Birkel bemoans treatment by Callahan
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BY ERIC OLSON / The Associated Press
Departing wide receiver Andy Birkel says coach Bill Callahan never gave him an opportunity to prove himself at Nebraska and that Callahan treated him shoddily when he asked for a release from his scholarship.
Birkel, a Lincoln Southeast graduate who was the consensus state high school athlete of the year in 2003, was one of former coach Frank Solich's top recruits.
Callahan, through associate athletic director for communications Chris Anderson, declined to comment.
Birkel, who just completed his sophomore season, said he had not decided on a new school. He said he would consider transferring to a Division I-AA or II school so he wouldn't have to sit out a season.
Birkel was a regular in the Cornhuskers' receiver rotation through four games in 2003. He was slowed the rest of the season by a foot injury.
He played in the 2004 season opener against Western Illinois but did not appear in any other games.
"I think they had a plan when they came in, and I wasn't in it," Birkel said of Callahan and his assistants. "They didn't want to try to give me a chance. I know it's not about the type of receiver I am, because I know I'm just as good as half the guys playing this year."
The Huskers last month finished their first season under Callahan, posting a 5-6 record that was the program's first losing campaign since 1961.
Last month, three offensive linemen left the program, with Ryan Schuler saying that he couldn't get a return phone call from Callahan upon asking for his release.
Birkel said Callahan refused to offer an explanation for his lack of playing time when he spoke with him last week.
"He was really short with me, very rude, very unprofessional," Birkel said. "I asked him why, and he wouldn't tell me. I will never know."
Birkel missed about half of spring practice with mononucleosis. But he said he was at full strength in the summer and went into fall practice in excellent shape.
Birkel said Callahan declined to offer advice on how he could improve his game and did not offer to help point him toward another school.
"If it were any other coach, whether it was Solich or a high school coach, they would have at least been appreciative of my efforts this year. He couldn't even give me that," Birkel said.
Birkel said he thinks a pro football culture has developed, one where a player is valued only for what he can contribute on the field.
Before coming to Nebraska, Callahan was head coach of the Oakland Raiders.
"We'd have meetings, and more than a few times he'd mention, 'In the NFL it was like this, in the NFL we did it this way.'
"You know what, we're not in the NFL. We're college kids trying to play football and get our degree. We don't care about people in the NFL. It's way too professional down here."
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