Nebraska Coaching Changes Coming - Marvin Sanders, Shawn Watson, Ted Gilmore Out?

by Jon Johnston on Feb 3, 2011 8:10 AM CST in 2011 Nebraska Huskers Football

Shawn Watson might me moving on. Chances our next offensive coordinator has as great looking hair as his - not good.

If there wasn't enough buzz whirling around the Husker program during yesterday's awkward teleconference, it only got worse as the evening progressed.

Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson, Defensive Secondary Coach Marvin Sanders and Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator Ted Gilmore were not at last night's recruiting dinner. Neither was Bo Pelini.

It's a pretty clear indication that something's afoot, although it might have been made clearer by an article by Steve Sipple of Husker Extra fame:

However, two sources told me recently that Sanders may face disciplinary action by the school for a nonfootball issue. Asked if NU had taken any action against Sanders, athletic director Tom Osborne said at the time he didn't have any information.

That might explain the absence of Marvin Sanders and if whatever happened was bad enough, might explain Ted Gilmore's absence if his Recruiting Coordinator duties were an issue. Disciplinary action could be just about anything, but it may be a clear indication that neither Sanders nor Gilmore (guilt by association? perhaps) are trustworthy enough to continue in the capacity as Husker coaches. It's hard to say that without a confirmation, but I'm not sure what else to say about it.

It doesn't really explain Shawn Watson's absence, however, because there's one item that still bothers me (given the insinuation that Watson has been or will be fired). There's no indication that Wats has done anything wrong - at least in terms of inappropriate behavior, many Husker fans would say that his offense has been wrong for at least a couple of years - so if he's going to be fired - where is he going?

Watson has been around long enough to be coveted by someone. He has head coaching experience. It's not like his career is going to end because he couldn't be a round peg in a square hole at Nebraska. So you'd think if the offseason plan was for him to leave that another school would have already announced something, much like Kevin Wilson did yesterday - announcing that Corey Raymond would be leaving Indiana to coach the secondary at Nebraska.

At least Sipple gives us a name to chew on for Watson's replacement - Jason Phillips of Houston. That should kill the Mark Mangino as offensive coordinator rumors. Mangino coming to coach at Nebraska is about as realistic as me taking over as offensive coordinator (hey.... maybe....).

Of course, Sipple also mentions Scott Frost - a name that pops up on a constant basis. Ironic, given that Frost was booed years ago by Nebraska fans who didn't want him as their starting quarterback.

Obviously some things are going to change. Hey, maybe Pelini will have learned something from yesterday - that he should announce changes before someone else like Kevin Wilson gets the chance to make him look silly.

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RUMORS RUMORS RUMORS!!!

Man I’m getting so tired of all these rumors. I wish Pelini would just tell the truth about what’s going on when it’s happening because he is causing our fan base and our media to look more like a hollywood gossip magazine than people interested in a football program.

I don’t really see the thing with Scott Frost happening. Don’t get me wrong, I would be very excited if it did…and I’m not alone there. That’s why that rumor keeps getting mentioned, because it makes a lot of sense for Frost to come back to Nebraska and people like the idea of it, especially since he’s just coached at a team that made it to the national championship. Maybe he’s happy at Oregon. Who knows. But until Scott Frost himself says, “I’m interested in taking the job at Nebraska” and Bo Pelini says, “I’m interested in hiring Scott Frost”…I don’t see any real substance that rumor.

by Billgrip on Feb 3, 2011 8:36 AM CST reply actions

Or...

…maybe we as fans should respect the process and let it play out instead of expecting Bo Pelini to respond to every little thing being thrown around by the “greatest fans” in college football. We cannot possibly expect him to tell us what he thinks might happen, or what is in the process of happening….imagine the chaos that would bring.

by jkstar09 on Feb 3, 2011 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

It's not about knowing everything the second it happens

Pelini hasn’t talked to the media for 5 weeks. As far as we know he won’t talk to them again until the red/white game. We are a hungry fan base, and the off-season is too long to not be fed. In this situation, it’s not even about being fed, it’s about knowing what the heck is going on with a football program that we all love and invest our time (and sometimes money) in. It’s too frustrating to hear all these rumors and not have the head coach even make an effort to let the truth be known. He just says “I’m not talking about that” and then the rumors still live on.

by Billgrip on Feb 3, 2011 12:18 PM CST up reply actions

He didn't say...

…“I’m not talking about that” until the question had been asked for the third time. He wasn’t there to talk about coaching changes, it was about the new class. He can’t help it that Kevin Wilson decided to be a jerk and mention something that apparently isn’t a done deal yet. Given the circumstances, he said everything he could, he let the truth be known….nothing has changed.

Do we really want Bo getting in front of the microphone and telling the whole world what MIGHT happen or what changes they are THINKING about making?

by jkstar09 on Feb 3, 2011 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

In what way was Kevin Wilson a jerk? To be clear, I’m not one to put much stock in “unwritten rules” or “gentlemen’s agreements” in college football hiring or recruiting. It’s a rough, high risk, high reward business. Being an assistant coach is particularly tough, and I don’t blame Corey Raymond for taking what he thought was a better opportunity and don’t blame Pelini for hiring him. Still, Pelini hired an assistant away from a fellow Big Ten school on the eve of signing day just a few weeks after the assistant accepted the job at IU. As I said, I’m fine with that, but it seems strange for you to be fine with the hire, but then think that Kevin Wilson owed Pelini and Nebraska some sort of deference in the timing of his announcement.

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by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Feb 3, 2011 1:08 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed.

Not every coach needs to conform to Pelini’s hyper-secretive style of dealing with the media. Some of them are actually quite forthcoming, and it works out pretty well for them.

