Holdover Downing sees bright future for Huskers

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BySTEVENM. SIPPLE

Nebraska recruiting coordinator Scott Downing said he hopes the new Husker football staff remains intact for several years to come.

However, Downing said, he wouldn't be surprised if change continues within the next few years.

"I envision this as a staff that will be very highly marketable in a couple of years," Downing said. "I see us being on the cutting edge of everything. I think Coach (Bill)Callahan has great vision, and I think the assistants have a lot of vision and a lot of energy toward the future."

Downing and receivers coach Turner Gill are the only holdovers from former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich's full-time staff, which was dismantled following this past season's 10-3 finish.

Since taking over as Husker head coach on Jan. 9, Callahan has hired six new assistants and hopes to soon add Oakland Raiders tight ends coach Jay Norvell as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Downing, meanwhile, said he hopes to remain at Nebraska for many years. In addition to his duties as recruiting coordinator, he will coach tight ends in 2004, as he did last season. He also coached Husker place-kickers and punters in 2003, but will no longer do so.

"My philosophy has always been that the job you have now may be the last job you'll ever have," Downing said. "So you might as well build a strong foundation, not take any shortcuts, pay attention to detail, and good things will happen.

"I'm not a guy who works the phone looking for the next job. That's not me, and that's not my plan."

Nebraska's 2004 recruiting class was essentially completed last Wednesday, which means Downing might finally get caught up on his sleep. During the several weeks leading to national letter of intent signing date, Downing said he probably had two nights during which he slept more than five hours.

"It's been a grind, but it's been fun,"he said. "I like recruiting. I like being on the road. It's all about building relationships. I like meeting people and finding out about them."

Even so, "You get worn out after a while."

Maybe at some point, Downing said, he will be able to take a deep breath and consider the massive change that's taken place within the program since late November. He'll soon be able to put it all in perspective.

For now, however, "I'd rather just look toward the future," he said."Let's take this program to places maybe it's never been. I'd like to focus on that, and on getting to know the other coaches and helping them make the transition to the University of Nebraska and helping Coach Callahan put together his program."

Downing said the new staff "is a very energetic and extremely good group of guys." Downing appreciates the disparate backgrounds of the coaches. For example, defensive line coach John Blake has ample NFL experience, while secondary coach Phil Elmassian is making his 14th coaching stop in the past 22 years.

"When Coach Callahan asks what we can do better in a particular area, we have guys who can talk about places they've been and what they've done," Downing said. "Also, we have an opportunity to listen to a guy (Callahan) who has spent many years in the NFL.

"It's been fun. I've enjoyed learning and being a part of it, and then throwing in my two cents' worth when I have something to say."

Gill said last week that for him, the massive change on the staff has been "different, not difficult."

Said Downing, "I'd just say it's been very interesting. It's another learning experience. I guess God put us on this earth to learn and grow, and this is part of what we do. It's a matter of learning from what's happened."

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@;journalstar.com.