Callahan: Focus is entirely on CU game
Monday’s alarm clock sounded early for Bill Callahan.
Five days before the Husker football coach is to meet for an evaluation with interim athletic director Tom Osborne, he had his guys on the practice field at 5:50 in the morning.
About six hours later, the much-maligned coach met with the media for the first time in a week.
“How was your weekend?” he asked, taking his seat.
No one provided an answer. Last weekend was kind of a bore, to be honest. What Husker fans are more interested in talking about is what news comes out of this upcoming weekend.
Will Callahan still have a job after he meets with Osborne on Saturday?
“I’m not worried about next week, or next month, or next year for that matter,” he said. “I’m just really focused on this game. That’s all I’m concerned about.”
Does Callahan view Friday’s game against Colorado as one he has to win to keep his job?
“I’ve never been one to get all tense and tightened up about jobs,” Callahan said. “I’ve said that before, earlier in the year, when the contract was extended, that I didn’t get into this for money. You’re not afraid to compete. You go out and do the best you can.”
The 5-6 Huskers, coming off a 73-31 win over Kansas State that ended a five-game skid, need a win on Friday in Colorado to become bowl eligible.
That Nebraska needs a win on the last week of the season to simply make a bowl game has produced many critics.
A couple weeks ago, Callahan addressed the heavy criticism with the team at a practice.
“Basically, they just told us this is a business,” Husker junior receiver Todd Peterson said. “It’s about putting a product on the field and when you put the product we’ve put out this year, eventually there’s going to be some changes.
“Whether it’ll be this year, we don’t know, we can’t control that. They haven’t talked about it too much because obviously it’s not something we want to hear. But that’s just the nature of the beast.”
Osborne, who took over as the athletic director seven games into this season, said he’d evaluate Callahan and the coaching staff at the end of the regular season. He’d make a decison then about the coaches’ futures at Nebraska.
In the meantime, Callahan closed off post-practice interviews to the media all of last week.
Practices will continue to be shut off to the media this week.
“We’re just trying to stay tight-knit, kind of a circle-the-wagons mentality and really zero in on our preparation,” Callahan said.
The uncertain future of the coaches has apparently not dampened the attitude of most players.
Coming off a 42-point win over K-State, Peterson said he’s seen “some positive energy flowing” through the team.
“It’s been rough on all of us, the way things have gone for us,” he said. “We’ve been working so hard. (The win) was just a breath of fresh air, to kind of get the fruits of your labor.”
While you think players would be talking often to each other about the coaching situation, junior defensive end Zach Potter said that’s simply not the case.
“No, you can’t, you can’t let that worry you,” Potter said. “If you’re thinking about that, then what are you going to do about Colorado? You’re not focusing on Colorado. Right now, we’re just focused on going to Colorado. They’re 5-6. We’re 5-6. Whoever wins goes to a bowl.”
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
Five days before the Husker football coach is to meet for an evaluation with interim athletic director Tom Osborne, he had his guys on the practice field at 5:50 in the morning.
About six hours later, the much-maligned coach met with the media for the first time in a week.
“How was your weekend?” he asked, taking his seat.
No one provided an answer. Last weekend was kind of a bore, to be honest. What Husker fans are more interested in talking about is what news comes out of this upcoming weekend.
Will Callahan still have a job after he meets with Osborne on Saturday?
“I’m not worried about next week, or next month, or next year for that matter,” he said. “I’m just really focused on this game. That’s all I’m concerned about.”
Does Callahan view Friday’s game against Colorado as one he has to win to keep his job?
“I’ve never been one to get all tense and tightened up about jobs,” Callahan said. “I’ve said that before, earlier in the year, when the contract was extended, that I didn’t get into this for money. You’re not afraid to compete. You go out and do the best you can.”
The 5-6 Huskers, coming off a 73-31 win over Kansas State that ended a five-game skid, need a win on Friday in Colorado to become bowl eligible.
That Nebraska needs a win on the last week of the season to simply make a bowl game has produced many critics.
A couple weeks ago, Callahan addressed the heavy criticism with the team at a practice.
“Basically, they just told us this is a business,” Husker junior receiver Todd Peterson said. “It’s about putting a product on the field and when you put the product we’ve put out this year, eventually there’s going to be some changes.
“Whether it’ll be this year, we don’t know, we can’t control that. They haven’t talked about it too much because obviously it’s not something we want to hear. But that’s just the nature of the beast.”
Osborne, who took over as the athletic director seven games into this season, said he’d evaluate Callahan and the coaching staff at the end of the regular season. He’d make a decison then about the coaches’ futures at Nebraska.
In the meantime, Callahan closed off post-practice interviews to the media all of last week.
Practices will continue to be shut off to the media this week.
“We’re just trying to stay tight-knit, kind of a circle-the-wagons mentality and really zero in on our preparation,” Callahan said.
The uncertain future of the coaches has apparently not dampened the attitude of most players.
Coming off a 42-point win over K-State, Peterson said he’s seen “some positive energy flowing” through the team.
“It’s been rough on all of us, the way things have gone for us,” he said. “We’ve been working so hard. (The win) was just a breath of fresh air, to kind of get the fruits of your labor.”
While you think players would be talking often to each other about the coaching situation, junior defensive end Zach Potter said that’s simply not the case.
“No, you can’t, you can’t let that worry you,” Potter said. “If you’re thinking about that, then what are you going to do about Colorado? You’re not focusing on Colorado. Right now, we’re just focused on going to Colorado. They’re 5-6. We’re 5-6. Whoever wins goes to a bowl.”
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
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