An Unquestionable Loss
4 comments so far
December 13, 2006 by
Generally when a player, coach or recruit decides to head to another school fans will try to minimize it by pointing out the flaws in that person. When it comes to Nebraska defensive line coach John Blake leaving for North Carolina, you can't really go there. Blake is an outstanding recruiter and has an impressive resume coaching defensive lines. Maybe he's not head coach or even coordinator material, but that doesn't mean his absence won't be felt at Nebraska.
First and foremost, the Huskers are losing an outstanding recruiter. Not only has Blake recruited a number of big-time players to Nebraska but he also recruited nearly all of the 2000 national champion Oklahoma Sooners. That hurts now and into the future.
Aside from that is the here and now. In a recruiting season where the Huskers need to get some immediate help at defensive tackle, they now have no coach for the position and might lose some recruits they already had. That could really put a damper on the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
Finally, there's the fact that Blake didn't feel attached enough to the current program to stick around. When Kevin Cosgrove turned down more money in the pros to remain at Nebraska, it affirmed that he felt things were on the right track. It's possible that Blake's only motives were warmer weather, more money, and a better title. But there's also that gnawing feeling that perhaps he didn't like the way things were going in Lincoln, either the overall direction of the program or the returning players on the defensive line. You'd like Nebraska to be so compelling that people don't leave (like Frank Solich turning down offers to stay in Lincoln for so many years under Tom Osborne).
What I don't mention is Blake's prowess purely as a defensive line coach. That's because I don't feel like I have a good handle on what the job demands. We know he wasn't terrible, but he maybe wasn't quite great either. It seems possible to get someone equal or better as a defensive line coach, but truly the recruiting is such a big part of Blake's value, that it seems almost insignificant. No doubt a sound line coach can be found.
Hopefully, Callahan can strike quickly and bring in a big-time assistant. Either a rising star or a savvy vet would be great. But chances are, especially in the short term, that the Huskers have lost more than they'll be able to hire back.
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Mark Dec 13 06
Steve,
I agree that this hurts and, in the short-term, will hurt pretty badly.
But, I think three general "truths" apply to this situation:
1. You can't blame a guy for wanting to change his circumstances in life and maybe try to climb the ladder in his profession. I don't know that is what is going on in this case, but there was mention of a title "assistant head coach" in one of the reports I read.
2. We can't stop things from changing. Even during the relative stability of the TO's years at the helm, there were changes amongst the assistants. Change is the one constant in life, it seems.
3. Everyone can be replaced; or alternately, nobody is irreplaceable. I think this principle applies equally---from national leaders to football coaches.
I agree this hurts and I'm sad to see him go, but I think we'll be OK. Good luck and God's Speed Coach Blake.
Scott Dec 13 06
I don't care which recruit or how many recruits we lost this offseason......losing Coach Blake will be the biggest one we feel.
UNC and Butch Davis know a great coach when they see one.
Good luck Coach Blake!!
darren Dec 13 06
Excellent points, everyone.
MANY things sprung to mind as Blake's departure became obvious and formal.
1 - The era of total staff consistency/loyalty is long gone - that's just how professions are now, and it's not just coaching jobs. People need to learn to accept that. It's especially hard in NE because of the loyalty under Osborne.
2 - This is the cost associated with hiring talented people. It's a compliment to Callahan's staff that they have been approached for jobs or hired away.
3 - It's all about relationships. Not much could be done when a long-time friend of Blake's is on the other end of the line.
4 - Blake's DL graduates four senior players this year. So, from a relationship standpoint, it makes sense for him to go now. A year from now he'd be entrenched in and emotionally involved with developing another group. Remember how McBride left when his last great tandem - Mike and Ralph Brown - were done.
5 - No doubt this hurts NU's recruiting. I'm thankful he's going to the ACC and not to another Big 12 school, at least. But...
6 - Is this really as bad as losing a coordinator? Cosgrove haters aside, turning over coordinators is tougher because of scheme change. No doubt, NU suffered some by having three defensive schemes in three years.
7 - Finally, this is partially just a function of staying a step ahead of the "torch wielding lunatics" that inhabit college football world these days . It is a "what have you done for me NOW" world. So, if he can improve his employment status, more power to him. Think of Marvin Sanders (a serious coaching talent in my opinion). The defenses he coordinated at NC were good enough for them to win games. But, he's back on the coaching carousel because of Bunting's staff getting turned over. So, if you can get ahead - then do it.
Grant Dec 14 06
Actually,
Butch Davis has retained Marvin Sanders as D-coordinator. Speaks well of him as a coach.