The Nebraska Cornhuskers lost four games in each of Bo Pelini’s first six seasons as Head Coach in Lincoln. This year, he only lost three as the Huskers are 9-3 with a bowl game remaining. Still, the way this NU team is finishing down the stretch has to be alarming to Husker nation, and it finally gave them an excuse to can Pelini, and with it pay an astronomical $7.6 million buyout.
it was clear that NU was looking for fire him sooner rather than later following the infamous expletive laden tape that leaked last year and/or the Pelini’s final regular season press conference it which he was brutally honest and came off as a guy looking to get dismissed.
Nebraska Cornhuskers football has had zero BCS bowls or conference championships in the past seven years, and when you consider that part of the Pelini came during a very watered down Big Ten, it was just unacceptable. Especially with the high standards that the Huskers have in place. Here are the top seven Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach odds via Bovada. After we examine those 7, we’ll look at the next five Nebraska Cornhuskers head coaching candidates that have been talked about
1. Oregon Offensive Coordinator Scott Frost 5/2
Former Nebraska star quarterback, former Heisman candidate, a campus hero, this will be the top target if Nebraska goes the Assistant route. What he’s done at Oregon makes him a really hot prospect.
2. Former Rutgers/Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Greg Schiano 15/4
WTF? Why? No. Just please, no. NO!!! Schiano was 28-48 in conference play during his career at Rutgers and just 11-21 with Tampa in the NFL.
3. Ohio State Offensive Coordinator Tom Herman 4/1
Again, it’s not likely he would take the Michigan job. Herman succeeded at Iowa State before joining Urban Meyer’s staff at OSU. Look no further than freshman phenom J.T. Barrett for a sample of Herman’s work. All done behind a rebuilding year in the O-line too. Herman’s going to get offers, and deservedly so. He also can recruit the fertile cresecent that is Midwestern high school football.
4. Michigan State Defensive Coordinator Pat Narduzzi 9/2
He won’t likely take the Michigan job! and Florida is out of his league. Narduzzi should strike while the iron is still hot, now that he’s helped re-define what Spartans football is these past few years. It’s simply his turn now. Narduzzi was a finalist for the Connecticut job that ended up going to former Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Bob Diacco a year ago.
5. Colorado State Coach Jim McElwain 5/1
He’s been linked heavily to Florida, so maybe Nebraska is just someone he will use to gain leverage and get a better deal in Gainesville. This is not a candidate to be taken seriously.
6. Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill 13/2
Maybe one day he’ll be a candidate for a job of this magnitude, but that day is not today. Kill has won everywhere he has been, but he hasn’t proved himself at the high major level yet.
7. Utah State Coach Matt Wells 7/1
After his predecessor Gary Andersen left to go coach Wisconsin, Wells has kept the Aggies competitive. An offense-oriented coach who has thrived using the offense of the 21st Century (spread option). A terrific QB teacher, he could finally elevate the play of the most important position on the field at NU.
8. Former Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel
People are going nuts with this rumor right now, even though it’s already been discredited. All of Nebraska Cornhuskers Twitter seems to believe that he’s on campus this week, or will be on campus or something. It’s too early to rule anyone out, but I just don’t think this is likely at all. Remember Tressel is still under NCAA punishment that would keep him fro, returning just yet.
9. Miami Head Coach Al Golden
Worked with current A.D. Shawn Eichorst before he left for Lincoln. This is more about a culture fit, as his record has been poor lately. Golden doesn’t seem to click in Coral Gables, but he could gel in the Midwest
10. Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen
Mullen could end up as the frontrunner here, as he’s the hottest coach this carousel He would have to decide if he wants to leave the SEC, as Sports Illustrated put it. There will be competition for his services from Florida, and possibly Michigan too.
11. Mississippi Coach Hugh Freeze
If you’re a Nebraska Cornhuskers fan, this one probably hits the sweet spot. Freeze has shown that he can compete and win the SEC; meaning he could dominate in the Big Ten. Plus going from Ole Miss to NU is the next logical step upward.
12. Wyoming Coach Craig Bohl
Was an assistant at Nebraska for a very long time and got passed over when Frank Solich took over. Bohl then went to North Dakota State and won three straight FCS national championships before leaving for Wyoming this season.
By the way, here’s our top five Michigan Coaching candidates
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2