Husker in Gopherland
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As a Husker fan, I can’t help but compare this whole debacle to what occurred at Nebraska with Bill Callahan.
Both schools hired coaches with no prior head coaching experience at the collegiate level. And while Callahan did serve as a HC in the NFL, both coaches are most regarded for their competency not as head coaches but as assistances; Brewster as a TE coach and Callahan as an OL coach and offensive coordinator.
For Callahan, year 1 – a definite transition season – was a mess. Nebraska lost 30-3 to OU, gave up 70 points to Texas Tech, and for the first time in 42 seasons, they finished with a losing record at 5-6.
Years 2 and 3 were better, and I was feeling more optimistic. In 2005, they went 8-4 and beat Michigan in the Alamo Bowl, and in 2006, things started to come together (ok, I know this differs from Brewster 3rd year, but stick with me here). Nebraska swept the B12 North, finished the regular season 9-3, and came within 1 fumble of beating Texas at home.
Then it all fell apart. They finished the season with consecutive losses to OU in the Big 12 title game and to Auburn in the Cotton Bowl.
In year 4, the real misery set in. Nebraska was handled by USC, survived a missed FG to beat a MAC team at home, and won only 2 conference games, both of which came at the expense of B12 bottom feeders, Iowa St. and K-State.
The offense was serviceable, but the defense, which like Minnesota was coordinated by Kevin Cosgrove, was awful…the opposition scored 40+ points 6 times, including 76 scored by Kansas and 65 from Colorado.
I can write more on the Callahan era, but I’m already sick thinking about it, just as I’m sure you all don’t care to read about it.
So what does this all mean? Well, it's not good and it's probably going to get worse. Contrary to most, I think the offense is improving; for example, it's exciting to watch a player like Gray develop into a potential all Big-Ten type player. However, this team's downfall, like Nebraska in '07, is the defense, and if they're going to win any Big Ten games, they'll need to rely on their offense because the D can't stop anyone.
In the end, if everything plays out like it did in Lincoln, at this season's end, both Maturi and Brewster will get fired. And while clearing house won't solve everything, it will set this football program on a new track, and hopefully, eventually (because it will take time), things will get better.
Both schools hired coaches with no prior head coaching experience at the collegiate level. And while Callahan did serve as a HC in the NFL, both coaches are most regarded for their competency not as head coaches but as assistances; Brewster as a TE coach and Callahan as an OL coach and offensive coordinator.
For Callahan, year 1 – a definite transition season – was a mess. Nebraska lost 30-3 to OU, gave up 70 points to Texas Tech, and for the first time in 42 seasons, they finished with a losing record at 5-6.
Years 2 and 3 were better, and I was feeling more optimistic. In 2005, they went 8-4 and beat Michigan in the Alamo Bowl, and in 2006, things started to come together (ok, I know this differs from Brewster 3rd year, but stick with me here). Nebraska swept the B12 North, finished the regular season 9-3, and came within 1 fumble of beating Texas at home.
Then it all fell apart. They finished the season with consecutive losses to OU in the Big 12 title game and to Auburn in the Cotton Bowl.
In year 4, the real misery set in. Nebraska was handled by USC, survived a missed FG to beat a MAC team at home, and won only 2 conference games, both of which came at the expense of B12 bottom feeders, Iowa St. and K-State.
The offense was serviceable, but the defense, which like Minnesota was coordinated by Kevin Cosgrove, was awful…the opposition scored 40+ points 6 times, including 76 scored by Kansas and 65 from Colorado.
I can write more on the Callahan era, but I’m already sick thinking about it, just as I’m sure you all don’t care to read about it.
So what does this all mean? Well, it's not good and it's probably going to get worse. Contrary to most, I think the offense is improving; for example, it's exciting to watch a player like Gray develop into a potential all Big-Ten type player. However, this team's downfall, like Nebraska in '07, is the defense, and if they're going to win any Big Ten games, they'll need to rely on their offense because the D can't stop anyone.
In the end, if everything plays out like it did in Lincoln, at this season's end, both Maturi and Brewster will get fired. And while clearing house won't solve everything, it will set this football program on a new track, and hopefully, eventually (because it will take time), things will get better.
