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Yes, it was a win. But nothing yet has convinced me that Riley is other than what he has always been; a .500 coach. I would love to be proven wrong. I was very excited about this season, despite my trepidation about Riley's past performance, but a game like tonight's just makes me think that this "nice guy" needs to retire so that the Huskers can hire a coach with more desire to win. Riley was a bad hire. I am not calling for his firing, that would just make NU look like a bigger dumpster fire than it already does...but he should just get out of the game. He was fine as an Oregon State coach, but he doesn't have what it takes to coach at a place with the expectations that are placed on the coach the way they are at NU. ...one more thing...before someone tries to "correct me" and say that Riley is above .500 at NU, I know what his record is, but playing like a .500 coach will keep us middle of the pack (at best), which is what Riley has done in his first couple of years at NU.

They were 9 yards from tieing. I worried and am. The "bubble screens" didn't hurt us got them 36 points, 497 yards and almost won. They threw the ball at will with only penalties and their own drops hurting them. We got absolutely no pressure against their front. They replaced their entire front OL this year. They averaged 219 yards per games last year. Hanson completed 57% of passes last year. Last night over 67%..... Don't worry? My a$$.

Of course it is unacceptable....to the media. It highlights how useless they are. Anybody that has a brain and watches the games doesn't need some know it all sportswriters spinning tales of what really happened. I don't have much use for the Nebraska sportswriters coverage of football. They all seem to have their own little agenda whether it be creating controversy, generating clicks or propping up or tearing down certain coaches. I'm glad he dodged them.

Two excuses I keep hearing that I think are ridiculous: 1. We were very vanilla on defense. Even if that's the case you pull the plug on that B.S. when ASU keeps scoring and driving the ball. You especially pull the plug on it when they recover the onside kick or the drive before that where they scored to bring it within 7 points! 2. They have won the SunBelt conference several times over the past 6 years.................uh so? It's still the SunBelt, we're in the B1G, no way this team should be able to hang with us.

Whether we 'hid' anything schematically is different argument from acknowledging the personnel groupings we ran last night. IIRC, we only went into nickel or dime personnel 1-2 times last night, in all the plays we ran defensively. Instead, in 4 WR sets, we had Newby, Ferguson, Barry and Gifford trying to cover WRs in the flats and down the field. We may learn that Diaco is a stubborn man, but an unintelligent man isn't something I would put on him. So take from that what you will. But one thing is certain, if we do that again next week, we are easily getting 50+ on the board put up against us.

When Riley was hired, I had to google who he was.At the time, in his college career, he was a .504 coach. I was concerned. I thought he was the wrong guy for the hire. A west coast guy with no NU ties. A coach who hadn't won anything of note. A coach who was known to throw. A lot. He came here and I was disappointed in his first game. BYU hail Mary. One play that was allowed by clock management I would expect form a first year staff. Not a staff with the experience he brought. Several other in game issues cost us more....Not what I'd expect from a seasoned coach and staff. We all heard how it would be. Great guy, does more with less..... Here is my philosophy on that. Winners win. It's that simple. A guy who isn't used to winning (or succeeding at a high level) begins to accept that in their psyche. It truly becomes their DNA. He is and was ecstatic for a 9 win season. His level of expectations is (or acceptance if you will) is, IMHO, less than a coach who is a "winner". The staff he brought were also .504 guys...This mediocre "mindset" transcends into performance and success on the field or life. Coaches, businessman, military teams etc have greater success than those contemporaries who accept loss. Or expect it.......They try harder, have higher expectations and refuse to accept mediocrity. Clock mismanagement last night again....The stupid penalties again.....A team or business or unit takes on the personality of its coach, CEO or leader.... Riley,IMO then and now, wasn't brought in to win. He was brought in as the anti-Bo. Nice, likable, friendly. Heal the fractured fan base, press and alumni athletes. He has done a great job at that. He has assembled, by all accounts some great pieces on his staff. He also appears to be recruiting at a high level. BUT I do not expect a .504 coach, in the twilight of his career, to suddenly know how to win at a high level. I just don't think that switch gets "turned" on. Thats just my .02. I hope for his success as it means success for NU.

