National feature | National notes
That sound you heard earlier this week was a slap to the face of Nebraska quarterbacks coach Turner Gill.
Even if the news that Nebraska had pursued Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy as its offensive coordinator was of the backhanded smack variety, it still had to hurt. Gill already has let coach Frank Solich know that he is interested in becoming the program's first offensive coordinator in at least 40 years.
The job was "created" when Solich decided to add the position after a disappointing 2001 season. In fact, both coordinators jobs are open after the departure of defensive coordinator Craig Bohl. But Gill figured to have an in because he had run the offense for four years as quarterback (1980-83) and been on the staff since 1992.
Not so fast. Solich sought out Gundy earlier this week. But Gundy refused to meet with Solich about the position after inquiries were made. Part of the decision had to spring from Gundy's boss, Les Miles, signing a contract extension Tuesday. Two years ago, Miles agreed to a deal to pay him $700,000 a year but asked the school to take $300,000 of his salary and spread it among his assistants.
It wouldn't be outrageous to assume that Gundy and the other assistants received raises as part of Miles' extension. Gundy is one of the highest-paid assistants in the country, making $250,000 per year. He has earned it, helping beat Nebraska, Texas A&M and Oklahoma this year, averaging 30 points in those three games.
The pursuit of Gundy seems to indicate Solich is at least thinking about altering the I-option that the program has run almost exclusively since Tom Osborne took over in 1973. Gundy wasn't going to come to Lincoln to run an option after he himself was part of one of the most prolific offenses in Big Eight history in 1988. Teaming with Barry Sanders and Hart Lee Dykes, Gundy helped the Cowboys average 515 yards per game (No. 2 nationally) that year.
Perhaps Solich looked at Gundy as younger (36) and more offensively diverse than Gill, 41. Oklahoma State finished with a better record (7-5) and better offense (32nd nationally in total offense) than Nebraska (61st and 7-6).
Gill had his chance for a promotion three years ago when Bob Stoops asked him to come run the Oklahoma offense. Gill decided to stay put. Not a bad decision at the time, but Gill might have painted himself into a corner as far as job movement by not taking it.
Oklahoma State was among the nation's most balanced offenses -- 414 passes and 408 rushes. Nebraska essentially could not move the ball through the air, finishing 112th nationally. If Nebraska is headed for more balance, look for more interviews with guys like Gundy.
As for Gundy himself, his next job should be as a head coach, not as the first offensive coordinator under a microscope at Nebraska.
More games, more losses
The 12-game schedule has produced some bowl quirks:
The 28 games could produce as many as 15 teams with at least six losses. The one-year rule allowing 6-6 teams into bowls allowed two teams (Purdue and Mississippi) into the postseason that otherwise wouldn't be in. Three other 6-6 teams (Texas A&M, Connecticut, Ball State) did not go bowling.
Compare that to last season, when there were a total of six teams with at least six losses coming out of the bowls.
Forty-six of the 56 participating teams could end with at least eight victories. Last year there was a total of 35 teams in I-A winning at least eight games -- bowl or no bowl. Twenty-five bowl teams could end with at least 10 victories. Only 18 total teams ended with at least 10 victories last year.
Athletic directors could be taken to the cleaners, having written bonus clauses into contracts years back and not accounting for the 12-game schedule. It simply becomes easier to get to those bonuses using that extra game to get to eight, nine or 10 victories.
Another Miami cause
It shocked some in South Florida that Miami's two biggest stars didn't even crack the top three of Heisman voting.
Running back Willis McGahee was fourth and quarterback Ken Dorsey fifth in the final voting. Dorsey had been the favorite for the award most of the season. McGahee made a late push and seemed to be in a neck-and-neck race with Palmer at the end.
No such luck. Count on the Hurricanes taking this as the latest evidence of disrespect against the program. The team has used perceived national hate as a motivator throughout the season. They might have something there.
Miami players were up for eight awards in 2002. They won one, Brett Romberg capturing the Rimington Award for best center. That's 1-7 in national awards after going 12-0 for the regular season.
Take it back to 2000 when the 34-game winning streak began and Miami actually has collected less hardware as the streak has increased. Linebacker Dan Morgan captured three awards in 2000 -- the Butkus, Bednarik and Nagurski. That's the same number Miami players have captured since in 2001 and 2002.
If this Miami squad is one of the best teams of all time, its legacy won't be reflected in hardware.
Quick hits
- Four days after Carson Palmer won the Heisman Trophy, you could not find that fact on the award's own website, heisman.com. Goodness.
- While on the subject: Forget the East Coast bias talk for a while. After the West Coast region, Palmer enjoyed his largest margin in the Northeast.
- The Nebraska Alumni Association canceled its trip to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport due to lack of interest. One report stated Nebraska had sold only 2,000 tickets to the Dec. 27 game against Mississippi. Interest is down all around. Nebraska won't be taking its band to a bowl game for the first time since 1962. That year, Bob Devaney's first, Miami met Nebraska in the Gotham Bowl at Yankee Stadium. The "band" that year was a single baton twirler.
- With the departure of Brad Banks, the Iowa quarterback job will be wide open when spring practice starts. The early favorite might be Nathan Chandler, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound junior college transfer from Pasadena (Calif.) Community College. Let's just say there won't be much scrambling if the pocket-hugging Chandler gets the job.
- Alabama athletic director Mal Moore deserves credit for at least setting the price tags for the coaches he has interviewed in the past two years. Interest from Alabama can be directly attributed to raises given to Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer, Pittsburgh's Walt Harris and South Florida's Jim Leavitt. Mike Riley turned down what was assumed to be a $1 million-per-year contract. If he gets the UCLA job, Riley won't make that much. More like in the $700,000-$800,000 range.
