When Mike Riley was offensive coordinator at USC, Mark Banker joined the staff as a defensive assistant. Banker then followed Riley to Oregon State and pair spent the next 20 out of 21 years together. But Riley fired Banker this week . . . by a cell phone call while Banker was at the airport.
“That’s just disappointing, that it’d be a phone call and not face-to-face,” Banker told the Omaha World-Herald. “Be grown men about it. It’s a communication thing. Let’s just be good communicators.”
At least this time Banker actually got a phone call.
Well sad to say ‘but’ NE lost a slew of games in 2015 late late in the game: BYU, So. MS., Miami, IL, WI and Northwestern.
Then in 2016 : they lost of 3 of their last 5 and then the bowl game against TN.
Admittedly not a classy way to get the old ‘heave ho’ but the reality is the DC failed at his job.
It’s still classless
That’s what I said – have the courage to face-to-face when you fire someone. It is one of the major responsibilities when you get that kind of money.
It’s not classless. It’s classless not to do your job well, especially when you’re getting overpaid by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It’s also classless to whine to the press. What a baby.
You would know
Why? He’s still going to get paid what’s left on the contract. It’s life.
Weird how Nebraska lost their magic after Osborne left.
Steroids. The Huskers were like Russia.
Osborne was a great coach though. So was Devaney before him.
Yeah – most top tier programs, and NE is such, usually go through a trough but most cases they work out the kinks and get going again. Too much was expected of Solich, who seems to have found his skill set at OH but Calahan is where the real crater began – he stunk going into and after that Raider loss to Tampa Bay in the SB. Pelini may have won but he is one obnoxious problem child.
Riley will have no one to blame but himself if this happens for a 3rd year in a row.
For those of you who don’t know this, when Wolf would quote an ” unnamed Pac 12 ” coach, it was Riley
Who cares? And if it was a negative statement about someone that was quoted, then it wasn’t Riley.
He’s still the nicest guy in the business and never has a bad word to say about anyone which is why he is so well-regarded even though he’s not a great coach.
He would have been an upgrade for f uulca though. Hard to believe they picked Dorrell over him.
True. Riley would have done very well at ucla. He’s never had a college job with good access to a lot of prospects. He almost had the SC job but Spanos wouldn’t let him out of his K.
That’s right I forgot how Spanos screwed Riley over. And now the Chargers are here in LA. Great…
San Diego’s hardly what you would call a sports town. And I hear Qualcomm was really a dump though I’ve never been there.
All the hotel people nixed the tax that would have built a new stadium. And without that new stadium, the Chargers would never be successful. I feel badly for SD but their politicians don’t, so why should I? They had forever to make it work, except leadership. People are pretty laid back there. They don’t support SDS football either, I don’t think.
I am a big MLB & NFL fan. But I will never vote for a tax to build a stadium until the deal is less one sided than it is now. The owners get everything and the fans/tax payers get very little. The SF Giants paid for their stadium and the Warriors are doing the same. Both franchises are making money hand or fist. It is a no vote for me.
I agree. Why should taxpayers subsidize millionaires like Spanos?
Especially in SoCal. There is so much private money here, that if you can’t find someone to pay for your stadium, it’s unworkable. I don’t mind the Chargers moving to LA. Doesn’t cost me a dime as a taxpayer. I hope they succeed but even if they don’t, it’s not a big deal.
Obviously both sides thought the deal was bad for each. Yet I presume Spanos will now be responsible for some of Kroenke’s risk and costs, or why would Kroenke let him in?
Usually compromises can be worked out. Now Oakland’s losing the Raiders and SD lost the Chargers to a city that doesn’t need another team. Screwy.
But I think the Raiders will do very well in Vegas and I presume Vegas is ponying up big bucks so they can get a piece of the NFL. Vegas is totally willing to do what SD and Oakland won’t. It just depends on where you see value and where you don’t.
Spanos Sr was ok owner, but son is a train wreck. Success through birth and little to show he is worthy of it. Much like the boy king for the Niners. Funny, thing is Mark Davis is proving much to be a much better owner for the Raiders than anyone thought. He has surrounded himself with good people and listens to them. He doesn’t think he knows football just because his dad was Al Davis.
Spanos will pay rent, defraying some of Kroenke’s costs. But it will be a Ram stadium. Kind of reminds me when they cover up all the Giants references during Jets games.
Why would Spanos do all this just to pay rent? That would make him the dumbest man alive. Nobody would make that deal.
