Dave Feit: Who Shall Lead Us?

Usually, we might use this house to go over the sport that simply occurred. What went proper for Nebraska, what went improper, who shone brightest, and who can do higher.

However let’s be trustworthy: I do not wish to write concerning the Michigan sport. You in all probability do not wish to examine it. Nebraska misplaced to Michigan 34-3 in a sport that was over when the Wolverines scored their first landing. We should always ship Jim Harbaugh a thanks notice for not scoring 50 factors. It was a irritating, miserable, sobering take a look at the place this system is at as we endure by way of the ultimate chapters of the Scott Frost period.

The Nebraska program is in worse form at the moment than any level within the final 60 years. Prime to backside, Nebraska is worse at the moment than they had been on the finish of the Mike Riley period. I don’t consider it is a debatable level.*

*From the beginning of the 2018 by way of Saturday’s video games, Nebraska is 61st out of the 65 Energy 5 groups by way of wins, with 18. The one groups to win fewer video games within the final 5 (nearly) full seasons are Rutgers (15), Vanderbilt (15), Arizona (14) and Kansas (14).

That is why Frost was fired, and why this subsequent rent is important. So as a substitute of recapping the sport, let’s discuss Nebraska’s subsequent head coach. Who it is perhaps, who it isn’t, and what we are able to be taught from the rent and the method. I am going to let you know up entrance that I’ve no sources.* However I believe there’s lots of info on the market if we select to see it.

*My present “sources” are individuals who have their very own sources (however my DMs are open if you wish to inform me who your brother’s neighbor’s actual property agent is speaking to). Backside line: Till the press convention happens, take all rumors with a grain of salt.

I’m going to make use of my regular postgame format, however tweak it for the teaching search.

Issues I consider

Mickey Joseph won’t be Nebraska’s full-time head coach. I like Mickey. You want Mickey. I consider that in the best state of affairs, Mickey Joseph could be a profitable head coach. However Nebraska – particularly now – is just not that state of affairs.

Considered one of my greatest takeaways from Mickey’s tenure is the facility of trustworthy, direct communication. So, let’s be blunt: Given NU’s quarterback well being and offensive struggles, the Huskers aren’t prone to win both of their last two video games. That might make Mickey 2-7 because the interim head coach, using a six-game shedding streak. Whereas I am on report that a lot of Nebraska’s failures are as a consequence of issues out of Mickey Joseph’s management, it could be unattainable for athletic director Trev Alberts to promote/spin Mickey as a great rent at that time.

There was a time when followers might have gotten on board with Mickey because the full-time head coach, however that window has closed. If Mickey Joseph had been employed at the moment, my assumption can be that Trev Alberts had been turned down by each different candidate on his listing. I do not suppose I am alone on this opinion. Proper or improper, the notion that Alberts failed would forged a shadow over Joseph’s (and Alberts’) tenure at NU.

Please don’t take this as a shot at Mickey. As I’ve mentioned beforehand, he is in an unattainable state of affairs with a patchwork roster and workers. I respect the hell out of his ardour, vitality and management. I consider he can have all kinds of job choices for 2023: assistant/ace recruiter underneath the brand new coach, head coach at a smaller college (critically, are you able to think about him operating a FCS workforce in Louisiana?), or as an assistant wherever he’d select to go.

Personally, I am rooting for him to remain at Nebraska. Again in September, I mentioned Mickey was going to depart Nebraska higher than he discovered it. That’s 100% correct no matter his last report is as interim head coach.

With no apparent, home-run rent, there shall be factions of upset followers. Keep in mind the 2017 teaching search? Our grandkids won’t ever consider how a lot of a sure-thing, slam dunk rent Frost was in 2017. He checked so many containers, that Invoice Moos’ listing of candidates was a single identify.

However this is not 2017. This time, there aren’t any seemingly candidates with pristine résumés. Throw a reputation out on Twitter or a message board and folk gives you a protracted listing of the reason why that man will not work out.

