TEMPE, Ariz. -- After 23 years as an assistant coach at Nebraska, defensive coordinator Charlie McBride announced his retirement Sunday night after the Cornhuskers' 31-21 victory over Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl.
"I love my family very much, and I think it's time for them,"
McBride said, his voice choked with emotion, "so I'm going to pull
the plug. I just want to thank everybody."
McBride, 60, tried to keep his decision from his team before the
game, but defensive back Mike Brown said he and a few other players
found out about it. After the game, McBride called his players into
a huddle and told them he was leaving.
"My first win was when I was coaching at Arizona State with
Frank Kush at this stadium," McBride said, "My last win was here
too, and it meant so much to me. If you could only know the players
that I've had over the years, especially this group.
"This is a special group, folks. They're self-motivated. I
honestly love them."
McBride has spent 18 seasons in charge of the defensive unit
known throughout college football as the "Blackshirts" because
that's what the defensive players wear in practice.
His last Nebraska team ranked fourth nationally in total
defense, second in pass efficiency defense, third in scoring
defense and fourth in total defense.
