The fallout at NU continues

[Sooner in Tampa]

The bugeaters lose the first of many (IMHO) recruits due to poor play and a shaky coaching future in Lincoln.


LINCOLN - With Nebraska football finding itself on shakier ground by the minute, Jonas Gray likely is going to pick somewhere else to stand.

The prized I-back recruit told assistant coach Randy Jordan on Monday night that he was de-committing. Gray had visited Notre Dame on Saturday and probably is going to look harder at Michigan and Louisiana State.

It fired the first of what could be several shots at the Huskers' commitment list in light of the three-game losing skid and uncertain future for coach Bill Callahan and his staff.

"He wasn't stunned," Gray said of Jordan. "He understood, in light of the situation, that I had to do what's best for me."

Nebraska already had gone into damage control, getting Tom Osborne's phone number to Gray and encouraging him to call Monday night. Gray never reached the NU interim athletic director and former coach, who said last week that he wouldn't announce any decision on Callahan's future until after the regular season.

Gray said that would be too long of a wait for him.

"Even if he does keep Coach Callahan, you figure every year he's going to be on a short leash," said Gray, from Southfield, Mich. "Was I committed to the coaching staff or the school? I was definitely committed to the coaching staff."

[OUinFLA]

He was commited to the coaching staff?

ACK!

[Sooner in Tampa]

He was commited to the coaching staff?

ACK!HEH...I caught that too...it made me glad that we are not interested in a kid like this.

[crawfish]

I'm shocked they haven't fired him yet.

[sanantoniosooner]

You guys don't think some guys come because of Bob as opposed to just being "OU"?

As a fan I'd like to think it's all about the Crimson and Cream, and it usually is by the time a kid moves on, but there are some players that believe in the coach and that's what sells them.

Now, if your bone is with the particular coaching staff that intriqued him, then I agree he had a screw loose.

[aero]

sas, you're probably right but I would say Bob is obviously a different kind of person than Callahan. Callahan doesn't seem like the kind of coach a player or his family would find easy to warm to. And as great as NU's history is, its still not what OU's is and I think more players would come to OU based on our football program as opposed to the staff, as great as it is. Sounds like NU will be better off w/o this kid and he will be better off somewhere else.

[47Wins]

If he was "committed to the staff" he should be "committed"

[usmc-sooner]

I'm about 90% committed to our staff, I have to admit I like to roll in the hay and be unfaithful 10% of the time.

[badger]

sas, you're probably right but I would say Bob is obviously a different kind of person than Callahan. Callahan doesn't seem like the kind of coach a player or his family would find easy to warm to. And as great as NU's history is, its still not what OU's is and I think more players would come to OU based on our football program as opposed to the staff, as great as it is. Sounds like NU will be better off w/o this kid and he will be better off somewhere else.
I don't think any player believes in a guy like Phil Fulmer. But $$$, now THERE is something a kid can believe it :D:D:D

Yes, still bitter about Robert Meacham :mad:

[frankensooner]

Roll, roll, roll in ze hay.

[tomtom]

but he visited notre dame? oh sure there is a better coaching staff

[Widescreen]

I don't think any player believes in a guy like Phil Fulmer. But $$$, now THERE is something a kid can believe it :D:D:D

Yes, still bitter about Robert Meacham :mad:
We get the last laugh. How many conference championships did he win while he was there? Meanwhile, we won a couple of championships. What's that old Switzer saying? :)

[Rock Hard Corn Frog]

It looks like it is almost certain that QB Blaine Gabbert will decommit from Neb and commit to MU.

[birddog]

bugeaters also may be losing a top rated qb. can't remember his name. anyone? ^^^^that's the dude.


thanks.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

I don't think any player believes in a guy like Phil Fulmer. But $$$, now THERE is something a kid can believe it :D:D:D

Yes, still bitter about Robert Meacham :mad:Fulmer has pirated away several top Oklahoma boys over the last few years. It has to be the $, as TN has had severe coaching problems too, IMHO.(VERY inconsistent play from his teams)

[badger]

Fulmer has pirated away several top Oklahoma boys over the last few years. It has to be the $, as TN has had severe coaching problems too, IMHO.(VERY inconsistent play from his teams)
Maybe we should turn his @$$ in like he did with the Bammers :)

I really like Bama, and what he did, knowing what many SEC programs do, was pretty petty, so I'm holding out hope that someone will blow the whistle up his arse soon enough.

