A new feature at Displaced Huskers and some good old-fashioned axe-grinding
Ever get the feeling of being left unfulfilled? No, I'm not talking about a night with G-Money. I'm talking about the kind of unfulfilling feeling that comes from suffering through some of the worst years of Husker football in decades. I'm talking about the kind of unfulfilling feeling of going to school at a football POWER, and walking away with but one conference championship to show for your efforts, and yes I said efforts because it was hard work. I'm talking about grinding out a career record of 50-15, compared to a preceding five-year mark of 58-6, not to mention three undefeated national championship seasons.
You guessed it, a Solich rant.
Off the football field (save recent debacles, read: date rape DUI) Frank Solich was a great head coach (except for recruiting). On the field, he was a straight up disaster. Sure, we had our fun during the Solich years, like the 2002 Rose Bowl which we probably had no business being in (what are souls for??), but it was only a matter of time before we figured out that Rome was burning. Thankfully, Steve Pederson saw the light (and an impregnated football secretary) and canned Solich after a 9-3 season, which saw Nebraska lose games by 17 (MU), 24 (UT) and at home by 28 (KSU).
But despite all of his downfalls, Solich provides us with lasting memories of his ineptitude. Yes, I'm talking about Frank "the quote machine" Solich. He has provided us with the following gems: “They had their whole package against us. They ran the ball well; they threw the ball well; they got out of third-and-longs, and that makes it fairly tough on you," and “We will come back and get ready to start off on Monday. And hopefully meet the challenges that are ahead for us in the Mid-American Conference," bwaahaha. But how could we (I) forget the all-time classic:
"For our coaches, for our players, we don't see it as there being a surrounding of this game in a manner that is really not coming from the end of it being an exciting football game," which Solich said during a press conference prior to the 2002 Kansas State game.
Illiterates all over the world were left stunned after that one.
But this all brings me to one exciting announcement: I am unveiling The Frank Solich Quote of the Week. I will accept submissions with one requirement: It has to be something so confounding that you had to read it twice to either a) understand it, and/or b) believe it. The educated and well-read need not apply. I should specify that they do not need to be quotes from the namesake himself. But if Solich uttered the words, then it will receive priority.
So with that, enjoy, and I'd like to sign off with a classic "Obermeyer's View". Reproduced without permission.
You guessed it, a Solich rant.
Off the football field (save recent debacles, read: date rape DUI) Frank Solich was a great head coach (except for recruiting). On the field, he was a straight up disaster. Sure, we had our fun during the Solich years, like the 2002 Rose Bowl which we probably had no business being in (what are souls for??), but it was only a matter of time before we figured out that Rome was burning. Thankfully, Steve Pederson saw the light (and an impregnated football secretary) and canned Solich after a 9-3 season, which saw Nebraska lose games by 17 (MU), 24 (UT) and at home by 28 (KSU).
But despite all of his downfalls, Solich provides us with lasting memories of his ineptitude. Yes, I'm talking about Frank "the quote machine" Solich. He has provided us with the following gems: “They had their whole package against us. They ran the ball well; they threw the ball well; they got out of third-and-longs, and that makes it fairly tough on you," and “We will come back and get ready to start off on Monday. And hopefully meet the challenges that are ahead for us in the Mid-American Conference," bwaahaha. But how could we (I) forget the all-time classic:
"For our coaches, for our players, we don't see it as there being a surrounding of this game in a manner that is really not coming from the end of it being an exciting football game," which Solich said during a press conference prior to the 2002 Kansas State game.
Illiterates all over the world were left stunned after that one.
But this all brings me to one exciting announcement: I am unveiling The Frank Solich Quote of the Week. I will accept submissions with one requirement: It has to be something so confounding that you had to read it twice to either a) understand it, and/or b) believe it. The educated and well-read need not apply. I should specify that they do not need to be quotes from the namesake himself. But if Solich uttered the words, then it will receive priority.
So with that, enjoy, and I'd like to sign off with a classic "Obermeyer's View". Reproduced without permission.
posted by Anonymous at 7:57 PM
10 Comments:
Wow, Storo. I like the new feature. My least favorite thing about the Solich tenure was the horrific clock management and lack of comeback ability. If the other team scored first, even if it was in the first quarter, it always felt like a dagger in the heart. If we were unlucky enough to be losing going into the fourth quarter, well, we might as well have gone home.