One of the responses to that Diaco media tweet was gold.... something like "did the reporters all give him a 15 yard cushion?"

Our secondary looked like it had no clue what to do. That is going to be a massive problem next week, let's not sugarcoat it.

I have been on this board for years, and every year I see the same comments about why our defense is terrible. "We don't want to show (insert top 25 team here) our whole package... so we were just playing our 'base defense'." Seriously? Do you think Alabama ever just plays their base defense because they are afraid of giving something away? It shouldn't be about gimmicks and secret tricks up your sleeve. It should be about execution week in and week out. We bring our best game every week, put it on the field, and adjust as needed to whatever the other team has prepared for. This pathetic excuse that so many have used for so long needs to go to the garbage can along with every Blackshirt given out to these mediocre players, and the paychecks we give to defensive coordinators.

Yep. I was there. Kind of sucked. But does anyone remember the 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 seasons? It's POSSIBLE that there was more reason to expect a quick improvement then than there is now.

If they don't, I just try to look at our team for the season they have. Footballs a weird game sometimes. I'm thinking of the Flea Kicker game Mizzou finished 7-5, we won the NC. They had no right to be playing us that way, but they did. At the end of the day, wins are wins. If we win every game we're supposed to in this super stressful way, I'm all for it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not thrilled about the game, but I'm still willing to give the team a chance.

Nobody is going to hire away Diaco any time soon. Everybody relax. It's one game. It's one college football game and the vast majority of us are older than the players. We have other things to really worry about. Kids. Jobs. Significant others. Perspective

Why exactly is this a bad thing? Usually everyone complains about the coachspeak answers they give. Without reading the article, the title makes Shatel sound as if he is entitled. Did he write anything about the positives that came out of the game? Why not write about the game itself, why make up a controversy where there doesn't need to be one? Nebraska just played a game where 11 defensive starters were playing in an entirely different scheme, of course there were going to be growing pains. Now Diaco, and crew, have game footage to take to practice and make adjustments.

My life revolves around Husker football as much as yours does. I'm on a message board making a comment after a disappointing game and pointing out that, at least so far, this is pretty much what I expected from a .500 coach. It's not what I wanted, but what I expected. I guess I just don't have the exciting life you do...you know, the one where you read huskerboard posts and comment on them and hurl insults at people who are expressing their opinion.

When does the whining end and the objectivity resume?

Step up to the plate. Own it like a man and a Husker. The kids couldn't side step it. Lead by example. We aren't ND or Connecticut fans. We know a crap show when we see it......Not saying it can't/won't improve, but the schtick will get old if you don't own up.

One thing that's being overlooked/forgotten in the defense discussion is how the offense could help them out...but failed to do so. How many times, late in the 4th quarter, did Langsdorf stop the clock by going for a pass instead of running the ball? The best teams with the best coordinators realize there's a symbiotic relationship between the offense and defense. Langsdorf could have helped the defense out by sticking with the running game (which was hotter than the passing game at that point), and running the clock down so ASU didn't have enough time to open up more season tickets via heart attack. Problem is, Langsdorf has failed to learn this lesson repeatedly, and it's a lesson that is going to kill us in a tight/close game that matters down the stretch. For all the talk talk about this being a new offense and new expectations, it's disappointing to see this issue at the OC/playcalling level creep back up, especially since the offense did have a good night overall.

Hope we can keep ASU on the schedule. They aren't a creampuff program that allows us to feel good about our program. They do a good job of exposing our weaknesses. I respect them

"Bend don't break" is just a politician's way of saying "defense like a sieve". Offense looked pretty good with Lee and Bryant in the backfield. Big Money Bob better have some things up his sleeve for Oregon.

