But it shouldn't even be a question in the Mike Riley era.

Even if Riley hires some “below-market” assistants — which can prove sneaky smart if some young, hungry guy turns out to be a hit — Nebraska's financial commitment to assistant coaches needs a big boost. There isn't any particular reason — since Riley is a relative bargain with a head coaching salary of $2.7 million — why Nebraska can't be well above $3 million and running the race with Ohio State for the Big Ten's lead. The Huskers probably aren't headed for $4 million, although I can't imagine Clemson and Auburn, which both topped that mark, have that much richer coffers than Nebraska does. Matching LSU and Alabama, both topping $5 million, seems unnecessary.

Then again, if you want to guarantee coaching staff stability, the new thing is to pay the men below “the man.” Most head coaches don't take these jobs primarily for the money — they get paid well, yet put in some hellish hours — but the idea of helping take care of nine more coaches' families (many of whom include small kids) appeals to them. That might be one of the biggest perks of being a head coach, in fact. In such a transient business money doesn't equal security, but it does make expensive job transitions easier. You can convince guys who haven't spent ten minutes in Nebraska to spend five years here.