When I read the news that Nebraska had hired Oregon State head coach
Mike Riley
, well, let’s just say that I was a little dumbfounded. Yes, I went all Gomer Pyle, “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!”
I mean, who would have thought this man was even in the running for the prestigious job of Head Coach of Nebraska. The national press didn’t think of him, the local press didn’t think of him, and I don’t know of one Nebraska fan that thought of him. Well, apparently Shawn Eichorst thought of him, and hired him as well!
Husker fans took to the message boards and twitter in disgust. Why would Shawn Eichorst hire a coach from a team that went 5-7 after he just fired a coach that went 9-3? I was not one of those fans that was disgusted, and after the initial shock of “WHO,” I became intrigued and wanted to know more about this man the Huskers just hired. Prominent sports personalities and the press have been coming out tweeting their support of Riley and defending Eichorst’s decision. Former and current Husker players are also approving of the hire. Check twitter and you will see what I mean.
Mike Riley consistently won at Oregon State with inferior talent. He developed talent & found under the radar guys. Will do same @ Neb.
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) December 4, 2014
Mike Riley is a great hire @ Neb. Super fit for both. Good job Huskers
Mike Riley is a great hire @ Neb. Super fit for both. Good job Huskers
— Mack Brown (@CoachMackBrown) December 4, 2014
If it's done...great hire by @Huskers getting Mike Riley from Oregon State!!
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 4, 2014
So as unfair as this will be, lets take a side-by-side look at Mike Riley’s 14 years at OSU to Bo Pelini 7 years at NU and find out who has the Edge:
Mike Riley overall record 93-80 (win % .538) – Bo Pelini overall record 67-27 (win % .713)
Edge: Bo Pelini
Mike Riley record against top 25 teams 13-46 (win % .220) – Bo Pelini record against top 25 teams 9-18 (win % .333)
Edge: Bo Pelini
Mike Riley Bowl record 6-2 (win % .750) – Bo Pelini Bowl record 4-3 (win % .750)
Edge: Even
I could go on but when it comes to stats, Bo Pelini most likely wins most if not all categories. But before you write Mike Riley off, here are few things to think about. Bo Pelini’s Husker football teams were rich with talented players so he had MORE to work with than Mike Riley. Mike Riley has played TOUGHER schedules than Bo Pelini and has played more than twice as many top 25 teams, beating a number 1, 2, and 3 team.
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Mike Riley has three former quarterbacks playing in the NFL and come the NFL draft, there will probably be a fourth. Mike Riley has a calm demeanor and has been called the nicest coach in college football, does that remind you of someone? Comparing Nebraska to Oregon State or Bo Pelini to Mike Riley is like comparing peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and trees. I think we need to give Mike Riley a chance, don’t you? After all, it’s what good fans do. GO BIG RED!!