Haters and Husker fans. Can we be our own worst enemy?

[AllNRed]

Since then:

0 conference championships

0-6 vs texas

0-4 vs Texas Tech

1-5 vs OU

3 teams have rung up 70+ on the Huskers

2-17 vs Top 10 ranked teams

0-8 vs Top 5 ranked teams.

Since 1/3/2002, Nebraska has been the definition of irrelevance in the college football world. A conference title and BCS appearance/win would go a long way to abolish this curse.

Not sure why they are a cause for NU being relevant or not. I understand people don't like those teams but they don't have much to do with NU's history in the long run other than they were a plague to the conference we once loved. It's one thing to complain about the things that actually show the down fall in since then, but you have to wonder why someone would create a random stat to get their point across. Talking championships, bowl games, heisman winners, outland awards, maxwell awards, all-americans etc.....makes since in comparing how relevant/irrelevant the program has been since 2001. Match ups against Texas/Texas Tech mean next to nothing when it comes to the importance of NU's program. I think what's more important is how we competed against other AQ conferences since then.

SEC .......................... 0-5

ACC .......................... 3-2

PAC 10(12 now) ........4-4

Big 10 ........................3-1 (this isn't counting the 2011/2012 where as they are conference foes....though we are tied with Michigan for most conference wins in the B1G since joining)

Big East......................2-0

other than vs SEC teams we've matched up pretty well vs those conferences. Obviously those are not BCS bowl match ups so it wasn't the top program each year, but it was a match up at least equal to our program most years.

Good points. Plus, not many teams have faired well against the SEC.

Exactly....SEC is the obvious strong front of college football currently. We can give many reasons why that may be, but fact is, they are. Some are quick to chant that NU is irrelevant because of the recent struggles. But our "decade drought" is still better than most programs in the nation. We've had 2 losing seasons since the 60s. The remaining years each consisted of at least 9 wins (with the exception of 02 & 05). NU went from 9 years from 72-81 without winning a conference title outright despite Oklahoma being the consistent game to worry about. 22 years before Osborne wins the big one. And on and on and on..........

NU is definitely no where's near where it was in the 90s but how many programs have seen dominance like that for one season, let alone multiple seasons. But NU is definitely no a bottom feeder nationally, thus there is no reason for us to believe that the program is irrelevant. In our defeats against VT/Washington/UCLA......each of those coaches considered the win a good one over a great program and respected the product we had on the field. You can not convince me that NU is look at like the UTEPs, Utah St.s, San Diego St.s, FAUs, etc... of the world. The obvious proof, look at the recruiting rankings and the trend it has been doing each year since Bo arrived in Lincoln.

 

[NUance]

In fairness to the grumblers, there are acceptable losses when you feel the team moving forward, playing hard and especially when they end the season with a bowl win.

I felt pretty good after the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

I actually felt pretty good when Callahan's Huskers bushwacked Colorado in Boulder and beat Michigan in a bowl to end the 2005 season.

The complete defensive meltdown of Callahan's 2007 team was the hardest to watch. In fairness, the defensive meltdown of Pelini's last two seasons wasn't much better. I don't know how you can love the Huskers and not grumble about the product they're putting out on the field. Technically, they're in the entertainment business. We get to grumble when our favorite television shows jump the shark, too, and root for them to get better.

Personally I start every season fresh and hope for the best.

But I don't expect Nebraska to get humiliated by teams they should be able to beat. I'm probably gonna stick with that.

And Husker fans are no different from other fanbases, at least the 30 or 40 that have tasted any success in the last half-century. My Michigan buddies are the worst. Ask them what they expect from a Michigan game or season, and it's inevitably doom and gloom.

This pretty much pegs the way I feel. +1 to you. I feel pretty good about the Huskers if we're giving it our all. I can even live with losses. Like Georgia in the bowl. We gave them a run for the money for about three and a half quarters before the talent difference showed through. In my mind that was a satisying game, despite the loss. But the blowout losses when it seem like we've rolled over given up--oh, those just cut me to the bone. The B1G CCG vs Wiscy ranks right up there with the worst losses I've experienced.