It's pretty obvious why he needs to recruit the state of Oklahoma - know of any 5-stars in Tennessee? They have a starting qb from OREGON, for crying out loud! No wonder Joe C. wanted to play a home-and-home with them. That'll show both our state recruits and anyone they're attempting to get which program is headed for the title, and which one is headed for the tank. glug glug:rolleyes:

[JohnnyMack]

Fulmer has pirated away several top Oklahoma boys over the last few years. It has to be the $, as TN has had severe coaching problems too, IMHO.(VERY inconsistent play from his teams)

:rolleyes:

[TheUnnamedSooner]

He was commited to the coaching staff?

ACK!

If he was commited to that coaching staff, then he'll love lsu :les:

[TheHumanAlphabet]

It looks like it is almost certain that QB Blaine Gabbert will decommit from Neb and commit to MU.

Is that Mizzou or Meatchicken?

[Rock Hard Corn Frog]

Is that Mizzou or Meatchicken?


Mizzou

[85sooners]

lol

[Veritas]

More reasons to fire the SOB now, or announce his "resignation" effective two seconds after the final second of the CU/NU game.

But also...I beat this drum all the time...five start shmive star. That **** is made up by Rivals et al to sell rags and site subbies.

[stoopified]

but he visited notre dame? oh sure there is a better coaching staff
ROTFLMAO

[OklahomaTuba]

I'm kinda hoping Dr Thom fires Callenberger now, dusts off the ol coaching pants and head set and makes himself the interim coach.

[SoonerKnight]

I'm kinda hoping Dr Thom fires Callenberger now, dusts off the ol coaching pants and head set and makes himself the interim coach.

Dr. Tom's health is not what it used to be. He has admitted to having health problems and this is why he will not be the coach again.

[Salt City Sooner]

" I've done an excellent job in every area."

-Bill Callahan-

Denial is de river in de Egypt.....


With the criticism of his coaching rising in decibels, Bill Callahan came out firing at Tuesday’s weekly football press conference.

The Husker coach was asked silly questions: Why hasn’t he worn his Husker gear the past two press conferences?

And questions of worth: Are you going to resign before this season’s over?

He scoffed at both. Here was a man ready to make his case as to why he should continue to be the football coach at Nebraska.

About resigning, he said: “No, I’m committed. I said I want to be here. I want to be here. I signed an extension to be here ... No, (resigning is) not an option.”

Surely, one broadcaster questioned — with the season’s results, the firing of Steve Pederson, and a book coming out that alleges Callahan said unkind things about Tom Osborne — the coach must wonder if he’s the right man for the job.

“I don’t acknowledge that book at all. All I would tell you is ... I’ve done an excellent job in every area. It’s hard for the media to know, but what we’ve done off the field, and what we’ve done on the field. I think it’s well-documented,” Callahan said.

“We did some positive things. We have. We haven’t sustained it this year. But you’re in a (Big 12) championship game, in a three-year period of time you come in and implement a whole new offensive system, and in two years time you’re in a championship ballgame.”

Within minutes, his words were being batted around in cyberspace.

Can the words “I’ve done an excellent job in every area” be uttered by a man leading a 4-4 football team?

The people wondered.

Callahan continued.

“There’s a lot of work being done, to put together these recruiting classes, I think it bodes well for what we represent and how hard this staff has worked,” he said. “I got enough confidence in myself and our staff and our players to know we can win. We’re going to win. We’re just going through a tough stretch.”

The Huskers have lost their last three games by a combined 88 points, giving up an average of 40.6 in each of those games.

During the time, fan criticism has reached a level rarely seen around here.

Some positive energy returned last week with the announcement of Tom Osborne as interim athletic director, but then came a 36-14 loss to Texas A&M.

Sour moods returned.

Senior receiver Maurice Purify admitted Tuesday he was “kind of angry at the fans.”

He said they put on their red shirts and caps, then they come down behind the bench when Nebraska’s trailing and voice opinions of negativity.

Said Purify: “They'll say, ‘You guys suck.’ I’m like, if you’re going to support us when we’re winning, why can’t you support us when we’re losing?”

Callahan has bigger problems.

