Every time Nebraska fires a coach, there is a story about who would want that job. It is no longer an attractive job for big-name coaches because of the expectations.
The pundit will list off Bo Pelini's record in Lincoln and make a strange comment about why he was fired. Don't worry, laugh. A couple will say it's over. The '90s are over.
The fact that Pelini is too stubborn to be a head coach is proof that he is. I don't know who inside the program thinks it's possible to play through a regular season and still make it to nationals. Only a small percentage of schools can pull that off.
It's true that there are more than a few deranged fans, but they are always the most annoying on social media. The delusional Husker supporter can be very annoying. Pete from Kearney called in with talk of national titles and restoring glory. He sends me and the other dozen normal guys on the group thread hype videos from the Skers' official account when he's not on hold with you.
More people will pile on with no other takes than confusion and borderline delight after the 49-14 loss to Oklahoma. Modest candidates will crop up, and Nebraska AD Trev Alberts will make his selection, most likely an experienced white guy who recites the values most in line with the school's glory days. He will be let go for failing to recreate a renaissance out of crayons and construction paper.
The last time Nebraska was in the national conversation was when they fired their coach. Over that time, the program has gotten worse. If they had kept Pelini, it would've been worse than Mike Riley. It is convenient to overlook the 408-yard game of Melvin Gordon when Pelini was LSU's defense and he was worse than horrible.
Even though we know how bad Riley was, we didn't know that Frost was worse than him. Since Frank Solich took over, this has spiraled. There is a story about a curse. This isn't a problem. The team should have never expected to do what he did.
It won't look like Alabama or Georgia if Nebraska gets a great coach. It looks like Iowa or Wisconsin's best team. The Huskers aren't attractive enough to steal a candidate from a mid-tier program. Either it is lucky with an unknown commodity or it is lucky with an unseemly candidate who will never get canceled at Nebraska.
Even though he had a lot of felons on his roster, he still conducted himself in a way that Nebraskans accepted. The student section can chant "We want Urban!" until they have a voice, but if Meyer comes back to coaching, he won't be able to go to Lincoln. I don't know why I'm talking about it. He would go to 25 different programs before picking the Nebraska football team.
Even the scummiest of the scumbags won't take your money if you can't lure away an established coach. It's demoralizing to think of trying to lure a Kansas, Kansas State, or Iowa State coach. I suppose a Stoops not named Bob would be fine. If he would like to leave Kentucky for Nebraska.
There has never been a black head coach at Nebraska. Mickey Joseph had to break the barrier as an interim because so many Black players have come through the program alone.
Black head coaches don't think college football is as good as the National Football League. If you have ever lived in Nebraska, you know that the school wouldn't trust a black person with the most important job on campus.
The thing that made him great was his ability to recruit. He was able to see where the game was going and adapt as fast as possible. He changed his defense after seeing Miami speed up. At its peak, the walk-on program was a revolution. He didn't mind having a black starting quarterback.
It's foolish to ask Alberts to find the next Osborne. Progressives can be hired. According to the candidate lists I have seen, that option is not being fully explored.
It's comically due.
The trial-and- buyout method used by the rest of the college football world isn't working in restoring the program. Joseph might show something in the next couple months that will get him a chance at becoming permanent. There are more Black candidates than just him even if he doesn't.
An ex-NFL head coach, a hot coordinators, an established college coach, and a hometown hero have all been tried by the Cornhuskers. There are only a few different versions of a white guy. It makes sense to give someone a chance.
It is not the answer Nebraska fans want to hear, but it is better than the usual responses.
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