 

[AllNRed]

In fairness to the grumblers, there are acceptable losses when you feel the team moving forward, playing hard and especially when they end the season with a bowl win.

I felt pretty good after the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

I actually felt pretty good when Callahan's Huskers bushwacked Colorado in Boulder and beat Michigan in a bowl to end the 2005 season.

The complete defensive meltdown of Callahan's 2007 team was the hardest to watch. In fairness, the defensive meltdown of Pelini's last two seasons wasn't much better. I don't know how you can love the Huskers and not grumble about the product they're putting out on the field. Technically, they're in the entertainment business. We get to grumble when our favorite television shows jump the shark, too, and root for them to get better.

Personally I start every season fresh and hope for the best.

But I don't expect Nebraska to get humiliated by teams they should be able to beat. I'm probably gonna stick with that.

And Husker fans are no different from other fanbases, at least the 30 or 40 that have tasted any success in the last half-century. My Michigan buddies are the worst. Ask them what they expect from a Michigan game or season, and it's inevitably doom and gloom.

This pretty much pegs the way I feel. +1 to you. I feel pretty good about the Huskers if we're giving it our all. I can even live with losses. Like Georgia in the bowl. We gave them a run for the money for about three and a half quarters before the talent difference showed through. In my mind that was a satisying game, despite the loss. But the blowout losses when it seem like we've rolled over given up--oh, those just cut me to the bone. The B1G CCG vs Wiscy ranks right up there with the worst losses I've experienced.

+100000000.

I had the same feeling after the Georgia game. After the CCG, I just expected a 2nd arse whippin' to occur and a monsterous meltdown to plague the offseason. I understood a couple seasons ago that the senior class that just left wasn't filled with a bunch of headliners. No I didn't predict and 40 point losses, but I expected some bruises to possibly occur over the course of losing the talent we did after the 09 and 10 seasons.

This season just showed that our staff can get players to believe in them and run through walls for them when its time to get things done. UCLA wasn't the fault of effort, it was the lack of talent/speed on defense, but our guys bounced back (it helped that we had a cupcake following that game). They grinded out a comeback win from Wisconsin. The came OSU's perfect storm. That would have killed the atmosphere of many programs, but our staff gave them a "win out" challenge and the players accepted. Nothing came easy and the won 6 games to get to the stage they planned on ended up at after the season. I truly believe that 6 game streak took a toll of our guys especially on defense where as the depth isn't as strong. Injuries also added to weaken our already weakest link that we were throwing up against a team whom their strong portion of their team is what we were already struggling to stop since the departure of N.Suh.

So, I naturally just expected a 2 possession loss against a team that was 4 yards from handing Bama it's second loss and going to the National Championship game. Seeing how they played that team for 3.5 quarters actually left a smile on my face as I walked out the stadium regardless of the score. Even going back home and rewatching the game and understand we were a bad decision or two from still winning the game. True this senior class didn't accomplish their goal but I think they did enough warrant the respect of the fans. Husker Nation should be proud of every bead of sweat given on every down by those kids.

 

[Enhance]

This pretty much pegs the way I feel. +1 to you. I feel pretty good about the Huskers if we're giving it our all. I can even live with losses. Like Georgia in the bowl. We gave them a run for the money for about three and a half quarters before the talent difference showed through. In my mind that was a satisying game, despite the loss. But the blowout losses when it seem like we've rolled over given up--oh, those just cut me to the bone. The B1G CCG vs Wiscy ranks right up there with the worst losses I've experienced.

Completely agree, and AllNRed has some good points too. I can accept bad games or inconsistent performances if the other team is better than us or on par. The problem is it seems that when we lose to another team, the opponent is either not as good as good as the final score suggests ('12 B1G CCG, '12 Ohio State) or we just look bad (UCLA). The Georgia loss from this last year was the only loss I felt OK about, because we fought hard and had opportunities to stop them and win the game. And they had superior talent.

