Article Photos

Advertisement

YOUNGSTOWN - Ross Watson wished his former high school coach congratulations prior to the 2008 collegiate football season.

It quickly evolved into a new career step of the 2002 Austintown Fitch High School graduate.

Watson, a former Mount Union College player and assistant coach, quickly came aboard Bo Pelini's staff last season. He'll start his second season for the University of Nebraska football team as a graduate assistant coach this fall. It is a three-year program. This is Pelini's second season as coach as well.

Watson played for Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini at Fitch, when Pelini coached there from 2000-02.

"It just worked out they had that graduate assistant spot open," Watson said Monday at Cardinal Mooney's Camp of Champions. "I flew out there for an interview and got the job."

It's been a good move for Nebraska.

"He's doing a great job for us," said Bo Pelini, a Cardinal Mooney graduate who was also at the football camp. "He spends a lot of time with me and Carl. I think he's going to be an outstanding football coach. He's come a long way in a short amount of time. He's as hard a worker as you're ever going to be around. He's so intelligent. I'm so excited to have him."

Watson said he has learned a lot of from the rest of the Cornhuskers' staff.

"It's great to be around those coaches and learn from them," he said. "The amount of football you learn from those guys has been incredible opportunity for me."

Pelini was happy with the progress he made his first season with the Cornhuskers as they went 9-4 - winning their last four games. He's hoping that carries over to this season as Nebraska opens with three of its first four games at home (Florida Atlantic, Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette).

The lone road non-conference game is Sept. 19 at Virginia Tech. The Big 12 season starts Oct. 8 at Missouri.

"It was good year," Pelini said. "I knew there would be a lot to do, trying to establish a culture and a way about going about things. Now, the job is keeping the momentum headed in the right direction."

Watson continues to learn about how to run a program from his fellow assistants and Pelini. He added the Cornhuskers staff do "the little things right every day in practice."

"The way he practice is so unique," Watson said. "The effort he and the entire staff demands from the players, it's tremendous. Those guys bust their butts in practice every single day. Those are the things that will make you a great team."

Pelini believes this is just the beginning for Watson.

"He'll be a star in this business. You just give him some time," Pelini said.

jvargo@tribtoday.com