Fwd: [Husker] Patience

[Steve Reichenbach]

First, I think at the time, Pederson looked like a good hire as AD
and I can't remember anyone faulting the AD hiring process or Pederson
as the hire.  I don't think Perlman can be faulted there.

Second, I do not have the sense that Pederson "drove the whole scene"
in the Solich firing.  From reports at the time, it sounded as if
Pederson had an agenda for Solich, that Solich determined to run the
football program as he thought best, and this led to Pederson's
determination to fire Solich.  I have heard nothing to suggest that
Perlman was driving that process.  Although I suppose it is possible
that Perlman was "driving the whole scene", I think Perlman has far
more to do than  micromanage the football program.  On the other hand,
I'm sure Perlman was concerned about the program at the end of 2002, as
were many fans, and likely would have communicated with Pederson about
the need to maintain a high-quality football program as the heart of
the Athletic Department (as if that would have been news to Pederson).
Based on my sense of how the University works and of news reports at
the time, I think that Pederson explained to Perlman his plans to fire
Solich as the path to saving the football program, that Perlman agreed
to Pederson's plans (probably deferring to the man who had been hired
to run the athletic department and whose judgement he apparently
trusted), and then, when "things" hit the fans (pun intended), defended
the course of action (sort of, what else can you do after the deed is
done).

Third, I do not think that the leadership of the University should
be overturned on the basis of this mistake in the football program.
Although the Chancellor's position is far more ceremonial (as the
public, social, and political representative of the university) than
one might think, the Chancellor does have real responsibilities outside
overseeing the football program.  I think that the general consensus
is that Perlman has done a pretty good job as Chancellor, with respect
to the core missions of the institution.

I do agree that it will be primarily Perlman's determination whether
Pederson will keep his job or lose it.  I have been considering
sending Perlman a letter suggesting that it is time for a new AD.

> I have read all of the arguments for and against 
> the dismissal of Callahan and Pederson. I have 
> yet to see addressed the one problem in the mix 
> that likely mitigates against anything being done 
> in either case without a total collapse of the 
> football program. That is the reality that Harvey 
> Perlman became a football expert at the time of 
> the Solich dismissal and that Pederson is his 
> choice for AD along with Callahan for head coach. 
> I believe that Perlman drove the whole scene as 
> much as Pederson for whatever reason based on my 
> recollection of his comments at the time. I was 
> amazed that the Chancellor of the University of 
> Nebraska was suddenly so cognizant of and 
> conversant about football in the situation. 
> Without his unction there will be no change at AD 
> or head football coach-in my opinion.
> 
> Kerry Hookstra
> Erick, Oklahoma(where nobody has been able to figure out why Solich was fired)