RIP ED FOLEY

[Fargo Husker]

Ekeler is a a priority. Not sure if it’s top, top 3 or top 5 but he is one. There’s two in staff people that are in there and potentially two outside staff hires along with ekeler.

No clear priority list or who the others are. Trying to get that out of my buddy

#insideher

 

[HerbRedman]

I liked it, but I knew when things went a little sideways a fair amount of fans would want him fired. If he would have acted like Rhule he would have got the benefit of the doubt from most people and more time.

I may be in the minority, but Bo's disposition was 239th on my list of problems with him. Actually, it wasn't a problem for me.

My problem with Bo is the program was not any closer to becoming an elite program in its conference than when he started. It was actually getting weaker as we were seeing Cockeye and Wisconsin get stronger (not to mention the OSU/UM/MSU).

I personally think the "they fired me for my disposition" is cope from Bo and Bo supporters. They all know the reason he was fired was bc we were starting to drift from the top end of the B1G & he didn't appear to have answers for how to get the program to that level.

People would have been just fine with Bo's attitude if he was going 11-1 every year.

 

[Lionsfan93]

I think it would be smarter to make an outside hire on this one.

Is Ekeler not considered an outside hire because he was here before? He seems like a pretty good candidate with a good resume...

1999-2001: Omaha (Nebraska) Skutt High School, Volunteer Coach
2002: Manhattan (Kansas) High School, Assistant Coach
2003-04: Oklahoma, Defensive Graduate Assistant
2005-06: LSU, Defensive Graduate Assistant
2007: LSU, Defensive Intern
2008-10: Nebraska, Linebackers
2011-12: Indiana: Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2013: Southern Cal, Linebackers
2014-15: Georgia, Inside Linebackers/Defensive Special Teams Coordinator
2016: North Texas, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2017-18: North Carolina, Linebackers
2019: Kansas, Inside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator
2020: North Texas, Special Teams Coordinator
2021-present: Tennessee, Outside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator

From his bio -

Ekeler has established the Volunteers as one of the premier and most efficient special teams units in the country. UT has ranked either first or second in the SEC in punt return average in all three of Ekeler’s seasons, and the Vols have been first in the league in punt return defense in two out of his three years. Tennessee has racked up 874 punt return yards and allowed only 23 total punt return yards during Ekeler’s tenure.

Perhaps no special teams unit in the country made as significant a jump as Tennessee’s under the direction of Ekeler in 2021. The Volunteers finished in the FBS top 20 in five team categories, including blocked punts (2 – 17th), kickoff return average (25.41 – 15th), net punting (42.08 – 19th), punt return defense (2.0 – fifth) and punt return average (11.83 – 16th). Tennessee either led the SEC or ranked in the league’s top three in punt return defense (first), punt return average (first), net punting (second) and kickoff return average (third). It represented the first time since 1997 that the Vols were tops in the SEC in punt return average.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

The people hating on Compton

Is Ekeler not considered an outside hire because he was here before? He seems like a pretty good candidate with a good resume...

1999-2001: Omaha (Nebraska) Skutt High School, Volunteer Coach
2002: Manhattan (Kansas) High School, Assistant Coach
2003-04: Oklahoma, Defensive Graduate Assistant
2005-06: LSU, Defensive Graduate Assistant
2007: LSU, Defensive Intern
2008-10: Nebraska, Linebackers
2011-12: Indiana: Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2013: Southern Cal, Linebackers
2014-15: Georgia, Inside Linebackers/Defensive Special Teams Coordinator
2016: North Texas, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2017-18: North Carolina, Linebackers
2019: Kansas, Inside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator
2020: North Texas, Special Teams Coordinator
2021-present: Tennessee, Outside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator

From his bio -

Ekeler has established the Volunteers as one of the premier and most efficient special teams units in the country. UT has ranked either first or second in the SEC in punt return average in all three of Ekeler’s seasons, and the Vols have been first in the league in punt return defense in two out of his three years. Tennessee has racked up 874 punt return yards and allowed only 23 total punt return yards during Ekeler’s tenure.

Perhaps no special teams unit in the country made as significant a jump as Tennessee’s under the direction of Ekeler in 2021. The Volunteers finished in the FBS top 20 in five team categories, including blocked punts (2 – 17th), kickoff return average (25.41 – 15th), net punting (42.08 – 19th), punt return defense (2.0 – fifth) and punt return average (11.83 – 16th). Tennessee either led the SEC or ranked in the league’s top three in punt return defense (first), punt return average (first), net punting (second) and kickoff return average (third). It represented the first time since 1997 that the Vols were tops in the SEC in punt return average.