Also, the fact that Wilson felt comfortable saying this in his biggest offseason press appearance of the year seems to be a pretty strong sign that this is essentially a done deal.

by Cheeseandcorn on Feb 3, 2011 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

I hope you don't get that impression form all of us.

I don’t think that Kevin Wilson did anything wrong and was actually quite gracious in allowing a coach that likely didn’t even have a contract with dry ink to leave for another position at a conference school. However, there might be a little more “bad blood” between the two programs than there would have been otherwise.

What an interesting time to be a Nebraska football fan.

by George W. Beadle on Feb 3, 2011 1:38 PM CST up reply actions

Oh, don’t worry, I have a very high opinion of Nebraska fans. I attended the Notre Dame-Nebraska game in 2000 and was quite impressed with how Nebraska fans conducted themselves. We won’t play until 2013 at the earliest, and I would guess this will have blown over by then. It is clear, however, that Wilson was very into the Oklahoma-Nebraska rivalry. In his introductory press conference, it was clear that it meant quite a bit to him for OU to have won the final OU-NU game in the Big 12. He also made reference to the schedule, and suggested that the teams might meet before then, in the Big Ten title game, “if they [Nebraska] are good enough to get there.” Tongue in cheek, but clearly he bought in to the OU-NU rivalry.

The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog

by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Feb 3, 2011 2:13 PM CST up reply actions

Ok fine....

…jerk was a bit strong and I apologize if I offended anyone. The timing of his announcement is a bit suspect, especially if the hiring is still in limbo. Wilson could have simply said that Raymond is no longer with the program….the only “done deal” that can and should be announced at this time.

And I still say Bo handled this as well as he could have considering the time and place. We have no idea what the situation is and I’m confident that we’ll know as soon as it’s official. If Bo came out and told us that Wats and the others MIGHT be gone by the end of the week, and then it didn’t happen…..we’d all have something else to criticize then wouldn’t we?

by jkstar09 on Feb 3, 2011 2:23 PM CST up reply actions

Oh, I’m not offended. Here’s what we know. Corey Raymond is no longer listed on the IU website as a member of the coaching staff. Kevin Wilson’s announcement was unequivocal. It appears that Raymond has resigned his position at IU. Based on all that, there are two possibilities: a) Raymond quit his job even though the Nebraska job isn’t a done deal; or b) it is a done deal and Pelini simply doesn’t want to announce it at this time. Option b) strikes me as much more likely. I can’t imagine Raymond would resign if he didn’t have another job.

The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog

by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Feb 3, 2011 2:41 PM CST up reply actions

I agree that most likely...

…Sanders is out and Raymond is in. However, we don’t know specifics so there’s no sense beating up Pelini until we do. As I state further down….if Sanders did something that’s being investigated, Bo probably cannot comment….even to say that Raymond has been hired.

by jkstar09 on Feb 3, 2011 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

I thought

that yesterday – that Kevin Wilson was more than a little agitated with Pelini. But then I thought – who can blame him? He thought he had his staff together, and then someone gets what appears to be a better offer and runs off. He owes Pelini nothing.

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by Jon Johnston on Feb 3, 2011 6:24 PM CST up reply actions

"something that apparently isn’t a done deal yet..."

according to the gospel of Bo, right? Doesn’t it seem equally possible (okay, infinitely more so) that Kevin Wilson is stating the facts and that Bo is merely trying to buy time by dodging questions?

by Just Call Me the Kernel on Feb 3, 2011 2:20 PM CST up reply actions

Changes need to be made and announced sooner, rather than later.

If, and this very well may prove to be a huge “IF,” changes are going to be made to the offensive staff, then I would assume they are going to be made and announced very soon.

We’re all starting to hear that Bo’s offensive vision is going to be more of a spread option with a 2 back set, rather than a lone running back. If this is the case, then the offensive line strategy is going to emphasize more downfield blocking, and blocking in the second level, to create open spaces for a speedy qb and running backs.

If that’s what they plan to install, Bo needed those coaches here yesterday, to start putting this stuff in place, so that when spring ball comes around, that’s what is being worked on.

by GBR918 on Feb 3, 2011 11:09 AM CST reply actions

This is just irritating

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a strong believer in granting the coaches a great deal of deference (hey, I supported Watson through last year and this year up until the Holiday Bowl disaster) but this is just ridiculous. We have rumors flying that a 3rd of our staff is gone and he just refuses to comment on it? He’d make this so much easier on everyone (including the team and coaching staff) if he just held a press conference either today or tomorrow, explained who’s gone and why, and confirmed any hires that have been made. Then send out a memo to the media updating them on additional hires.

Once the staff is complete, hold one more press conference with all the new coaches, so the media can ask their questions and clear the air. Then the coaches can get ready for spring ball. Any of that too ridiculous to ask of Bo?

"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne

by jdhusker on Feb 3, 2011 1:42 PM CST reply actions

Agree with irritating....but

IF there is a situation with Sanders and/or Gilmore outside of performance, it’s entirely possible that Pelini is under orders to NOT comment on it until an investigation is complete.

by jkstar09 on Feb 3, 2011 2:28 PM CST up reply actions

That theory makes sense.

I couldn’t really see a situation where Marvin Sanders was let go for anything other than a serious offense.

by Billgrip on Feb 3, 2011 2:32 PM CST up reply actions

Most of this is not speculation/rumors.

What we know definitively: Kevin Wilson said that an assisstant has left Indiana to coach the entire secondary at Nebraska; Nebraska has not publicly stated that their current secondary coach has left the program; Nebraska’s aforementioned secondary coach, their recruiting coordinator, and their offensive coordinator were absent from the University’s RECRUITING BANQUET.

As Sipple said last night, it’s pretty obvious what we should deduct from those three things.

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by Screwface on Feb 3, 2011 2:38 PM CST via mobile reply actions