I believe the last couple of years we haven't had the talent to make up for the coaching inconsistencies. I think our staff is pretty good, but they're led by a young head coach and there are going to bumps and bruises along the way. And our '08 class, which made up a significant portion of last year's defense, just was not a very good class. I'll give respect and admiration to any Husker player, be it walk-on or starter, that goes through the program. That said, I believe it's fair to analyze the reality of the situation.

 

[Jeremy]

Since then:

0 conference championships

0-6 vs texas

0-4 vs Texas Tech

1-5 vs OU

3 teams have rung up 70+ on the Huskers

2-17 vs Top 10 ranked teams

0-8 vs Top 5 ranked teams.

Since 1/3/2002, Nebraska has been the definition of irrelevance in the college football world. A conference title and BCS appearance/win would go a long way to abolish this curse.

Not sure why they are a cause for NU being relevant or not. I understand people don't like those teams but they don't have much to do with NU's history in the long run other than they were a plague to the conference we once loved. It's one thing to complain about the things that actually show the down fall in since then, but you have to wonder why someone would create a random stat to get their point across. Talking championships, bowl games, heisman winners, outland awards, maxwell awards, all-americans etc.....makes since in comparing how relevant/irrelevant the program has been since 2001. Match ups against Texas/Texas Tech mean next to nothing when it comes to the importance of NU's program. I think what's more important is how we competed against other AQ conferences since then.

SEC .......................... 0-5

ACC .......................... 3-2

PAC 10(12 now) ........4-4

Big 10 ........................3-1 (this isn't counting the 2011/2012 where as they are conference foes....though we are tied with Michigan for most conference wins in the B1G since joining)

Big East......................2-0

other than vs SEC teams we've matched up pretty well vs those conferences. Obviously those are not BCS bowl match ups so it wasn't the top program each year, but it was a match up at least equal to our program most years.

Okay, you have a point. I was really pointing those 2 teams out because it shocked me that we played them 10 times - and we couldn't win ONE. Most of my family is down there and I can hardly talk to them about football because they know the Huskers are my main deal, and those 2 teams have owned us, plain and simple. I would have been fair to include Baylor, who we didn't lose to once, and we did go 3-2 vs aTm.

For me, it's not a sense of entitlement that comes from 60-3. BEFORE that, Nebraska was a championship (conference-wise) program, all the way back to 62, and even before then, to the Bugeater days. The boys in red were always known as a tough bunch who very rarely would lay down for anyone. In the span of 109 years, the Huskers won 43 conference titles because they didn't make excuses or let a good play every now and then be enough. There were no moral victories. I expect them to compete for conference championships almost every year and be in the MNC hunt every now and then because that's what THEY expect - at least they used to.

They competed very well for a conference title in '06, '09 and '10, and we're all certainly be proud of their effort (especially 09) - they were at least in striking distance, whereas they were ran off the field last year. They expect better than that, and so does every Husker fan. It's when we get our doors blown off that really gets to me.

Like many others here, my following and pride of the Scarlet and Cream has only intensified since Black Friday. Also, as others have stated, there is a big difference from tough loss to a tough team and getting rolled by 30+. I'm not so much doom and gloom as I am cautiously optimistic, because I think they have a real chance this year to break through.

 

[AllNRed]

Okay, you have a point. I was really pointing those 2 teams out because it shocked me that we played them 10 times - and we couldn't win ONE. Most of my family is down there and I can hardly talk to them about football because they know the Huskers are my main deal, and those 2 teams have owned us, plain and simple. I would have been fair to include Baylor, who we didn't lose to once, and we did go 3-2 vs aTm.

