Nebraska promotes Watson!
filed in Rivals on Jan.29, 2007 by Papa
Apparently Nebraska is promoting Shawn Watson to offensive coordinator. More power to them, hope they like his play calling.
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January 29th, 2007 on 3:25 pm
Actually Papa, your take is not very accurate. It has already been announced that Bill Callahan will keep all of the play calling duties himself (that’s the primary reason Jay Norvell was anxious to move one step closer to a Head Coaching career by calling the plays at UCLA). And Watson has been a great fit over the past year for the Huskers. He obviously did an outstanding job as recruiting coordinator as evidenced by a Top 10 incoming class. He has maintained all along that he is eager to learn and be mentored by a big time coach like Callahan, the players respect him, and I’m sure he’ll continue to do a great job for Nebraska. You’d think the Buffs would be crying to have back the OC that led them to their last 4 of 5 North division titles, especially when compared to the small time hack of a coach that you now have in Hawk.
January 29th, 2007 on 3:45 pm
Watson was a great recruiter for the Buffs and from all accounts had the respect of the players. However, his play calling left alot to be desired. Watson was often predictable and seemed stubborn at times. It worked in 2001 because Chris Brown and Bobby Purify were able to gain yards even when defenses knew the run was coming. Other years were less impressive and, as you’ve been quick to point out before, the Buffs backed in to a couple of those division titles due to the lack of any good teams in the North. Watson may be perfect for the role he’s been given at Nebraska and may one day be a good OC, but he definitely needs to learn more to get to that point.
By the way, please list out the big wins that your
“big time” coach Callahan has pulled out. To save you some typing, I wouldn’t count the 2005 win over the CU team that had quit on Barnett in that list. Maybe by “big time” you mean not losing too badly to USC, Texas, Oklahoma, and Auburn this year.
January 29th, 2007 on 4:00 pm
Gammpy, gammpy, gammpy… again your argument about Watson is his play calling. He will not be calling plays at NU as OC. You guys are not very quick with comprehension skills are you? His 2 roles so far at Nebraska have been recruiting and coaching receivers. Both of these he has excelled at, Nebraska’s new west coast receiving corp rocked this year. There were lots of players pulling in touchdowns.
As for Callahan, how about being an NFL Head Coach and leading your team to the Super Bowl? I think that pretty much defines “big-time” in this sport. Unlike Hawk who led a H.S. caliber team in a H.S. caliber conference. Bit of a difference in resumes there Gamppy…
January 29th, 2007 on 4:13 pm
BSMC, not very good at reading are you? If you re-read my post, I said that our major problem was with Watson’s play-calling and that he may be perfect for the role that he’s been given at Nebraska (not calling plays) and may one day be a good OC (calling plays) if he learns under a good play-caller (I’m not saying Callahan is that person, just pointing out that Watson may have the ability to improve). In your initial comment, you wondered why we weren’t desperate to have Watson back and I told you why.
Keep hinging your hopes on that Super Bowl season where Callahan used Gruden’s plays and wound up losing the respect of all of his players. Did Callahan outcoach Hawkins this year? Yes. Did Callahan get outcoached in all of the games I listed (plus against Oklahoma State)? Yes. He may wind up being a “big time” college coach, but I wouldn’t call him that yet.
January 29th, 2007 on 6:42 pm
Gampp, sorry I didn’t “read between your lines” but your statement was anything but clear until you clarified in your last post.
And what you don’t want to admit is that ANY coach who has been a Head Coach in the NFL (whether or not he has Super Bowl credentials is certainly a huge plus) has by definition been at the pinnacle of the sport. Spout off all you want about your opinions about what kind of job he did at the Raiders, the fact is you don’t get to that level of coaching by accident. Lots of NFL Head Coaches get fired for many reasons, most political, but nonetheless developing your career to the literal peak of football coaching is worthy of respect. If I were a hard core Buffs fan like you, then I would probably give my left nut to have a former NFL Head Coach instead of what you’ve now got.