You'd have to be sofa king stupid to be pissy about Ekeler being hired.

 

[Cash68847]

I may be in the minority, but Bo's disposition was 239th on my list of problems with him. Actually, it wasn't a problem for me.

My problem with Bo is the program was not any closer to becoming an elite program in its conference than when he started. It was actually getting weaker as we were seeing Cockeye and Wisconsin get stronger (not to mention the OSU/UM/MSU).

I personally think the "they fired me for my disposition" is cope from Bo and Bo supporters. They all know the reason he was fired was bc we were starting to drift from the top end of the B1G & he didn't appear to have answers for how to get the program to that level.

People would have been just fine with Bo's attitude if he was going 11-1 every year.

I disagree on why he was fired. Harvey hated his demeanor and wanted him gone. After the A$M games things went south from Bo and Harvey’s perspective. Hiring Riley had as much to do about image as anything.

 

[Cash68847]

The people hating on Compton

Is Ekeler not considered an outside hire because he was here before? He seems like a pretty good candidate with a good resume...

1999-2001: Omaha (Nebraska) Skutt High School, Volunteer Coach
2002: Manhattan (Kansas) High School, Assistant Coach
2003-04: Oklahoma, Defensive Graduate Assistant
2005-06: LSU, Defensive Graduate Assistant
2007: LSU, Defensive Intern
2008-10: Nebraska, Linebackers
2011-12: Indiana: Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2013: Southern Cal, Linebackers
2014-15: Georgia, Inside Linebackers/Defensive Special Teams Coordinator
2016: North Texas, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2017-18: North Carolina, Linebackers
2019: Kansas, Inside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator
2020: North Texas, Special Teams Coordinator
2021-present: Tennessee, Outside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator

From his bio -

Ekeler has established the Volunteers as one of the premier and most efficient special teams units in the country. UT has ranked either first or second in the SEC in punt return average in all three of Ekeler’s seasons, and the Vols have been first in the league in punt return defense in two out of his three years. Tennessee has racked up 874 punt return yards and allowed only 23 total punt return yards during Ekeler’s tenure.

Perhaps no special teams unit in the country made as significant a jump as Tennessee’s under the direction of Ekeler in 2021. The Volunteers finished in the FBS top 20 in five team categories, including blocked punts (2 – 17th), kickoff return average (25.41 – 15th), net punting (42.08 – 19th), punt return defense (2.0 – fifth) and punt return average (11.83 – 16th). Tennessee either led the SEC or ranked in the league’s top three in punt return defense (first), punt return average (first), net punting (second) and kickoff return average (third). It represented the first time since 1997 that the Vols were tops in the SEC in punt return average.

He is an outside hire for Rhule. I like the Pitt st coach too. He actually worked under Ekler and did a great job at Miami of Ohio. Both would be good hires.

 

[Kinish]

mike would be an incredible hire.. he's a great culture guy and has run some really good ST at Tenn

 

[HerbRedman]

I disagree on why he was fired. Harvey hated his demeanor and wanted him gone. After the A$M games things went south from Bo and Harvey’s perspective. Hiring Riley had as much to do about image as anything.

Sorry you're right. The higher ups and HR folks hated Bo.

What I should have said was I don't think the fans had that big a problem with Bo's demeanor. They were far more displeased w giving up 408 yds rushing to Melvin Gordon on national TV.

I think there was 5% of NU fans who have HR jobs & exec jobs who were shocked at his demeanor. But the other 95% would have had no problem with the guy if he was beating Wisconsin & positioning the team well to compete in the upcoming B1G arms race.

The fans started turning on Bo bc of the on-field performances. For the fans, the demeanor thing is a red herring bc it would have been fine if he was 11-1 every yr.

 

[Cash68847]

Sorry you're right. The higher ups and HR folks hated Bo.

What I should have said was I don't think the fans had that big a problem with Bo's demeanor. They were far more displeased w giving up 408 yds rushing to Melvin Gordon on national TV.

I think there was 5% of NU fans who have HR jobs & exec jobs who were shocked at his demeanor. But the other 95% would have had no problem with the guy if he was beating Wisconsin & positioning the team well to compete in the upcoming B1G arms race.