With no clear-cut, home-run rent, we have to settle for two truths:

1. Each single candidate has flaws. Matt Campbell could have peaked in Ames. Lane Kiffin was run out of Tennessee and USC. Matt Rhule was simply fired at Carolina.
2. Be ready for vocal critics of the brand new coach. No matter who Trev picks – even Mickey Joseph – there WILL be critics who level out each single flaw and gap in his résumé. It will not be as unhealthy as when Mike Riley was employed, however there shall be vocal skeptics.

It’s silly to view this coach search as a single (or double) elimination event. As this season-long search has dragged on, I have been laughing on the individuals who suppose that at any time when (Teaching Candidate)’s workforce loses, he’s robotically eradicated from consideration.

Iowa State loses? Matt Campbell is out. Baylor loses? Dave Aranda is out? Matt Rhule obtained fired? Oh, he is positively out. LOL.

That is not how a training search works. If something, having a coach like Aranda lose just a few video games works to Nebraska’s benefit. He is much less prone to stick round, or get a ridiculous contract extension from his present A.D. Perhaps there is a bonus to a having a head coach who can rise up and operating earlier than the December signing interval.

Cease treating this teaching search just like the NCAA basketball event. Whereas the psychological picture is humorous, I assure Trev Alberts doesn’t have a 32-coach bracket in his workplace that he updates after the weekend’s wins and losses.

Issues I don’t know

What are Trev Alberts’ imaginative and prescient and expectations for the Nebraska program? To me, that is crucial query in the complete search. Whereas I am clearly dying to know who the following coach shall be, I am simply as curious to search out out the reply to this query.

If/when Trev is requested this query, I totally anticipate him to say “win championships.”

However is {that a}) trustworthy, and b) reasonable?

Over the past 5 years, Nebraska has turn into one of many worst groups within the Energy 5. Solely Rutgers, Vanderbilt, Arizona and Kansas have gained fewer video games than NU. When the Massive Ten provides USC and UCLA after subsequent yr and (presumably) eliminates divisions, Nebraska’s street to a championship turns into tougher. Proper now, to play for a title NU simply must be the very best of a mediocre division. In 2024, the Huskers would want to beat out 14 different groups.

Really being a championship workforce means Nebraska’s subsequent head coach (and workers) are prime 10 within the nation in recruiting yearly. They keep expertise, develop it higher than most, and once they patch holes from the portal, they do not miss. Championship-caliber groups are elite in (a minimum of) two of the three phases of the sport. They’re disciplined, well-coached, and make in-game changes.

Again in August, I laid out my long-term expectations for this system. Of the assorted teaching candidates, I’ve seen named, there in all probability are 5-10 that might have that stage of success at NU. Make no mistake, it is a full-on rebuild from the bottom up. Not each coach goes to be as much as the problem. If the bar is nearer to my short-term, season particular expectation (6 wins and bowl sport), then the pool of viable candidates turns into a lot bigger.

But when Trev is really critical about making Nebraska a championship contender once more? He will want to tug a rabbit out of his hat.

There’s an previous cliché about new coaches “successful the press convention.” On this case, the onus shall be on Trev Alberts. With no clear, home-run candidate, followers might want to perceive Trev’s logic, his imaginative and prescient for this system, and the way (Coach) matches into that plan. I believe Trev can have good a robust, well-prepared response. If he needs to set a extra reasonable expectation for the fan base, he’ll by no means have a greater alternative.

Will cash be a problem? In principle, Nebraska might make its subsequent head coach one of many highest paid within the nation. Between the cash from the Massive Ten Convention, boosters, and different income sources, Trev Alberts might make a suggestion that will be unattainable for many coaches to refuse.

However will he?

The rumor mill* says Trev would not wish to pay the exorbitant salaries of the highest coaches within the nation. Extra particularly, he’s mentioned to be towards handing out the mega buyouts that can preserve Jimbo Fisher, Mel Tucker and others employed for years to return.

