Schlesinger: Solich firing 'disappointing'

DETROIT - There was just one word to describe how Cory Schlesinger felt when he heard Frank Solich had been fired as Nebraska's head coach.

"It was kind of disappointing," Schlesinger said during a phone interview Wednesday night. "No, it wasn't 'kind of,' it was just disappointing."

Solich was fired late Saturday night by Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson, who announced the firing during a Sunday press conference at Memorial Stadium. Solich was let go despite leading the Huskers to a 9-3 record this season and a 58-19 mark during his six seasons as the Huskers' head coach.

Schlesinger had first-hand knowledge of what the former NU player and coach could do. Solich was the running backs coach during Schlesinger's tenure as a Nebraska fullback.

"He recruited me, and he coached me. I have 100 percent support for him," Schlesinger said.

"I really don't like it. It was very disappointing."

Schlesinger is the only former Husker in the Lions' organization. Detroit running back coach Tom Rathman was also a fullback at Nebraska who played with Solich as his position coach.

"We talked about it a little bit," Schlesinger said. "We both really like Frank a lot.

"It seems like college ball is getting more and more like the NFL, which is really a bad deal since the players don't get paid."