Steven M. Sipple: Unity Council may return at NU
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No pressing need to rehash Nebraska’s myriad football problems from the 2007 season, except perhaps one.
The Huskers obviously lacked strong team chemistry. No newsflash there. However, I do think the chemistry issue was overlooked somewhat among all the other messes.
So, maybe it’s time for Nebraska to revive the Unity Council, the 17-player leadership entity that began in 1991 before being dismantled when Bill Callahan took over as head coach in 2004.
Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne has expressed an interest in reviving it, said former Husker team psychologist Jack Stark, who created the program and now uses variations of it with other teams, including NASCAR and Nebraska-Omaha hockey.
“There’s been initial discussion (to bring it back to NU), but nothing’s been finalized,” Stark said Wednesday, pointing out that Big 12 rival Missouri is using a similar approach nowadays.
The Unity Council at Nebraska featured eight players apiece from offense and defense plus one kicker. Unity Council members, elected by their peers, met on Tuesdays, “and we went through everything,” Stark said. “We dealt with all of the issues and problems that needed work.”
For instance, if a player missed classes or was slacking in practice, the Unity Council might issue a stern reprimand. Plus, players had a voice in various team matters. Team unity improved dramatically, Stark said.
“Once we started it, in those next eight to 10 years, I never saw much complaining,” Stark said.
No word on whether new Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini has an interest. He has bigger things on his mind right now.
The impetus for creating the Unity Council at Nebraska occurred at the end of the 1990 season, when Big Red was flat in losing 45-21 to Georgia Tech in the Florida Citrus Bowl. Players were bickering. Osborne, then the head coach, was incensed. He had seen enough, Stark recalled.
“I’m telling you, assistant coaches were being evaluated (after that season),” Stark said. “They were scared. They were working overtime, 90 hours a week. We had kind of gotten comfortable.”
Life became fairly uncomfortable on Stadium Drive following the 1990 season.
“Holy cow,” Stark said. “Tom lit a fire under everybody.”
Would Stark return to the NU fold if asked?
“How do you turn down coach Osborne?” Stark asked.
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Osborne, by the way, has been chosen as the 2008 recipient of the American Football Coaches Association’s highest honor, the Tuss McLaughry Award. He will receive the honor at the AFCA’s coach of the year dinner Jan. 9 at the annual AFCA Convention in Anaheim, Calif.
The Tuss McLaughry Award, established in 1964, is given to a distinguished American for the highest distinction in service to others. Past recipients include six former U.S. presidents, seven generals, five astronauts and celebrities such as Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Burt Reynolds and Bob Hope. Congrats, coach.
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Nebraska junior I-back Marlon Lucky is wrestling with the difficult decision of whether to leave school a year early for the NFL. I wondered openly the other day if agents were calling him frequently. The answer: They would if they could but they can’t — at least not until after the Jan. 15 deadline for juniors to declare for the draft.
“We’re not supposed to go near guys,” said agent Gary Wichard, referring to a recent NFL Players Association declaration. “They’ve basically said, ‘Hands-off on all juniors until after they declare.’ You’re not supposed to recruit them.”
Wichard represents ex-Husker I-back Brandon Jackson, who this week led the NFL Green Bay Packers with 113 yards on 20 carries in relief of injured starter Ryan Grant. Jackson, of course, left NU last year after his junior season. He’s obviously gifted physically, but I’ve always believed Jackson’s natural running back instincts are his foremost quality.
“He’s built like an NFL back, he moves like one, he has the mind-set of one,” Wichard said.
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A warm thought: The NU Spring Game is set for April 19.
A somewhat scary thought (for Big Red fans): The number of returning starters in 2008 for Big Red’s four toughest Big 12 foes — Texas Tech (18), Oklahoma (17), Kansas (17) and Missouri (15). Also, Virginia Tech (13) will return its two-headed quarterback monster (Sean Glennon/Tyrod Taylor) and two of the best corners in the nation in Brandon Flowers and Victor Harris, assuming one or both doesn’t go pro.
An intriguing thought: Rick Neuheisel would be in his fifth season at UCLA in 2012 when Nebraska travels to Pasadena, Calif., to face the Bruins. The teams are set to square off again in Lincoln the following season.
Credit the Bruins’ brass for taking a chance on Neuheisel, who has the charisma and savvy to challenge Pete Carroll for high-profile recruits who want to play in Los Angeles.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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