Shatel: 2014 could be different for Huskers, but believe it when you see it

[lo country]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. There is no team on our schedule that is a guaranteed loss. Not Michigan State (if not for 5 unforced turnovers that's a win last year), not Wisconsin, and sure as hell not Iowa (again turnovers killed us). Does this mean we go 12-0? Probably not, but I see no reason not to be excited about this year. If we can improve in one area, turnovers, we can have a breakout season.

Yep. Win the TO battle and that is good for 2 wins. We were/are lucky to have had 9 win seasons with the TO's. We won, at times, in spite of ourselves. (TO's)

 

[Abdullah the Butcher]

http://m.omaha.com/huskers/barfknecht-too-many-questions-so-nebraska-takes-the-th-spot/article_79302977-ece9-5fa3-be7f-0af0601fcac0.html?mode=jqm

I hear bursts of optimism from my friends who are Husker fans. I see reasons for those feelings. I also know the following:

Nebraska plays in the Big Ten, which among the Power Five conferences is fourth at best.

Nebraska plays in the weaker of the Big Ten’s two divisions.

Nebraska generally is picked to finish third in that division. And that’s under a seventh-year coach who doesn’t have a championship.

In that context, the athletic director just told us he thinks Husker football is still nationally relevant. Do you?

 

[Hammerhead]

As a realist, I'm aware that all the hype for this year might be the same as all the hype for every year under Pelini, and we may finish no better than we did last year, maybe even worse.

But as a fan, hell yes I'm excited for Husker football.

 

[kchusker_chris]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. There is no team on our schedule that is a guaranteed loss. Not Michigan State (if not for 5 unforced turnovers that's a win last year), not Wisconsin, and sure as hell not Iowa (again turnovers killed us). Does this mean we go 12-0? Probably not, but I see no reason not to be excited about this year. If we can improve in one area, turnovers, we can have a breakout season.

Half of college football could say that. You could also say there is no team on our schedule that is a guaranteed win. Does this mean we'll go 0-12? Probably not, but I see no reason to be overly excited about this year. If we can improve in one area, turnovers - we'll still have 5-6 areas that need improvement. We aren't building on 2009 and 2010 here, we're rebuilding on 2013. That leaves us with quite a ways to go.

 

[carlfense]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. There is no team on our schedule that is a guaranteed loss. Not Michigan State (if not for 5 unforced turnovers that's a win last year), not Wisconsin, and sure as hell not Iowa (again turnovers killed us). Does this mean we go 12-0? Probably not, but I see no reason not to be excited about this year. If we can improve in one area, turnovers, we can have a breakout season.

Half of college football could say that. You could also say there is no team on our schedule that is a guaranteed win. Does this mean we'll go 0-12? Probably not, but I see no reason to be overly excited about this year. If we can improve in one area, turnovers - we'll still have 5-6 areas that need improvement. We aren't building on 2009 and 2010 here, we're rebuilding on 2013. That leaves us with quite a ways to go.

That's a good point but I'd argue that there are probably 3 guaranteed wins.

 

[Count 'Bility]

I guess as a postive type of fan that always holds hope and chants the "this is the year" jargon, I have to say, I agree as well. I'll believe when I see it. Until then, I will continue to expect 9/10-4. I just happen to be on the side that that's no where close to reason enough to pull the plug and start over. Im of the opinion that we keep grinding on it.

Another thing I dont understand is the amount of 7 and 8 win predictions on a national scale. These guys are nothing but dips$&ts. When you win 9 or 10 games, and lose 4 every single year of a 6 year tenure, why would you expect different? More specifically, worse? Esp when youre returning a team of young talent that is actually experienced? It's just stupid to me. I predict 10-4. I think we split the Mich St and Wiscy road games and lose that head scratcher as usual (im thinking Fresno, but most likely Miami) and lose the CCG and a another bowl game against an SEC team. Just my thoughts. Until I see this team come out the first couple games and play with their hair on fire and looking sharp and looking like a team we have not yet seen under Bo, this is what I expect. Those expectations my tailor themselves after the first couple games though.

 

[sd'sker]

I guess as a postive type of fan that always holds hope and chants the "this is the year" jargon, I have to say, I agree as well. I'll believe when I see it. Until then, I will continue to expect 9/10-4. I just happen to be on the side that that's no where close to reason enough to pull the plug and start over. Im of the opinion that we keep grinding on it.

