Pre-Season Excitement since 2010

[carlfense]

I was thinking about this earlier today . . . I think my interest/excitement/belief in the Pelini era peaked in 2010. On a ten point scale my interest at the beginning of each season probably looked something like this:

2010 - 10! We were (arguably) one second away in the previous season. We blanked AU in the Holiday Bowl. Everything was looking up.

2011 - 9. Excited about the conference change. We're going to show the Big Ten what speed looks like!

2012 - 7. Felt like we had slumped towards the finish in the previous year. Don't see much reason for optimism.

2013 - 4. The previous year sucked. The Wisconsin game was a worse loss than Georgia was a good win. No change in sight.

2014 - 3. Same coach. Same problems. Same results. No reason to expect anything different.

Now I'm thinking about 2015. If Bo is still the coach at Nebraska in 2015, regardless of whether he is given a third chance to hire different coordinators, I can't see being interested at all. Oh, sure. I'll probably watch the games if I'm free. I might even go to one if the opportunity presents itself. But the passion just won't be there.

Maybe that's my fault. Maybe I'm a "bad fan," whatever that means. Maybe I'm growing up and my interests are changing but I don't think that I'm alone.

It's time for a change.

 

[sd'sker]

well said, carlfense. my thoughts exactly.

 

[tattooedhusker]

Pretty much sums it up for me too.

 

[Dr. Mantis Toboggan]

I was thinking about this earlier today . . . I think my interest/excitement/belief in the Pelini era peaked in 2010. On a ten point scale my interest at the beginning of each season probably looked something like this:

2010 - 10! We were (arguably) one second away in the previous season. We blanked AU in the Holiday Bowl. Everything was looking up.

2011 - 9. Excited about the conference change. We're going to show the Big Ten what speed looks like!

2012 - 7. Felt like we had slumped towards the finish in the previous year. Don't see much reason for optimism.

2013 - 4. The previous year sucked. The Wisconsin game was a worse loss than Georgia was a good win. No change in sight.

2014 - 3. Same coach. Same problems. Same results. No reason to expect anything different.

Now I'm thinking about 2015. If Bo is still the coach at Nebraska in 2015, regardless of whether he is given a third chance to hire different coordinators, I can't see being interested at all. Oh, sure. I'll probably watch the games if I'm free. I might even go to one if the opportunity presents itself. But the passion just won't be there.

Maybe that's my fault. Maybe I'm a "bad fan," whatever that means. Maybe I'm growing up and my interests are changing but I don't think that I'm alone.

It's time for a change.

You are not alone with those feelings. I have already lost interest. The only thing that is interesting is B****ing on this board about it. But, a coaching search always gets people excited and the boards go wild, that's about the only thing that would get me back into the football program. But until then, Nebrasketball will be my new interest. #notapriorityanymore

 

[Danny Bateman]

I was thinking about this earlier today . . . I think my interest/excitement/belief in the Pelini era peaked in 2010. On a ten point scale my interest at the beginning of each season probably looked something like this:

2010 - 10! We were (arguably) one second away in the previous season. We blanked AU in the Holiday Bowl. Everything was looking up.

2011 - 9. Excited about the conference change. We're going to show the Big Ten what speed looks like!

2012 - 7. Felt like we had slumped towards the finish in the previous year. Don't see much reason for optimism.

2013 - 4. The previous year sucked. The Wisconsin game was a worse loss than Georgia was a good win. No change in sight.

2014 - 3. Same coach. Same problems. Same results. No reason to expect anything different.

Now I'm thinking about 2015. If Bo is still the coach at Nebraska in 2015, regardless of whether he is given a third chance to hire different coordinators, I can't see being interested at all. Oh, sure. I'll probably watch the games if I'm free. I might even go to one if the opportunity presents itself. But the passion just won't be there.

Maybe that's my fault. Maybe I'm a "bad fan," whatever that means. Maybe I'm growing up and my interests are changing but I don't think that I'm alone.

It's time for a change.

Clearly you have been in the Bo-leaver camp longer than some. I don't know why, but I was willing to give him one more year after last year, since we had such a ridiculously talented SR RB, all the pieces we needed on D, and a mostly cupcake schedule.

Once again, we've fumbled a golden opportunity. I'm now over there with you. Hope the eatin' is good.

 

[Undone]

This is a great thread. I can relate to the 'Maybe I'm growing up and my interests are changing...' sentiment. Then I'll say to myself, "This is ingrained in me; it's who I am to be obsessed with Husker football!"

But at any rate, your chart of preseason interest is so spot on. Next season is going to be dismal heading into it, even if we win our next three games in stunning fashion.

 

[NUpolo8]

I was thinking about this earlier today . . . I think my interest/excitement/belief in the Pelini era peaked in 2010. On a ten point scale my interest at the beginning of each season probably looked something like this:

2010 - 10! We were (arguably) one second away in the previous season. We blanked AU in the Holiday Bowl. Everything was looking up.

2011 - 9. Excited about the conference change. We're going to show the Big Ten what speed looks like!

2012 - 7. Felt like we had slumped towards the finish in the previous year. Don't see much reason for optimism.

2013 - 4. The previous year sucked. The Wisconsin game was a worse loss than Georgia was a good win. No change in sight.

2014 - 3. Same coach. Same problems. Same results. No reason to expect anything different.

