I've said this a dozen times (as have others), if whomever was the coach in 2018-19 wasn't named Scott Frost, his seat would be aflame. Sure, he's taken plenty of criticism. Some fair, some probably unreasonable. But he definitely gets a little extra cushion due to his Nebraska ties.
I do oftentimes defend Riley -- not necessarily because I feel he was a great coach or better than Frost (TBD on that), but because I felt he was given a raw deal from the fan base. That 2015 season (Riley's first) was painful. There has never been a season with more excruciating last minute/second losses than that one. BYU Hail Mary in the very first game seemed to set the tone for many who declared upon his hiring "I told you so!" Game three at Miami -- down 33-10 with just over 11 minutes left -- then an unbelievable comeback that forced overtime -- only to be snuffed out with a Tommy Armstrong interception. And depressing 1-point loss to Illinois. A Wisconsin game that saw NU go on top with about 3 minutes left when Janovich ran for a 55-yard TD -- only to see the air out of the sails when Wisconsin kicked a FG with 4 seconds left. No loss by more than 10 all season -- yet the most satisfying win in recent years when beating Michigan State had everyone dancing in the postgame. But ultimately, 6-7 -- and the countless doubters proclaiming "See, Riley is nothing better than a .500 coach!" The following season had 9 wins -- but for many, it still wasn't good enough. So much so that when the loss to Northern Illinois happen in mid-September of year three, a very large percentage of fans were ready and willing to escort Riley to the exit permanently. Fire Eichorst (understandably) then bring in Moos -- which was absolutely the grim reaper for Riley's career. Honestly, anytime you do an AD change in a situation like that, it's the start of a prolonged funeral -- and good luck trying to win game under that scenario. Should Frost lose a game early in year three then Moos is fired, watch the crumbling intensify.
My thoughts when the Riley era ended was not so much that we fired a quality coach (I understand that debate) -- but that a very large percentage of the fan base was absolutely brutal to him from the start. And if Nebraska football forever failed to follow, I can't say we don't deserve it.
That said, I'm fine with Frost getting another shot. I may criticize him, but I'm absolutely fine with Frost being our head coach in season three. And I hope for many years beyond. Ultimately, my wish if for winning football. Whomever is coach. Ideally it is Scott Frost because he is our coach now -- so I will root for him to succeed.