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Are we forgetting that it was just January when Nebraska was in the National Championship game? Are we forgetting that it was a year ago this week that Nebraska beat Oklahoma in a battle of number #2 vs #3 in the polls (1 vs 2 in the BCS). The game where Solich was the toast of Husker fans everywhere for "Black 41 Flash Reverse". Granted we got beat handily by Miami, but it was fairly obvious that pretty much everyone would have. It still is an accomplishment that we got there no matter how much anyone else might have complained.
Is it easy to say that the guy has not won while he's been coach? Looking at the statistics Solich is ranked #4 in history based on number of wins in his first 4 years as head coach, where he is really #2 among coaches in the modern era.
I will say that times were different when Osborne took over the team, however the fact that Solich has outperformed Osborne in the same time period remains the same.
Further I don't think that the sponsors have much say in any of this. Bill Bryne the Athletic Director, from all accounts that I've heard is a very principled man. He is very consistent in his judgements and very aware of the image that is projected by the Athletic Department. Even people who don't like the man respect him because of fairness and even-handedness. I know the Cheerleading coach (she's one of my professors) and many of the cheerleaders and they don't like him because he told them they weren't allowed to stunt anymore, but they have given me examples on how he's made very similar judgements and he doesn't back down. I don't think that Bryne is giving in to sponsors. Further the Husker nation has shown time and time again it's faithfulness - it seems like a very large and everpresent demographic, one that advertisers shouldn't be worried about dissappearing.
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