I understand what you are saying. I don't want to seem like I was trying to be confrontational. I had that view once before. (I'm a Texas kid also......oldest brother was a Longhorn. Father, sister, and twin brother were Aggies) Since we left the Big XII I started to realize just how "unimportant" Texas is to NU's importance. Yes, they recruit the stated, but so does so many others. I felt like husker fans, including myself, gave them a lot more power and importance than they actually deserved.

P.S. I'm glad you didn't include Baylor......I'm an alumni.... . When they came to Lincoln, I wore my Green/Gold under my husker shirt. NU's visit to Waco, I switched it up. Win/Win for me. NU got the wins, BU got a heisman...

For me, it's not a sense of entitlement that comes from 60-3. BEFORE that, Nebraska was a championship (conference-wise) program, all the way back to 62, and even before then, to the Bugeater days. The boys in red were always known as a tough bunch who very rarely would lay down for anyone. In the span of 109 years, the Huskers won 43 conference titles because they didn't make excuses or let a good play every now and then be enough. There were no moral victories. I expect them to compete for conference championships almost every year and be in the MNC hunt every now and then because that's what THEY expect - at least they used to.

No argument from me here.

They competed very well for a conference title in '06, '09 and '10, and we're all certainly be proud of their effort (especially 09) - they were at least in striking distance, whereas they were ran off the field last year. They expect better than that, and so does every Husker fan. It's when we get our doors blown off that really gets to me.

This is true. And I agree 100000000% with the last sentence. But I also try to look at why the loss is so lopsided. Is it the effort (like losses in 07) or is it the lack of talent/depth/injuries (as in this past season). Both are issues that the coach need to address. Neither is worse than the other. This seniors this class were the wasn't ranked hire than 30 by any of the major recruiting services, asked to fill the void left by the previous staff who brought in 28 JUCO players in the previous 4 recruiting classes....That's a huge void. Especially when you look at 12 came from the 05 season. For our staff to get a class of that caliber to compete against one of the top programs in the nation for 3.5 quarters (Georgia) is overachieving, IMO. You can't fix a depth issue in one recruiting class because it's not created in one recruiting class. One of Bo's biggest flaws was recruiting. I think that had more to do with the lack of identity that his first couple of teams had. It's obvious the last couple of recruiting classes, he has approached it with a different philosophy and looks to be headed in the right direction. I think this will keep from those blowout losses from occurring once that athleticism is matured and molded into the system.

Like many others here, my following and pride of the Scarlet and Cream has only intensified since Black Friday. Also, as others have stated, there is a big difference from tough loss to a tough team and getting rolled by 30+. I'm not so much doom and gloom as I am cautiously optimistic, because I think they have a real chance this year to break through.

Yea, the doom and gloom view isn't healthy as it's just a game, plus our team isn't in the basement. Our guys are one or two playmakers from getting over that hump. The upgrade in athleticism from the last two classes raises the chances of us getting that player(s) on both sides of the ball. These next couple of seasons will be very entertaining and rewarding, IMO.

 

[kchusker_chris]

I also try to look at why the loss is so lopsided. Is it the effort (like losses in 07) or is it the lack of talent/depth/injuries (as in this past season). Both are issues that the coach need to address. Neither is worse than the other.

This is what worries me. Ask yourself, which is easier to fix? It took Bo all of about 8 months to fix the first, and about 20 months to completely rid the program of it. It is going to take years to fix the second issue though, as was so glaringly obvious last season. All the more worrisome - the foundation of his talent fix (the 2010/2011 classes), has exited the program. If that turns into a trend, look out.

 

[AllNRed]

I also try to look at why the loss is so lopsided. Is it the effort (like losses in 07) or is it the lack of talent/depth/injuries (as in this past season). Both are issues that the coach need to address. Neither is worse than the other.

This is what worries me. Ask yourself, which is easier to fix? It took Bo all of about 8 months to fix the first, and about 20 months to completely rid the program of it. It is going to take years to fix the second issue though, as was so glaringly obvious last season. All the more worrisome - the foundation of his talent fix (the 2010/2011 classes), has exited the program. If that turns into a trend, look out.

