Tom Osbourne decides to go back to the roots of the program

**Wesley** · 11-06-2007, 09:08 AM

Today Nebraska has to recruit against stronger Kansas, and Kansas State schools.

Glad to hear Gene went to Harlan last Thursday to check out the Hochs. It is about one hundred miles either way to Ames or Lincoln.

Gene is being heard on 1620 Omaha sportstalk to continue the tradition that Dan started - good for recruiting.

**wheels686** · 11-06-2007, 09:17 AM

where did you hear that he went to harlan last thrusday? if there is an article or anything that would be a good read. it would be awesome to land Dan Hoch. Not sure what our chances are but good to hear he is trying

**jdoggivjc** · 11-06-2007, 12:12 PM

I would love it if Osborne is dead set on bringing "traditional" football back to Nebraska. While NU's fallen from grace over the last decade, that line of thinking would make it as epic as the falls that Army, Navy, SMU, and Alabama have taken over the last century. While they might still work as plays, you can't base your entire offense around the power option like Osborne seems to want to. Plus the recruiting that was mentioned earlier - why would you want to "walk-on" to a losing program with a boring offense that no longer works when you can go to the Utahs, Boise Sts, Fresno Sts, TCUs, or Hawaiis of the world and star there?

Not that I mind Osborne taking that route at NU - it would lead to them becoming the eternal doormats of the league - something they haven't ever had to experience.

**ISUFan22** · 11-06-2007, 01:40 PM

Who says that you need to run the power option to get back to the traditional Husker football?

IMO, traditional Husker football means recruiting a lot of "good ole boys", getting enough skill players in there and putting 'em all through one tough training program. In the trenches, Nebraska was just mean and tough in their day.

IMO, if they return to that, it won't be fun playing them. Seems Chizik likes that style of play as well - so those smash-mouth football games would be fun to watch.

**jumbopackage** · 11-06-2007, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Who says that you need to run the power option to get back to the traditional Husker football?

IMO, traditional Husker football means recruiting a lot of "good ole boys", getting enough skill players in there and putting 'em all through one tough training program. In the trenches, Nebraska was just mean and tough in their day.

IMO, if they return to that, it won't be fun playing them. Seems Chizik likes that style of play as well - so those smash-mouth football games would be fun to watch.

Back in the Husker's day, they had meaner, tougher, and bigger guys than the team on the other side of the ball. Speed can mitigate a LOT of that, though. Be mean and tough all you want, but if a guy decides to go around you and not through you, it's going to result in a lot of losing. The spread offense, and a quick, opportunistic defense can and will stop "power football".

I just don't think you can win 9 or 10 football games at the D1-BCS-Conference level anymore with a bunch of "good ole boys" from Nebraska and a few skill players.

I don't know that playing them will ever be fun. The problem with their program, though, is that they are looking back at what they've done, using that as a guide, and not looking forward to what they need to do, and building a plan to get there.

**Cyclone90** · 11-06-2007, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by tec71

They take Cizik if they want him. It kills me to say that but it's true.

Nebraska wouldn't take Chizik. They have to sell a more proven head coach to the fans and boosters. Plus I'm sure Gene wants his next job to be south, not in Lincoln. Hopefully that will be awhile however.

**Wesley** · 11-06-2007, 09:20 PM

A lot of their current players are from California, and that chain will probably be broken with a new staff. They wll need to recruit further South.

**jumbopackage** · 11-06-2007, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclone90

Nebraska wouldn't take Chizik. They have to sell a more proven head coach to the fans and boosters. Plus I'm sure Gene wants his next job to be south, not in Lincoln. Hopefully that will be awhile however.

The names being tossed around are Turner Gill and Bo Pelini, neither of which are exactly "proven" coaches.

I think they would be pretty happy with Chizik. I can't see him wanting to take a job that is only marginally better than the one he has, though. ISU may not be as prestigious as Nebraska, but it has a fair amount of upside. The big negatives of coaching at Nebraska (unrealistic fan expectations, coaching in the shadow of Tommy, the fact you've gotta live in Nebraska, etc.) are probably just as bad as the negatives at ISU.

