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No Explanation Necessary

 These quotes are from Stewart Mandel's latest at CNNSI.

Furthermore, it's asking a lot of college quarterbacks to run a full-fledged, NFL-style version of the West Coast offense. It's just too complicated. At other programs that have attempted it, the typical QB has taken three years to fully grasp it. (UCLA's Drew Olson being a perfect example.) Callahan has been fortunate thus far to be able to land a juco transfer (Zac Taylor) who'd already been in the system and now a fifth-year senior transfer in Sam Keller. It won't always be that way. When the inevitable day comes that he needs to start a freshman or sophomore, it's going to be 2004-05 all over again.

Finally -- and this doesn't apply just to Callahan but to nearly all the NFL-bred coaches in the collegiate ranks today -- you do not win championships in college anymore by playing not to lose (as they often do in the pros). It's a huge pet peeve of mine and a common theme among the worst coaches nominees (see Dorrell, Karl; Gailey, Chan). The strange thing is, Callahan has shown he's more than willing to break out the flea flickers and other trick plays, but in last year's USC and Oklahoma games, and when the game was on the line against Auburn, he retreated to all-out, run-it-into-the-line-three-straight-times- and-play-defense mode. I can't emphasize this enough. I hate that.

Mandel is defending a column on college football's best and worst coaches and, in this case, specifically Bill Callahan of Nebraska. I don't think any explanation as to relevance is necessary (though I have to add, at least Callahan is willing to break out the flea flickers and trick plays).

(Here is the link to Mandel's original piece on the best and worst coaches.)

In case you forgot, UCLA offensive coordinator Jay Norvell coached under Callahan at Nebraska last season. Maybe he'll break out the flea flickers and trick plays.