Pelini's staff taking shape

UPDATING ONE THING: Shaun Prater was indeed offered a scholarship today by coaches Pelini and Osborne. Shaun is currently committed to Iowa, but said that he's interested in Nebraska and will take a visit.

For you not in Omaha, here's KETV's sportscast from last night which talks about some of the comings and goings in Lincoln since Sunday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIm9BZAlO1c&feature=user

From what I can gather from talking to people these coaches are confirmed to be on Bo's staff.

Bo Pelini
Shawn Watson OC
Ted Gilmore WR
Barney Cotton OL
Ron Brown TE
Marvin Sanders DB
Carl Pelini LB or DL
Mike Ekeler LB or DL (was an asst strength coach at LSU - not sure what his role will be)
John Papuchis LB/DL/Special Teams (was a defensive intern at LSU sounds like he will be a staff member also, probably on defense)

I'm told that Scott Frost, Randy Jordan, and Joe Rudolph are still being considered for coaching spots, but it appears to me there is only one opening at RB coach.

It's possible that Jordan could be coaching RBs again, or maybe Brown switches to RBs and Rudolph is retained. Frost most recently coached LBs at Northern Iowa.

Rumors still abound about Bradley Dale Peveto, LSU's current cornerbacks and special teams coach, possibly joining the staff as well.

RECRUITING NEWS:

Ekeler and Papuchis are already on the road recruiting for NU today.

Pelini and Osborne were in Omaha today at Central and Westside for sure, and I saw a report that they were at Millard North again as well. No new offers were extended, however they did meet with Collins Okafor and Tim Biere at Westside and Ronnell Grixby and the Prater twins (Shane and Shaun) at Central.

Ben Cotton (Barney's son) has decommitted from Louisville and committed to Nebraska. Cotton is a TE who was committed to Louisville after receiving offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconsin, and Kansas as well. He's the #2 player in Iowa according to Rivals, behind fellow Husker commitment Dan Hoch. He's 6-foot-6, 217-pounds. I watched his videos and I see good hands and a very solid run blocker. He locks on and doesn't let go. I guess having a former NFL OL and college line coach as a father helps there, huh? ;-) His speed isn't listed on his Rivals profile, but I would estimate it at 4.7 to 4.8 seconds for the 40 based on the video I watched and comparative players' videos. Of course that's junior year film, so he may have improved his speed as a senior.

It appears that Trev Alberts will be working in the athletic department in some capacity, possibly taking Tim Cassidy's spot as director of football operations?

That is what I know for now.

The latest on NU coaching search

Callahan is gone and Osborne has been in Atlanta meeting with the search firm he's using to try and identify a new head coach for Nebraska football.

The flight tracking going on among message board members is hilarious! If you want to see what flights are leaving Lincoln, go to http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KLNK.

Here's what we know at this point...

1. Sources tell me that Bo Pelini was interviewed in Baton Rouge while Osborne (and reportedly Harvey Perlman) were on their way to Atlanta. That interview reportedly went "very well", but my source told me this morning that Pelini has not been offered the job yet per a conversation late last night.
2. Sources also tell me that Buffalo head coach Turner Gill will not be hired to be Pelini's offensive coordinator. That makes sense to me. Even though it would likely be a pay bump, going from head coach to offensive coordinator is not a good move unless it's necessitated by a dismissal situation. Whether Gill has actually interviewed with Osborne for the head coaching position is something I have not confirmed yet, but an interview was reported by Tom Deinert of the Sporting News.
3. Sources also say that Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe was interviewed by Osborne recently. This was also reported by Deinert. I have no word on the evaluation of the interview. Per Deinert, 'Grobe has nine years left on his Wake deal, which pays him $1.5 million annually. He has a $2 million buyout.'
4. Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly is also rumored to be interviewing with Osborne today. I have not confirmed this. Early morning word came from Channel 8 in Lincoln that the University had scheduled a flight to Cincinnati today, but I have not been able to find a flight on FlightTracker with those end points.

That's the latest.

In Defense of Callahan

Now there's a controversial title, given how little defense we've seen on the field this fall from the Huskers (I refuse to call them Blackshirts).

With all of the talking heads and upset fans rushing to crucify Bill Callahan on his way out the door, I thought it might be appropriate to look at some of the positive developments during his four years in Lincoln. Maybe I can convince some fans that he is in fact NOT the Spawn of Satan.

• Callahan and his wife Valerie have created and expanded Coach Callahan Charities, Inc. Coach Callahan Charities, Inc. is a non-profit organization established by Coach Callahan and his wife, Valerie, to provide financial support to non-profit organizations to fight breast cancer and diabetes and to assist economically disadvantaged and at-risk youth and families in the area. The organization hosts events such as a charity fashion show, a 5K fun run, and Football 101 (an informational course for women who want to learn more about the sport).
• Callahan helped develop and lead the Husker Youth Experience where hundreds of youngsters get to meet their NU football heroes and spend a morning working out with them and learning the sport.
• The Nebraska Elite Quarterback Academy was developed under Callahan, who is considered an offensive guru. This summer academy has helped the coaching staff identify future prospects such as Josh Freeman, Ryan Mallett, and Blaine Gabbert early in their high school careers.
• The Husker Football Schools (summer camps) have grown and developed significantly since Callahan took over the program.