The fans started turning on Bo bc of the on-field performances. For the fans, the demeanor thing is a red herring bc it would have been fine if he was 11-1 every yr.

I think it was probably 50-50 fan wise with Bo at the end. I think when Riley was hired a lot of people were saying wtf until the Husker propagandist pumped Riley up. We fired a 9 win coach for a guy who was one year away from being fired. Talk about an unserious hire.

 

[Herbie]

Mike would be an elite hire.

Great STs coach that you have have assist with LBs if needed

 

[Dell Husker]

As @vailhusker said, Josh Martin would probably be an internal guy interested

 

[DrinkItIn]

Sorry you're right. The higher ups and HR folks hated Bo.

What I should have said was I don't think the fans had that big a problem with Bo's demeanor. They were far more displeased w giving up 408 yds rushing to Melvin Gordon on national TV.

I think there was 5% of NU fans who have HR jobs & exec jobs who were shocked at his demeanor. But the other 95% would have had no problem with the guy if he was beating Wisconsin & positioning the team well to compete in the upcoming B1G arms race.

I completely agree. Pelini's demeanor never bothered me, but his coaching clearly declined toward the end. Anyone who followed college football closely back then could see how weak his teams were compared to the national landscape. They handled weaker opponents but rarely faced tough competition—and when they did, it often resulted in blowout losses. He never won anything significant, and watching his teams get crushed while he threw tantrums like a spoiled brat made me fully support his firing.

 

[Ghost of Devaney]

Didn’t Ekeler do something that got him fired? Why do I remember conversations about how he could never return?

 

[JankTheTank]

Didn’t Ekeler do something that got him fired? Why do I remember conversations about how he could never return?

I believe Marvin Sanders and Carl Pelini fall into that category. Ekeler left to pursue a co-DC opportunity at Indiana. I don't recall the jump being anything more than career progression oriented.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

I believe Marvin Sanders and Carl Pelini fall into that category. Ekeler left to pursue a co-DC opportunity at Indiana. I don't recall the jump being anything more than career progression oriented.

Yeah he just left for a promotion

 

[LoudHogRider]

Ekeler is a a priority. Not sure if it’s top, top 3 or top 5 but he is one. There’s two in staff people that are in there and potentially two outside staff hires along with ekeler.

No clear priority list or who the others are. Trying to get that out of my buddy

@HuskerGarrett - I think Frogsker30 has hopped onto the InsiderHer lilipad and needs a new tag to reflect his status. Just my $0.02.

 

[herbsinator]

Sorry you're right. The higher ups and HR folks hated Bo.

What I should have said was I don't think the fans had that big a problem with Bo's demeanor. They were far more displeased w giving up 408 yds rushing to Melvin Gordon on national TV.

I think there was 5% of NU fans who have HR jobs & exec jobs who were shocked at his demeanor. But the other 95% would have had no problem with the guy if he was beating Wisconsin & positioning the team well to compete in the upcoming B1G arms race.

The fans started turning on Bo bc of the on-field performances. For the fans, the demeanor thing is a red herring bc it would have been fine if he was 11-1 every yr.

In terms of Bo’s behavior I do think there were a few times where it clearly cost the team chances at wins (the VT personal foul penalty being the first be that stands out most in my mind). I also think the constant meltdowns on the sidelines would get into players heads and was a big factor in certain games getting out of hand.

 

[Alcaus]

Again props to @6mgCoolMintZyn for posting this info yesterday

 

[Alcaus]

I may be in the minority, but Bo's disposition was 239th on my list of problems with him. Actually, it wasn't a problem for me.

My problem with Bo is the program was not any closer to becoming an elite program in its conference than when he started. It was actually getting weaker as we were seeing Cockeye and Wisconsin get stronger (not to mention the OSU/UM/MSU).

I personally think the "they fired me for my disposition" is cope from Bo and Bo supporters. They all know the reason he was fired was bc we were starting to drift from the top end of the B1G & he didn't appear to have answers for how to get the program to that level.

People would have been just fine with Bo's attitude if he was going 11-1 every year.

Dude won zero hardware worth a damn and every opportunity he had to do otherwise he embarrassed us on the national stage.

 

[Cash68847]

Didn’t Ekeler do something that got him fired? Why do I remember conversations about how he could never return?

I think it was more of a mutual thing between Bo and Ekeler leaving. If I remember right they weren’t getting along at the end, but Bo wasn’t the type to shit can his coaches, so he moved on.