Pederson remains optimistic
Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson remains unwavering in his optimism about the Husker football program, saying Saturday that Bill Callahan did "an outstanding job" this season.
Callahan's first year as Nebraska head coach ended Friday with a 5-6 record, the Huskers' first losing regular season since 1961.
"As excited as I was the day we hired Coach Callahan, I'm more excited today," Pederson told about a dozen reporters at the Devaney Sports Center.
Pederson, who hired Callahan last January, said he had no regrets about the decision, saying Nebraska's West Coast offense has "re-ignited" recruiting.
Although Pederson heard boos directed his way Friday during the Huskers' loss to Colorado, he said he's heartened by widespread support the program continues to receive "in every corner of the state."
Pederson said Nebraska's record was "disappointing." But his disappointment was outweighed by his optimism and determination to build a program that's successful "five and 10 years down the line," he said.
Former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich was fired last November following a 9-3 regular season.
"If you remember a year ago, when we made this decision, I said it wasn't about wins and losses," Pederson said. "It was about the future direction of the program, what this program would be in five to 10 years and the ability to ignite recruiting and create some excitement going into the future.
"When you make a change like that, you know there are going to be struggles. How much you struggle is hard to gauge. As you go through this, you keep battling and fighting as our coaches and players did right until the final seconds of the Colorado game. I was very proud of that."
Nebraska scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes Friday before falling 26-20, the Huskers' third straight loss. Because of its losing record, NU failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 1968.
"That bothers you, but I feel like we've kind of been on ‘streak watch' for three years, watching them disappear," Pederson said. "I guess what I'd like to do is have us focus on setting some new streaks."
Pederson doesn't judge the program by wins and losses in a particular season, saying such an approach would be unfair and shortsighted.
"We made this decision so we can push this program back up to championship level," he said of the Callahan hiring. "We want to go to bowls and win as many games as we can. But what we really want to do is have our student-athletes leave here having won a championship.
"That's really the long-term goal, to be in position to win championships again. And we will do that. And we will do that with Bill Callahan as the football coach."
Callahan said after Friday's game that he planned no changes on his coaching staff.
Pederson supported continuity, saying Nebraska's eight new full-time coaches needed time to "mesh" after arriving on campus from disparate coaching backgrounds.
Throughout a trying season, Pederson said, Callahan's staff remained loyal to one another.
"That's the key to long-term success," Pederson said. "And certainly we need our fans to be in there with us."
Pederson said fans throughout the state have been instrumental in the Husker football program's past successes.
"As I said when I took this job (in December of 2002), it's really the only place where 1.7 million people come together for one thing," he said. "There are no divided loyalties here, and that's what makes it such a special place."
A chorus of boos emanated from the stands Friday as Pederson spoke during a halftime ceremony to retire former Nebraska lineman Bob Brown's jersey No. 64.
Pederson said Saturday he's aware of fans' frustration. Asked at what point he would begin worrying about fans' patience, Pederson pointed to the wealth of support he receives from fans all over the state.
"I had people stopping me after the game (Friday) to say, ‘We're excited about the future and believe in what's going on.' Certainly, when we talk about patience, I think to a large extent it's about being able to see that it's going to happen."
Pederson's optimism stems in large part from a 2005 Nebraska recruiting class that currently is ranked No. 2 nationally by Rivals.com. After Friday's game, Callahan said he'd immediately turn his attention toward putting the final touches on the recruiting class.
Starting today, seven Nebraska coaches, including Callahan, will travel the nation recruiting.
"That part of it has never stopped this season," Husker offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said Friday. "In that way, this has been like no season I've ever been involved in. But you've got to do it. You've got to have players."
Fast forward to Saturday. Before his press conference, Pederson shook hands with each reporter, saying he was glad to see them.
Pederson's smile spoke volumes about his view of the future.
