2008 Big 12 Football Coaching Changes

With the coaching changes made by Nebraska, Texas A&M and Baylor this off-season, one fourth of the Big 12 will have new head football coaches next season.

These three programs now must adjust to a completely new system and style of play. How tough will the transition be for these three schools, and which coach will make the most immediate impact?

Nebraska Cornhuskers

In: Bo Pelini
Out: Bill Callahan

After a disastrous 2007 season, Nebraska’s decision to fire Bill Callahan was a no brainer. Stepping in as head coach is renowned defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, who spent the last three years coaching LSU’s defense. There is no doubt that Pelini is one of the best defensive minds in college football, but he has also never been a head coach at any level. However, despite Pelini’s lack of head coaching experience, his defensive specialty is exactly what Nebraska needs. Last season’s defense under Callahan and defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove was an embarrassment, as the Huskers allowed their opponents to score 40 or more points six times. Kansas even hung 76 points on Nebraska on Nov. 3 and Colorado put up 65 points on the Cornhuskers’ in their season finale.

That will change under Bo Pelini. In addition to coaching LSU’s ferocious defense from 2004 to 2007, Pelini also drastically improved Nebraska’ defense as the defensive coordinator in 2003 and enjoyed success as Oklahoma’s co-defensive coordinator in 2004. With a proven track record, Pelini should be able to at least turn the Cornhuskers into a formidable defensive team. Nebraska’s offense figures to be strong, so even an average effort from the defensive could result in a much better 2008 season- a bowl appearance could even be a possibility.

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Baylor Bears

In: Art Briles
Out: Guy Morriss

Art Briles certainly has his work cut out for him as the new head coach at Baylor. Guy Morriss’ five year stint as the Bears’ head coach didn’t produce a single winning season, and Briles must now rebuild a Baylor program that has not finished above .500 since 1995. Bears fans have a reason to be excited though, as Briles will bring his wide-open spread offense with him to Waco. As the head coach at Houston for five seasons, Briles had decent success, leading the Cougars to four bowls in five seasons. With inherited players attempting to learn a complicated offense, Baylor will most likely struggle in 2008, but at the very least, Briles has the Bears excited about their future. Although he is not a slam dunk hire, Briles proved himself as a capable coach at Houston and could turn Baylor into a winning program given time.

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Texas A&M Aggies

In: Mike Sherman
Out: Dennis Franchione

With a mediocre product on the field and problems off the field with an illegal newsletter for boosters, Texas A&M fired Dennis Franchione after five unspectacular seasons and replaced him with former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman. This is not Sherman’s first stint at Texas A&M; he also coached the Aggies’ offensive line for seven seasons in the early 1990s. His first season in College Station will be a challenge. With significant losses on offense, including graduated tight end Martellus Bennett, and a shaky defense, Texas A&M fans will want to hold off judgment at first. Of the three new coaches in the Big 12, however, Sherman could turn out to be the best hire. Briles and Pelini cannot compare to Sherman’s success in Green Bay, where he led the Packers to four playoff appearances.

By Daniel Spewak
Big 12 Fans Missouri Correspondent

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