Steven M. Sipple: Feeling a pressing need for clarity
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BOULDER, Colo. — Please flash back to February of 2004.
It had been only a month since Bill Callahan had taken over as Nebraska’s football coach. In a staff meeting, he told his assistant coaches and administrative personnel to make sure Tom Osborne feels welcome in the program. If possible, let’s get him an office in the North Stadium complex, Callahan said at the time. Get him some updated Husker gear.
“I want him part of the program,” Callahan said back then, according to a staff member.
Now, please fast forward to last month.
In an Oct. 16 session with reporters upon being named Nebraska’s interim athletic director, Osborne said he has met with Callahan only a couple times in Callahan’s four years as Husker head coach. There’s really no relationship there, Osborne said, neither complaining nor trying to make it an issue.
Four years and virtually no relationship?
I’ve said it once and will say it again: That doesn’t feel right.
Of course, nothing has felt quite right during this unforgettable Nebraska football season.
When a program struggles (the Huskers have a record of 5-6 overall and 2-5 in the Big 12 entering today’s game), the number of questions typically far exceeds the number of answers.
So, what happened between February of 2004 and last month? Why did Callahan and Osborne meet only a couple of times in four years? Was Osborne being distant? Or Callahan? Or both? Or were they just too busy to hook up?
Whatever. Something just doesn’t feel right. Chemistry is out of whack.
And now it feels as if the end of the line is upon us. The Callahan era in Big Red history appears to be down to its final two pages — today’s game and Saturday’s big meeting.
Osborne will provide Husker fans with some needed clarity Saturday when he meets with the head coach and his staff. Osborne has stuck to his statement delivered last month: He said he would evaluate the coaching staff at season’s end. Alas, we’ll receive some answers as to which direction Osborne plans to proceed.
Osborne has provided strong leadership in recent weeks amid swirling rumors and a toxic atmosphere surrounding the program. His strength has been a guiding light in a fantastic storm.
Clarity might be even more necessary after today’s game, because Nebraska has a great chance to defeat Colorado and perhaps even batter the Buffaloes (5-6, 3-4 Big 12). Would it be too little, too late for Callahan and Co.?
Kansas State is a more dangerous team than Colorado, and Nebraska blistered K-State 73-31 in the Huskers’ most recent outing.
“I think K-State has much more team speed than Colorado,” said ABC and ESPN college football analyst Bob Davie, who has studied both teams. “I also think Kansas State has a really good quarterback, where I’m not sure (Colorado redshirt freshman QB) Cody Hawkins is the answer just yet.”
Meanwhile, junior quarterback Joe Ganz has infused the Nebraska offense with energy and confidence. Maurice Purify and Marlon Lucky are playing outstanding football. Heck, even the woebegone Husker defense showed emotion and energy against K-State.
Callahan apparently has kept his team focused, somehow. The players want to play in a bowl game badly, several said this week. The head coach shut down practices to reporters during the past two weeks, determined to limit distractions.
Callahan has admirably retained his composure amid the tumult and tough questions from reporters who have pulled no punches regarding his struggles as a head coach at NU and with the NFL Oakland Raiders. I wouldn’t wish this season’s scenario on any coaching staff.
If Nebraska indeed prevails today, many Husker fans probably will feel confusion and competing emotions, just as they did in 2003 when Big Red beat Colorado 31-22 in Boulder to finish the regular season 9-3. Frank Solich was fired the next night.
When I’m feeling confused about the current situation, I ask myself: Would Osborne have hired Callahan in the first place? I think we all know that answer.
What’s more, in considering Callahan’s fate, it’s impossible to dismiss the utter brutality of Nebraska’s five-game losing streak earlier in the season — a first at the school in 49 years. The Huskers’ defense collapsed, and the offense too often sputtered.
“I can’t explain it,” said Nebraska senior safety Ben Eisenhart of the Huskers’ problems. “Nobody saw this stuff coming.”
I think this season blindsided most of us, like a roundhouse right hand from a powerful heavyweight boxer. Forgive me if I’m still feeling woozy and in pressing need of clarity.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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