Another thing I dont understand is the amount of 7 and 8 win predictions on a national scale. These guys are nothing but dips$&ts. When you win 9 or 10 games, and lose 4 every single year of a 6 year tenure, why would you expect different? More specifically, worse? Esp when youre returning a team of young talent that is actually experienced? It's just stupid to me. I predict 10-4. I think we split the Mich St and Wiscy road games and lose that head scratcher as usual (im thinking Fresno, but most likely Miami) and lose the CCG and a another bowl game against an SEC team. Just my thoughts. Until I see this team come out the first couple games and play with their hair on fire and looking sharp and looking like a team we have not yet seen under Bo, this is what I expect. Those expectations my tailor themselves after the first couple games though.

i am very excited for this year. i have never watched a husker game that i did not think we would win. but is it anymore ridiculous to expect better giving the reasons you think it is ridiculous to expect worse? i mean, i agree with you. but how many times after a big loss have we waited for the wheels to come off and have to scrape by to get to 9-4, 10-4. until nebraska can play a stretch of good football against quality opponents, we can pretty much beat ourselves any given saturday. like i said, i will expect a win every game, but expecting worse that 9-4 is not that crazy. frankly, nothing would surprise me at this point.

 

[Count 'Bility]

I guess as a postive type of fan that always holds hope and chants the "this is the year" jargon, I have to say, I agree as well. I'll believe when I see it. Until then, I will continue to expect 9/10-4. I just happen to be on the side that that's no where close to reason enough to pull the plug and start over. Im of the opinion that we keep grinding on it.

Another thing I dont understand is the amount of 7 and 8 win predictions on a national scale. These guys are nothing but dips$&ts. When you win 9 or 10 games, and lose 4 every single year of a 6 year tenure, why would you expect different? More specifically, worse? Esp when youre returning a team of young talent that is actually experienced? It's just stupid to me. I predict 10-4. I think we split the Mich St and Wiscy road games and lose that head scratcher as usual (im thinking Fresno, but most likely Miami) and lose the CCG and a another bowl game against an SEC team. Just my thoughts. Until I see this team come out the first couple games and play with their hair on fire and looking sharp and looking like a team we have not yet seen under Bo, this is what I expect. Those expectations my tailor themselves after the first couple games though.

i am very excited for this year. i have never watched a husker game that i did not think we would win. but is it anymore ridiculous to expect better giving the reasons you think it is ridiculous to expect worse? i mean, i agree with you. but how many times after a big loss have we waited for the wheels to come off and have to scrape by to get to 9-4, 10-4. until nebraska can play a stretch of good football against quality opponents, we can pretty much beat ourselves any given saturday. like i said, i will expect a win every game, but expecting worse that 9-4 is not that crazy. frankly, nothing would surprise me at this point.

But thats mostly my point. We've seen this movie enough now that there isnt any more reason to expect fewer than 9/10 wins than there is to expect more. And until I see the "wheels come off" as we've expected so many times, or this time to come out firing on all cylinders consistently as we've NEVER seen, my expectations do not waver.

 

[kchusker_chris]

I guess as a postive type of fan that always holds hope and chants the "this is the year" jargon, I have to say, I agree as well. I'll believe when I see it. Until then, I will continue to expect 9/10-4. I just happen to be on the side that that's no where close to reason enough to pull the plug and start over. Im of the opinion that we keep grinding on it.

Another thing I dont understand is the amount of 7 and 8 win predictions on a national scale. These guys are nothing but dips$&ts. When you win 9 or 10 games, and lose 4 every single year of a 6 year tenure, why would you expect different? More specifically, worse? Esp when youre returning a team of young talent that is actually experienced? It's just stupid to me. I predict 10-4. I think we split the Mich St and Wiscy road games and lose that head scratcher as usual (im thinking Fresno, but most likely Miami) and lose the CCG and a another bowl game against an SEC team. Just my thoughts. Until I see this team come out the first couple games and play with their hair on fire and looking sharp and looking like a team we have not yet seen under Bo, this is what I expect. Those expectations my tailor themselves after the first couple games though.

i am very excited for this year. i have never watched a husker game that i did not think we would win. but is it anymore ridiculous to expect better giving the reasons you think it is ridiculous to expect worse? i mean, i agree with you. but how many times after a big loss have we waited for the wheels to come off and have to scrape by to get to 9-4, 10-4. until nebraska can play a stretch of good football against quality opponents, we can pretty much beat ourselves any given saturday. like i said, i will expect a win every game, but expecting worse that 9-4 is not that crazy. frankly, nothing would surprise me at this point.

