OT - Nebraska should have hired Turner Gill

Submitted by k06em01 on
I know this is off topic, but I was watching the monday night game (buffalo vs. ohio), and I'm a little bored, so I thought I'd bring this up to the board. It was clear that Tom Osbourne wanted to hire a Nebraska alum. Bo Pelini probably had a better resume than Gill at the time of the hire. Best defensive coordinator in football vs. upstart Big East head coach with some potential. Now, I hate bringing up race in any context, but the fact of the matter is that a large percentage of the top recruits in the country every year are African Americans. The argument has been made that an African American coach would be able to better recruit said players. There is really only one african american head coach at a major program - randy shannon at miami. he has yet to have much success on the field (until this season), and he has been pulling in some awesome recruiting classes. This argument was really the only reason I considered hiring Ron English as our head coach. I figured that as long as he was able to hire good coordinators, he would be alright, as he is an excellent recruiter and motivator. He just hadn't had enough experience or success to be considered for the job over richrod. Nebraska though, if they really wanted an alumni coaching, and they really wanted to gain an edge on Mack Brown or Bob Stoops, I think that the answer was Turner Gill.
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rick55

November 10th, 2009 at 9:26 PM ^

I like you, you're a great poster. But as an OU student, I feel obliged to tell you that you have no clue what you're talking about when you dismiss Solich. Before he came to OU, the Bobcats hadn't won a MAC title since like 1973*. He has already won one east title in 2006 (when he took the team to it's third bowl game EVA,) and if they can pull it out tonight, have two games left in their way**. * It may have been in the sixties. Just the fact that I don't know gives you an indication as to what Bobcat football meant before Frank Solich arrived. **They are admittadley tougher games against Temple and NIU.

Joined: 11/23/2008

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the_white_tiger

November 10th, 2009 at 8:50 PM ^

Turner Gill would have been a horrible hire, just like if we had hired DeBord. The alumni would have revolted, and Pelini has done fine anyways. Hindsight may be 20/20 but seriously, Gill might not be as great of a coach as everyone thinks and race had absolutely nothing to do with it just as it has nothing to do with recruiting.

Joined: 02/07/2009

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Double Nickel BG

November 10th, 2009 at 9:27 PM ^

Turner Gill would be able to recruit better because he's black? Really? You honestly believe that? Wow. I'm sure there are thousands of better reasons to go to a school other than the color of the coaches skin. I think Nebraska got a good guy in Pelini. He ran a good defense down at LSU and Nebraska is known for its blackshirt defense. In the future I think we'll get to see how good a HC Gill is at a bigger school, but after Callahan, I think Nebraska needed to go for a safer bet than Gill.

Joined: 02/04/2009

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The King of Belch

November 10th, 2009 at 11:32 PM ^

Was the ONLY choice at the time--popular among alumni, fans, admin, and people with diarrhea. Now, he has the reverse problem that Rodriguez has so far: defense great, offense, poo. Two losses by scores of 16-15 and 9-7. Ouch! But it just goes to show ya: You have a helluva defense, you're in every game. There's talk about what to do with his OC--but unlike Michigan's disaster, at least theyre showing real signs of improvement and will be going bowling again.

Joined: 07/21/2009

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BlueinLansing

November 11th, 2009 at 2:11 AM ^

the 'real signs of improvement'. Nebraska went 9-4 last season, they are currently 6-3 with games against Kansas, Kansas State and Colorado. They could easily lose 2 of those. Four of Nebraska's 6 wins have come against Florida Atlantic, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Baylor

Joined: 09/01/2009

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The King of Belch

November 11th, 2009 at 10:44 AM ^

Bill Callahan's last Nebraska team went 5-7 and TWICE gave more than 60 points in a game. Bo Pellini's first team went 9-4, won a bowl game, and he began a defensive turnaround that continues. I'd trade where we're headed for where they're headed right now, I'll tell ya dat.

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chitownblue2

November 11th, 2009 at 11:07 AM ^

I don't quite get the Turner Gill love. The guy is supposed to be a candidate for a program with the traditional national stature of NEBRASKA because he led an 8-6 team in the MAC? Now, I understand "it's Buffalo", but what would the reaction around here be if Michigan went out and hired Jerry Kill from Northern Illinois to fill a vacancy? People would throw a fit. Gill's resume to that point had been as a WR and QB coach at Nebraska, then, then took a non-coaching position with the Packers for a year. He may be a great coach, but the jury is sort of out. Meanwhile, Pelini had been an NFL coach for 8 years, coached a #11 nationall ranked Nebraska defense, a #11 nationally ranked defense for Oklahoma in 2004 (went to the NC game), and coached a defense that ranked #3 nationally for three straight years and won 2 NC's at LSU. I know who'd I pick.

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