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Tom Osborne knew how to win football games. Now, he has to find someone who can restore the program he built. If he simply looks for someone in the Nebraska family, such as former Big Red defensive coordinator Bo Pelini or former Cornhuskers' quarterback Turner Gill, it will be a mistake.

Bill Callahan was the wrong personality for Nebraska. He is an NFL guy, through and through.

What Nebraska needs is a coach with a proven track record at building a college program from the bottom up. Someone who has innovative ideas about offense or defense. Someone who has a proven track record in recruiting. The hot young names out there are Boise State's Chris Petersen, Cincinnati's Brian Kelly and Rutgers' Greg Schiano.

If calls aren't being made to those coaches, then Osborne is short-circuiting his own search. Guys like Petersen, Kelly and Schiano will respect and embrace the Nebraska tradition. You don't have to have someone who has worked at Nebraska to know that.

Because Callahan was so aloof, the natural tendency is to go find someone who can talk the Nebraska language.

The problem with Pelini or Gill is that neither has a proven track record as a Division I-A coach.

With other programs catching up nationally, attracting kids from Florida like Tommie Frazier and from New Jersey like Christian and Jason Peter won't be as easy as it used to be.

Whoever takes over at Nebraska will have to work much harder than Osborne ever did to put the Cornhuskers back on top. This is the wrong time to take a chance on potential.

chipbrown@dallasnews.com