A coach's success at one place is hardly an indicator of how they'll perform at another place. Heck, if you looked at how Nick Saban did as head coach at Michigan State and with the Dolphins, you'd never guess the guy would be widely regarded as one of the best coaches of all-time. If you thought a .500 record at Oregon State means he's not capable of more at Nebraska, that shows you weren't even prepared to give him a chance. Whether he is or isn't, the record alone is not an indicator of how well he will do here.

2016 Auburn L 51-14 2015 USC L 55-6 2014 Tennessee L 34-19 I know this may be news to some, but Nebraska is not in the Sun Belt.

If you were toying and playing vanilla defense all game long to try and "hide" something from Oregon, then I would hope we'd say enough is enough when Arkansas State is down 14 and about to score to make it a one score game within the final minutes. Then I would hope if Arkansas State gets the onside kick we would really turn up the defense to make sure they got nowhere close to scoring or tying the game. IMO, the hiding playbooks to keep things secretive against future opponents is hogwash, and it certainly shouldn't and wouldn't apply when you may lose a game.

If Riley really praised the defense, he is totally out of touch with reality.

No one thinks Diaco held back his blitz packages for Oregon?

That was uninspired. Kudos to the Red Wolves, seriously. Yall came to ball and deserved that win. Nebraska...woof. That was just not good. There were so many things to not like I am having a tough time pointing anything I did like out. Same mediocre ground attack, same penalty mistskes, same Special Teams struggles, same tight finish against a team we should have easily covered against. How are we supposed to be excited to play in Eugene next week? I feel so disappointed, just damn....

Our strength and conditioning program used to be top-notch. Last night these guys looked gassed before halftime, whiffing on blocks on offense, unable to get off blocks on defense. Looked like a bunch of 300-pound marshmallows out there. What happened?

I pretty much agree with this. I decided several years ago not to try and glean very much information from games like this regardless of the outcome and performance. Is this any more alarming than beating Idaho State 73-7 was exciting? Or any bigger cause for concern than barely holding on against South Dakota State in 2010? We beat Western Illinois 56-17 in Bill Callahan's first game of what would then become a disastrous 2004 season. It ended up definitely being a little too close for comfort, but it's prudent as fans to allow the players and coaches to decide on the field what actually happens in games against better teams with bigger stakes without either needlessly condemning them as mediocre OR praising them into unrealistic expectations.

Bright spot..... Nebraska won

I call it the bendover defense at this point...........

I disagree with your assessment of things at OSU. Expectations are very low there. Anderson may have winning seasons, and he may have losing seasons (if he stays around long enough), but the fan base and admin won't get too upset with the bad seasons. That's why Riley lasted so long there. I will agree that I think the program at NU is in better shape right now than when he arrived, but if that doesn't translate to winning, then what difference does it make? I feel like Scott Frost is a winner. I know he won't win every game he coaches, but he seems to have a winner's mentality. I just think that is lacking in Riley. He is a nice-guy version of Callahan. As I've said before, I hope I'm wrong, but so far, nothing he's done has really changed my mind about him. And I know there are no guarantees that Frost (if he ends up at NU) will be the second coming of TO, but IMO he will be a better fit at Nebraska.

I keep seeing people say, "I'm happy we faced a good opponent so that our coaches see our faults and will address them," and, "I'm glad that end-of-game clock mismanagement didn't bite us in the butt, the coaches can learn from this near disaster." But, do coaches every learn anything new? And do they consequently adapt to it? Maybe it is because they are stubborn. Maybe it is because they aren't smart enough to adapt. Maybe it is because, in some instances, adapting would hurt more than help (i.e. if Diaco decided to have the cbs press instead of play off, possibly resulting in getting burnt deep). Whatever it is, coaches never actually seem to learn/adapt. Mike Riley is the second(?) most experienced coach in college football, yet routinely mismanages the clock and hasn't learned how to close out opponents. Diaco apparently never learned throughout his ND/UConn years to bring his cb's closer. So should we go into next week, and every week from here on out, expecting to see these same mistakes? Or do we believe something changes?

