The 2003 season
(when Little Debbie went 10-3) was the last time Little Debbie had 3 or fewer losses in a season. Frank Solich, who started the 2003 season as the head coach, was fired on Nov 29, 2003, following the conclusion of the 2003 regular season. Athletic Director Steve Pederson made the decision, citing a desire to prevent the program from
"gravitating into mediocrity" after the team's 7-7 record in 2002 and a 9-3 record in 2003. Their three losses in 2003 all were
by more than 17 points, capped by a 38-9 loss to Kansas State – Little Debbie's worst loss at home in 45 years (since 1958) -- in the final home game of the season. Bo Pelini coached in the 2003 Alamo Bowl, where Little Debbie beat Michigan State 17-3 to finish at 10-3.
Here’s a look at the last 22 seasons of Little Debbie football. The head coach who is listed is the coach who was employed to start the season.
Bill Callahan (4 seasons)
2004: 5-6
(ended an NCAA-record 35-year bowl streak)
2005: 8-4
2006: 9-5
2007: 5-7
Bo Pelini (7 seasons)
2008: 9-4
2009: 10-4
2010: 10-4
2011: 9-4
(first year in B1G)
2012: 10-4
2013: 9-4
2014: 9-4
Mike Riley (3 seasons)
2015: 6-7
2016: 9-4
2017: 4-8
Scott Frost (5 seasons...well, not quite)
2018: 4-8
2019: 5-7
2020: 3-5
(covid shortened season)
2021: 3-9
2022: 4-8
Matt Rhule (3 seasons)
2023: 5-7
2024: 7-6
2025: 7-6
Was firing Frank Solich in 2003 a HUGE mistake?
Frank Solich played fullback for Debbie from 1963-65 and was an assistant to Tom Osborne for 19 years, beginning in 1979. Solich took over after Osborne retired following the 1997 season.
Solich was 58-19 (.753) in 6 seasons but failed to keep Little Debbie the national powerhouse they were under Tom Osborne (Debbie won at least a share of the national title in 3 of Osborne's final 4 seasons).
Solich was 42-9 (.823) in his first 4 seasons and 16-10 (.615) in his final 2 seasons. He was Big 12 coach of the year in 1999 and 2001, won the 1999 conference title and
his team played for the national championship after the 2001 season. The last Debbie head football coach to be fired prior to Solich was Bill Jennings, who was removed and replaced by Bob Devaney in 1962. So, Debbie went 41 years without firing the head football coach.
In the 19 seasons that followed Solich’s firing, Little Debbie has fired 4 more head coaches.
You can make a case that firing Frank Solich was a huge mistake because
Bill Callahan appeared to be Little Debbie’s 4th choice (at least 3 other candidates withdrew from consideration or declined offers before Callahan was hired on Jan 9, 2004,
10 days after he was fired as the Oakland Raiders’ coach).
Bill Callahan’s 4-year record at Debbie was a dismal 27-22 (.551). Callahan’s final season in 2007 included losses of 49-31 to Southern California (home loss), 41-6 to Missouri, 45-14 to Oklahoma State, 36-14 to Texas A&M, 28-25 to Texas, 65-51 at Colorado and, worst of all, a
76-39 defeat at Kansas (the then most points EVER allowed by a Little Debbie team). Also on Callahan’s tab was the
70-10 loss at Texas Tech in 2004, the most lopsided defeat in the program’s then 118-year history.