Nebraska Football Head Coaching Position Really Isn't What It Once Was

Bo Pelini is out at Nebraska; let me show you my big surprised face. The often tumultuous relationship between Pelini and the school has come to an end. During his seven years in Lincoln, the former LSU defensive coordinator racked up a 62-27 record with a 4-3 mark in bowl games. His teams averaged nine wins and never won a conference championship. These things don’t fly in Nebraska, but really are the standards too high?

The Cornhuskers were once one of the teams to beat and programs to replicate in college football. They won three national championships in the early 90s under legendary head coach Tom Osborne, and from 1993-97 they were a mind-boggling 60-3. After the 1997 championship season, Osborne was gone, Camelot crumbled and they are still trying to pick up the ruins.

For over a decade and a half the once proud program has been nothing but pedestrian. Osborne’s replacement Frank Solich did lead Nebraska to the National Championship Game in 2001, but they were throttled and embarrassed by Miami. Solich was fired a few seasons later, and then Bill Callahan came in and dug the hole even deeper. After him it was Pelini who tried to dig his way out until his time eventually ran out.

Now as the Big Red is on the hunt for their fourth head coach since the departure of Osborne, how good is the job really? They haven’t won a conference title since 2001, and since moving from the Big 12 to the Big 10 they appeared in one conference championship and were embarrassed by Wisconsin. When it comes to the Big 10, the once proud pillar of college football has difficulty stacking up to the SEC and Pac- 12 conferences. Some would have to think that a lower level job in those conferences is better than what Nebraska has to offer.

Let’s take Dan Mullen as an example.

The Mississippi State head coach has become one of the hotter head coaches in the country after turning the once bottom dwelling Bulldogs into championship contenders. If you would ask anyone 10 years ago would Mullen leave Starkville for Lincoln the answer would probably be a hands-down yes, but now maybe not so much. Leaving money out of this because both schools have big enough wallets, Mullen can do more where he is now. Every game in the SEC makes big news, every game is on television and you get more slack for losing games. When it comes to Nebraska, well, let’s face it; the eyeballs may not be on Nebraska vs. Iowa.

It’s another crucial time for Nebraska as they find themselves in an all too familiar role over the past 15 years. Maybe they’ll find that diamond in the rough and that will finally be that guy to lead them back to college football’s elite. If not and they swing and miss again, then they’ll pick up the pieces and try again to tell fans that this is the same old Nebraska.

Billy Dowling is a NCAAF/ACC Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bdowling33 or add him to your network on Google.