Rumor Central
Again this is purely rumor.
Steve Pederson is out as AD and Tom Osborne will be the interim AD.
There was also rumor of a press conference tomorrow, nothing has been announced as of yet. I’ve seen rumors of coaching staff changes, nothing specific. But we can also guess who might be on the chopping block…
Monday Morning Update
No news is good news for Steve Pederson. Nothing has come out from a major news source that indicates anything is going to happen. The LJS has a story today that big time boosters are upset...but that’s understatement of the century.
I see the next 12 hours as being key for the life of this rumor. The journalistic types will do their digging today and if they can come up with a source, they’ll go with it. But if they can’t find anything, this might turn out to be a rumor started by some 16 y/o kid on his myspace page.
Again, this is all internet rumor. It looks like the source or the start of the rumor came from HuskersIllustrated. A pay website of the rivals network. On their pay message board, the Red Sea Scrolls, they had record number of users log on last night, and that would seem to be where the rumor originated, or at least started to spread.
Again, keep an eye on organizations like ESPN, OWH, and the LJS. This is where, if any, credible rumors will surface first.
Another Monday Morning update
“Jim Rose just said on KFAB that he spoke with Callahan last night at 10:15, and BC says he will not resign. No assistant coaches are resigning, either.
Rose also says Pederson will be on his radio show tonight, but will NOT be taking calls. Rose says SP WILL be answering ‘the tough questions’ from Lane Grindle, though.”
1) Jim Rose is the chief NU blow hard. Jim Rose is a PR man for the athletic dept. Jim Rose scratches their back, they scratch back. Don’t take anything he says without a grain of salt. Jim Rose won’t tell us any “breaking news” if its “bad news”
2) Pederson rarely takes phone calls on his show on the HSN anyway. If things are going good he’ll take them. But we all know that things haven’t been good lately.
3) Lane might ask some tough questions, but they aren’t the questions that we want to hear.
4) I have no doubt that Rose talked to Callahan. I have no doubt that BC said that. But I you aren’t going to hear him come out and say “I won’t resign, but I expect to be fired”
More to come.
The Comments
Dave K October 14, 2007 at 11:46pm
I just heard they started filming the third Star Wars trilogy last week! OMG!
hbrogan57 October 15, 2007 at 3:42am
Well...Rumor or not. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. This crap of buying into the “wet toast” offense has to come to a screeching halt. For FOUR long years all we have heard from Pederson and Callahan is “Hang on it will get better” GARBAGE...plain and simple. All these guys are worried about is the $$$$$$$$$$ and now that they have the contract extension in place they are definitely NOT going to lose any money as they have to be bought out. FIRE THESE IDIOTS NOW!!!!!!! And let’s TRY and salvage what’s left of the season.
Mr. T October 15, 2007 at 6:36am
There is no question that SP is out. My only doubt is: why would Tom O come out of semi-retirement to lead an imploding program with a disastrous record mid-season when he could spend the rest of his days as a living legend, waxing eloquent and drinking lemonade on his front porch?
Gene October 15, 2007 at 8:09am
I really don’t think he’s worried about retirement. Just last year he was gearing up to be governor.
Mr. Wilson October 15, 2007 at 8:19am
@Dave K: Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod! [flaps hands in an excited twitter]
So you think this will happen today? That would surprise me. I guess it does help prevent some sort of a late-season comeback that would convert a few headhunters into “one more year” types. And not like a little disruption in the program could make things much worse.
Forget the Huskers, let’s talk about the Jayhawks. #15? Seriously? Wow. Whodathunkit?
Gene October 15, 2007 at 8:51am
Sounds like a few people need some more Kool-Aid.
Mr. T October 15, 2007 at 9:05am
Gene - I don’t think he is worried about retirement either. But I do wonder what sense it would make for him personally to end his professional coaching career trying to resurrect such a craptacular program.
hbrogan57 - “Wet toast offense” heh heh… I’ll have to add that one to my repertoire!
Gene October 15, 2007 at 9:28am
I think his job would be more of a steady hand at the helm. It would be more to calm everyone down and keep the booster money coming in. He probably doesn’t even have to show up to work, just be listed as the official AD for a while. The next AD would get to make all the hires and get all the blame.
But this season is kind of a curiosity to watch. “Grab the controls and steer us directly into the sun!”
Fletch October 15, 2007 at 10:07am
I think SP is definitely out. Too many rumors out there with different sources attached. I had another of those “friend of a friend” calls this morning (yeah, yeah, I know) that gives more credence to it. I don’t think T.O. is a good long-term solution as AD, but I think for a one-to-three year period, he’d be perfect. He’d heal the divide in the program and its fanbase better than anyone currently living. The facilities are set and coaching decisions with other programs seem safe for the time being. If he could guide a good transition to a new football staff, that would be huge. A new coach would have his blessing. That would be huge.