Exactly.

IMO, using "hindsight vision", I think it's easier for fans to deal with the problem we faced last season over the 07 season. You can only ask a kid to give their all on every play and hope for the best. If they don't have the talent, they don't have the talent. Yes, it may lead to some terrible showings (like the defense vs UCLA) but you know it won't be because their was a lack of effort. When players give up on game (season), IMO, that's more challenging than dealing with a lack of talent because it effects the locker room, play on the field, and the recruiting. How do you convince a talented prospect to believe in your system when the players you have in your system are showing they don't care for it. On the other end, it's easier for you to convince a talented prospect to believe in your system when he can see someone with less natural ability the he, being successful in it.

 

[Guy Chamberlin]

There's the tendancy to blame the lack of talent as if it's separate from coaching, something that can't readily be fixed.

The Nebraska Football Program should be able to attract talent. Good coaches can find and recruit good talent. Great coaches find great talents who fly under the radar of the five-star system.

Great coaches also get middling talent to play over their heads, as part of the team rather the individual.

I just don't think Pelini is there yet.

 

[AllNRed]

There's the tendancy to blame the lack of talent as if it's separate from coaching, something that can't readily be fixed.

The Nebraska Football Program should be able to attract talent. Good coaches can find and recruit good talent. Great coaches find great talents who fly under the radar of the five-star system.

Great coaches also get middling talent to play over their heads, as part of the team rather the individual.

I just don't think Pelini is there yet.

I was going to agree with you until you got to the bold print. How do you know this.

Pelini was able to change and entire atmosphere of a program in one season. The attitude of the program at the end of the 07 season was nothing to wish on any great program. He has obviously showed that he can excel when he has the talent to do so. His 09 & 10 defenses were amongst the top in the nation. His 11 & 12 offenses were regarded as some of the most dangerous offensive attacks. We can point out the obvious........09/10's defensive units are far more superior in overall talent than the 11/12 units. Same with the offense. Noooooooo one wants the 09 unit to return and the 10 unit started the rebuild, but I think it's safe to say were were pretty satisfied with what the 11/12 units were able to do all year on that side of the ball. So this shows that Bo can win with the talent on his team (which not every coach can do otherwise Notre Dame would have taken this long to see another national title run).

Now you look at the other side of this that horrible 09 offensive unit was put on a short leash the second half of the 2nd so that they would keep from "losing" the games for NU.....that's smart coaching. Then also look at the fact that we lost so much talent to the NFL and graduation after the 2010 season on defense, the 2011 unit started off with 3 preseason AA, but they never all played together healthy. 1 missed the first 3 games another missed the last 6-7 games, yet we still ended to season with a top 20 passing defense and 40th overall defense. This year with exactly no "big name" players on defense we manage to have the 2nd best passing defense in the nation and 54th over.........(obviously stopping the run has been an issue since Suh left). Bo is still able to get his units to execute even without the star studded NFL talent all over the field. And some days those offenses really put up #'s vs a talented defense (Georgia this season) and the defense smothers a talented offense (Michigan St last season).

Obviously due to some of the ways we have lost on the big stage, you can't consider Pelini great just yet, as you need your team to be consistent, but I believe he's a lot closer than what some of the critics would like to admit.

As far as recruiting talent.....it's obvious regardless of who you are, you can't not use the same tactic in recruiting at Nebraska that you would at Bama/Texas/USC/Florida/etc......do to the weather disadvantage......nor OSU/Michigan/PSU.........as they share our weather disadvantage but not the disadvantage in the talent prospects in the 500 mile radius. As much as we fans love our Huskers and it's rich history......these kids are growing up seeing a local national power in their own right that's just a hop, skip, and a jump away from home. But regardless of those factors.....Bo's first class was scarcely put together and was ranked no hire than #30 by any of the major recruiting sites. Since then the 09 class got as high as #28. The 2010 class was #22. 2011 was #15. 2012 was #25 (heavy top and small class). And 2013 was #17.

