:geaux: Another interesting parellel. Old Piss didn't do themselves any favors when they fired David Cutcliffe & hired Orgeron. :rolleye33: Yeah, brilliant move by their AD on that one. :hihi: :LSU231:
Callahan wasn't terrible bu any means, but he didn't fit in with the program. He eliminated a lot of the traditions there and alienated a lot of long time fans and alumni. The program wasn't getting the support it enjoyed since forever. The untimely last season just made it easier toi dump him. IIRC, they had a ton of injuries. Pellini did well with his players the following year...
You're missing one important point - Solich was not due millions of dollars per contract buyout during a recession. Sorry folks, but Miles ain't going no where until at least after the 2012 season.
Solich left the Nebraska recruiting cupboards bare. Say what you will about Callahan, but the guy can flat out recruit. Barry Alvarez has always been vocal about the fact that Wisconsin would not have made those Rose Bowl appearances without the talent that Callahan recruited for the badgers. It is a lot easier to fire a 9-3 coach that inherited an elite program but let it erode away because he can't recruit. Solich also inherited a QB named Eric Crouch - who wasn't too shabby as I recall - and who inflated his record somewhat. Right now, it can be argued that Pellini is winning off of Callahan's players. :yelwink2: As for the traditions, some of those were dumped by the AD and not Callahan. (My wife is from Nebraska and my 3 brother-in-laws and my father-in-law as well as a host of nephews are all die-hard Nebraska fans. When I talk to them, I like to ask about their program.)
Nebraska went into the tank because their recruiting went into the tank. Don't think this will happen with LSU under a new coach. I'll take Chris Peterson from Boise St., as long as he brings his staff with him. He makes 900k there. I think we could lure him over.
Solich's last two years Nebraska was 40th in recruiting. Callahan's first year they were 27th with only two 4stars. That many down years in recruiting will kill a program. Callahan's last 2 years had good classes. That is Pelini's seniors.
And yet, if that same thing happened around here, defenders would argue about how recruiting rankings are meaningless, etc. This is what I'm saying, the Win/Loss record isn't the whole story as a lot of people seem to believe it is.
Once again, if you go by win/loss record as so many like to point out about Miles, Callahan was 27-22 (15-17 in conference) in the four years he was at Nebraska.
When it comes to evaluating your program and where it's headed, NO, the win/loss record is not the only deciding factor. Les can only squeek out these kinds of wins for so long. Mismanagement will eventually catch up (again) and then the win/loss record won't be a viable defense.
Anyone halfway paying attention can see that LSU has been winning games ever since Less Miles arrived here based purely on talent and despite Less Miles, not because of him. Moreover, the talent that LSU has went to LSU because of the reputation, tradition, and facilities, not because of Less Miles. Most of them grew up wanting to play for LSU all their lives and the rest of them because of reputation, tradition, and facilities. However, this will not last forever. Eventually Less Miles’ reputation for incompetence will surpass LSU’s reputation as a winner and player prospects will start avoiding LSU like the plague.
