Quote:
Originally Posted by JimHammer
It's not even close to being one of the worst hires. I know you've got a hard on for Frost, but he is unproven. He took over OC at Oregon so it's hard to tell how much he influenced their offense. Pelini was the only coordinator hired to be head at Nebraska in the last 60 years. And he had a ton of experience.
It's not about Frost in a vacuum, it's about choosing Riley
over Frost that is indefensible. Sure, Frost is no guarantee. I get that. But he's young, he's hungry, he's been successful so far, and no one would want to return Nebraska back to the glory days more than him. A good analogue to him would be Harbaugh before Stanford. Now look at Riley, everywhere he has coached (not including high school) his record has been mediocre to bad. Then you factor in his age, an age where many greats fade, an age where negative recruiting starts to creep into the picture big time....I mean there's just no upside to Riley. It's clear as day. There is simply no rational sentient being in the Virgo Supercluster that would choose Riley over Frost.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimHammer
You think it's as easy to win at Oregon State as it is at Oregon, or Cal or USC? Lots of people think Mike Riley is an excellent coach. He has more resources now than he ever had in Corvallis and like it or not, Nebraska is still a name in college football. Sure we haven't won a title since '97, but you know who else hasn't? (Hint: it rhymes with Bichigan.)
Yeah, the only argument going for Riley is that a mediocre record at Oregon State IS AWESOME. I'll admit that take becomes a bit more compelling if Riley were in his early 40's instead of 60's.
The fact that lots of people think Mike Riley is an excellent coach, is not compelling at all. I'm sure a lot of people think and talk highly of many mediocre coaches.
BTW, I agree that Nebraska is still a name. I mean, maybe I'm being nostalgic, naive, or just two decades behind the times, but this is precisely why I consider the Riley hire
so bad. Nebraska is simply way better than hiring a mediocre coach in his twilight years. But again, I could be wrong, maybe Nebraska is not relevant anymore, but I hope not.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimHammer
YouI would rather have Riley here than Pelini and its not even close. Bo could out-talent bad teams, but he got out-coached by the rest. After a year in the system and a change of culture, these players are so much better than last year and you can see that on the field.
I'm not a fan of Pelini. His personality was just
too toxic. I think getting rid of him was the right move.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimHammer
If you've only been watching football for 5 years and you only know of 10 hires, then you may be right.
I stand by that statement. It's the worst hire I can recall in my lifetime. Nebraska deserves way better.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimHammer
Riley turned down offers from USC and Alabama previously.
I don't care about yesteryear. We have a nice long track record we can now look at that is questionable in the best light. Going after some up and comer at some non-power 5 school makes WAY more sense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimHammer
And you act like 63 is ridiculously old. Saban is 64, should Alabama dump him?
Age is one variable, true enough. And I think we can all agree that after a certain point, the younger the better ceteris paribus. Riley's mediocre record combined with his age is a toxic mix.