Nebraska Football Tickets

Pelini Wants Effort Until The Whistle Blows

Husker Extra has put together a list of core philosophies that new Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini holds.  The list is a year old but is very interesting as we come up with a better overall picture of the new Nebraska head coach.

The overall trend I saw in the list is that Pelini values hard work and effort over all else.  He talks of "swarming the ball" at all times and seeing all 11 players moving and working together until the whistle blows.  He said that he likes to get a personal relationship with each player so that he can get the best performance out of that player.  He likes to know how the player thinks so that he can better teach and coach the player.

Another thing I noticed is that he sounded very laid back when it comes to coaching.  It sounded as though the only time he brings out "aggressive" Bo is when things are to far out of place with the norm or if someone disappoints him to much.  I pinned Pelini as an intense guy, but this article has made me think otherwise.

Osborne On Board Until 2010

Chancellor Harvey Perlman has signed Tom Osborne to be the Athletic Director until 2010, extending the former Nebraska football coach's legacy in Huskerland for two more years.  Osborne took over as interim AD for Steve Pederson, who was fired shortly after Nebraska started their five game losing streak this season.

Osborne said in a statement "we've made some great strides over the last two months, but the chancellor and I agree that these next two years are crucial to keep our program moving forward."

Osborne almost single-handedly changed Husker history once again this year by firing former coach Callahan and hiring Bo Pelini.  It's yet to be seen if that was a sound investment, but one can be sure that Osborne made changes when changes needed to be made.  We are lucky to have Tom on board for another couple of years.

Finalized Coaching Staff Will Help With De-Commits

The Nebraska football program has suffered some losses in the recruiting category as of late with the departure of Simi Kuli and Will Compton.  The two defensive stars de-committed for a number of reasons, but the Journal Star points to the coaching change as the biggest reason.

With the coaching staff finally finalized, it will be easier to convince recruits to stay.  Most recruits build bonds with the coaching staff that is very important to their commitment.  The players are promised playing time as well as a system that will work with them best.  When a coaching change happens, the players are left with a brand new system that may not fit them in.

Added to all of that is the fact that Pelini is an inexperienced head coach.  The Nebraska football head coaching job is his first head coaching job ever.  Prospective players want a proven coach that they know will be there for the four or five years that they will play at Nebraska.  Since Pelini is inexperienced and has a chance of not doing so well, players have shied away.

Pelini Is Busy as Head Coach

Bo Pelini may not have his own Nebraska football TV show yet but he did sit down and talk to the Lincoln Journal Star about his first couple of days with the Nebraska football program as head coach.  What did we figure out, he is a busy man!

Pelini has been out recruiting before the deadline to stop in about a week.  He has also been putting together his coaching staff that includes Shawn Watson and Ted Gilmore, who served as assistants under coach Callahan as well. 

I'm glad to see both of those two coaches back.  I thought the offense, led by Watson, did a great job last year, especially after Keller got hurt.  Unfortunately, the offense had to play games with the Nebraska defense which put a damper on their point totals.

Gilmore will bring his recruiting strength back to the Huskers.  Gilmore was responsible for the great offensive line class that we had in this upcoming season and had most of the big name recruits out of California.

Speaking of recruits from California, Marlon Lucky is supposedly considering skipping his senior year to go to the NFL.  He has not decided if he will yet, but has talked to coach Pelini about it.

Nebraska Looking as Far as Arizona for QB

Bo Pelini is hot on the trail to pick up some new Nebraska football recruits right now, and has just offered a scholarship to Arizona's top rated QB Sean Renfree.  According to the Omaha World Herald, Renfree said "we talked about the new coaching staff," adding, "it's a place I'll consider."

Pelini may be looking for better acting QBS, but I think the real reason the coaching staff is recruiting Renfree is that he has what Pelini wants in a QB, versatility and a strong throwing arm.  Renfree is known as a gunslinger and can escape the pocket well.

After losing star recruit Blaine Gabbert to Missouri when the firing of Coach Callahan became apparent;  Nebraska has been looking for the diamond in the rough Quarterback that has not already committed to a school.  Luckily for the Huskers, they found a QB similiar to Gabbert, once committed, but left after a firing of the coach.  Renfree was committed to Georgia Tech but left after coach Chan Gailey was fired.

Pelini is Here to Win

According to the Omaha World Herald, new Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini told Jim Rome "I'm not talking about us coming in and rebuilding," adding "it's about going and trying to win right now."

Yes, this is a pretty easy statement to make, and every coach is doing the same thing, but, I like the confidence out of Pelini right now.  I just hope that if it is a bad year for Nebraska that he doesn't suddenly change his mind and label it a rebuilding year.

Pelini said that he will not mess with the offensive attack to much.  He said that his changes will occur mostly in the defense.  Well, I would hope so, I don't ever want to see a 70 next to the opponent's name again.

Pelini is recruiting non-stop right know and putting together his new staff.  The Lincoln Journal Star said that Pelini plans on keeping offensive coordinator Shawn Watson on board for next year.  I like Watson, and I like the fact that the offense ran smoothly under Joe Ganz.  Hopefully, Watson and Ganz can perfect the chemistry they had at the end of this last season.

Nebraska Changes Football Schedule

The Nebraska football schedule has been tweaked according to Nebraska's official website.  The two games that got moved were the Western Michigan and Virginia Tech game. 

The Western Michigan game has been moved from September 27 to August 30.  This opened up the spot for the Virginia Tech game to move back a week to September 27.  This will give Pelini and the team a bye week before the VT game, something that could prove to be a game changer.

In other news, Bo Pelini, the new Nebraska head football coach, will be in New Orleans on January 7 to help guide the defense of LSU one last time in the BCS Championship game against his alma mater Ohio State.  According to the Lincoln Journal Star, Pelini got Osborne's full support in coaching for the national title.  Dang!  And I was getting used to seeing Pelini in red!

Bo, Bo, Bo, Merry Christmas

It was announced Saturday that LSU defensive coordinator and former Nebraska defensive coordinator Bo Pelini will now act as Nebraska football's head coach.  And I couldn't be more happy!

Most sports critics and even most Nebraska football fans saw the Bo Pelini train coming long before it arrived in Lincoln.  I think we all sighed in relief on Saturday when the official announcement was made.

Pelini brings a few things to Nebraska:

Bo brings back the Blackshirts.  Known for being a defensive wizard and a blitzing maniac, it's no surprise that the LSU Tiger's defense ranked in the top three for the last three years.  Let's hope that Pelini doesn't let any more Kansas or Oklahoma State embarrassments happen this year.

Bo brings attitude.  Pelini is known for being in your face and brash, and as Tom Osborne put in the announcement press conference Bo is "aggressive."  As long as he doesn't pull a Mike Gundy, this should be a positive thing.

Bo brings back Nebraska values.  One of the main criteria for the new head coaching job at Nebraska was that the walk on program and Nebraska football involvement would increase and improve.  One of the first things Pelini said in the news conference was that he loved the unique atmosphere that Nebraska football has and that he wanted to unite the state again and restore the pride in the football team.