Tyler Hughes Jan 23 08

Really happy this kid is N. I just have a gut feeling, he'll develop and turn into a great LB.

WOW Jan 23 08

This is about as good as any place to pose this question.

Setup:
This site and most of the Nebraska supporters visiting here have what seems to be an above average valuation of the who/what/where/when that is Coach Osborne.
That said.

Question:
Why then do the same folks put a FAR GREATER reliance/weight/significance/value in the number of 'stars' given to recruits than Coach Osborne does?

JR

WOW Jan 23 08

Darren,
I figured as much even before you responded.
Having recently seen both Coach Osborne expound on the 'star system' and others place complete, unabashed trust in him I wondered why the difference with him on this particular issue.

I too think the "talent and recruiting" would make for a good discussion.
I've never placed much value in what 'ranking' a programs recruiting class is given just because there are FAR MORE classes that fail to live up to the hype than those that do.

JR

sb Jan 23 08

If Bo and the coaching staff were to get 5 or so more players in this class what positions would you guys like to see filled out? I think another running back would be great and a speedy receiver/kick returner would be a real gem. Just thought it'd be good discussion, thanks guys great work!

Greg Morrow Jan 23 08

Impressive effort, trucking his defensive staff to convince Compton to recommit his verbal. Now, they need to high tail it to Texas and get Brown to re-verbal.
Pelini must like Compton, amassing the troops for a whole day push. I think an HC is limited on how many trips he can make, not sure.
But, now Nebraska has 5 linebacker verbals, though Compton and Brown are the prototypes as frosh, next year. Not all of them will stay as linebackers, I'd think.

mjm Jan 23 08

I would like to see another d-lineman, linebacker, running back, receiver, and safety/cornerback.

OU7times Jan 23 08

Coming off of a National Championship football team and signing for only 1.1 million per year?? You have to hand it to Nebraska for that deal. What a steal, huh? T.O. probably gave Coach the spiel "Well, we don't have that much to offer you". "After all we are still paying a whole other coaching staff". Seems like he (Pelini) would have held out for more dough than that. All he would have had to say is that Nebraska fans think he's a god and he hasn't even coached a game yet. Let's see if it's the deal of the century.

Glenn Baker Jan 23 08

I got wrapped up in all the hype of recruiting during Callahan's years. How many players from the 2004 recruiting class are still with NU? I could care less about the rating systems. The only thing that matters to me is how Pelini's staff is going about the recruiting process. It seems all of the NU coaches have an over abundance of energy that these kids can feel something special will happen at NU. The best thing I have read recently about Bo is him telling these fence sitter kids to make a decision immediately so he can move on. What a straight shooter. I wish my boss acted in this manner. I can't wait for the season to start. I can feel electricity all the way down here in Alabama.
Go Big Red!

J Mo Jan 24 08

I just want somebody to explain to me why if star ratings aren't to be trusted at all then how come the most consistently good programs always have the best recruiting classes? Look at the recruiting classes Oklahoma, USC, Texas, Ohio State and LSU have had these last few years. For some reason people seem to be programmed to believe its one thing or the other, its either all about coaching or its all about recruiting. Can't we just accept the fact that its a little bit of both? Yes, you can have great recruiting and terrible coaching and wind up with a terrible team (see the Callahan led Huskers), and you can have great coaching and horrible recruits and not have much success as well. Lets just hope we have great coaches who can also recruit talented players, and I like to think that we do.

doombob Jan 24 08

Couple of interesting points here. First of all, I consider the star ratings to be more of an indication of potential rather than actual ability. They don't consider the work ethic of an individual. This can't be evaluated until a student is on campus for a few years. It also doesn't take into account for someone's desire to be at the school rather than get to the best place for "NFL training." That is an intangible. The places with the best development of players has the ability to utilize the talent available. Second of all, Bo didn't hold out with Nebraska because it's his dream job. I'm sure that Dr. Osborne could have asked him to take less and he would have done it. I would like anyone to think of the best job they could ever have. How much would you be willing to get paid less to do what you love?

OU7times Jan 24 08

Doombob, That's a fair analogy but in this day of "strike while the iron is hot", one might think to get as much as you can get as long as your name is in the sports headlines day after day after day...Just seems like a lot less than the going rate for what is considered a "hot" coach coming off of a national championship.

Realistic Jan 24 08

To OU7Times:
Don't give Bolino so much credit...he couldn't stop Kentucky and he couldn't stop Arkansas...and the offense had to come from behind in high scoring games in the 4th quarter to win 4 others....I call that so, so...and he was just an assistant...not the Head Coach.....check out his pay.....8th in the Big 12....that tells me he hasn't earned a damn thing.....Expect a lot of go go rah rah on the field....but in the end...expect 6-6 record with the patsies lined up and a trip to Boise for Bowl mania.....you Corn Cobs are just stupid.....and I bet you'ld drink the Kool Aid if Jim Jones wore a Bolino mask....

OU7times Jan 24 08

Realistic, I understand about the overtime games, close games and whatnot but as said before, I thought he signed for a lower amount than I would have expected. "Giving credit"? Where I'm coming from is that Nebraska and their fans are trying to get this thing turned around and a blogger posted (a few days ago)that a good or great Nebraska is good for the Big 12. I'd like to see them do it and put the Callahan era behind them. Don't confuse "stupid" for them trying to get back to glory.

doombob Jan 24 08

I hate to say it, but Nebraska had a down/off year and the Big 12 did just fine. We don't live in a world of powerhouses anymore. Parity means that talent is spread around. What gives a team the edge is having tradition that kids want to be a part of or having staff which attracts talented, hard working players. Pelini brings those two items back to the forefront. P.s. Realistic's post sounds like K-Stater. BRN guys, do the IP addresses match?

OU7times Jan 24 08

@Doombob, I would like to take your comments/post and forward them to Coach Stoops.

doombob Jan 24 08

Stop bringing logic into the conversation. This is an internet blog post comment. So what if Stoops is 66-15 since 2002? Maybe you should take it to mean that OU has grand tradition and Stoops is like Polar North to the internal compass of good players. Remember, as Husker fans, we are obliged to like Stoops just because Bo worked for him one year. Let the brainwashing begin!

OU7times Jan 24 08

OK Doombob, I'll trade you 1 player who shoplifts jackets (on a bowl trip, no less) and 1 player who steals gas AND I'll even throw in an offensive player good for a minimum of 3 false starts a game for a recruit to be named later. Deal??

doombob Jan 24 08

We can all learn a valuable lesson from college football. Young men sometimes make terrible decisions off the field. I am very glad that the silly/stupid/questionably legal things that I have done in my life are not easily found on news.google.com. Getting players the caliber of Zac Taylor, Judd Davies, and all those Academic All-Americans is as equally important as getting recruits that pan out. Lets hope for every one bad apple that we get a dozen exemplary on/off field leaders. Let's also hope for players who turn the slippery slope around like Mo Purify. That's what football should be about.