-Bo has a staff that he trusts now and they trust him and they are an overall upgrade (with the exception of a couple, IMO) in teaching of his philosophy

-We are also graduating our players.

-Minimal run ins with the law with the exception of a couple, but no more than the next program.

-We lead the nation in Academic AAs. Only "violation" the program has face had something to do with getting books to athletes that were required for their class, and it wasn't solely just the football program.

I don't know what else you can ask of a coach. This is the reason TO was comfortable riding off into the sunset at this time. Because we have a coach who's doing some good things, the right way. The Nebraska way. That has a way of rewarding itself....... TO knows this first hand.

So while we fans cry & whine about a severe loss or two in a season, Bo continues to strengthen the pillars of the program so that it stands strong and bold as we continue to support it every Saturday.

 

[Count 'Bility]

There's the tendancy to blame the lack of talent as if it's separate from coaching, something that can't readily be fixed.

The Nebraska Football Program should be able to attract talent. Good coaches can find and recruit good talent. Great coaches find great talents who fly under the radar of the five-star system.

Great coaches also get middling talent to play over their heads, as part of the team rather the individual.

I just don't think Pelini is there yet.

The attitude of the program at the end of the 07 season was nothing to wish on any great program.

bullsh#t.

Bama. Florida. Miami. Ohio St. USC. Notre Dame, and Texas x100000000.

 

[AllNRed]

There's the tendancy to blame the lack of talent as if it's separate from coaching, something that can't readily be fixed.

The Nebraska Football Program should be able to attract talent. Good coaches can find and recruit good talent. Great coaches find great talents who fly under the radar of the five-star system.

Great coaches also get middling talent to play over their heads, as part of the team rather the individual.

I just don't think Pelini is there yet.

The attitude of the program at the end of the 07 season was nothing to wish on any great program.

bullsh#t.

Bama. Florida. Miami. Ohio St. USC. Notre Dame, and Texas x100000000.

:lol: touche

 

[NUinID]

There's the tendancy to blame the lack of talent as if it's separate from coaching, something that can't readily be fixed.

The Nebraska Football Program should be able to attract talent. Good coaches can find and recruit good talent. Great coaches find great talents who fly under the radar of the five-star system.

Great coaches also get middling talent to play over their heads, as part of the team rather the individual.

I just don't think Pelini is there yet.

How do you know that BP didn't geg middling talent to play over their heads.

 

[Guy Chamberlin]

There's the tendancy to blame the lack of talent as if it's separate from coaching, something that can't readily be fixed.

The Nebraska Football Program should be able to attract talent. Good coaches can find and recruit good talent. Great coaches find great talents who fly under the radar of the five-star system.

Great coaches also get middling talent to play over their heads, as part of the team rather the individual.

I just don't think Pelini is there yet.

How do you know that BP didn't geg middling talent to play over their heads.

In 2008 and 2009, he clearly got good defensive talent to play better than they'd played under the previous administration.

We had every reason to expect the renaissance would continue, as the Pelini Brothers began to hand-pick talent for a top tier program that celebrated defense.

Five years later, defense is the Husker's weakness. Not just a relative weakness, but really pretty bad. Statistically and to even to the casual eye bad. Occasionally embarrassing, including those nationally televised games we need for recruiting. Not just measurable talent like speed, or strategic decisions like defensive schemes, but fundamentals like tackling, anticipation and avoiding penalties.

At best you could say he's gotten some poor talent to show improvement. In certain games. If that was middling talent playing over their heads, it rarely got the job done.

For that matter, do we know he hasn't squandered slightly better talent?

Point being, five years in, Bo Pelini should be recruiting and coaching defenses that reflect his expertise.

