[Husker] Players defend Callahan

[Alan Siporin]

Coaches get fired. Not players. I find the blame-the-players argument
laughable. Ultimately it's both scheme and performance that land on the
coach, because the coaches have to get their players to perform, even in the
pros, but more so with college kids.

Coaches win, or they get fired. Some get longer than others. And how long
Callahan gets to win is the question. The argument for firing a coach sooner
than later is usually that he is bringing down the program. (Remember the
Solich detractors? It's not win-loss, but recruiting?) Guess what? The
Solich offense has already been dismantled. The new one isn't completely in
place yet. So what's the hurry, now?

I feel like my truck is stuck in the muck. I've determined I can't get it
out by going in reverse, so my only other option (short of a tow - read that
firing) is to go straight ahead through the muck! Other than enduring
another bad season or two, why not let it play out? I think a lot of great
coaches could have come in here and already have had a pretty impressive
record, and Callahan's 500 mark makes me very nervous. But that doesn't
really prove that he can't establish a national-title-contending team,
though in a longer timetable than some coaches.

Hard to say how the Octavian injury or the Christianson injury hurt the
team. Every team has to endure key injuries, and sometimes the difference
between a great year and an average year is getting lucky with injuries. But
when you're still establishing a program you can afford injuries even less.
I think you have to stick with a coach long enough to get past that stage.
(Just as I wish we would have stuck with Solich long enough to establish his
new staff). I'm not crazy about what I see with Callahan, but I still say
give him more time.

How much did the OU game - a tough opponent that the team made a valiant
comeback attempt against - take out of these kids? Look at the scores of the
losses and the only embarrassing loss is Kansas. In fact it's out of
character with the rest of the season. Are we over-reacting to this loss,
especially when it comes at the point of culmination of the other losses?

See what happens against KSU. I predict the Huskers win - even with two
freshmen offensive tackles, starting. I won't predict the margin, but I
wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we win big. It won't make a great
season, and only puts us in position for a crappy bowl, but it also stops
the skid, helps recruiting and puts the team in a position to go after
Colorado with some momentum.

Discontented? Me too. Impatient? See what happens Saturday.

Go Huskers!  Alan Siporin