[Husker] Coaching in the Big XII-1

[Robert Christensen]

I have been thinking about the coaching around the conference especially 
after yesterdays games.

Nebraska-I love the staff but have some questions about the calls late 
in the game.  One of the things I especially like about this staff it 
their willingness to adjust as the move through the season.  They did a 
great job of playing to their strengths last year and I have no doubt 
they will do that this year as well.  Yesterday they were playing with 
two dinged up QB at the start of the game and had the third QB dinged 
during the game.  Though we may not think they played a very good game, 
it was good enough to get the win (ala OU last year).  The coaches have 
been able to get beyond a poorly played game against UT and get back on 
the winning track.

Iowa State-What can we say about the ISU staff.  Paul Rhodes had his 
players ready to play in every game.  I'm sure the pundits (us included) 
will be talking about the trick play at the end of the game.  However if 
he would have been successful they would have been screaming is 
praises.  I think he is one of the best coaches around.  He doesn't have 
a lot of blue chip players and he still plays very competitive game in 
and game out.

Mizzou-Pinkel and staff don't seem to be able to overcome a loss.  They 
fell apart last year after the Husker game and it looks like they are 
doing the same this year.

Kansas-Kansas is pretty bare in the talent arena now, but for Gill to 
coach that comeback yesterday was amazing.  I think he will rebuild the 
program to be successful.  It remains to be seen how much commitment 
there will be from the KU athletic department to the football program.  
I don't think they have a new AD yet.  If he is on board with support to 
football I think Gill will have success.

Kansas State-As much as I don't like Bill Snyder, he does have his 
players prepared to play week in and week out.  He doesn't have alot of 
depth yet, but he will be back in the top tier of the Big what-ever 
conference in the next few years.

Colorado-It would have been nice if Hawkins would have waited until 
AFTER the fourth quarter to load the bus. Giving up 42 un-answered 
points is unbelievable.  I'm not sure what the staff at CU is good at, 
but its pretty obvious that game adjustments aren't high on the list.

Texas-Brown is supposed to have the best players in the conference and 
near the top in the nation.  I am constantly amazed at their lack of 
ability to play a consistent game.  I know several on the list have sung 
the praises of Brown.  I think he is an typical arrogant blowhard Texas 
politician that can't produce in real life.

Oklahoma State-The way they dismantled Baylor shows they were well 
prepared.  Of course there wasn't any need to make a lot of adjustments 
as the game progressed, but they seem to be a good staff.

TT-I don't know it the game with Mizzou was an indication of adjustments 
by TT or poor coaching on the part of Pinkel and staff.  I would have to 
give them credit for some good coaching though since there appeared to 
be adjustments at half-time to shut the Tigers down.

OU-Its hard to tell if Stoops and staff have been able to put the Mizzou 
game behind them.  We have seen the ability of Hawkins to leave his team 
in the locker room at times so the win last week might have been less on 
the OU staff than it was on CU.  They certainly didn't seem to show up 
to play a complete game yesterday.  The next 3 games will show how well 
Bobby can get past the losses.  I don't look for it to be an easy trip 
for them.

Baylor-It didn't look like the coaches were able to get beyond the huge 
win in Austin.  If they can put things together the next two games I 
will be very impressed with the staff.  But they have gone a long way 
this season with the wins they have.  They win one it will be huge.  
They win both its pronominal.

aTm-They certainly took it to OU.