AJ, you people need to relax. You wanted our opinion and you've got it. It doesn't matter what formation they line up in. It doesn't matter if he can sing the alma mater. Was Ara Parseghian a good hire for Notre Dame? How's that northerner, Nick Saban working out at Bama? NU just hired one of the truly great coaches in the country. He knows exactly what he's doing and it won't happen all at once, but it will happen. You folks should get behind your coach. He's a good one...VERY good.
I know the Husker dudes are clenching a bit this week, but I wouldn't be surprised to see you guys in the mix for the B1G title immediately. And when I say 'in the mix', I don't mean statistically possible until getting your ass kicked in Madison. I mean, you guys should be no worse than the #2 team in your division each year. You're going to have 1000 yard rushers in the backfield and a QB that can throw it all over the yard. I'm excited for you guys. In my opinion, that's a great hire. I'd trade Riley for Kelly right now. ****, I'd throw in a bag of balls and some waffle house coupons as well.
I guess what I don't quite understand about Riley leaving Oregon State is why now? He had a chance to take the USC job and he declined to even be interviewed for the Alabama job, his alma mater. That all says I love it here at Oregon State and I want to stay here. Now guys who are always looking to move up and make more money don't turn down USC and Alabama, so why is he now moving to Neb? It doesn't make any sense. Sure Neb has more upside, but USC and Alabama have way more upside than Neb. I figured that like the guy at Iowa, who has had his opportunities to leave for better jobs but stayed, and said he liked it there because people didn't get all bent out of shape if he only won 9 games. Money was good, fans were reasonable, life is good. I actually get that. So why is Mike Riley leaving Oregon State.
There really is no answer I guess. I just seems odd that a guy like him who has resisted moving, now moves. But then everybody said Chris Petersen would stay at Boise State, he loved it there...but he decided the time was right for the move. When he decided against USC and Alabama, I wonder if he was thinking that he could build Oregon State into a Pac1O powerhouse and would rather do that then move some place where expectations where through the roof. Now he's seen that he can't make Oregon State into a Powerhouse and that Neb has the potential to be one of the top teams in the Big10 that it feels right. FWIW I think you guys a good coach and he'll have a shot at making you into a top Big 10 team.
I think you're right Doc, but also he considered it home, so he probably decided to hang around for awhile. I think with all that NIKE $$$ just up the road, he may have also seen some of the light from that. This guy has nothing but praise from all around the country on his style, personality and FB know how...welcome to Nebraska coach....but we expect to be in the B1G champ game next year at the minimum....no pressure though!!
You ask a good question. Really, all I can come up with is that maybe he wanted to take a few laps around the big track while he still had the legs for it? I think even he knew Oregon State would never be a football power house. He just loved his home. Still, you only get one shot at life and maybe he didn't want to spend the rest of his life wondering 'what if"?