy of "traditions. " He was a Cornhusker, still supports the program, so it may be a ket to getting him back. This guy likes to throw the ball....something Nebraska has never really done or been good at. Tommie Armstrong is not a good thrower in my opinion, so depending on the OC that comes in with Riley, could play a huge part on how NE fairs in the future. I think us fans are willing to give him a chance. He is a class act that has promise, but the track record is scary which could play a part on recruiting. This guy could very well be Callahan Jr.
I agree. I am a nebraska fan and i loved the pelini hire to get the blackshirt D back. Well the only showed up a handful of times in his tenure. I am not sure about the riley hire. He is a good guy that doesnt cuss and scream, thats great. He is a guy with a long oot all history, dad coached at OR St, he has been there 2 different stints for a long time and played for Bear Bryant at Bama, great. I will support him and do hope he wins 10 and 11 games every year. I didnt think that frost would get the job beings he hasnt had head coach experience, but it would have been cool. But the hopes of him being a OC are slim in my mind be uase of the type of offenses Riley has ran at OR St. But if he were to come he could certainly set himself up nicely to slip into the head job in a handful of years. I was really hoping for Patterson from TCU, Ed Orgeron, Richt, or Tressell. All them guys recruit good and have an established past. Richt is from NEbraska. ThTs my take on it. Fans will back him and support the team regardless but its going to be interesting to see how the hire plays out.
Patterson isn't leaving the state of Texas IMO. Unless a Bama, USC, OSU, etc come calling... I agree this hire was questionable... but there were several big openings this year open up, and I think Nebraska was just being realistic with the hire. Take a guy they have faith in now vs gambling for big names (competing with UF, Michigan) and get egg on your face for striking out. Happened to UK basketball in 08... Gambled on big names, Donovan and others said NO, and they scrambled to hire the train wreck named Gillespie. Big programs don't like being embarrassed or told no publicly. Hire could easily work out and if not will be an easy transition to can him in a year or three and plan for a bigger hire. Still the most baffling move I can remember is Bielema leaving Wisconsin for Arkansas... calling that a lateral move is a stretch at best... Step back IMO. He had Wisconsin rolling, and was well liked up North. I can't fathom why you'd come to the last place team in the SEC West to compete with Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, and LSU annually...