Also Sto, congratulations on setting the all-time record for most parenthetical statements in one post.
I'll show you a night unfulfilled, At PSU 2002, At ISU 2002, At OU 2000, At Missouri 2003, At Oklahoma State 2002 . . . the list goes on and on. Really i'm not comparable because i don't get laid as often as Solich loses a football game in disgrace.
out
g
I hate the idiots who no nothing about Nebraska football, try and argue that firing Solich and changing our offensive approach was the wrong thing to do. We could've stayed with Solich and won 6-8 games every year, but Steve Pederson saw the writing on the wall and made a decision to save Nebraska football. We now have an offense that is diverse, that is fast-striking, that can come back from a deficit. We also now have legitimate athletes, blue-chip recruits, incoming freshman classes that can rival Texas and USC. We are bringing Nebraska back to legitmacy. It might not happen this year, or even the next, but soon we will back at the forefront of the college football world. We don't stand for mediocrity, and that's what we were with Solich.
Whoa there team Coconut, Bill Cali's record is what? 13 and 10 over 2 years?? Let's take this down a notch shall we? What if we lose 5 games this year and 5 the next . . .? I would bet callahan is in trouble and we are back to the firing solich was a bad move position. Plus our biggest comeback came under Solich as we cameback from 17 down to beat A&M on the road in '02. What I like better know is that every game is exciting, and the team looks like they are having fun out there. Thats the difference to me from Solich to Callahan. The win loss records aren't much different if you compare Solich's last 2 years and Cali's first 2. Let's wait to see if Cali seperates himself from what Solich probably would have done also.
I agree with you on most points, Graham, but let's not forget either the Texas Tech game last year. One play away from coming back from down, what, 28? You are right, though, the next two years will really tell the tale once Solich's leftovers are cleared out. For the last two years Bill has had to try to do his best with what Solich had given him. What did Solich start with? Oh, that's right, a raging dynasty handed over by one of the greatest college coaches of all time. Frank really dropped the ball there. Not to say that every year was a bust, but I definitely think it was for the best. Maybe Callahan isn't the answer, but Solich wasn't either I don't think.
So what if we lose 5 games this year and 5 games the next? The difference between Solich and Callahan is that under Solich, losing between 0-2 games would've been an impossible goal by now, while losing 4-6 more realistic. Under Callahan, losing 5 games would be a terrible season, but losing only 1 or 2 is not out of the question for this team, even this year.
Graham, I'm interested to know what you think our records would've been in 2004 and 2005, along with a general outlook for the program as we head into 2006 under the Solich Regime.
Keep in mind Graham, that by '04 or '05, Bo is gone, leaving for a head-coaching job somewhere.
I'm not trying to argue that Bill Callahan is our savior, he could be, we just don't know yet. But Solich was not, and that was my main, original point.
04? what we go 8 and 3 with prolly a bowl loss so 8 and 4. 2005, i would say the same 8-4 maybe 9-3 with a, i can't believe i'm saying this, veteran joe dailey behind center. so in '06 i'd say Solich's team would have less hype than cali's team . . . doesn't mean hype equals results though. (And is this not the most ridiculous thing to do?)
heres the problem I have with your and every other hate solich argument, if Solich isn't the answer and we don't find someone to make the program better within lets say the next 10 years, then was firing Solich in '02 rather than '03 really the answer? All I wanted to have was one more year under ole Solich, thats it. But looking back if that meant having a crappy year in 04 rather than 05 then so be it. Just remember The Kansas game of '05 before we start annointing our kings here . . . i was ready to hang cosgrove and desicrate his mother's body. Wahahaha Wahahaha
The bad year was going to happen with any new coach, especially when we underwent the radical change in offensive philosophies. Graham, don't you remember how bad recruiting was? I think we made it through that horrible year alive, and have had some real good recruiting years since. Even if BC proves to be a bad gameday coach and the next couple of years sink him, at least he'll be leaving the cupboards full for our next savior. Any more years of Solich would have been another year longer on the backside for us to climb out of it, and even further degradation to our reputation.
Well, I'm in agreement with sto and most of what g said. Except those records, 8-4, 9-3? Those are some optimistic records right there. If Bill Callahan has done one thing which we should all be grateful for, it's his incredible recruiting. He brought in one of our best classes ever after a 5-6 season. That really helped speed the process of our "transition" period.
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