You may not believe Callahan is a great coach, and I sometimes question his ability to make the tough decisions a head coach has to make (such as firing his defensive coordinator), but you have to admit that there are some positives that he's been a big part of building into the Nebraska program.

Unfortunately with all of the upheaval within the Nebraska football program, there are bound to be committed prospects who change their minds. In fact, highly-ranked running back Jonas Gray has already told NU that he's officially looking around again.

Who will follow him? What are the chances that each NU recruit stays committed? Here are my thoughts. (Thanks to Rivals.com for the list of committed prospects).

Prospect Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	40	RR	Hometown	Sean's Take
Blaine Gabbert	QB	6-4	226	4.65	6.1	Ballwin, MO	Gabbert will leave if Watson goes when Callahan is removed. I think 35% he stays with NU.
Baker Steinkuhler	OL	6-6	290	4.88	6.1	Lincoln, NE	Husker legacy will be a big part of the Blackshirt turnaround next fall. 100%
Jonas Gray	RB	5-10	213	4.44	6.0	Detroit, MI	It's unlikely that Jonas signs with NU. He has decommitted to take visits, but could come back depending on other NU recruits such as Gabbert, Woods, Rippy, and Compton. 20%
Bryce Givens	OL	6-6	257	5.1	5.9	Denver, CO	Givens is similar to Gray. If Trevor Robinson commits to NU, Givens might stay. 40% chance to stay IMO.
Shaun Mohler	LB	6-3	225	4.6	5.9	Costa Mesa, CA	Mohler is taking visits in Pac Ten country now, but I believe he sticks with the Big Red in the end. 50% chance.
Will Compton	LB	6-2	214	4.5	5.8	Bonne Terre, MO	I think if NU gets a defensive coach (a la Pelini) that Compton will stay put. The wild card is childhood favorite Notre Dame offering him this week. 60% chance.
Dan Hoch	OL	6-6	302	5.21	5.8	Harlan, IA	Hoch is a Husker 100%
Sean Fisher	LB	6-5	210	4.6	5.7	Omaha, NE	Fisher is a Husker 100%
Adrian Hilburn	WR	6-2	190	4.4	5.7	San Francisco, CA	I think if Zac Lee is still in Lincoln, Hilburn will be as well. 70% Husker
Cameron Meredith	DE	6-4	222	4.6	5.7	Santa Ana, CA	I think Meredith remains with NU. He committed for the program history and tradition, and with Osborne that will only get better. 65%
Collins Okafor	RB	6-1	210	4.54	5.7	Omaha, NE	Okafor is a Husker 100%
Riley Reiff	DE	6-6	235	4.8	5.7	Parkston, SD	I think Reiff sticks with NU after changing from Iowa once already. 80%.
David Whitmore	DB	6-2	190	4.5	5.7	Port Arthur, TX	Whitmore says he's a Husker, but I'm not sure I believe him. 50% at best.
Josh Williams	DE	6-4	220	4.8	5.7	Denton, TX	Williams is with the Compton, Gabbert, Woods, Gray, etc. group. I think he goes whichever way most of those guys go. 40%
D.J. Woods	WR	6-0	169	4.35	5.7	Strongsville, OH	Woods is close with Gabbert, Compton, Gray, Williams, etc. Each of those individuals will impact the others with his decision. 35%
Eric Harper	DE	6-4	220	4.62	5.6	Marrero, LA	I think Harper remains a Husker. 80%.
Tyson Hetzer	TE	6-7	265	4.75	5.6	Glendora, CA	No one's talked with Hetzer, so I don't know what to think. I'd say 50%.
Kyler Reed	ATH	6-3	204	4.5	5.6	Overland Park, KS	I think Reed stays with NU. He's a Husker fan from way back. 70%.
Doug Rippy	LB	6-2	218	-	5.6	Trotwood, OH	Rippy, Compton, Gray, Gabbert, Woods, Williams... all waiting on each other in my opinion. 40%
Ricky Henry	OL	6-4	300	5.2	5.5	Wahpeton, ND	Henry will be a Husker provided his academics are in order. 100%
Keelan Johnson	DB	6-0	195	4.5	5.5	Mesa, AZ	Johnson should remain a Husker, especially if Bill Busch is part of the new staff. 80%.
Darius Parish	DT	6-3	325	5.08	5.5	Wichita, KS	I think Parish is gone, but then I've always thought he was tenuous at best. 25%.
Brandon Thompson	OL	6-6	280	-	5.5	The Woodlands, TX	I think Thompson stays with NU, but it's not a given. 50%.
John Levorson	ATH	6-4	185	4.55	5.4	Crete, NE	Levorson is a Husker 100%.

That warm fuzzy feeling

I've got to admit that I was drinking gallons of the red kool-aid these past four years. I was certain that Steve Pederson and Bill Callahan had Nebraska football on the right track, and that the restoration of "the order" was nearly complete in Lincoln.

Then I watched seniors stop trying, sophomores and freshmen not getting on the field, and a general feeling of quitting by the team. This 2007 season, which began with so much promise, has now disintegrated into utter despair.

Well that despair has all been washed away in a red tide of nostalgia today. Just seeing Tom Osborne behind a podium on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln today made it seem like all is right with the world again.

Will T.O. make the right choices? Time will tell, but the man rarely fails at anything he does.