[Husker] Turnaround? Food for thought!

[Glen Heiman]

Comments within the last 12 months on this list estimated the time needed to
implement a system and/or establish a turnaround have varied from one to at
least four years.  I would have agreed with, and still do, the two or more
year crowd

Just a comment on what the right coach at the right time at the right school
can do.  Note that UTEP has basically the same personnel that it did in
2003.And yes, I realize that it should be much easier to improve a
(perennial?) 2-8 team than a downtrodden 7-7 team, and UTEP doesn't play Tx
& OK.  With Price's off-the-field activities he never would have been a
consideration at NU, or many other programs for that matter.

But, check out what Mike Price has done at UTEP, which under past history
would be a doormat for ISU, KU, MU, and probably even Baylor.  IIRC, Price
was also Coach of the Year when @ WSU.

UTEP:
Is now 8-2 (6-1 in Conference)
Had only two victories in each of three previous years.
Has only its second winning season since 1989
Has only its fourth winning season since 1960.
Has only its third Bowl since 1969
Is now ranked by AP for "First" time in school history.
Has only lost to ranked teams (Boise State & opening game thumping @ ASU).

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/3941AC5508BC74F886256F510019DD44?OpenDocument&Headline=Mike+Price+finds+a+new+ax+to+grind

Remember, I am advocating or implying little, if anything, other than what
can be done if all the pieces fall in the right place.  However,
considering the favorable schedule and defense that Callahan inherited, IMO,
his first season has been a disappointment.

Low point of the season, or many seasons:  70-10 loss to TxTech.  Did the
team give up?  Unacceptable, and if so, this is on Callahan's shoulders.
Remember, the blowout under Solich @ CU in 2001?  NU did not give up.  After
being shellshocked and down 35-3 very early in the 2nd qtr,, (and our
defense being outcoached) our "non-passing and unable to come from behind"
team ended up with 552 yd offense and 36 points.

I hope Callahan isn't the second coming of Mack Brown-----"great" recruiter,
but an underachiever as a coach.

Heiman
(Sorry about the rant,  This is probably my longest post, ever.)