Posted: Monday, September 13, 2004 7:00 pm
It's early in his coaching tenure at Nebraska, but so far, Bill Callahan apparently has a good working relationship with his boss, athletic director Steve Pederson.
"There's constant communication, and that's essential in any organization, from the top down," Callahan said Monday during the weekly Big 12 football coaches' teleconference. "He's an athletic director who lets you do your job, and that's important to me as a head coach, because I've been in a situation where you don't always have that."
Callahan spent the last two seasons as head coach of the NFL Oakland Raiders, working for owner Al Davis.
Saturday, Callahan will lead Nebraska into its final nonconference game of 2004, at Pittsburgh, where Pederson was athletic director from 1996-2002.
Callahan said it's important that he and Pederson are in "constant communication and that we make him feel part of this program." Callahan said Pederson provides insight and information gained from his past work as a recruiting coordinator at Nebraska, Ohio State and Tennessee.
Before accepting Nebraska's job offer, Callahan said, he considered the ramifications of switching to an offense that features the pass at a school known for its prowess on the ground.
"I'm here to do a job and get our offense going. That's the most important thing in my mind," Callahan said.
Callahan praised Pederson's "vision" for the Husker football program.
"I'm very impressed with the direction he's taken and where he's leading us in the future," Callahan said.
ON THE RUN: So much for the notion of Nebraska abandoning the running game in its newfangled offensive attack. Through two games, the Huskers rank seventh nationally in rushing offense, averaging 318.5 yards, and 64th in passing offense (210.0).
Nebraska ranks 11th in total offense after finishing 83rd in 2003.
A large part of the Huskers' ability to move the chains, Callahan said, can be traced to offensive line coach Dennis Wagner, who came to NU after seven years at Fresno State.
"I can't say enough good things about the job he's done here in a very short time," Callahan said, noting the success of Fresno State's offensive line in road victories this season against Washington and Kansas State. "That was his crew. That was a group he put together, and that's the catalyst of that team as it stands right now.
"We've got good coaches here (at Nebraska). We're all on the same page."
INJURY REPORT: Two starters injured in Saturday's loss to Southern Mississippi defensive end Adam Carriker (ankle) and cornerback Lornell McPherson (hamstring) are questionable for the Pitt game, Callahan said. "They're going to be day-to-day this week," Callahan said.
Steven M. Sipple