Nebraska's New Head Football Coach Is

[Appa23]

Spoiler

the coaching legend himself, Tom Osborne.

In a move so that he is allowed to visit with recruits off-campus (i.e. in their homes), Osborne named himself interim head coach. I am wondering if he is going to drop in on the couple of the players who took back oral commitments in teh last month.

Meanwhile, the list of possible coaches seems to be Bo Pelini )LSU D Coord.), Turner Gill (former All-American NU QB and current U of Buffalo HC), Jim Grobe (Wake Forest), and possibly Brian Kelly )UCincy) and Paul Johnson (Navy). There also is a chance that Osborne will talk with Jim Leavitt (South Florida).

The prevailing rumor is that Pelini will be announced as the new head coach after the SEC Championship game, but Tunner Gill has one ace-in-the-hole. Osborne was the best man at his wedding. Can you imagine having to tell one of your close friends that you chose someone else for the job that he always has wanted? Of course, if anyone could make that choice with no hard feelings, it would be T.O.

[RedGrange]

Smart if he never coaches another game.

Not saying he wasn't a great coach but, as Joe Gibbs proves almost every week, you can be away from the game too long.

[Appa23]

Smart if he never coaches another game.

Not saying he wasn't a great coach but, as Joe Gibbs proves almost every week, you can be away from the game too long.

I imagine that, in their quiet moments, Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno are thankful that Osborne retired 10 years ago. Otherwise, he would be coming up quick in their rearview mirrors.

[fantine33]

I only saw this because it was an ESPN headline on my gmail. I'm not really up on college football rules and whatnot, but isn't this kind of, if not outright chicanery, then deliberately skirting the rules?

Or maybe the arrogance of actually announcing that he has no intentions of actually BEING the coach, he's just creating an artificial situation so the restrictions that apply to everybody else won't apply to him is what gets me.

Or am I just misunderstanding the whole thing?

I'll qualify the above by saying that I think Bill Belichek ROCKS, so it's not like I'm all Miss Manners or anything.

[earendel]

I only saw this because it was an ESPN headline on my gmail. I'm not really up on college football rules and whatnot, but isn't this kind of, if not outright chicanery, then deliberately skirting the rules?

Or maybe the arrogance of actually announcing that he has no intentions of actually BEING the coach, he's just creating an artificial situation so the restrictions that apply to everybody else won't apply to him is what gets me.

I don't know of any rule that prohibits this sort of thing. Osborne is acting to try and stem the potential ebb tide of recruits who start looking for other schools when there's a vacancy in the coaching position. It's a way of reassuring them that they aren't being forgotten.

[Appa23]

I only saw this because it was an ESPN headline on my gmail. I'm not really up on college football rules and whatnot, but isn't this kind of, if not outright chicanery, then deliberately skirting the rules?

Or maybe the arrogance of actually announcing that he has no intentions of actually BEING the coach, he's just creating an artificial situation so the restrictions that apply to everybody else won't apply to him is what gets me.

Call me a blinded "homer", but the words "arrogance", "chicanery", and "skirting the rules" really can not be uttered in the same sentence as Tom Osborne. For as incredible of a college football coach that he was, he always has been a better person.

Osborne realizes that, probably more than any other AD, he has a unique opportunity to influence commitments, if not with the players themselves than certainly with their parents.

[minimetoo26]

Call me a blinded "homer"

Okay, blinded "homer"!

Hey--you asked for it.....

[silvercamaro]

Osborne realizes that, probably more than any other AD, he has a unique opportunity to influence commitments, if not with the players themselves than certainly with their parents.

Any player, or any player's parent, would still have to be nuts to commit to an unknown coach-yet-to-be-named. Many wonderful coaches are out there, and some of them would love to have the kind of opportunity that comes with Nebraska expectations and expenditures. The field also includes some real turkeys with good win-loss records who will continue to make players' lives miserable wherever they may be, as well as nice guys who can't coach.

[Appa23]

Osborne realizes that, probably more than any other AD, he has a unique opportunity to influence commitments, if not with the players themselves than certainly with their parents.

Any player, or any player's parent, would still have to be nuts to commit to an unknown coach-yet-to-be-named. Many wonderful coaches are out there, and some of them would love to have the kind of opportunity that comes with Nebraska expectations and expenditures. The field also includes some real turkeys with good win-loss records who will continue to make players' lives miserable wherever they may be, as well as nice guys who can't coach.

The list of candidates is not long. Definitely Turner Gill, Bo Pelini, and Jim Grobe. Reading between the lines, it is possible that Brian Kelly and Paul Johnson also may be interviewed within the next few days. According to Osborne, a decision should be announced by mid-week.

Interestingly, while visiting a Husker recruit at Millard North HS (here in Omaha), Osborne also spoke with a U of Buffalo recruit. I imagine that he may have been discussing the possibility of Gill leaving Buffalo for Nebraska. (In a way, keeping each schools' recruit apprised of the situation.)

I magine whomever Osbrone chooses, they already have discussed their set staff with him, so that recruiting can jump back into full gear. Interestingly, Dennis Wagner is one of the few current staff memebers who still is out recruiting for Nebraska.

[thguy65]

Call me a blinded "homer"

Okay, blinded "homer"!

Hey--you asked for it.....

But no one knows for sure if Homer was actually blind.

[silvercamaro]

Call me a blinded "homer"

Okay, blinded "homer"!

Hey--you asked for it.....

But no one knows for sure if Homer was actually blind.

Perhaps he merely had a puppy, who jumped on his eye....