Tom Osborne’s replacement,
Shawn Eichorst, was formally introduced to the state of Nebraska at his Tuesday
press conference just five days after being named Osborne’s replacement.
It’ll be hard to imagine
Nebraska athletics without Osborne. Did Eichorst “win the press conference?” To
me, that phrase is somewhat laughable because how do you really quantify
“winning a press conference?” He didn’t do anything to lose it and that is a
good place to start. For now, I’ll call it a ground-rule double. However,
introductory press conferences do not decide someone’s fate. Just like
presidential election speeches do not decide the success of a president’s term.
Eichorst described
Nebraska as a special place and state. He is set to take over the athletic director post on Jan. 1;
Eichorst was full of compliments for Tom Osborne, who still holds the position.
“A thank
you to Coach Osborne for his support and willingness to let me learn from a
legend,” Eichorst said.
Husker
football coach Bo Pelini, taking his usual turn on the Big Ten teleconference
during Eichorst's introduction, said he looks forward to working with the new
AD.
“I’ve
heard nothing but great things from people he’s worked with and his reputation
is impeccable,” Pelini said.
Eichorst
said now was neither the time nor place to have an assessment of the football
program, pointing out that Osborne is in charge right now.
But
Eichorst expressed “great admiration” for Pelini when asked about him.
“A lot of
folks that I trust and respect have good things to say about Bo Pelini,”
Eichorst said. “And he's a winner. He's won everywhere he's been. I look
forward to working with him.”
I must confess that I
rarely take serious stock from what is said in an introductory press conference
because anything and everything he said will be over
scrutinized, it doesn’t matter how he said it, it will be spun the opposite way
by some folks. The guy had no other path to go, but to be PC about everything. Chancellor
Harvey Perlman did him no favors by bringing him in the way he did, but that’s not
the fault of Eichorst. He was sought out to be AD, he didn’t apply. This was
the kind of position, that did not accept applications, if you had to apply, and
then you weren’t being seriously considered in the first place.
We need to give this guy the benefit of the doubt, based on his experience and recommendations, he seems more than qualified. I have read in a few places that he is very, very smart, and yet his humility more than keeps it all in check. For that we should be thankful, as that is the exact opposite of what happened 10 years ago. In his own words, "We don’t have to re-invent the wheel here.”
As much as we talk about welcoming other teams and fans, we need to show that same extended hand to our new AD. He didn’t have to take the position, he was already making a ton of money at Miami, and he wanted to be here. Let’s at least give the guy a chance.
We need to give this guy the benefit of the doubt, based on his experience and recommendations, he seems more than qualified. I have read in a few places that he is very, very smart, and yet his humility more than keeps it all in check. For that we should be thankful, as that is the exact opposite of what happened 10 years ago. In his own words, "We don’t have to re-invent the wheel here.”
As much as we talk about welcoming other teams and fans, we need to show that same extended hand to our new AD. He didn’t have to take the position, he was already making a ton of money at Miami, and he wanted to be here. Let’s at least give the guy a chance.
So who exactly is Shawn
Eichorst? He has labored in the vines. He was the director of athletics for the
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (1999-2003), University of South Carolina
senior associate athletic director for administration (2004-2006), University
of Wisconsin senior athletic director, executive associate athletic director
and later deputy athletic director (2006-2011). He spent the last 18 months as
the University of Miami athletic director.
So is Eichorst the
right fit for Nebraska? Yes, he is an “outsider” but let’s remember, Steve
Pederson was a Nebraska native. Bill Byrne was the dreaded outsider. We all
know how that worked.
The biggest favor Eichorst could do is this – well,
the opposite of Pederson. OK, that sounds like an oversimplification but let’s
face it, Pederson is a jerk on every level. He could run for governor of
Nebraska unopposed and still come in second.
I would never suggest for an incoming AD to make no
changes at all. I’m all for bringing in new ideas, just don’t change the core
of how things are done because it’s not about “you.” Plus, Osborne has done a
lot of heavy lifting from establishing a solid culture, establishing goals,
improving morale, and improving facilities. Football has improved since the
Bill Callahan years and while frustrating to watch is trying to improve. You
have a fresh start in basketball with head coach Tim Miles.
More on doing the opposite of Pederson, let your
coaches do the coaching but make small talk with lesser known employees whether
it’s the custodial attendant or the parking attendant. Those people will
remember.
Much has also been said about how Osborne allegedly
did not have as much involvement in picking his successor as he’d like. I
honestly would not read much into that because seriously, how much impact
should anyone have in picking his successor in any job? I love and respect Dr.
Tom as much as the next guy but a) he gave Pederson a strong endorsement, b)
strongly discouraged Frank Solich from making any coaching staff changes and c)
strongly encouraged Pelini to keep Shawn Watson as offensive coordinator. Let’s
not forget how those moves panned out. However, it would behoove Eichorst to
lean heavy on Osborne to make the transition.
Going forward after Osborne, however, is to give
Paul Myers a significant role. Myers is the Huskers associate athletic director
of fundraising who was fired by Pederson but rehired when Osborne replaced
Pederson. Yes, Myers has become a sympathetic figure. Myers is believed to be
one that would make an outstanding AD one day but could use more experience. In
which case, give him more responsibility. Heck, even make him second in
command.
Is Eichorst the right guy for Nebraska? Well, Perlman
is 1 for 2 in hiring ADs. If Eichorst works out, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.