[Husker] Patience

[Alan Siporin]

As I¹ve stated before, patience is a key factor in the Solich/anti-Solich
division among Husker fans. Some of us had more patience, and we thought
another year or two might save us the kind of free-fall that has set other
programs back for years. In fairness to those who supported Solich¹s
immediate dismissal, they felt the longer he was kept around, the farther
the free-fall. 

Without rehashing those details the point, now, is that my ³patience² theory
lead me to make the prediction that, ironically, Solich supporters would be
more likely to give Callahan more time, if things started seriously falling
apart, than Solich detractors, who¹s impatience would come to the fore once
again.  So I was doubly pleased to see Steve Reichenbach and Andrew Smith,
who I would characterize as Solich supporters, call for patience, now, while
others all around us are calling for Callahan¹s head. I agree with Steve and
Andy that it¹s a little too soon to dismiss the current coach. On the other
hand, I think it would be fine to fire Pedersen.

In fact it is essential that Pedersen NOT be around to hire the next
football coach. He has to go before or at the same time as Callahan.

The Callahan situation can get tricky. For example, once the media label him
³on the hot seat² it will begin to effect recruiting. I expect the label
will be out in the next week or two, if it isn¹t already. I was going to say
that Pedersen could be fired immediately, but it¹s because of this
recruiting factor that I concur with those who think that should wait until
after signing day.

On another, related point, I really liked Pat Gaule¹s second-year-coach
records comparison, and I tend to agree with the implied conclusion that
Callahan isn¹t cutting it. However, it¹s possible that Callahan could still
get things together and that he just takes longer than the coaches in the
comparison.  How much longer is one of the tricky questions that we need a
top-notch AD to answer.

 
Alan Siporin