Because he can charge 3 times more for his tickets than in SD with that new facility and larger fan base, plus have a higher quality set of advertisers and rake in huge corporate money from the luxury boxes.
I think the Chargers are actually more of a partner than tenant (they pay $1 a year in rent), but it was a no-brainer to move from San Diego which no businessman would have ever stuck with.
I stand corrected on rent. But id be shocked if Spanos owns any percentage of the stadium. It’s been a Kroenke vanity project and I can’t seem him sharing it with Spanos. But I’ve been mistaken before.
I just know taxpayers aren’t paying so I’m cool with it
Hah. Only Jerry Jones knows the details for sure. He brokered it. The Rams got their relocation wish but at the expense of having to team up with the Chargers at their option within a year.
I think the stadium will be paid for with a significant percentage of revenue from naming rights, licensing, luxury Bs, sponsorships, etc and from what I’ve read, both the Rams and Chargers have equal responsibilities here.
Remember, Spanos was going to build in Carson. then suddenly Jones intervened and voila, the Rams and Chargers were united and the Raiders were kind of out.
WRONG. When wolfbag quoted an “unnamed source” he didn’t have any source. He makes crap up.
Is Scottie telling the Daily News his preferred method of termination?
I would have expected Riley to handle it like a real manager or head of an organization…maybe there is more to it…disappointing.
I was in aerospace nearly 30 years ago and when the ‘rif’ hit the one guy that was always there i.e. a director…suddenly wasn’t there that day and all subsequent ‘rif’s’…somethings you live with and some things you hope others don’t see.
Did you used to rant and rave about Vin Scully when you worked in aerospace?
Why no sir why that’s what the ‘hoi polloi’ has been doing for these past (what?) 58 years. Instead of wearing a ‘WWJD?’ wrist band the horde, esp. the women, would array themselves in bib overalls and the back end, where their butts are, had personalized ‘VIG’ (Vinnie is god!). I must say it was what Mencken said about Americans “Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public.” It was ‘Yankee kitsch at its crudest. Whole swarms of hysterical morons each shrieking their undying love for ‘…ye olde Vin Dawg!”
Yes I must say the hysteria reminded one of a mid 19th century revival meeting in the upper Midwest. The fools would all be a stompin’ and screamin’
The Vin-dawg always had his ‘ah shucks’ self-deprecating ‘shyness’ out front denying all the accolades. That latest proposal to name part of the Pasadena Frwy after him well let’s just say he’s been waiting when the shlubs would finally get around to anointing him. He was hoping the city would re-name it self ‘Vinnie’ but he’s shrewdly accepting the stretch of freeway. Man it’s great to be alive to see such humility what?
Vin-dawg – the biggest con job ever oh man I don’t feel too good – (sound of retching).
Wish SW would get a face-to-face.
You don’t do your job, you don’t deserve a crying towel session. People who are gonna get canned know it’s coming anyway. If you want to avoid it, fix the problems, come up with creative solutions and guess what, you won’t get fired over the phone – or in person.
Like the Mike Garrett firing of John Robinson?
Robinson and Garrett hated each other. There was some real venom there. The last thing either wanted was a face-to-face encounter. They weren’t even speaking and would avoid each other on campus. Of course, lots of people liked to avoid Mike.
Robinson was too chicken to answer his phone so he basically forced his own firing by message. Kind of like suicide by cop.
Wasn’t that over the answer machine?
Let’s not jump to conclusions. SW is not what you would call a credible source.
Is the Omaha World Herald not what you would call a credible source also?
I would trust my town newspaper (30,000 population) before i invested in SW.
Well he linked to a credible source, better than when he linked to the USA Today last week.
He is to bbald to be credible.
Ha!!
Game 2 kickoff just now – go Texans
Go falcons Go Packers
Man what happened to Seattle?
No 12th man
Their opening road loss to the ‘lambs’ was a portent of what ATL hit them with. They looked listless all year.
They also felt what the loss of Marshawn Lynch.
No doubt I know New England is missing three of their starters but heck injuries are part of any and all teams every year. It comes down to depth which is why the rams are DOA – they allowed that twin brother of McVay, – Snead to retain his position – unbelievable.
I always thought Banker was a good DC when he was at Oregon State. This year Nebraska was 19th in the nation in total defense. SC was only 27th. Their problems were not all on defense. Kiffin was trying to hire him early in 2013. He might be a guy to keep your eye on just in case Clancy leaves to go back to the NFL. Very uncharacteristic of Riley.
Inside Oregon State.