Now I'm thinking about 2015. If Bo is still the coach at Nebraska in 2015, regardless of whether he is given a third chance to hire different coordinators, I can't see being interested at all. Oh, sure. I'll probably watch the games if I'm free. I might even go to one if the opportunity presents itself. But the passion just won't be there.

Maybe that's my fault. Maybe I'm a "bad fan," whatever that means. Maybe I'm growing up and my interests are changing but I don't think that I'm alone.

It's time for a change.

The only thing that I personally would disagree with is the optimism for 2013. I was pretty confident that it was the year we were waiting for, despite how 2012 ended. Then the deal breakers for me happened.

As for if Bo is retained, yikes. I pride myself on figuring out how I can write off a trip to Lincoln for work and catch a game ('Merica!), but unfortunately, I think I'm done. Keeping Bo and the status quo would be tantamount to an admission that they're happy just cashing the free money, not unlike the Cubs for so many years.

I'm quite sure I'm done donating and dropping thousands to see a few games a year if the grey hoodie and khakis remain on the sideline, blaming me as part of the problem.

 

[sd'sker]

This is a great thread. I can relate to the 'Maybe I'm growing up and my interests are changing...' sentiment. Then I'll say to myself, "This is ingrained in me; it's who I am to be obsessed with Husker football!"

But at any rate, your chart of preseason interest is so spot on. Next season is going to be dismal heading into it, even if we win our next three games in stunning fashion.

it really makes me sad. i am a terribly boring person. husker football is my social life. to not care about one of the few things i enjoy being passionate about? it bums me out.

but i guess i'll just have to pay more attention to my kid? i don't know. maybe get a charcoal smoker and spend my days figuring out the perfect brisket. start homebrewing? i guess i will find something else. maybe even running? i guess it is time for a new me.

 

[teachercd]

I was chatting about this the other day...IF there was a new coach these are the things that would be cool...

1. The search

2. The little leaks of information about the search

3. The announcement of the new coach

4. Reading and finding out about the new coach

5. The hype around the spring game and recruiting

 

[Undone]

it really makes me sad. i am a terribly boring person. husker football is my social life. to not care about one of the few things i enjoy being passionate about? it bums me out.

but i guess i'll just have to pay more attention to my kid? i don't know. maybe get a charcoal smoker and spend my days figuring out the perfect brisket. start homebrewing? i guess i will find something else. maybe even running? i guess it is time for a new me.

Haha, I lol'd. We should be friends in real life, sd'sker.

I definitely take stock of how important my little girls are relative to Husker football on days like last Saturday.

I've watched the Miami highlight vids multiple times lately to give me some good Husker feels. Barely gets me to normal...

 

[Count 'Bility]

Was there ever this much apathy felt in looking towards the next season under same coach under Callahan? It's a serious question. I think each under Callahan, looking forward to the next season was met with intriging mixes of curiosity, excitement, what-ifs and the such. Now it's jsut the merry go round of whatevs.

I understand the angst built up by some the last offseason. and I argued against pretty much all it. Thought at the time I had valid points. Those points obviously were not that valid at all, in a revisionist way of course. But at this point, I agree. I dont see how there could be any excitement whatosever for football if things are kept status quo and things like basketball put up a great season and god forbid win an NCAA tourney game. And i'm not sure there could be anything done the rest of this season aside from winning out, flukishly backing our way into the CCG and winning that too, to change that. And like if said before, it that does for some reason happen, it's because there were some drastic and glaring changes made immediately. And I'm pretty sure those necessary changes are not possible in such a short period of time. The problems ARE systemic. They ARE cultural at this point. And really the only logical fix is probably the reset button.

Just my though

 

[Undone]

Now it's jsut the merry go round of whatevs.

The perfect metaphor has been born.

 

[Guy Chamberlin]

I saw enough positive change in the chaos of 2013 to believe 2014 was the breakthrough year. More than previous years, because it looked like the defense had turned a corner.

I don't feel stupid for that optimism. And I can't honestly be surprised how things are turning out. If you have to make a choice in pre-season, might as well lean towards hope.

Bo Pelini deserved this seventh season, but now we can finally declare it a sufficient sample size.

We're looking at Bo Pelini's ceiling. The only thing that would get me excited about next season would be radical change.

 

[sd'sker]

Haha, I lol'd. We should be friends in real life, sd'sker.

I definitely take stock of how important my little girls are relative to Husker football on days like last Saturday.

I've watched the Miami highlight vids multiple times lately to give me some good Husker feels. Barely gets me to normal...

i'd buy your a beer, irl.

and miami, when we still had so much hope.

but it is kind of scary, these realizations (even though i was being sarcastic), but i really do think the passion and dedication of the fans might be more tenuous than people realize. frankly, that was my biggest fear of keeping bo after last year. each year there has been less and less to be excited about. maybe i underestimate the fans' loyalty and dedication. maybe i am being dramatic. i do not know. but it is an issue i would rather avoid completely by fielding competitive football teams.

 

[carlfense]

it really makes me sad. i am a terribly boring person. husker football is my social life. to not care about one of the few things i enjoy being passionate about? it bums me out.

but i guess i'll just have to pay more attention to my kid? i don't know. maybe get a charcoal smoker and spend my days figuring out the perfect brisket. start homebrewing? i guess i will find something else. maybe even running? i guess it is time for a new me.

Let's be friends. I got a smoker in January and yesterday I sent my wife a link to a homebrewing kit as a Christmas idea.