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A Big Ten firing was anticipated Sunday, but Nebraska beat Michigan to an announcement.
Even with an overtime escape Friday at Iowa, athletic director Shawn Eichorst made the decision to fire Bo Pelini after seven seasons of either nine or 10 victories.
A number of people are wondering who could do better than Pelini’s 67-27 record, but consider that his teams were just 3-10 against ranked opponents since entering the Big Ten in 2011.
Nebraska lost 15 games in that span, giving up an average of 42.2 points per game in those defeats. That included three losses to Wisconsin -- now Nebraska’s division rival -- in which the Huskers allowed 59 points per game.
So, yes, someone could do better than that. That, along with Pelini’s surly disposition, is why there’s an opening.
The standard at Nebraska isn’t chasing Tom Osborne’s legacy; it’s finishing better than third in the Big Ten West.
Here are several candidates capable of that. 1. Scott Frost, Oregon offensive coordinator
Frost's name immediately pops to mind. The boxes checked: Lincoln native. Former NU quarterback. Coordinator of a cutting-edge offense at one of the country’s top programs. There is one unchecked box, however: head-coaching experience.
“I don’t know if he’s ready [to be a head coach],” a Power 5 coach told me earlier this fall.
Does Eichorst feel the same way? This is a debate that’s hotter now than ever, whether ADs such as Eichorst should pursue sitting head coaches or up-and-coming coordinators. Will Muschamp’s failure at Florida offers a cautionary tale. Look at Clemson OC Chad Morris. He is reportedly close to taking the SMU job, where he will cut his teeth in the hopes of it leading to an elite job. Frost’s deep roots in Nebraska make his situation a bit different, of course.
Kliff Kingsbury is a good example to cite when considering Frost. Kingsbury was coaching a Heisman winner and a high-powered offense with sex appeal at Texas A&M, just as Frost is doing now at Oregon. The former Texas Tech quarterback returned to his alma mater at age 33 and was hailed as a savior. Support for him is still strong, but the program is 12-13 after his first two seasons. It’s been a grind.
Texas Tech and Nebraska aren’t the same on the college football landscape, but there are some comparisons to be drawn. Frost, 39, would have to learn on the job how to be a head coach. That comes with a learning curve. After firing a coach with Pelini’s record, does Nebraska want someone who has already figured out the CEO aspects of being a head coach?
2. Justin Fuente, Memphis head coach
Anyone who takes Memphis from 3-9 to 9-3 should draw a lot of interest from ADs, Eichorst included. Fuente is 16-20 in three years at Memphis when the program had won five total games the previous three years. This season, the Tigers had a decent chance to upset then-No. 11 UCLA in Week 2, and they were not blown out by then-No. 11 Ole Miss two weeks later. If Fuente can hang against good, ranked opponents at Memphis, that would seem to bode well for his Nebraska candidacy. Pelini’s background was defense, but the Huskers -- as illustrated above -- often hemorrhaged points against good teams. Fuente and DC Barry Odom would be welcome additions. This season, Memphis was 15th in yards per play (4.75) and seventh in scoring defense (17.1 PPG).
Fuente, a 38-year-old native of Tulsa, is going to rise. Nebraska would be wise to nab him while it can.
“He’d be great for them,” an SEC coach told me Sunday.
3. Jerry Kill, Minnesota head coach
The Kansan is highly respected in the profession. Kill and Kansas State’s Bill Snyder get the most out of the least. Not unlike K-State, jobs in the middle of America lean hard on player development. Kill knows the league, having won eight games in consecutive seasons at Minnesota. That includes wins against Nebraska in 2013 and 2014. With more resources and, in theory, more talented players, Kill would fare well at NU. The unfortunate concerns for Kill, 53, are health-related. Seizures forced him to take a leave of absence during the 2013 season. There would be risk for Nebraska, knowing there’s always the chance that Kill might have to unexpectedly retire at a moment’s notice.
4. Jim McElwain, Colorado State head coach
In the same vein as Fuente, McElwain is a sitting head coach who has quickly turned around a fledgling program. Colorado State lost Saturday at Air Force, but it won 10 games for the first time since 2002. McElwain is 22-16 in three years after the program had won an average of 4.4 games the previous seven seasons. His experience working as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator at Alabama, helping the Tide to national titles in 2009 and 2011, is also a big plus. If there is real interest in McElwain, it’s going to cost a program. He agreed in August to a contract extension that included a $7.5 million buyout. I’ve been told by industry sources that the school’s administration has the power to waive part or all of the buyout, but why would it if its design was to keep McElwain in place? Nebraska has the cash, but is McElwain’s résumé worth it?
5. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State head coach
There’s a Power 5 name out there that isn’t widely being considered, much like when Arkansas AD Jeff Long plucked Bret Bielema from Wisconsin a couple of Decembers ago. This is when Mullen might be realizing that 10-2 and just missing the playoff is about as high as the ceiling can go for Mississippi State in the SEC West. The Big Ten West, by contrast, is there for the taking. Nebraska was paying Pelini about what Mississippi State is paying Mullen, around $3 million a year. NU is prepared to pay up to $5 million for the right coach, those familiar with the program say.
Mullen and his staff have become excellent in player development, again a key for Nebraska. This year’s MSU team includes 27 players who were once rated three-star recruits. Quarterback Dak Prescott is one of them.
Mullen did tell me last month that he was happy where he is. “The grass really isn’t always greener,” he said. “I like the grass where we are."
Others (in order of interest):
Matt Wells, Utah State head coach
Eichorst has Wisconsin roots. His mentor, Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez, went to Utah State to hire Gary Andersen. Could there be a USU pipeline to the Big Ten West? Wells has won nine games in each of his first two seasons, even though his best player -- quarterback Chuckie Keeton -- has had chronic knee issues.
Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana-Lafayette head coach
He is 35-16 at Lafayette. The 46-year-old could be ready for his first big job. If Mullen or Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze were to move on, he would be a strong candidate for either job. Hudspeth was Mullen’s receivers coach before taking over in Lafayette.
Tom Herman, Ohio State co-offensive coordinator
If Nebraska is going with a first-time head coach, I’d think it would be Frost. Herman will have myriad opportunities, though, being a bright up-and-comer who calls Urban Meyer’s plays.
Craig Bohl, Wyoming head coach
Bohl has history with Nebraska, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing in this case. The former NU defensive coordinator was chased away in 2002. Despite his success at North Dakota State since then, that might be too much to overcome.
Willie Fritz, Georgia Southern head coach
Fritz has ties to the Midwest, having gone to Pittsburg State in Kansas. Going 9-3 in Georgia Southern’s first FBS season is simply incredible. Nebraska might be a little too high up the ladder, but he’ll soon be in line for Power 5 jobs.
Mark Stoops, Kentucky head coach
Friendlier than Pelini, but too many similarities: defensive background, from Youngstown, Ohio, went to a Big Ten school (Iowa). Stoops is 7-17 at Kentucky, but the historically mediocre program is trending up.
Pat Narduzzi, Michigan State defensive coordinator
He would be another first-time head coach, but he's a little older (48) than Frost or Herman. If Nebraska wants to get back to its roots of playing strong defense, this would be the way to go. Since 2010, Michigan State is behind only Alabama and Florida State in yards per play defense (4.36).
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