Nebraska fires Bo Pelini

[orguy]

[/quote]
During the Big 8 days, they really only had to beat OU to win the conference (74 titles between them). Their fans demand that kind of dominance; however, that kind of dominance will be impossible to replicate in the B10.[/quote]

Well they were an elite team. Yes, they failed in the late 80's/early 90's to win some very close BOWL games against FSU and Miami. However, they consistency competed with top notch programs out of conference (UCLA, PSU etc.) Additionally, in the mid 80's the Big 8 really had 3 good teams if you consider Ok State from 1983 to 1988. Nebraska regularly thrashed them too and always played OU tough including that Sooners 1985 national championship team. And after Ok State's decline what about Colorado? some powerhouse teams under McCartney and some really good teams under Slick Rick and Barnett. Hell even KSU started to turn things around in the last days of the Big 8. Not like NU played cupcakes every week.

[leopold]

I just read where the win yesterday over Iowa meant that Pellini has more wins in 7 seasons than Osborne did. Now, I know there are longer seasons now, but that is still an impressive accomplishment.

NU better be careful. The last time they fired a coach with a well above average record they ended up with Callahan - a major step backward.

[Arkpony]

Never liked the guy...chews a big wad of gum with his mouth open.

[orguy]

I just read where the win yesterday over Iowa meant that Pellini has more wins in 7 seasons than Osborne did. Now, I know there are longer seasons now, but that is still an impressive accomplishment.

NU better be careful. The last time they fired a coach with a well above average record they ended up with Callahan - a major step backward.

Well NU was much much more successful on the national stage under TO than they ever were under Pellini. No comparison. See my post above on the Big 8. Nebraska's D in particular was scary good. I witnessed them thrash a pretty good Ok State team 35-0 while holding Thurman Thomas to something like 3 yards rushing. Fair to say that just about any TO coached team would manhandle and crush any of Bo's teams. Those old Big 8 conferences were stacked at the top with elite teams. NU under TO also scheduled tough ranked opponents outside of conference play. This is why expectations are so high.

Agree they must be careful though. Did not agree with the Solich firing. Hopefully, Eichorst is thorough in his search.

[Digetydog]

I just read where the win yesterday over Iowa meant that Pellini has more wins in 7 seasons than Osborne did. Now, I know there are longer seasons now, but that is still an impressive accomplishment.

NU better be careful. The last time they fired a coach with a well above average record they ended up with Callahan - a major step backward.

Well NU was much much more successful on the national stage under TO than they ever were under Pellini. No comparison. See my post above on the Big 8. Nebraska's D in particular was scary good. I witnessed them thrash a pretty good Ok State team 35-0 while holding Thurman Thomas to something like 3 yards rushing. Fair to say that just about any TO coached team would manhandle and crush any of Bo's teams. Those old Big 8 conferences were stacked at the top with elite teams. NU under TO also scheduled tough ranked opponents outside of conference play. This is why expectations are so high.

Agree they must be careful though. Did not agree with the Solich firing. Hopefully, Eichorst is thorough in his search.

Those old Big 8 teams sucked. That is why the Big 8 Champion was almost always undefeated and got to play for the National Title. With very few exceptions, OU and NU demolished everyone else.

[orguy]

Tell that to Colorado fans. They really sucked. Only A National Championship.

Even if you what you say is true (NOT) its clear that OU/NU teams from that era would crush a Bo team.

[gord]

When Nebraska won the national title in 1995, they beat four teams that finished in the top 10: Florida, Colorado, Kansas and Kansas State. Three Big 8 teams.

[orguy]

When Nebraska won the national title in 1995, they beat four teams that finished in the top 10: Florida, Colorado, Kansas and Kansas State. Three Big 8 teams.

Thank you.

[Digetydog]

When Nebraska won the national title in 1995, they beat four teams that finished in the top 10: Florida, Colorado, Kansas and Kansas State. Three Big 8 teams.

And in 1994, Colorado played the role of OU (great win) and K State was OK. Nobody else in the Big 8 had a winning record.

My point is not that they suck or will suck. With a good coach, they should be a 9-10 win team most years. The problem is that their fans demand 12-13 wins. Unless they stumble upon the next great coach (Meyer, Saban), that is not going to happen consistently in the Big10.

[orguy]

Debatable.

Only time will tell. I do not think their fans demand 12 to 13 wins every year. The blowout losses are truly what doomed Bo. Just not acceptable to NU fans of a certain age.

As for the Big 10; not impressed with the Big 10. NU could not win against the Big 12 South. This combined with the arrogance of UT regarding TV money is what ultimately pushed them to the Big 10. Definitely an easier place to win than the Big 12 imho.

[East Coast Mustang]

Nebraska is a tough gig because your in-state recruiting base is pretty weak...and nearby states like Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa, and Missouri aren't exactly recruiting hotbeds either. And it's tough to convince a kid out in California to come to Lincoln for four years when he could go to USC, UCLA, Arizona, ASU, etc.

[CalallenStang]

NU needs to get back to running the option better than anyone else.

[MustangStealth]

This reminds me a lot of Michigan with Lloyd Carr. They feel they are too good to win 9-10 games every season and play in the Capital One Bowl.

Can anyone remind me of how it has worked out for Michigan?

[gord]

Nebraska is a tough gig because your in-state recruiting base is pretty weak...and nearby states like Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa, and Missouri aren't exactly recruiting hotbeds either. And it's tough to convince a kid out in California to come to Lincoln for four years when he could go to USC, UCLA, Arizona, ASU, etc.

How is Kansas State any different? If anything, it's worse when you compare Manhattan to Lincoln.

A lot of their big stars in the 90s came from the coasts, particularly Florida (Tommie Frazier), California (Lawrence Phillips) and New Jersey (Peter brothers), but their meat-and-potato guys were in-staters and the neighboring states. The biggest change came when they changed coaches - the recruiting dried up once Osborne's players left. Same with Oklahoma - once Switzer left they were horrible, but when the right coach came in (Stoops), they became a national power once again. Same thing can happen with Nebraska, it'll just take the right coach.

[leopold]

This reminds me a lot of Michigan with Lloyd Carr. They feel they are too good to win 9-10 games every season and play in the Capital One Bowl.

Can anyone remind me of how it has worked out for Michigan?

Yup.

Only difference is Michigan USED to have a recruiting base, it's only dried up in the past generation or so.

Nebraska's never had one.