But thats mostly my point. We've seen this movie enough now that there isnt any more reason to expect fewer than 9/10 wins than there is to expect more. And until I see the "wheels come off" as we've expected so many times, or this time to come out firing on all cylinders consistently as we've NEVER seen, my expectations do not waver.

The 8 win predictions are regular season predictions. It's not as though that hasn't happened before - as recently as last season actually.

 

[sd'sker]

But thats mostly my point. We've seen this movie enough now that there isnt any more reason to expect fewer than 9/10 wins than there is to expect more. And until I see the "wheels come off" as we've expected so many times, or this time to come out firing on all cylinders consistently as we've NEVER seen, my expectations do not waver.

i agree. and like i said, nothing would surprise me. but my point would be that we have been as close to 3 more wins as we have to 3 more losses. so any prediction seems pointless, but, just my imo, any prediction makes sense.

 

[kchusker_chris]

But thats mostly my point. We've seen this movie enough now that there isnt any more reason to expect fewer than 9/10 wins than there is to expect more. And until I see the "wheels come off" as we've expected so many times, or this time to come out firing on all cylinders consistently as we've NEVER seen, my expectations do not waver.

i agree. and like i said, nothing would surprise me. but my point would be that we have been as close to 3 more wins as we have to 3 more losses. so any prediction seems pointless, but, just my imo, any prediction makes sense.

What team do you follow? You still back in 2009?

Not last year. We got beat by 20, 11, 13 and 21 last season - with wins of 3, 3, 4, 3 (OT) and 5 - including a hail mary on one of those.

Not the season before. We got beat by 6, 25, 39, and 14 - with wins of 3, 1, 4, 9, and 6 in there - including a few huge comebacks.

Not really the season before that either. We got beat by 31, 3, 28 and 17 - with wins of 7, 3 and 13 in a downpour.

You've got to go back to 2010 to really find more than 1 loss we were competitive in. And even then we squeeked out some wins (ISU, OSU, Oklahoma).

I don't think people want to accept the fact that we've been flirting with a 7 win season for the last couple of years. 11 wins a LONG ways away.

 

[sd'sker]

I don't think people want to accept the fact that we've been flirting with a 7 win season for the last couple of years. 11 wins a LONG ways away.

i was being generous and non-controversial. and lazy i guess. tough to argue with you.

i was mostly thinking of 2009 and the grit the team showed in 2012 when they pretty much willed a bunch of wins.

 

[kchusker_chris]

i was mostly thinking of 2009 and the grit the team showed in 2012 when they pretty much willed a bunch of wins.

That's where Steele is coming from in his predictions. We've flat out willed a few wins the last 3 years that just can't be counted on. A Hail Mary? Biggest comeback in school history? Back-Back-Back 2nd half double digit comebacks (iirc). Phantom PI calls, missed field goals (on both sides).

For as bad as it has been to some of us - history would suggest that it should be a lot worse.

 

[Count 'Bility]

The losses to Minnesota, Michigan St, and Iowa were still in doubt well into the fourth quarter. Games that still had the possibility of being swayed on a play or two. This is present day football. The "blowout" term gets thrown around quite a bit, when in all actuality if you actually watch and analyze the game, it can be determined that 21 point loss isnt merely a blowout at all. It's not like we were totally outclassed in the talent field of those games. So yeah, I'll agree that even last year, we were pretty close to picking up 3 more wins. At least, a lot closer than the final scores would lead you to believe.

 

[kchusker_chris]

The losses to Minnesota, Michigan St, and Iowa were still in doubt well into the fourth quarter. Games that still had the possibility of being swayed on a play or two. This is present day football. The "blowout" term gets thrown around quite a bit, when in all actuality if you actually watch and analyze the game, it can be determined that 21 point loss isnt merely a blowout at all. It's not like we were totally outclassed in the talent field of those games. So yeah, I'll agree that even last year, we were pretty close to picking up 3 more wins. At least, a lot closer than the final scores would lead you to believe.

...Husker fans will go to any length to qualify a loss in a way they find acceptable. "We got our a$$es kicked" - said no Husker fan ever.

How about this. "If we'd only played 2.5 quarters we wouldn't have lost nearly as bad" --- there...that feels better.