Busch thankful for Darlington's wisdom

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BYSTEVENM. SIPPLE

Please excuse new Nebraska assistant football coach Bill Busch.

Because of his recent job change, he's had little time for organization.

After spending the last three seasons as Utah's secondary coach, Busch arrived in Lincoln on Sunday and still was unpacking his office Thursday. Amid the clutter were telephone numbers scribbled on hotel stationery, including digits to George Darlington's cell phone.

Busch, a former Nebraska Wesleyan receiver, worked under Darlington as a Nebraska graduate assistant during the early 1990s, and no Husker coach had greater influence on Busch than Darlington.

"As far as his football knowledge, he's pure genius," Busch said. "Right now, he could draw up exactly what Nebraska ran against Alabama in 1977. He could draw up exactly what Nebraska ran against Oklahoma's wishbone in, say, 1976."

Given Busch's high regard for Darlington, it comes as no surprise that Darlington was the first ex-Husker coach Busch contacted upon learning late last week he had been hired by new Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan.

Busch, a 38-year-old native of Pender, will coach Husker outside linebackers.

"It's been kind of a different feeling, with so many things going on at one time,"Busch said of his first week on the job. "There's definitely been a 'Wow' factor. But the bottom line is, it's just good to be back."

Darlington, now outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Marshall, said Busch will fit in well at Nebraska.

"Bill was a tremendous coach as a graduate assistant," Darlington said. "He's very knowledgeable, has a great work ethic and has become a tremendous recruiter."

The South Stadium coaches' offices have been remodeled since Busch's tenure as a graduate assistant. Busch, though, retains clear images of his mornings in Darlington's office.

During offseasons back then, Nebraska's defensive meetings typically began at 8 a.m. But Darlington and other assistants often would gather at 6:30 a.m. for extra learning time, sessions that Busch appreciates to this day.

"(Darlington) would bring the bagels," Busch recalled. "He would make me get up on the board and draw up coverages."

Technically speaking, Busch has never coached outside linebackers on a full-time basis. But he's coached safeties whose roles were conceptually similar to what he will teach at Nebraska.

What's more, Busch spent time as a Nebraska graduate assistant working with linebackers coach Kevin Steele. In addition, former Husker outside linebackers coach Tony Samuel is among Busch's foremost mentors.

"That whole staff - Tony Samuel, Charlie McBride, Kevin Steele and George Darlington - really took care of me," Busch said. "All four were big influences, with George being the biggest one."

Busch feels fortunate to be back at the place where he started his coaching career.

"Ifell into a pretty good situation," he said.

Busch refers to the fact he took advantage of connections with members of Nebraska's new staff. Specifically, he worked as a defensive graduate assistant at Wisconsin in 1994 when Kevin Cosgrove was linebackers coach. Cosgrove, now Nebraska's defensive coordinator, and Busch remained in contact over the years.

Callahan worked on the Badger staff from 1990-94 as an offensive line coach, and Busch remembers Callahan's attention to detail.

Busch left a good situation at Utah, where head coach Urban Meyer was ready to make Busch an assistant head coach. The Utes finished 10-2 this past season and won the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season ranked 31st nationally in total defense and 27th in pass efficiency defense, allowing just nine passing touchdowns in 12 games.

In addition to his work with the Utah secondary, Busch became a valued recruiter, landing seven players fromHawaii and American Samoa in the Utes' latest recruiting class.

As much as anything, Busch is proof perseverence and patience often pays. Consider thatBusch worked six years as a graduate assistant before landing his first full-time coaching job, at Northern Arizona in 1995.He stayed there until 1996 before moving New Mexico State (1997-2000), then to Utah.

Now, at last, he's home.

"Ithink Nebraska's extremely fortunate to have him,"Darlington said.

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