Fletch October 15, 2007 at 11:19am
Something is up…
From the LJS:
http://www.journalstar.com/blog/huskers.php
CP October 15, 2007 at 1:52pm
I’m a fan of another team from another state, so I have no dog in this fight. However, I’ve never seen nor heard people in Lincoln as out for blood as they are right now. (Can’t say as I blame them either.)
I’ll throw some wood on the fire. My two separate “spouse of a friend” unconfirmed reports both come from campus. They concur that something big will be announced today, if not then by the end of the week.
It appears to me - an an unbiased 3rd party - that you got what you asked for in your “blue chip” recruits. You’ll be better off when your players are playing for the school colors again, instead of putting in their time until they get drafted. And I think that will be the goal of any change - back to the roots.
But what do I know. I’m not a Husker, I just live with you.
Dave K October 15, 2007 at 2:08pm
However, I’ve never seen nor heard people in Lincoln as out for blood as they are right now.
Look up ‘Pete Ricketts’ or ‘Jon Bruning’.
Dave K October 15, 2007 at 2:12pm
The first credible news story I’ve seen on the matter says no firings are imminent:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/10/15/nebraska.swoon.ap/index.html
Fletch October 15, 2007 at 2:19pm
PEDERSON FIRED
Mr. Wilson October 15, 2007 at 2:19pm
Supposedly a press release from Perlman’s office is due within 30 minutes.
Fletch October 15, 2007 at 2:20pm
It’s all over all TV stations and there’s a 4:00 PM News Conference. Ding-dong, the witch is dead!
CP October 15, 2007 at 2:25pm
I heard that Tom Osborne was going to be interim head coach, Barry Alvarez was going to be the interim Defensive Coordinator, and all the Heisman winners were coming back as position coaches. Disney is coming in to film it all as a “reality TV” version of the Bad News Bears.
I kid! I kid! Don’t shoot!
Fletch October 15, 2007 at 2:31pm
Rumors again.. T.O. to Interim A.D., grooming Dave Rimington for the job over 3 or so years. BC to remain thru end of season. Top target for interview for HC: Bo Pelini. Money raised to buy out all necessary contracts and possibly to pay off the rest of the debt of the recent stadium expansion. Big donors in line and ready to do what needed. Since you all asked last night for my rumors…
Mr. Wilson October 15, 2007 at 2:32pm
Let the rumors fly as far as I’m concerned. They’re typically way more entertaining than the truth.
Fletch October 15, 2007 at 2:34pm
I wasn’t wrong when I posted the first rumor last night.
Fletch October 15, 2007 at 3:00pm
Other questions…
Any chance that with a total restructuring of the Athletic Department, someone can find a way to eradicate the Saturday airwaves of Jim Rose?
Can Paul Meyers please have his job back?
Will this lead to a new surge in fundraising?
hbrogan57 October 15, 2007 at 3:09pm
WOO HOO!!!!!! Perhaps, just perhaps, Nebraska MAY get the two wins needed for a possibly bowl bid. Looks to me like the Boosters have made it VERY clear that the $$$ CASH $$$ flow would start to dry up. And to think that he just recently signed a contract extension. Gee.....you think that they might have seen the writing on the wall????? Maybe if T.O. comes on board as A.D. the players might get back a little respect for both the coaching staff AND themselves.
Duffman October 15, 2007 at 3:11pm
I heard from a source that it is TO with Tom Rathamn as the man he will groom to take over.
hbrogan57 October 15, 2007 at 3:14pm
NOW....lets’ get the Huskers BACK TO BASICS to salavge the season. TRASH this “Wet Toast” Offense....it DOES NOT WORK!!!!! Get back to the Smash Mouth Beat The Crap Out Of “Em and let’s get the guys back on track. Would ONE of the players PLEASE trash that idiotic laminated card and actually PLAY SOME REAL NEBRASKA FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!
Mr. T October 15, 2007 at 3:17pm
Rumor I just heard. Today Perlman was at a lunch with Don Pederson (former state senator) and the two didn’t speak a word to each other. That was right before the press release went out.
Harsh that HP didn’t give him an option to resign!
hbrogan57 October 15, 2007 at 3:41pm
Seems to me he HAD the resign option. When SO MANY Fans AND Boosters start talking about it you would THINK that a person of his stature would take his head out of the sand, clouds or whatever universe he happens to be living in and PAY ATTENTION!!!!!