"We've always done this together, and we're going to be proud of what we've built together," he said. "All of a sudden one day, we're going to look at it and say, ‘That's what we were after. That's Nebraska. That's the championship tradition that's been built here.' "
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
Callahan's first year as Nebraska head coach ended Friday with a 5-6 record, the Huskers' first losing regular season since 1961.
"As excited as I was the day we hired Coach Callahan, I'm more excited today," Pederson told about a dozen reporters at the Devaney Sports Center.
Pederson, who hired Callahan last January, said he had no regrets about the decision, saying Nebraska's West Coast offense has "re-ignited" recruiting.
Although Pederson heard boos directed his way Friday during the Huskers' loss to Colorado, he said he's heartened by widespread support the program continues to receive "in every corner of the state."
Pederson said Nebraska's record was "disappointing." But his disappointment was outweighed by his optimism and determination to build a program that's successful "five and 10 years down the line," he said.
Former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich was fired last November following a 9-3 regular season.
"If you remember a year ago, when we made this decision, I said it wasn't about wins and losses," Pederson said. "It was about the future direction of the program, what this program would be in five to 10 years and the ability to ignite recruiting and create some excitement going into the future.
"When you make a change like that, you know there are going to be struggles. How much you struggle is hard to gauge. As you go through this, you keep battling and fighting as our coaches and players did right until the final seconds of the Colorado game. I was very proud of that."
Nebraska scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes Friday before falling 26-20, the Huskers' third straight loss. Because of its losing record, NU failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 1968.
"That bothers you, but I feel like we've kind of been on ‘streak watch' for three years, watching them disappear," Pederson said. "I guess what I'd like to do is have us focus on setting some new streaks."
Pederson doesn't judge the program by wins and losses in a particular season, saying such an approach would be unfair and shortsighted.
"We made this decision so we can push this program back up to championship level," he said of the Callahan hiring. "We want to go to bowls and win as many games as we can. But what we really want to do is have our student-athletes leave here having won a championship.
"That's really the long-term goal, to be in position to win championships again. And we will do that. And we will do that with Bill Callahan as the football coach."
Callahan said after Friday's game that he planned no changes on his coaching staff.
Pederson supported continuity, saying Nebraska's eight new full-time coaches needed time to "mesh" after arriving on campus from disparate coaching backgrounds.
Throughout a trying season, Pederson said, Callahan's staff remained loyal to one another.
"That's the key to long-term success," Pederson said. "And certainly we need our fans to be in there with us."
Pederson said fans throughout the state have been instrumental in the Husker football program's past successes.
"As I said when I took this job (in December of 2002), it's really the only place where 1.7 million people come together for one thing," he said. "There are no divided loyalties here, and that's what makes it such a special place."
A chorus of boos emanated from the stands Friday as Pederson spoke during a halftime ceremony to retire former Nebraska lineman Bob Brown's jersey No. 64.
Pederson said Saturday he's aware of fans' frustration. Asked at what point he would begin worrying about fans' patience, Pederson pointed to the wealth of support he receives from fans all over the state.
"I had people stopping me after the game (Friday) to say, ‘We're excited about the future and believe in what's going on.' Certainly, when we talk about patience, I think to a large extent it's about being able to see that it's going to happen."
Pederson's optimism stems in large part from a 2005 Nebraska recruiting class that currently is ranked No. 2 nationally by Rivals.com. After Friday's game, Callahan said he'd immediately turn his attention toward putting the final touches on the recruiting class.
Starting today, seven Nebraska coaches, including Callahan, will travel the nation recruiting.
"That part of it has never stopped this season," Husker offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said Friday. "In that way, this has been like no season I've ever been involved in. But you've got to do it. You've got to have players."
Fast forward to Saturday. Before his press conference, Pederson shook hands with each reporter, saying he was glad to see them.
Pederson's smile spoke volumes about his view of the future.
"We've always done this together, and we're going to be proud of what we've built together," he said. "All of a sudden one day, we're going to look at it and say, ‘That's what we were after. That's Nebraska. That's the championship tradition that's been built here.' "
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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