Someone let the coaching cat out of the bag yesterday that there is apparently an offensive opening on Bo Pelini‘s staff, posting a listing on Nebraska’s website seeking an “Assistant Coach-Football”.
Pelini, though, has decided to take the Sgt. Schultz route on the situation; he knows nothing.
“What job posting?'' Pelini said when asked by the Omaha World-Herald about the listing. “That could be for an internship or it could be that (Jeff) Jamrog (assistant AD for football) put that up there. Sometimes when we have lower-level openings, we do that.”
An internship or lower-level opening that includes responsibilities such as offensive game preparation, on-field strategies and game tactics, and student-athlete recruiting? As they say, that dog don’t hunt.
Pelini went on to say that there are “no offensive staff openings” when asked directly by the paper about the status of offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and/or wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore. Watson and Gilmore were two of the three assistants who were conspicuous by their absence at a post-signing day dinner, especially as every other assistant on the staff was present. The third absentee, secondary coach Marvin Sanders, announced his resignation Thursday due to personal and family reasons.
Despite what Pelini is stating publicly, we have been told by multiple sources over the past two days that Watson and Gilmore are indeed out, and have been for quite some time. We’ve also been told that the offices of the two assistants have been cleaned out and they are actively seeking other jobs, although we’ve been unable thus far to get additional confirmation on that angle of the situation.
One coach who’s been heavily rumored as a potential addition to Pelini’s staff -- more than likely as a replacement for Watson -- is Scott Frost. The father of the former Cornhuskers quarterback and current Oregon WR coach confirmed to the World-Herald that his son has discussed a position with the Huskers and would “love to be on the staff”.
We’ve been told previously that Frost likely wouldn’t leave the Ducks unless it was for a coordinator position. The father confirmed as much Friday.
“If it were a coordinator job,” Larry Frost said, “I think he would be much more likely (to leave) than for a lateral move. That would be much more enticing.”
One possibility that’s been raised, we’re told, is naming co-coordinators -- hiring Frost and promoting running backs coach Tim Beck. Citing multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, though, the World-Herald reports that talks between Frost and Nebraska have slowed “over the level of the position.”
Whatever the case, and despite Pelini doing his best John Banner impersonation, it appears that a significant staff shakeup is indeed being discussed, if not outright in the offing for the not-too-distant future.