[Husker] Bandwagon???

[Steve Reichenbach]

> Thump...ouch...That's the sound of me falling off the Callahan
> bandwagon.  I really have a hard time supporting him at this point.
> Granted, the Huskers have no where near the talent of programs like
> USC, but I think they match up well against the Big XII North.

There are really two issues here:  first, our confidence in the current
coaches, and second, our actions based on those feelings.  On the first
point, I think everyone, even the most died-in-the-red-wool supporters
of the Pederson firing and hiring, must feel some falling confidence.
Let's take such doubts about Callahan and his staff as a given at this
point.  Second, what do we do now?

I'm in the camp of thinking the firing of Solich was a stupid, risky
decision driven by the AD's egotism and arrrogance.  Still, just as
everyone now must have doubts about the current coaches, I think most
everyone (me included) wondered, at the end of the 2002 season, if
Solich and his staff would be able to maintain NU at a high level (let
alone at the impossible standard of the mid-90s).  Then, the best
course of action was to give Solich reasonable time to learn from
shortcomings and make corrections.  Solich made some changes --- to
improve coaching he let go Bohl on defense and brought in Cotton on
offense, to improve recruiting he pushed out some long-time assistants
and brought in younger energetic coaches, and he made some changes in
the strength and conditioning program.  The Huskers improved greatly
the next year and had a 10-3 record with a road win over CU and a
bowl victory to close the season.  Granted, it wasn't enough to erase
doubts about the future of Husker football with Solich at the helm,
but it was encouraging.  It was too soon to give up on Solich at the
end of 2002 (which ended with a bowl loss to finish 7-7) and even more
so at the end of 2003.  Everyone has shortcomings, the key is how quickly
one can make improvements that make a difference.

I think that Callahan and his staff can learn from what is going wrong
and make improvements.  How quickly?  How much?  I don't know.  But,
until I'm convinced that they can't do it faster than bringing in a
totally new staff --- which likely means another couple of years, at
least --- I will support the current staff, just as I thought Solich
deserved support in 2002 and 2003.  Now, I think a great staff could
do what it takes to be successful (maybe not top-5, but ranked) in 2-3
years (at least in a place with as much support as at NU).  So far,
Callahan's staff hasn't met that standard, but I'm still hoping for
1 (or 2) more wins this year, a bowl berth, and another touted
recruiting class this year.  As long as we can get that and improvement
next year, I think we are on the best course of action that we can
take at this time.

As for SP, I think the time has come for him to go (maybe after the
signing period) and for a less controversial AD to be hired.  This will
help close the wounds of the Solich controversy and salve the struggles
that Callahan's teams have had.  Even those who supported SP's actions
must see that he is a detriment to support for the program and now is a
necessary sacrifice for the current unhappinenss.  And, those of us who
lost faith in his judgment two years ago, will get an AD in whom they
will have more confidence if and when it is time to replace Callahan.