With National Signing Day 2011 (for the most part) firmly planted in the rear-view mirror (thank goodness), coaches can now turn their full attention to preparing for the 2011 season, 2012 recruits and... significant tweaks to their staffs?
At least in the case of one school, that could very well be in the offing.
At the end of each signing day, Nebraska holds what they call a “Big Red Recruiting Dinner”, and normally each member of the coaching staff attends. This year, however, three assistants -- offensive coordinator Shawn Watson, wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Ted Gilmore and secondary coach Marvin Sanders -- were not in attendance. That, of course, set off a firestorm of speculation that was further doused with fuel by head coach Bo Pelini, who refused to discuss the status of any member of his coaching staff.
“I’m not taking anything but recruiting questions today,” Pelini said. “But I can say this: I have not hired any coaches up to this point. ...
“I’ll address any staff questions at the appropriate time. This isn’t the time or place.”
The part about not hiring any new coaches is certainly debatable. During his signing day press conference, new Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson revealed that his cornerbacks coach, Corey Raymond, was moving on to take a position at, you guessed it, Nebraska.
There are also rumors making the rounds that Pelini has spoken to Scott Frost on at least a couple of occasions regarding a position on his staff. Frost, a former Cornhuskers quarterback, is currently the wide receivers coach at Oregon whose star is rising so fast that some think that his next job will be as a coordinator.
It appears, though, that at least a minor “adjustment” to Pelini’s staff is in the offing, and one that could tilt toward major depending on Watson’s future at the school.