January 29th, 2007 on 10:07 pm
I didn’t dispute the fact that Callahan has been at the pinnacle of his profession; he has and he ultimately failed. But he’s not alone, as Pete Carroll can testify to. However, just attaining the rank of NFL head coach does not make you a “big time” coach. I would bet that few would argue that Art Shell is a “big time” coach. I give Callahan credit for making the Super Bowl. However, since he has been at Nebraska he has been anything but a “big time” coach. He is definitely bringing in the recruits, but if he continues to get outcoached in big games, the Huskers will continue to be a middle-of-the-pack team on a National level. I am disappointed that Hawkins did as poorly as he did this season and I’m obviously concerned that he doesn’t have what it takes at the Big XII level. However, I’m not wishing that Shawn Watson was back and I’m not at all jealous that we don’t have Callahan. That may change if he proves me wrong, but I don’t think he’s the elite coach that you think he is.
January 30th, 2007 on 6:43 am
Great things are happening at NU. The atmosphere in the program right now is extremely high and everyone is very impressed with Callahan on just about every level. The intensity, pace, and professionalism are evident in every phase of workouts and in our recruiting. As we have discussed on this site before, coming into a program like Nebraska and drastically changing the system does not happen overnight. However there is steady momentum and progress and absolute confidence that Nebraska will be back among the national elite. Just like all of your predictions a year ago about our respective programs, you will be eating your words in short order after another dose of dismal coaching for the Buffs. Sam Keller at QB and a herd of amazing defensive backs coming in this year are the final pieces of the puzzle. The Huskers are ranked top 15 in just about every preseason poll so far and for good reason.
January 30th, 2007 on 9:46 am
I’m not going to argue with your statements, because it is impossible to reason with someone who’s infected with severe Husker myopia. You may be right that Callahan and NU will be back among the nation’s elite programs. However, I believe that there is just as good of a chance that the Huskers will remain a mid-to-low ranked team with Callahan at the helm. As far as the Huskers are concerned, I won’t have to “eat my words” as I haven’t spouted speculation as fact like you have. I’m presenting the other side of your rosy picture and simply pointing out that Callahan still has work to do to reach the point that you believe the program has already achieved. To be an elite team, he’s going to have to start beating Texas and Oklahoma.
January 30th, 2007 on 10:49 am
Gentlemen, allow me to interject for a brief moment. First, Nebraska will finish the season in the top-10. Callahan didn’t get outcoached against Texas or Oklahoma. Nebraska had both those games won, a fluke fumble cost them the Texas game, and giving up two quick TDs to Oklahoma cost them. Ultimately, Nebraska’s players didn’t step up in those games, but I agree (surprisingly) with our NU foes in saying Sam Keller will be the real deal. I think the appropriate phrase this season will be “Zac, who?”
Good for Nebraska and the Big 12 North. Good luck to Watson. The only thing I’m concerned with is will the Buffs be respectable this year? I say 6-6 or 7-5.
February 8th, 2007 on 8:33 pm
Gee wiz, Gampp and BSMC sound like my two little girls before bedtime – why are you guys whining so much? Look Gampp, and all the Buff fans on this site, you need to take your medicine and take it like men (or in this case, little girls) – Nebraska has a good team and a good coach. Is he a “big time” coach? The real question is does that even matter? Did Callahan outcoach CU this year and make all of our coaches look like they were out of their league? ABSOULTELY! Did they make us look foolish? ABSOULTELY! Was he a better coach than Hawk? ABSOLUTELY! Look, until we can beat Nebraska, we have to take it. Plain and simple. I think, and correct me if I’m wrong, Callahan has two wins against CU since he’s been at the helm. Last year was a true embarrassment for CU – we didn’t even look like we played in the same league. How many trick plays did they run against us? And how many worked? Give me a break – hat’s off to NU for making us look foolish. Don’t worry, we won’t forget, never do. But our time will come – for you to criticize NU for their coach is ridculous – last time I checked, our coach is 0-1 at NU. In fact, he is 0-1 against a lot of teams, some great, some piss-poor. Save your energy Gampp, there are other issues at hand. In fact, a lot of the energy wasted on fighting with NU fans (like a couple of girls) should be directed towards Bohn and Hawk to get on the ball and start leading these kids in the right direction. Like I’ve always said (and always seem to be ignored since none of you fans like to talk about it) is to finally figure out a way to beat CSU. I’m sorry, but losing to CSU is worse than losing to NU – at least NU is a powerhouse and plays in bowl games. CSU is a WAC team and used to take players that CU never wanted, yet they seem to beat us regularly. How about this? Where do you guys stand on this? I don’t hear the chatter now!