He's already 1 year into his plan at ISU. Having to start from scratch at Nebraska would negate all the hard work he's put into ISU to date.

**Bobber** · 11-06-2007, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

The names being tossed around are Turner Gill and Bo Pelini, neither of which are exactly "proven" coaches.

I think they would be pretty happy with Chizik. I can't see him wanting to take a job that is only marginally better than the one he has, though. ISU may not be as prestigious as Nebraska, but it has a fair amount of upside. The big negatives of coaching at Nebraska (unrealistic fan expectations, coaching in the shadow of Tommy, the fact you've gotta live in Nebraska, etc.) are probably just as bad as the negatives at ISU.

He's already 1 year into his plan at ISU. Having to start from scratch at Nebraska would negate all the hard work he's put into ISU to date.

He wouldn't exacty be starting from scratch at Nebraska.... This is a school that has won the National Championship 4 or 5 times, regularly sells out a 80,000 person stadium and has a huge budget. With that kind of resume, it's much easier to bring recruits in compared to us. The've got some good athletes now. They're just have a poor coach.

Now I don't think it will happen. I'm not aware of a head coach ever jumping from one Big 12 school to another. Plus you should throw in the Nebraska pride factor. They think every other coach in the country wants to come to Lincoln and why should they try to go after an unproven coach who made the mistake of going to Ames, Iowa.

Nebraska despite all their current problems is still the 900 pound gorilla in the North. We've got a nice window right now to make some hay while they are down. Hopefully Coach Chizik can build a football machine that will eat Huskers....

**jdoggivjc** · 11-07-2007, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by Bobber

Nebraska despite all their current problems is still the 900 pound gorilla in the North.

I'm only willing to call them about a 550 pound gorilla anymore, and the weight just keeps dropping on a weekly basis.

Nebraska football is on life support right now, and their tradition is the machine. Problem is, football there right now is in such disarray their tradition may not be enough to save them anymore.

**Wesley** · 11-07-2007, 08:10 AM

At the press conference yesterday, Bill was very late and dressed in black, not Red.

I will not resign! This staff has work to do!

**wesley_w** · 11-07-2007, 08:15 AM

Plus there is a thing called integrity, which Gene has. I would highly doubt he would take our job, sign a longish contract with us, and leave after one year no matter who came calling. Just on general principles. I think he is commited to us just as we are to him.

**garn91** · 11-07-2007, 11:09 AM

Tom Osborne has a mancrush on Urban Meyer's spread offense. If indeed it's going to be a one man search committe, (i.e. TO calling the shots), I think he'll be looking at a head coach who know's something about the spread option or will hire a head coach who will bring in an OC who knows something about the spread option. Whoever the next coach is going to be, he'll be working with far more talent than what Callahan did in his first year.

Turner Gill has done a decent job at turning around Buffalo running a west coast offense (that's not a typo). As far as head coaching expeirence, Turner has 2 years, Peilini has well one game, so that's a wash.

**jumbopackage** · 11-07-2007, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by garn91

Tom Osborne has a mancrush on Urban Meyer's spread offense. If indeed it's going to be a one man search committe, (i.e. TO calling the shots), I think he'll be looking at a head coach who know's something about the spread option or will hire a head coach who will bring in an OC who knows something about the spread option. Whoever the next coach is going to be, he'll be working with far more talent than what Callahan did in his first year.

Turner Gill has done a decent job at turning around Buffalo running a west coast offense (that's not a typo). As far as head coaching expeirence, Turner has 2 years, Peilini has well one game, so that's a wash.

Well they can certainly recruit the talent to run it. The question is, will NE fans accept that sort of offense, which isn't overly divergent from Callahan's way of doing things.

Nebraska might be good again at some point, but I think the years of consistently beating the crap out of every team on their schedule, save for the other "big" teams is pretty much history.

I suppose it all depends on the coach. Whomever the coach is, he's got his work cut out for him.

**garn91** · 11-07-2007, 12:31 PM

The talent is currently in place to run any sort of offense sans a Paul Johnson option style attack. Tom Osborne is a God like figure in Nebraska and whoever he hires, will be welcomed and accepted by Husker fans.