Nexus Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 With the start of spring football just 10 days away, the signs point to a motivated Husker team. Don't misunderstand. We're not talking about any cloud-parting signs here. "In our locker room we have a couple of signs posted up with :00.01 second left," said Husker defensive back DeJon Gomes. "And I think that's going to give us huge motivation going into the next season that the game's not over until it's over. I guess we can't leave it in the hands of anyone." The Huskers prefer to be reminded of that stinging 13-12 loss, a game where tenths of a second and an official's booth review stood between Nebraska and its first conference championship since 1999. Hey, a little inspiration never hurt anyone. In the months before the 1994 season and Tom Osborne's first national championship, the clocks at Memorial Stadium often read "1:16." That was how much time remained when Nebraska took a one-point lead over Florida State in the national championship game the season before. Then the Seminoles drove — with help from two 15-yard Husker penalties — for a game-winning field goal. That 1994 team took the motto "Unfinished Business" and used the previous season's heartbreak to inspire an even greater work ethic. Signs and mottos might help in their own way, but you still have to do the sweat-stinging work. And defensive tackle Jared Crick said this Husker team has been exceeding expectations during winter conditioning. "Guys are just starting to take it past the finish point," Crick said. "When we do conditioning, you run until they say stop. But you see guys going past that, doing that extra little effort. So when it comes to the game and if we should be in it again with one second left ... we're going to keep going, we're going to keep it on the gas." Optimism during winter conditioning is as expected as a politician's contradictions. But what has Crick feeling so good is that it's not just the guys perceived to be at the top of the depth chart who are going all-out. "Guys who were second or third on the depth chart last year are pushing each other," Crick said. "Everybody on the whole team is coming to finish." Of course, one of the most important aspects of winter conditioning is identifying team leaders. Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said he doesn't think that is going to be a problem with this group. "We're finally at that point where it's kind of feeding on itself," Pelini said. "They're just all getting after it and all providing leadership. A very vocal group." Most around here don't need reminding that this is a team that lost three of its four games last year by a total of four points. Coming off the near victory against Texas and a 33-0 smashing of Arizona in the Holiday Bowl, many pundits are projecting Nebraska to crack the top 10 in the preseason polls. "It feels good, but we could care less about top 10. We want to be No. 1," Crick said. "I know some people may say that's far-fetched. I don't think so." There's a confident air in the program, but Pelini believes the players have the proper perspective. They know they have plenty more to do. "You walk that fine line," Pelini said. "You don't want them to be overconfident. You don't want them to think they've arrived. But they don't. You don't see that at all. It just made them hungrier." LINK Quote Link to comment
hack Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 that article is pure, unadulterated W I N. 1 Quote Link to comment
Apathy Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 This is what I like to hear......brought a tear to my eye. The players want redemption for that heart breaking loss and they'll have some UNFINISHED BUSINESS come October 16th Quote Link to comment
NUance Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Signs and mottos might help in their own way, but you still have to do the sweat-stinging work. And defensive tackle Jared Crick said this Husker team has been exceeding expectations during winter conditioning. Great to hear. I hope it translates to the field. And I think it will. /takes swig from winter conditioning Kool-Aid./ 1 Quote Link to comment
ESPY Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 "You walk that fine line," Pelini said. "You don't want them to be overconfident. You don't want them to think they've arrived. But they don't. You don't see that at all. It just made them hungrier." I think overconfidence played a role in our losses to TT & ISU last year. Now that everyone has seen what that accomplished, you'd have to think this is the year they'll turn the corner & not allow games like those happen. Quote Link to comment
hskrfan4life Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 "You walk that fine line," Pelini said. "You don't want them to be overconfident. You don't want them to think they've arrived. But they don't. You don't see that at all. It just made them hungrier." I think overconfidence played a role in our losses to TT & ISU last year. Now that everyone has seen what that accomplished, you'd have to think this is the year they'll turn the corner & not allow games like those happen. I do believe we were really over confident because of what happened at Missouri and all the national hype, and we could live up to it and we got punched in the mouth by TT Quote Link to comment
Enhance Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 I had a buddy of mine tell me that while some of the players were running drills, the coaches kept pushing them by saying things like "You're gonna let one second stop you?" and "I can't believe you couldn't finish with one second left!". Quote Link to comment
Minnesota_husker Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 I just wish we could have Suh back for one more season! Quote Link to comment
Apathy Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 I had a buddy of mine tell me that while some of the players were running drills, the coaches kept pushing them by saying things like "You're gonna let one second stop you?" and "I can't believe you couldn't finish with one second left!". This is the type of motivation this team needs to get to the next level and winning championships. Quote Link to comment
redout22 Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 The season really needs to come now Quote Link to comment
AllTheGoodNamesAreTaken Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 i just hope that we arent looking at the texas game as our goal for the season. yes, it'll be a great win, but theres more season left after that game. having said that, i dont believe bo and company will allow this team to slack off down the stretch. Quote Link to comment
Fuzzy Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Yea, i think Texas A&M might be a sleeper loss for us, if we don't go down there completely prepared. Quote Link to comment
The Maudfather Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Fiddlesticks. Is it football season yet? Quote Link to comment
NUBackInBlack38 Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Fantastic. One of the reasons i love this state and our team. All heart baby. LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOO Quote Link to comment
Rep The 402 Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 I wish we could play texas tech this year too. I wish we could just annihalate them...ugh. Quote Link to comment
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