Last December when Nebraska announced that the new head football coach would be Mike Riley just about everyone's head was spinning.And I'm sure everyone was thinking "Who the heck is Mike Riley?" I initially was upset. Mainly because I thought we were going to hire a big name head coach. But Mike Riley isn't a big name coach. 

Unlikely man for the job

I had previously thought Nebraska needed to stick with Bo Pelini. But the comments he had made about the Athletic Director and many other things quickly changed my mind. He is now at Youngstown State which is now much better for Husker faithful. 

I dug deep and did research on Mike Riley and realized how much experience he has. He has coached in the pro ranks. He may not of had the best success but he developed talent. That is great for the Huskers because the roster is full of raw talent that just needs some coaching up.

Talking the talk

So far Mike Riley is the breath of fresh air the Husker fans have needed. In his opening press conference Riley clearly stated his plans as a head coach for the Huskers. He said he wants to build great young men through the football program. Which is great news for Husker fans. Then he went on to say something that Husker fans love to hear. He wants the program to have immediate success and compete for championships. 

I am pleased with what Riley has done in his time as head coach. He has filled his staff with a load of experience. He's hired coaches who have coached in all avenues, from high school football clear up to the pro ranks. 

Recruiting class

On the recruiting side of things Mike Riley didn't lose a step for the Huskers. The only big hit the school took was losing 4-star running back Kendall Bussey. Riley though was able to power through that loss and finish the recruiting period strong. He finished with twenty commitments. Three commits were from ESPN top 300, and the class finished ranked 29 in the nation. 

The ranking isn't the highest but from watching film there is a lot of talent. A ton of talent that can be developed. 

Moving forward

I'm excited to see what this new era of Nebraska football brings. I'll be watching it every step of the way including the spring game which I will be at on April 11, taking notes on what Riley is doing. 

I love that Riley has a great amount of class and a great amount of competitiveness. We will see if those two aspects will help get Nebraska over the hump and competing for championships.