*Sure, this is identical rumor mill that at varied factors on this search has had everyone from City Meyer to Deion Sanders able to signal a contract. Once more, use skepticism as wanted.

If true, I get the priority. Trev has gained a fame as any person who’s fiscally conservative. Some would possibly name that “tight” or “low-cost,” however Nebraska has paid out tens of tens of millions of {dollars} in buyouts to fired coaches during the last decade. There’s a simple argument to be made that giant buyouts are the first motive Frost and Fred Hoiberg each returned for 2022.

My hunch is that when Trev finds his man, that coach will obtain a aggressive wage, however with a smaller buyout than what Frost is presently gathering. My hope is that Alberts chooses to splurge on the wage pool for assistant coaches, as they’re going to have so much to do with the longer term coach’s success or failure.

How is the Nebraska job perceived by Trev’s prime candidates? That is one other query that can seemingly by no means be answered.

At any time when Trev Alberts introduces Nebraska’s subsequent head coach, the narrative shall be that (Coach) is the one particular person Trev pursued, the one one to get an interview, yada, yada, yada. Trev is fairly forthcoming, however he isn’t going to say that he was turned down by Coaches A, B, and C due to X, Y, and Z.

However I might like to know the way Trev’s prime targets felt concerning the Nebraska job. We will recite the quite a few professionals of the NU job (unmatched fan assist, superb amenities, soccer is king, blue-blood standing, sleeping large potential, to call just a few).

However what do the coaches see? Do they see a fan base/administration that has fired two nine-win coaches this century? Over 20 years of dysfunction and drama? The shadow and affect of a legendary coach that also extends over this system? With the playoffs increasing, is it simpler or tougher to win a championship in a 16-team mega convention? How does a division-less convention change issues? With divisions, NU is an effective job. You beat six groups that may’t match NU’s expertise, and get an opportunity to play for a title. With out divisions, you are preventing to be within the prime 4 of the league.

Nebraska’s financial sources is perhaps greener, however the proverbial grass might not be.

5 causes I’m not supplying you with a “sizzling board” of candidates

1. I do not wish to debate candidates. As we talked about above, it is simple to poke holes in each candidate’s résumé. Over two months into the search, I’ve misplaced what little urge for food I had for it.
2. I believe the phrase “sizzling board” is dumb. “Scorching Board” seems like one thing that be in my sister’s previous “Teen Beat” magazines.
3. You do not actually care who I’ve on there. Until I had some loopy, out-of-left-field identify, you’d by no means bear in mind if I had Lance Leipold as my first, second, or third alternative. (Spoiler: most of us felt the identical manner about your sizzling listing).
4. I by no means made an inventory. Sincere. I by no means did. There are guys I might want over others, however until Trev requested for my enter (he did not, btw), I by no means felt it was well worth the effort to place collectively an inventory of candidates.
5. I consider within the Golden Rule. Since I began penning this piece, I have been listening to a reputation talked about (so much), so it would not be trustworthy for me put him on the prime of a made-up listing simply to say “I referred to as it!”

5 fan candidates who’re by no means, ever teaching right here

1. City Meyer. He isn’t coming right here. If you happen to suppose he must be, I query your judgment.
2. Deion Sanders. Is Coach Prime prepared for a Energy 5 workforce? Is Nebraska prepared for Coach Prime? A type of is a particular “no.”
3. Lane Kiffin. He’d be lots of enjoyable, however I do not see Nebraska paying sufficient to seize a coach from an SEC workforce within the prime 15.
4. Bret Bielema. Given what he is completed at Wisconsin and Illinois, he clearly is aware of what he is doing. However until the phrases of his contract included removing of his Hawkeye tattoo, I could not sleep at evening.
5. Jeff Monken. Keep in mind in 2014 when Husker followers needed to Google to search out out who Mike Riley was? In 2022, it could be “Alexa, who the heck is Jeff Monken?”

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