He said a few of his recruits have de-committed due to the instability in the program.

One of them is Jonas Gray, the gifted running back from suburban Detroit.

Because of Nebraska’s unstable coaching situation, he’s now taking looks at Notre Dame, Michigan and LSU. He said he doesn’t rule out Nebraska.

“It’s a lot of work to climb up to that seven hole in the country in recruiting. That’s the disappointment when you don’t have success, you see some of that slipping,” Callahan said.

The coach said parents are expressing a lot of uncertainty to him.

“When your son’s looking at an institution, they want stability and they want continuity, and I think that’s why, with (my) contract extension in September, that made everyone feel assured that there was going to be those traits for their son.

“And so with everything up in the air, parents are concerned, they’re looking for other options. That’s the tough part, because our coaches have worked exceedingly hard to build that. And let’s be honest, it takes time to build that. It takes years to get into a position where you can have a great class.”

Callahan said he’s tried hard to get the talented prep players while also plugging in JUCO players to a team that did not have a lot of depth when he arrived.

He said when he got here, he had to simply get recruits to “plug a dike” at certain positions.

“I got to tell you what, this is the hardest recruiting staff you’ve seen, getting kids to camp and getting kids here on campus, and locking up a class the way they did,” Callahan said. “That’s what hurts. That’s what’s disappointing when you’re right at the position you can get a top class of talent like that and then let it slip away, that’s really tough.”

Yeah, but what do high-ranking recruiting classes matter if you can’t produce on the field?

Callahan’s answer: “I think it takes time. Those classes take time. We’re playing a lot of young guys. I think it takes time. I really do. I think it’s a circumstance where you just try to keep growing with the players that you have. And I love our kids. They’re trying hard. They’re working hard.”

http://journalstar.com/articles/2007/10/23/huskerextra/football/doc471e4ddaa6961161464751.txt

[Widescreen]

I got to tell you what, this is the hardest recruiting staff you’ve seen
That's what she said.

[r5TPsooner]

He was commited to the coaching staff?

ACK!

With that type of intelligence, he wouldn't of qualified academically anyway.

[mdklatt]

He said when he got here, he had to simply get recruits to “plug a dike” at certain positions.


Isn't that against the rules now? :eek:

[Stitch Face]

"I’ve done an excellent job in every area."

If that isn't sig-worthy, nothing is.

[Tulsa_Fireman]

Isn't that against the rules now?

Not in Vegas, baby!

WHOOOOHOOOO!

[Earickson]

"I've done an excellent job in every area."


If that isn't sig-worthy, nothing is.

You said it. That's one is all yours. Courtesy of Williamford Slasherstein Callahan.

[douxpaysan]

Sorry Saltsooner....I started a thread before I read your post...good find.

[jk the sooner fan]

i'll lay any amount of money that after Clownahan is fired, he's going to show exactly how classy he is by publicly ripping/blaming "anything" nebraska

you watch - its coming

[snp]

Gray committed to ND today.

Bryce Givens (http://nebraska.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=58479) is giving UT a second chance. His teammate is Nolan Brewster, current UT committ and son of Minnesota coach Tim Brewster.

And as mentioned earlier, Gabbert, looks to be checking out Mizzou now which is a serious blow as he was their Justin Johnson of the class.

[bluedogok]

He was commited to the coaching staff?

ACK!
I would say that 90% of players today commit to the staff and not the school and that includes the ones at OU. It only makes sense, for most recruits the school is only a small part of it. Why do you think OU and UT did worse in recruiting during the Gibbs/Smellsofbourbon and Mackovic eras compared to the current staffs. Why did Nebraska recruiting suffer under Solich compared to Osborne? The schools were pretty much the same but the staffs were different.

I have worked at places that went through a "regime change" and things were not as good as before and I left, it's no different than a job change for them. They are there for a reason and most are not tied to a school as a life long fan like most of us. They are going to where they think they will have a chance to play, win or get the exposure to get them to the pros. It is no different than any of us looking for a prime position in any or our chosen fields of employment.

[TexasEx4OU]

I'm confused. If "...it's well documented...", then how is it "...hard for the media to know..."?

And, no...you don't get to use the staff at The Oklahoman as your barometer.

[OUinFLA]

just to clarify, I was surprised that anyone would commit to Slasherhan.


well, not exactly surprised since it happened before this season.


actually, I was just trying to make a joke.
kinda like NU's coaching staff.