February 9th, 2007 on 8:53 am
Am I the only one that has really taken the time to read what Gampp is writing? I don’t know if you can really call it “criticizing” Callahan. He’s simply pointing out that it may be a little early to start calling the Huskers an “elite program” thanks to Callahan. He certainly leaves the door open for Callahan to make NU into an “elite” team. But he also points out that they aren’t there yet and it’s possible they won’t get there. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for non-Husker fans to look objectively at the situation and ask for more proof that Callahan is a God. As some of you may have not noticed, Gampp, Joel and BSMC agree on one thing, Callahan outcoached Hawk this year, but that ain’t exactly proof he’s the Messiah.
You know, when you’ve had a bad season like the Buffs did last year you always end up having at least one or two people in the stands that can’t even cheer the good plays because they’re too busy being down on the coaches and the players. You know the ones, they’re there at every game and in every section of the stadium. At first you agree with the crap they’re talking. But pretty soon you start to wonder why they come if they hate the Buffs so much. That’s the role Joel plays on our site. I know you’ll take that medicine like a man Joel, it’s all in good fun. Seriously though, I agree 100% with your point about CSU; we need to take care of the little fish before we get the big fish. And I like having you come by and interject your brand of “fan realism”. But is it so much to ask that you at least let the rest of us be optimistic and fight tooth and nail for our program? I’m not asking you to join us, I’m just asking you to not jump all over us while we’re dreaming our dreams.
February 9th, 2007 on 12:30 pm
Live the dream Ryno – I’m not taking it away at all. I’m not your personal Simon – I’m Paula. I hope as much as everyone that the Buffs RTD – I’m with them. By the way, I was in school, cheering in the stands during the reign of Hagan, Kordell, Koy, Hessler and Moschetti. I know our legacy as well as anyone because I’ve seen it firsthand. I’ve even hung out with Duke Tobin and Pat Bluteau in the dorms (real Buff fans should remember who these cult legends are). Our time will come, no doubt. One of my patients told me about this site some time ago, and I love this forum. I guess I’m just old school and don’t believe we have any business talking smack at 2-10. I was ridiculed on this site previously for criticizing our team’s overall lack of preparation for games, but I stand by it. We should expect better from our team. Losing to any I-AA school is absolutely unacceptable for Colorado football, and we should expect to win. I’m confident we will pull out at least 6 wins this season, and we will only get better. True, I’ve had many reservations about the Coach, but that remains to be seen. We have a solid class and were able to land the #1 recruit in Colorado – I don’t think that has happened since Marcus Houston signed with us. Things are promising.
February 16th, 2007 on 10:43 am
Joel, despite the fact that you are indeed a Colorado supporter, I’m glad to see that you think that way. A Colorado fan needs to realize that Hawkins has not proven anything great either, and that it is not yet time to start comparing Callahan and Hawkins. We received alot of crap after we went 5-6 in 2004. But, what is more difficult, taking over one of the best teams in the north these pass couple years (despite the ending of Barnett’s reign), or taking over a program that has run the same offense since 1890 and implementing the West Coast offense? 5-6 is livable, 2 and whatever as suicidal.
Also, I would like to point out that rivals.com has ranked Nebraska #13 in their earliest preseason poll. For a team that didn’t even finish in the top 25, that means something.
February 27th, 2007 on 7:29 am
Listen here Joel, I understand what you’re saying but we’ve only lost to CSU once in the last 4 years. You can’t expect a first year coach with players that are left overs to go all the way in 1 year or even the first game! Hawkins has already begun something that Barnett hasn’t done in a long time. He recruited some good players, and to me that’s a good start. If I was Ryan Miller or P.T. Gats, I would have ran after last season. But Hawk is sticking to his guns and he knows what to do and how to get it. Give it a little time. I know you’ll be a little bit more surprised this coming up season. I wasn’t on the Hawk band wagon, but after what he recruited this past signing day, I know there will be more great things to come.
February 27th, 2007 on 12:50 pm
I agree CU guy, he did a great job landing some good players. Like I said before, we can only do better. Here’s to a good ‘07 campaign.