NEW ORLEANS — Georgia coach Mark Richt has a cautionary tale for LSU defensive coordinator/Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini. Don't do it. Seven years ago, Richt did what Pelini is trying to do right now. Richt, then the very successful offensive coordinator at Florida State, was named the head coach at Georgia on Dec. 26, 2000. Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden asked him to stay on to coach his offense against Oklahoma in the Jan. 3, 2001, BCS national championship game in the Orange Bowl. Richt, who was 40 at the time, decided to multi-coach. FSU, which was averaging 42.4 points a game, lost 13-2. It was the lowest point output in Richt's 11 years as a full-time offensive coach at the school. It was the Seminoles' lowest scoring total since getting shut out 31-0 by Miami in 1988 when Richt was a graduate assistant. Richt has never been held to that few points as Georgia's head coach. Pelini, who is now 40, became Nebraska's head coach on Dec. 2. LSU coach Les Miles and the Tiger players asked Pelini to stay on and coach the Tigers in the BCS national championship game against Ohio State on Jan. 7, 2008, in the BCS national championship game in the Louisiana Superdome. He has been multi-coaching ever since. "I wouldn't recommend it," Richt said Monday at a news conference for tonight's Sugar Bowl game against Hawaii in the dome. "Coach Bowden asked me to stay on to finish out the game, which I wanted to. I wanted to be there for coach. I wanted to be there for the players. I wanted to enjoy the experience of a national championship game. I wanted to leave on a high note. But it was very difficult." Richt had much less time with which to work. He accepted the job on Dec. 24. The game was just over a week away. "My plan was to concentrate solely on Florida State until about maybe five o'clock," he said. "We would practice in the morning, watch film in the afternoon and do as much planning as possible. Then after dinner, I tried to do some Georgia work. There wasn't any recruiting because of the dead period. But there were things. You get a couple calls that you have to start dealing with all of a sudden. Maybe a discipline issue of a kid you've never met before. All of a sudden you've got to figure out what to do. But the thing I learned more than anything else was I wasn't very good at multi-tasking. I don't think I did a very good job. It was evident in the score." Florida State punted six times in the first half and 10 times in the game. Oklahoma held it to 27 rushing yards on 17 carries. The Seminoles were without top receiver Marvin "Snoop" Minnis, who was academically ineligible for the game. "We didn't do a very good job offensively that day," Richt said. "Some guys might be able to handle that better than me, but if I had to do it again I wouldn't." Pelini has been fortunate so far. As soon as he got the Nebraska job, LSU went on a two-week break following the Southeastern Conference championship victory. Pelini had time to hire a staff and delve into recruiting. He visited every Nebraska commitment and some non-committed prospects, according to Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne. When LSU returned to practice on Dec. 17, a dead period for recruiting had begun. Osborne said the only thing Pelini is missing out on now as LSU's defensive coordinator is reviewing film of players Nebraska is recruiting. "The way the schedule fell, it really hasn't been a problem," Pelini said. "I've been able to completely focus on LSU and this game." Richt said turning his back on his Seminole players and Bowden would have been nearly impossible. "Coach Bowden, he's my boss," Richt said. "He still feels like my boss to me. He gave me my first opportunity in coaching. I was with him for 15 of 16 years. I love the man. He actually led me to the Lord in 1986. I prayed to receive Christ right there in his office. So when he asked me to stay, I mean even if I felt like I shouldn't — I'm staying." Richt put in the hours, but in the end the only number he remembers for Florida State is the two points. "It wasn't from a lack of effort," he said. "I mean I tried like mad to do the very best I could. I think I lost some of my ability to be creative as a coach because there was just so many things racing through my mind."
Pellini certainly knows how to be a DCoord, the question that won't be answered for a couple of years is can he make the step up to head coach? Terry
I can't speak for Pelini, I just found out who he was last night. As for Richt, Richt proved he was a terrible OC. At FSU he just lined up and beat other teams with much better athletes. Richt only came into his own this season after reluctantly giving up the offense. Had he not given up the offense he would be on his way out the door in 2 years. Richt has grown and now is a great one. This was his coming out party. He had started losing his players confidence but then came the Florida call. Richt had the luxury of stepping into a very good situation with a lot of talent!!! Don't for 1 minute think Jim Donnan doesn't deserve a little credit here. Had Jim Donnan sat Quincy Carter his junior season and played David Greene he would still be hc. That and and the Eric Ramsey hire cost JD his job. One thing is sure, JD had an eye for talent and he left Richt with a lot of talent. Richt has also hired some good asst. coaches. Van Gorder was a fantastic DC. Spurrier now has him (two of the very best together). Richt hiring LSU OL Coach Stacey Searles played a huge part in turning this season around for UGA. Anyway I'm now a Richt fan. Only because he gave the offense up. It was a gimmick offense that proved only to work in the ACC. It wouldn't work now. Richt left at the right time. And don't forget Richt also brought the very best strength coach in the business to UGA. Dave Van Halenger played a large part in FSU's success. Even Bowden has admitted as much. Pelini? I have no idea how he will do? Is he a future Richt? Maybe. Is Pelini walking in to loads of talent? He sure left a great deal of talent. Richt had Greene, Seymore, Stroud, Boss Bailey and lots of others who I'm missing here. What future NFL talent awaits Pelini? Don't take this as a shot at Pelini, but he wouldn't have been my choice. We all know Paul Johnson was my man.
I don't know how much talent Pellini inherits, the Huskers did have a #1 recruiting class 2 years ago, and I think overall Callahan recruited pretty well , but unfortuneately the very good class that he had going before this year before it came undone has pretty much evaporated.