Blah, blah blah! Shatel stirring the pot! If he does interview, some of you calling him out for not would be all over him for his responses.

Yes. It may lack the flailing, kicking and screaming but it's still just somebody that wants everyone else to conform to their way of thinking the way things should be.

Kind of.

Absolutely. We'll be playing Michigan in Indy this year. Mark it.

I actually agree with this. I'm literally seeing nothing about the savage blocking the ASU receivers did. i do think the defense looked a little deer in headlights, but I think this performance was more about match ups and experience. The ASU group executed their offense very well while Nebraska struggled. I think this combination made it look real bad.

I'll give him a little time for players to adjust, but to act like last night was the norm is absolutely ridiculous.

The most important thing is that fans keep telling themselves that after 43 years of coaching Riley will finally figure it out.

The good news is Oregon might have their third string offense in the game by the 4th quarter so they might not put up more than 70 on us.

Thanks for that. This ASU team is regarded by many as the most talented we have ever had. Just have to go out and back that up. Many ASU fans thought if things went right that we could be in it in the 4th quarter. Now we have some things to improve on to gear up and open up a can of whup@$$ on Miami next Saturday. Same thing with Nebraska, things to work on and improve to go up there and spank Oregon.

That's the problem. People are getting tired of watching the same thing happen year after year. Different coaching staff same results.

Yes, against the SUN BELT. Look at their record the past few years, especially against P5 teams, and especially in the early part of the schedule. That's not the profile of some overachieving small program, that's the profile of a team that gets into bowls because the bar is very low and they play in a low tier conference. This was a team that lined up poorly, had to take unnecessary timeouts, unnecessary penalties, bad snaps, bad tackling, turned the ball over, gave up points on special teams, gave up points on offense. I dont care what their shirt says, this was not a good performance they put up today.

I do appreciate yall talking me off the ledge so to speak. At least we aren't Texas.

I think it's more of a scheme/philosophy issue than players. Many who were familiar with Diaco's defense warned us it would be like this, almost a permanent prevent D. But it sure can get really ugly when the opposing QB is hitting his targets and your DB's are playing so soft. We are going to struggle with any team that can throw the ball and gets it out quick. I want to blame our front for not generating pressure but it's not like the QB had forever, he was getting the ball out too quickly. I want to blame our corners for playing too soft and giving such a cushion but guaranteed they were doing what they were supposed to. This is completely on Diaco's scheme and philosophy. I can see where it may work but it is hot garbage when a QB is on and stays on. I'm going to venture a guess that most on our schedule won't have the same results....but hold on for the ones that do.

We keep seeing the same things and year after year we come up with this same excuses. If Mike Riley were any more consistent, someone would tell him to see his doctor. And dont get me started on Langsdorf. This site may run out of bandwidth.

Some of the folks around here. Geez. Arky State has won the sun belt two years in a row. They aren't some no name mid-major/FCS team. Thought the defense made some decent adjustments in the second half. Think the original game plan has been beat up enough. Was disappointed we didn't put 50 on them offensively. Really thought we missed a moment to step on their throats and put The game away. Oregon played Southern Utah. Drawing anything from that is laughable. Doesn't mean they won't do that to us, but it's a different week. Hope we have see a jump.

Lee threw passes that would have made Armstrong blush. Receivers dropped sure catches.. we ran straight at the line expecting a result other than a minimal gain... But...the MAC crew did royally screw us on like 3 big calls.

1). Some fans are going to act like Nebraska football team has ruined there ability to enjoy life. 2). Refer to #1 3) our defense needs improvement. 4). Our defense needs to figure things out. But....but....I thought we were going to pass the ball 40 times a game. Waaaaaaa.............