[Husker] Huskers picked 2nd in Big XII North

[Steve Reichenbach]

> > I think a regular season with four losses (more than the number
> > Solich had in the season he was fired) cannot be regarded as
> > adequate success without a win in the conference championship
> > game or a win over a highly ranked team in a bowl.
>
> One more time.  Solich was not fired because of his record his last 
> season.  Solich could have had one loss and probably would have been 
> fired.  His final season record is irrelevant to his firing.  But,
> that is ancient history.

First, actually reading my post, it is clear that I did not state a
reason for Solich's firing.  I merely made a statement of fact that
four losses would be more than Solich had in the season he was fired
(which evidently was widely known before my post ;-)).  On your point,
I doubt that Peterson would have fired Solich if NU had only one loss,
but I believe he would have wanted to do so because his own personal
issues were at the root of his action.

As for Solich being _ancient_ history, he isn't.  Every coach is
compared with previous coaches, regardless of how the transitition
happened.  Devaney was compared with Jennings, Osborne was compared
with Devaney, Solich was compared with Osborne, and Callahan will be
compared with Solich.  The same thing at other schools like OU, Texas,
etc.  With the controversy over Solich's firing, the comparisons are
even surer, as is evidenced by the several replies to my note of fact.
Posting that Solich's record is ancient history, as if that will
persuade people of its irrelevance, is a little like spitting into the
wind.

> Four losses isn't going to get you a chance to play a highly ranked
> opponent in a bowl.  It also likely won't get you to the conference
> championship game either.

Actually, I think it is quite possible that NU could have fours losses
and still be in the conference championship game.  Likely?  Perhaps
not, but certainly quite possible.  As for the bowl game, I think NU
still has enough reputation and traveling fans that it is an attractive
team for a bowl, which tends to match NU against better teams in a
bowl game.  I liked the observation that NU was viewed as a pivotal
game by Wake Forest fans.  It's good for that still to be the case
and I hope this year's team boosts the Big Red's reputation with a
nice road win in that game.