All Aboard for EDGE comparison of Riley’s team to Pelini’s Husker team
By Brent Craig
Every time Mike Riley hires a new coach, the fickle Nebraska fans flood the message boards with either love or hate, and yes, I am one of them. Husker fans certainly aren’t shy about putting their opinions out there but most are posted anonymously. I truly believe the opinions of Husker fans are what make many Husker fans so great, and in some cases knowledgeable. There have been some great debates on the message boards comparing Pelini and Riley, which got me thinking…and writing.
A side-by-side EDGE style comparison of the 2012 Husker and Oregon State teams: So why is the 2012 season of any substance in comparing Pelini and the Huskers to Riley and the Beavers you ask? Well BOTH ended the season with 4 losses and BOTH played a couple of common opponents. It seemed the closest apples to apples comparison.
Dec 5, 2014; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Mike Riley talks during his press conference at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
The highest rank the Huskers received during the 2012 season was 14th, and the highest the Beavers were ranked was 7th. The Huskers suffered 3 double-digit loses that season to Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Georgia. The Beavers suffered only 1 double-digit loss and that was to Oregon. By the end of the 2012 season, the Huskers finished 10-4, ranked 25th in the AP poll and 23rd in the Coaches poll. The Beavers finished the season 9-4, ranked 20th in the AP poll and 19th in the Coaches poll. That one goes to Riley.
During the 2012 season, the Huskers traveled to Pasadena to play UCLA and lost 36-30. The Beavers also traveled to Pasadena to play UCLA but BEAT the Bruins 27-20. Again, Riley.
Wisconsin v Pelini/Riley. Huskers beat Wisconsin in Lincoln 30-27. Beavers beat Wisconsin in Corvallis by a score of 10-7. The Huskers played the Badgers again in the Big Ten Championship game but lost 70-31. That’s a Riley too.
I figure the players from the 2012 teams were mixtures of the 2008 – 2011 recruiting classes, so let’s compare the four recruiting classes to see what kind of talent the coaches were working with per Rivals recruiting service. The 2008 Husker recruiting class was ranked 30th in the nation, consisting of 1 five-star, 2 four-star, 20 three-star, and 5 two-star commits. The 2008 Beaver recruiting class was ranked 52nd in the nation, consisting of 1 five-star, 10 three-stars and 7 two-star commits.
Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
The 2009 Husker recruiting class was ranked 28th, consisting of 4 four-star and 15 three-star commits. The 2009 Beaver recruiting class was ranked 54th, consisting of 1 four-star, 13 three-star, and 10 two-star commits. The 2010 Husker recruiting class was ranked 22nd, consisting of 8 four-star, 10 three-star, and three 2-star commitments. The 2010 Beaver recruiting class was ranked 44th, consisting of 4 four-star, 12 three-star, and 2 two-star commits.
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And finally, the 2011 Husker recruiting class ranked 15th, consisting of 11 four-star, 7 three-star, and 1 two-star commitment. The 2011 Beaver recruiting class was ranked 56th, consisting of 1 four-star, 15 three-star, and 8 two-star commits. If you kept up with the math, Riley did WAY better with less “stars.”
So what does all this mean? It means that in the 2012 season Riley and the Beavers did more with less overall than what Pelini and the Huskers did. And guess what? Several of the coaches that were on the 2012 Oregon State staff are now Husker coaches. Head coach Mike Riley, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf, defensive coordinator Mark Banker, linebacker coach Trent Bray (who was a grad assistant in 2012), offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh, and special teams coach Bruce Read.
Oct 4, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Ameer Abdullah (8) brings the Nebraska Cornhuskers on to the field prior to a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
When I see what Oregon State football did in 2012 I get excited knowing that they soon will be teaching the current and future Husker players. And when you compare the years of experience between the NEW Husker coaches coming in and the old Husker coaching staff prior to their coming to Nebraska, well it makes me feel pretty darn good. For example, Cavanaugh has 15 FBS/2 NFL years as compared to Garrison & Cotton combined, who only had 10 FBS. Tim Beck with 6 FBS years versus Danny Langsdorf with 9 FBS/4 NFL years. John Papuchis 0 years coaching experience as compared to Mark Banker 17 FBS/3NFL years.
Get on board Husker fans as the Pelini train has left the station and the Riley train is now unloading. GO BIG RED!!!