I don't see how you can argue against the statement that Bo Pelini isn't there yet, unless you think he is there and 50 point thrashings can be explained away by "lack of talent" and lack of talent has no bearing on the coach that brought them into the program.

Saying "he's not there yet" leaves open the possibility for improvement, which I think we'll see this year. But c'mon. Bo Pelini has earned a lot of the heat he gets.

 

[NUinID]

There's the tendancy to blame the lack of talent as if it's separate from coaching, something that can't readily be fixed.

The Nebraska Football Program should be able to attract talent. Good coaches can find and recruit good talent. Great coaches find great talents who fly under the radar of the five-star system.

Great coaches also get middling talent to play over their heads, as part of the team rather the individual.

I just don't think Pelini is there yet.

How do you know that BP didn't geg middling talent to play over their heads.

In 2008 and 2009, he clearly got good defensive talent to play better than they'd played under the previous administration.

We had every reason to expect the renaissance would continue, as the Pelini Brothers began to hand-pick talent for a top tier program that celebrated defense.

Five years later, defense is the Husker's weakness. Not just a relative weakness, but really pretty bad. Statistically and to even to the casual eye bad. Occasionally embarrassing, including those nationally televised games we need for recruiting. Not just measurable talent like speed, or strategic decisions like defensive schemes, but fundamentals like tackling, anticipation and avoiding penalties.

At best you could say he's gotten some poor talent to show improvement. In certain games. If that was middling talent playing over their heads, it rarely got the job done.

For that matter, do we know he hasn't squandered slightly better talent?

Point being, five years in, Bo Pelini should be recruiting and coaching defenses that reflect his expertise.

I don't see how you can argue against the statement that Bo Pelini isn't there yet, unless you think he is there and 50 point thrashings can be explained away by "lack of talent" and lack of talent has no bearing on the coach that brought them into the program.

Saying "he's not there yet" leaves open the possibility for improvement, which I think we'll see this year. But c'mon. Bo Pelini has earned a lot of the heat he gets.

Is BP as good a coach as he will ever be right now, of coarse not. He will continue to improve and refine his methods throughout his career.

Recruiting is nothing close to an exact science. When Pelini took over at NU his recruiting skills were probably his biggest deficientcy as a coach. It shows in the talent on the defensive line right now. There was a lot of misses that I am sure they thought would be better than they are right now. Chase Rome was a 4* guy did you ever see him play like that? Ankra was 4* he has played ok, but nothing dominant. I hope he really get it going this year. Injuries have also hurt on the D-line Jay Guy was really counted on as playing a lot and he has been dinged up for basically 2 years. This has slowed his progression. Thad Randle played last year on one knee the whole year. Peat was suppose to be the next Suh and he has been hurt since day one and his work ethic was in doubt by some people. I know he has transferred, I'm not sure his back will ever allow him to play and be a real dominant force wherever he ended up.

A lot of young guys are going to be playing on the D-line this year so we will see what happens. Don't be surpised if Brodrick Nickens plays some significant snaps either.

I think Pelini took the D-lines he had his first 2-3 years for granted. I think he neglected it somewhat. He is an ex DB and looks at the defense from the back forward instead of the other way like most do. He puts so much responsibility on good safety play and they were anything but good in three of the loses last year. He is also a big X and O coach that thinks he can out scheme what anyone throws at him. For the most part this is true, but when he talent is not up to snuff his scheme can get exposed.

I know Wisky2 really sticks in everyones craw. I myself truely didn't think they were going to win that game. I had a bad feeling about it. I knew they were beat up especially on defense. I knew they were a tired team. I knew that mentally they were spent. BP did a good and bad thing by saying they needed to win out. it gave them a goal to shoot for, but when they met the goal that was set before them they couldn't get up for another game. I know as fans that is hard to understand but as a former player and coach I have seen it happen many times.

Wisky was ready, healthy and ready to go with nothing to lose. Nebrasak hoped they would survive the game. When things started going badly from the start the floodgates just couldn't get shut off.