[GottaHavePride]

Roll, roll, roll in ze hay.

What knockers!

[bluedogok]

just to clarify, I was surprised that anyone would commit to Slasherhan.


well, not exactly surprised since it happened before this season.


actually, I was just trying to make a joke.
kinda like NU's coaching staff.
I can agree with that statement.......

[frankensooner]

What knockers!
Oh, thank you doctor.

[bringit]

" I've done an excellent job in every area."

-Bill Callahan-


Cocaine is a helluva drug. :eek:

[OKC Sooner]

Oh, sank you doctor.

Dialectically Fixed

[badger]

" I've done an excellent job in every area."

-Bill Callahan-
To which Tom Osborne responds...
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5378/l8rlsrrs1.jpg
:D

[Sooner in Tampa]

HEH...no suprise here


Blaine Gabbert, the Parkway West senior and fourth-best high school quarterback in the nation according to rivals.com, has broken his oral commitment to Nebraska.

"With the turmoil and uncertainty of the coaching staff, I felt like I had to revaluate my options," Gabbert said. "I reopen my recruitment as of tonight. I’m open to all schools."

Gabbert had committed to the Cornhuskers in May, but made an unofficial visit to Missouri to watch Saturday’s game between the Tigers and Texas Tech. He said he has yet to schedule any official visits.

Nebraska, which fired athletics director Steve Pederson last week, has lost three consecutive games. Interim athletics director Tom Osborne has said he will wait until the season ends to decide whether to retain coach Bill Callahan.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

Perhaps nebbish is in the last half of its "Garry Gibbs" years(winning games, except for those against ranked opponents). Yet to come are the *************** and Blake years. Maybe the payback for the 2 unholy shellackings we got under Dr. Tom's guidance are yet to come?!?!?

[Widescreen]

Perhaps nebbish is in the last half of its "Garry Gibbs" years(winning games, except for those against ranked opponents). Yet to come are the *************** and Blake years. Maybe the payback for the 2 unholy shellackings we got under Dr. Tom's guidance are yet to come?!?!?
No, they're way past their Gibbs years. Gibbs was a good guy and decent coach. This year's NU team is getting blasted by everyone. Gibbs would lost to UT, CU and NU and that's generally it. He didn't get blown out by conference have-nots.

[SOONER STEAKER]

I also heard that every good looking girl in Lincoln will be withdrawing from NU and enrolling at North Dakota State as they are the real football power in the North.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

No, they're way past their Gibbs years. Gibbs was a good guy and decent coach. This year's NU team is getting blasted by everyone. Gibbs would lost to UT, CU and NU and that's generally it. He didn't get blown out by conference have-nots.My only comparison between Callenberger and Gibbs is that they both won some games, and not enough losing to get fired. (Callenberger is falling hard in recent weeks, and is now in real trouble, ending the comparison) Nebbish has now had 6 yrs of mediocrity, after their blow-out by U Miami in '01 season in the Rose Bowl.

[Sooner in Tampa]

Callenberger is FAR worse than Gary Gibbs ever was. I was not a fan of Gibbs, but I would take him over the slasher every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[OUMonster]

Osborne (past) = Switzer
Solich = Gibbs
Callahan = ***************
Osborne (present) = Owens
????? = Blake

[SOONER STEAKER]

Maybe NU should have adopted the Colorado way of recruiting. ESCORT SERVIES for all recuits.

[Curly Bill]

Callenberger is FAR worse than Gary Gibbs ever was. I was not a fan of Gibbs, but I would take him over the slasher every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

true dat...I was no big fan of Gibbs either, but Callenberger...holy crap what has he done to nebish?

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

Callenberger is FAR worse than Gary Gibbs ever was. I was not a fan of Gibbs, but I would take him over the slasher every day of the week and twice on Sunday.Agreed, if we had to take one of the two. But, it was so frustratinag having Gibbs, because he hit that level of mediocrity, and never got better, keeping him on thE job for 6 WHOLE YEARS!!!

