With LSU in the Title Game, Pelini’s Service Is Desired
Now that LSU is ranked number two in the country and will play Ohio State for the national championship, Bo Pelini might coach the Tigers defense one more time (against his alma mater for all the marbles).
According to Lincoln Journal Star, on Sunday night, LSU head coach Les Miles told a Louisiana reporter that Pelini would be coaching in the national title game. And his players in Baton Rouge are all for it.
“Why wouldn’t they let him coach in a bowl game?” LSU linebacker Ali Highsmith said to the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate. “He’s their coach now, but he’s still our coach, too.”
Added Tiger safety Craig Steltz: “I hope we get the chance to go to battle with him one more time.”
This might be possible since there is a recruiting dead period (coaches can’t contact recruits) from Dec. 17 to Jan. 1.
“I would want to make sure I do the right thing by LSU for all the things they did for me,” Pelini said. “But that wouldn’t really change anything from now until mid-December. I’m going to work for Nebraska right now.”
Pelini also indictated he’s need to talk to T.O. about the possibility. There are valid arguments on both sides of this coin and it doesn’t seem like an easy decision to make.
Georgia coach Mark Richt was hired by Georgia at the end of the 2000 regular season after serving as an offensive coordinator at Florida State. With FSU in the national title game that year, Richt elected to stay around and coach the Seminoles in the bowl game. If he had to do over again, Richt said Sunday night that he would have not coached Florida State in that game.
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:30 am
It’s hard to say either way. I can respect him for not wanting to abandon his players, but I also know who is writing the checks right now. I don’t think I’ll be mad if he goes and coaches them.
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:48 am
YOU CAN NOT FAULT THE MAN FOR WANTING TO FINISH THE JOB HE STARTED. WHILE HE’S ON HIATUS DURING THE DEAD PERIOD IN RECRUITING, HIS STAFF ALONG WITH T.O. CAN MAN THE COM AND CAPTAIN THE HUSKER SHIP.
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:55 am
I would not hold anything against him for going back and coaching a championship game. I do think though the longer he is at nebraska before that game the less he is really going to want to go back.. I know he doesnt want to “abandon” his players, but the more I think about it and the longer he is here I think his players live in NU dorms now, not in louisiana
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:15 pm
As a coach you don’t get a whole lot of chances to win it all. I think he should do it. I think it also helps NU in recruiting. Other players are going to see how much he cares about his players and how much they care about him. Also, it will give prospects a chance to see his D one more time. I think it’s a win for both sides.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Right on the mark LE. It’s another opportunity for NU to sabotage/piggyback off LSU’s success. How many times do you think over the next five weeks is the media going to mention Pelini, if he coaches in the BCS game, that he is going to NU? It’s GREAT for US. Since we are not in a bowl game we can at least get some positive publicity.
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I agree that Bo coaching in the BCS game would help keep the Nebraska name prominent but I think it will be anyway. The announcers will mention it either way until the football world is sick of hearing it.
I won’t hold it against him if he does coach in the game, but I think it would be wrong. He is either the Head Coach of Nebraska or he’s not. Forget the fact that it’s a dead time in recruiting, there is plenty for Bo to do here. Why else would TO even bother hiring him now?
Unless he’s wearing an ungly gray Nebraska sweatshirt on the sideline, it’s wrong!
December 4th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Today Les Miles was on a radio show and stated “Bo will be coaching our defense in the title game”
I haven’t really decided one way or another if I like this idea. In Bo’s mind you would think the positive/negetive factor has to be enormous. He comes out with a great win and it looks better for him and all of us as Husker’s. He loses, and loses bad, wow! The back lash from that would be horrible I would think. LSU fans would just tear Bo apart, and how would that affect him back here?
I guess my vote would be for him to not coach the game. You are a Husker now, beleive in yourself as a coach and tell yourself you will be winning at least 10 more of those rings here at Nebraska!!!
December 4th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
at least if they do bad he has the excuse that he was , and the team was distracted from all the hype about him.
December 4th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
at least if they do bad he has the excuse that he was , and the team was distracted from all the hype about him……wait that was another coaches excuse….
December 4th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Here is the little story they had.
http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10512028
December 5th, 2007 at 8:47 am
@ED
He started the year with LSU, those kids deserve as well as he deserves the right to finish the job. It sends the right message to kids across the board, the man will not leave his kids hanging out to dry. We have a capable staff, and will only win from this. he has built a relationship with LSU players coaches, and fans and deserves to finish the job. I would be more suspect of the man if he didn’t want to coach.
@ Forever Red
Another slow big Ohio State team against SEC speed this time in the form of LSU who should be at full speed. Glen Dorsey, Perriloux and all else will be good to go.
Unless they somehow all die(LSU) on the trip to the stadium, and the LSU crochet club is the replacements, OSU won’t blow out anybody. Who have they blown out. They grind it out, If LSU’s Dorsey is back to form, which he hasn’t been since a chop block against Auburn, OSU will have a tough time holding the line at the point of attack. No one has blown out LSU, two losses, both in 3OT. So you are right if his defense is somehow manhandled that will not be good for Bo, but barring death to the entire squad, LSU will win this one.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Husker Brad is concerned about who is writing the check concerning Coach Pelini coaching his last game for LSU. Lets put this into proper perspective. Putting aside sports & football ,as a person representing Nebraska it will indicate who the bulk of Nebraska people are well as our state.if we are suppotive of the Coach to represent himself as well as the state. As far as the money goes no one at th univerisity is concerned about money.Perlman, Pedersen &Callahan are a bunch of low life crooks.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
HB has always watched his pennies. If it wasn’t for these concerns with money he may not have become the millionaire he is today. I’m almost positive that at least 5 people on this board gave money to one of his many busnesses around the country today.
@redtildead,
I agree that this game should be a one sided game. And I hope that it is. Since I made that last post I have listened to a lot of different views about him coaching this game. Among some of the nations top coaches they all seem to think that it is a bad idea. Even though it is a down time for recruiting, there are still many things a new, let alone a first time, head coach could be doing to prepare for the up coming season. I still say it’s a bad idea and his focus should be 100% on Husker football. Even though he can’t talk to kid’s he can still talk to their coaches, watch film, winter conditioning, and the list goes. I am thrilled that Bo is here, I have always wanted him here, I just wish he would pass on this game.