[Husker] Solich Named MAC COY

[Steve Reichenbach]

I guess I qualify as a "Sol.ich apologist", so I'll offer my answers.

First, participants on this list always have posted about former
Huskers and even athletic and other issues only tangentially related
to Nebraska athletics.  Personally, I agree that there is an imbalance,
but it is because there has been a paucity of posts about the team this
year, not because there has not been an excess of posts about Solich.
For example, I posted about the lines and computer projections of
Nebraska's Big XII game and projected bowl possibilities and in the
last paragraph noted that ISU was rumored (falsely) to be hiring the
Central Michigan coach, at which time it seemed reasonable to tie
back to Solich.  Similarly, Solich's recognition as MAC coach of the
year is certainly notable, because, as I wrote, Solich has arguably
the longest and greatest connection to Nebraska football as any person.
(I'd like to see you or anyone else make a convincing case for any one
else.)  However, most of the traffic about Solich is from folks like
you who seem to get riled up whenever Solich is mentioned.

Second, as to the giving credit, I won't give Steve Pederson any credit.
He fired Solich not because of the direction of the program, which was
clearly upward (much to Pederson's evident chagrin, shown most clearly
after the CU victory) with the new assistants that Solich hired, but
rather because Solich didn't hop to Pederson's egotistical dictates.
NU had a great coaching staff and Pederson treated them like crap.

I think that Callahan has gotten about the right balance of public
credit and criticism (although I'm sure that some individuals get out
of hand).  The first year and the second year through the KU game were
disappointing and he was justifiably criticized.  The finish of last
year and the improvement of this year are encouraging, although with
three losses --- the same number Solich's last team had --- this is
still short of the goals for the program.  I was impressed when I
first met Callahan when he did a "meet the faculty" event.  I was
disappointed in a couple of the games his first year --- especially ISU
and CU --- and wondered after the KU game the second year if he would
get things going.  Since then, things have improved.  I don't agree
with those who criticize Callahan's character --- nothing I've seen
warrants such criticisms.  I thought the hillbilly comment was a brief
outburst blown way out of proportion.  The only reservations I have had
about his actions are that it has seemed occasionally that the staff is
too quick to blame the players for execution rather than to accept
responsibility for the team's performance.  (My daughter and Callahan's
daughter are schoolmates and good friends and I know that the ups and
downs of coaching are pretty intense at Nebraska, but Callahan knew
that going in and gets paid accordingly.)

If NU wins one or two more games, I think it is a major step over last
year.  (If NU loses its last two games, it will still be an improvement,
but not a major step.)  It appears that NU may be poised to take the
final step to competing for the BCS Championship.  It wasn't so far
from happening this year --- if NU could have played USC closer, played
up to its potential against Oklahoma St., and gotten a different bounce
on the fumble against Texas, then NU might be a candidate for the BCS
Championship game.  Even with the three losses, if NU wins its next two
games, a top 10 finish seems likely.  And, next year could be better.
The offense looks to be better next year and if the defense can improve
(which is a bigger question, but essential as there is much truth in
the saying that defense wins championships), then NU could be a top 10
team next year.  If that happens Callahan will get the credit and if
it doesn't he will get the blame.

As to being a Husker fan --- I have had season tickets every year since
moving back to Lincoln and attend almost every home game, I was at the
Alamo Bowl last year for the first bowl win of the Callahan era, and
I have tickets and plan to be at the Big 12 Championship game on
Saturday.  I hope for the best for the Huskers and Callahan.  I
probably won't watch the MAC Championship game (and don't even know
when it is), but I hope Solich's team wins.

And, I'll boo Steve Pederson at every opportunity and will be glad when
he is no longer AD at Nebraska.


> I do scratch my head that Solich winning the MAC Coach of the Year Award
> on a list that is supposed to be primarily centered around Nebraska
> athletics has generated about 50% more list traffic than Nebraska
> actually being in the Big XII Conference Championship against their
> longtime (real) rival Oklahoma has. Or that Taylor was the Big XII
> Offensive Player of the Year!!!! 
> 
> Which leads me to a question - Will the large number of the Solich
> apologists on the list give Coach Callahan or Steve Pedersen ANY credit
> should they actual win OUR Championship Game and go to the Fiesta Bowl? 
> 
> As a college football fan I will watch the MAC Championship Game...as a
> Husker fan I will be attending the Big XII Championship Game. 
> 
> Go Big RED...Beat OU!
> 
> JV