[Husker] Thoughts

[Tommy Thompson]

While I agree with your assessment, I don't necessarily agree that there is 
an order.  All of these combined to create the current situation.  I've also 
added a few opinions of my own.

Tradition.  No doubt this was handled incorrectly.  However, Callahan was 
hired to do just that...change the tradition.  Not his fault that the Husker 
Nation...myself included...wanted to see better passing production.  The WCO 
is supposed to be balanced, so it looked like a good choice.  Had Callahan 
chosen to adapt himself, rather than the program...and then gently add the 
WCO flavor...he would have been more easily accepted.  He didn't have the 
players (or fan support) for the quick change.

Recruiting.  This was a double-edged sword.  If he didn't get the offensive 
skill players he needed, he couldn't prove his offense would work.  His 
choice helped with the stop gap, but hurt in the long run.

Fundamentals.  If someone else had been hired as the DC, I don't think this 
would have been a problem.  What ever happened to throwing off a blocker? 
Why did the CBs play so far off the receivers?  Was that a lack of 
fundamentals or just a poor scheme?

Assistants.  Cosgrove should never have been hired.  I would have liked to 
have seen Blake as the DC (Pelini was realistically already gone by the time 
Callahan was hired).

Tommy Thompson
"GO BIG RED"
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Stone" <sstone at pvtnetworks.net>
To: "husker-tssi.com" <husker at tssi.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2007 7:39 PM
Subject: [Husker] Thoughts


> Nebraska football is beginning to resemble a Steve Pederson egg as it 
> cracks and emits hydrogen sulfide fumes.
>
> The present Husker quagmire seems the result of a multi-year systemic 
> infection deriving from a series of well-intentioned but misguided early 
> decisions.
>
> In my view, these were some of them, more or less in order of importance:
>
> 1) Not sufficiently recognizing and honoring Nebraskans' depth of devotion 
> to the program's tradition, which resulted in:
> a) completely and abruptly trying to change Husker culture
> b) cutting back on the walk-on program.
> 2) Recruiting too many quarterbacks and wide receivers when some of those 
> scholarship should have gone to offensive and defensive linemen.
> 3) Operating a college program on the premise that it's basically an NFL 
> farm team.
> a) Neglect of basic physicality: strength, blocking, tackling, speed, 
> endurance in favor of technique, game planning, tactics.
> 4) Some assistants chosen for past affiliation rather than current 
> competence.
>
> I could go on and on (who couldn't?), but my point is that aggregating 
> these fundamental misjudgments made failure inevitable.
>
> Your thoughts?
>
> Steve Stone
>
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