Sports

McBride's OK of Callahan Will Sway A Lot Of Folk

Charlie says Callahan would be his first choice

by ED HOWARD

January 10, 2004

LINCOLN – Bill Callahan got one endorsement as Nebraska’s new football coach that should stand out from all the rest.

Nothing said about Callahan’s personality and prospects will win more respect in the Husker Nation than the words offered by former NU defensive coordinator Charlie McBride.

McBride said that Callahan would have been his first choice for the top job, and that the former Oakland Raider coach can get the job done.

The most die-hard among those who love NU football, and the Black Shirts in particular, know that McBride wouldn’t lie to them. Most figure the tough-minded McBride wouldn’t bother to lie to anyone, regardless of the situation.

For all of the tens of thousands of words that poured through the presses and airwaves Friday, nothing said or written about Callahan was more important that those McBride said to a reporter from the Omaha World-Herald.

McBride, true to his well-deserved image, seemed to acknowledge that the entire episode involving the firing of Frank Solich and the search for a new coach had not been perfect. But in the same sentence, he made clear his enthusiasm for Callahan. McBride couldn’t fake enthusiasm if he tried.

“I’m thrilled to death with this. To me, this rectifies the whole thing.”

When is the last time anyone heard Charlie McBride say “thrilled” ~ in public, anyway?

Terse as ever, McBride went on: "He may not go 12-0 next season. It's going to be a year of change. But if the kids and the people of Nebraska give him a chance, it'll work."

If Charlie says it can work, then it’s a fact for many a Nebraska fan.

Callahan quickly made clear that he will bring what’s known as the West Coast offense to NU. That means a different look in the backfield and lots of passing, particular short passes.

The Huskers will no longer depend on “student body left, student body right” option plays.

Some among us are bound to lament the passing of an offensive style that has been a symbol of NU football for the better part of a half century.

McBride, though, represents the other part of the NU myth and legend ~ kick butt, smash mouth, take that, defense.

Callahan’s controversial departure from the Raiders raised lots of eyebrows in Nebraska. McBride told the faithful to forget about it.

"That was typical Raiders stuff," McBride told the World-Herald. "When things don't go good, the players run to (owner) Al Davis. I don't put any stock in those stories."

Athletic Director Steve Pederson should make a list of the things McBride said. When he gets mail questioning his hiring of Callahan, he should put them in an envelope, or copy them into an e-mail, and send them off as a reply, with one question of his own: 'Nuff said?

To checkout most of those tens of thousands of words written about Callahan and NU the other day, checkout HuskerPedia.com