I think the staff, Limey specifically, really screwed the pooch going all-in with Leidner. After playing revolving QB's (Q, Shortell, Nelson, Leidner) they felt they had to pick a horse. Nelson was the shining star of their recruiting class & was going to be the face of the program for the next four years. Nelson was recruited to run a spread option, similar to the one he ran at Mankato West. That's why he came here. He worked out of the shotgun exclusively, which at 6'1" and being very mobile, was perfect for him. When the staff realized they didn't have any play makers, they decided to go to a slow, plodding, power offense with two TE's & a game manager type QB lining up under center. Not Nelson's game at all. It fit Leidner much better. Everything I've heard says most of the staff was still on board with Nelson, but Limey pulled the trump card & decided Leidner was his guy. Some people hate Nelson so badly that they're blinded to the realities of college football & forget that every story has two sides, but they've only heard the staff's. There is every reason to believe the staff made some promises to Nelson during his recruitment. They absolutely HAD to have Nelson. His signing was a huge statement. He turned down his Dad's alma mater & a much better football program in Wisconsin. It said that Minnesota was for real & it said to skill position players, we've got our QB! Could Nelson have handled the situation better? Undoubtedly, but so too could the staff & they're the adults. If you were recruited as the savior of the program, only to have the promised offense changed on you, then have the OC decide Leidner was his guy, I can see why nelson felt it was time to look elsewhere. People love to point the finger at Nelson and say "He didn't want to compete", but there are times in life, on a team, at work, etc. when the decision has already been made & everyone knows it. Funny how the staff stressed competition & the moment they let Nelson go, they preached how great this would be for Leidner, because now he wouldn't have to compete & look over his shoulder all the time. It was his team, period.
I never thought Nelson was a superstar. He was just an underclassman, but he showed nice potential & I always thought he was better than Leidner. When he left, there were many posters here who sort of celebrated it. They felt it gave them some e-cred and confirmed their assertions that he sucked all along, etc. My assertion was always that while Nelson was a flawed player, he was better than Leidner & that we would regret letting him leave so easily. Well, here we are. Limey made this bed, now we all have to sleep in it.