[PAW]

and in middle of all this, Simi Kuli commits to Neb :confused:

[aurorasooner]

Spencer Tillman's comments are interesting.
They (Houston HS players) tell me flat out that they're not nearly as interested in glitzy college athletic facilities as most think they are. They just want to play.I'm wondering if Blake was the glue that held the Nebraska players together? Don't get me wrong. I think Boo Blake was one of the worst CFB head coaches in history, but if you look at the way Nebraska's defense has just completely given up and, as far as I can see, Blake is the only missing factor between this year and last year. I'm still trying to decide if Blake could see the "Nebraska defense will be bad this year -- writing on the wall" and high-tailed it out of Lincoln just in the nick of time, or if this guy is like the 18 and 19 year olds mama away from home, and was these Nebraska kids only stabilizing factor in an otherwise aloof coaching staff.
I don't know what connection there is between S. Tillman and Boo Blake, but there must be one for Tillman to back-slap a guy who hit the road from both Miss. State and Nebraska looking for safer pastures, or perhaps both the head coaches/staff at Miss.State and Nebraska were jealous of Blake's paternal/maternal bond with the recruits. One thing's for sure, Butch Davis better be careful with his relationship with Blake until the UNC program becomes stable. It makes me wonder if Davis' relationship with Blake will deteriorate in a 2 or 3 years and Blake will move on again to another troubled program where there's a safe rebuilding window.
John Blake, an associate head coach for Butch Davis' North Carolina Tar Heels, and one of America's elite recruiters, offered the following:

"When my players make a mistake or error in assignment, they're not down because they made an error; they're more disappointed because they feel they've let me down."

Experts say this sort of familial connection yields the most productive, long-term results. Few coaches, however, have tapped into this shift in culture and adjusted their coaching strategies accordingly. Blake continues, "If I'm ahead of any curve, so be it. For me, it's a core value; I cannot operate any other way." :confused: http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10427536/2 also, if this is true
They (Houston HS players) tell me flat out that they're not nearly as interested in glitzy college athletic facilities as most think they are. They just want to play. Today's coaching staffs may need to find a way to include the younger players (highly rated players in the recruiting rankings) somehow in the gameplan--sort of throw them an early bone to keep them from transferring. Of course, the best way would be to get ahead by 40 at halftime in most of your games so your can get the younger guys on the field quickly. With CFB parity/upsets galore, as well as quality assistants becoming head coaches, I just don't see this "hang a half a hundred" by halftime as an option. BTW, I think these ridiculous HS player recruiting rankings are the one of the worst things to happen to college football. A lot of CFB fans are more interested if their team is in the top 10 in these silly end of February recruiting rankings, than finishing in the top 10 at the 1st of January. A troubled coach can save being shellacked by the fans for a 5-7 season by getting into the top 10 in the subsequent recruiting rankings even if most of these HS guys are not the type of players good for his program.

[mdklatt]

Spencer Tillman's comments are interesting. I'm wondering if Blake was the glue that held the Nebraska players together? Don't get me wrong. I think Boo Blake was one of the worst CFB head coaches in history, but if you look at the way Nebraska's defense has just completely given up and, as far as I can see, Blake is the only missing factor between this year and last year.

Good point. As bad as things got during the Blake years, they players never quit on him. They absolutely loved the guy. And there's no doubt he's a good recruiter, so he obviously has people skills.

It's just basic counting that seemed to elude him. :O

[soonerloyal]

Callahan = ***************

Good Lord, what a horrid thought - Imagine US having to put up with S************* for more than one year.

Not enough hydrochloric acid in the world to cleanse my brain from that thought. :eek:

[Widescreen]

Good point. As bad as things got during the Blake years, they players never quit on him.
Unfortunately you couldn't really tell if they had quit or not.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

Unfortunately you couldn't really tell if they had quit or not.REALLY! What happened with those shellackings by nebbish. Did our guys play hard, and still get brutalized? (I must admit I didn't watch much college football during those yrs., so I don't really know).

[Salt City Sooner]

Saw on Huskerpedia that they've now had 4 de-committs in the past 3 days. In addition to Gray (now verbaled to Notre Dame) & Gabbert, WR D.J. Woods & DT Darius Parish have now opened their respective recruitments back up.

[bluedogok]

Blake is one of those guys that is a good career assistant because of his recruiting and player relational skills. But he does not have the coaching or killer instinct skills to make a good head coach, sometimes guys need to be loved and sometimes they need their asses kicked. He only knew one way and for some that never works.