NC run, If not this year than in 2013

[Hercules]

NU was an eyelash away from becoming Minnesota in 2007. If TO doesn't save our ship we're in the dumpster for decades (at least).

Cannot agree with this. Decades? Maybe another recruiting cycle, but come on - we're Nebraska. We're not in any way comparable to a Minnesota-like team, with our boosters and our pack-the-house fan base and our decades of success.

Look at Oklahoma. They followed Barry Switzer with Gary Gibbs, Howard Schnellenberger and John Blake. They were in the dumps, way worse than Nebraska during the Callahan Era, and yet they hired Bob Stoops and here they are today, contending every year. Heck, Stoops won a title in year two after the disaster that was the John Blake Era.

Great programs find a way to turn it around. It would take a concerted effort to ignore the program from the fans, the school and the boosters for this program to fall apart for even ten years. We won't let that happen.

I generally agree with you, but I still think it's important not to overlook the circumstances under which coaches were let go. Barry Switzer's program crumbled apart in scandal, while Gary Gibbs, Howard Schnellenberger and John Blake all struggled to losing seasons. After hiring Stoops, the Sooners enjoyed success, but they've also had a couple of 8 win seasons since 2005, and Stoops obviously wasn't fired. Bo Pelini hasn't built the kind of resume that Stoops has, but nevertheless, if Bo were let go after a 9 or 10 win season, any coach with a good resume would look for a program with better job stability and more realistic expectations.

Anyways, the point of this whole discussion is less about whether Nebraska is capable of becoming Minnesota, and more about what is best for the program. Firing Bo after a 9 or 10 win season would in all likelihood do great damage to trying to make a run at a championship. It would set us back, new systems would be installed on both sides of the ball, new personnel would have to be recruited, a new culture would have to be put in place, and on top of that, all those things would have to work. If they didn't, which is not out of the realm of possibility, then that coach would be fired, and we'd have to start all over again. Compare that with leaving Bo in charge, steadily winning 9-10 games every season, with an occasional run. That was the Osborne era. I'd take that any day over the possibility of another Callahan era.

 

[Saunders]

The big difference is OU got back only to get put on probation, again. Gee, I wonder how they got all those 5* guys? Adrian Peterson's Lexus anyone?

 

[VectorVictor]

Right now it's a bit early to make any distant projections.

Our "run" year was set up to be 2010, but it's passed now.

Considering recent revelations, wouldn't "pilfered" or "jobbed" be more apt than "passed"?

Just sayin'.

 

[irafreak]

I generally agree with you, but I still think it's important not to overlook the circumstances under which coaches were let go. Barry Switzer's program crumbled apart in scandal, while Gary Gibbs, Howard Schnellenberger and John Blake all struggled to losing seasons. After hiring Stoops, the Sooners enjoyed success, but they've also had a couple of 8 win seasons since 2005, and Stoops obviously wasn't fired. Bo Pelini hasn't built the kind of resume that Stoops has, but nevertheless, if Bo were let go after a 9 or 10 win season, any coach with a good resume would look for a program with better job stability and more realistic expectations.

Anyways, the point of this whole discussion is less about whether Nebraska is capable of becoming Minnesota, and more about what is best for the program. Firing Bo after a 9 or 10 win season would in all likelihood do great damage to trying to make a run at a championship. It would set us back, new systems would be installed on both sides of the ball, new personnel would have to be recruited, a new culture would have to be put in place, and on top of that, all those things would have to work. If they didn't, which is not out of the realm of possibility, then that coach would be fired, and we'd have to start all over again. Compare that with leaving Bo in charge, steadily winning 9-10 games every season, with an occasional run. That was the Osborne era. I'd take that any day over the possibility of another Callahan era.

I know when I play xbox this figures into the equation for me.

 

[zoogs]

Right now it's a bit early to make any distant projections.

Our "run" year was set up to be 2010, but it's passed now.

Considering recent revelations, wouldn't "pilfered" or "jobbed" be more apt than "passed"?

Just sayin'.

We were out of the national title picture before we lost to A&M, but yea, I am kinda in disbelief about that.

 

[n.e.husker]

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/30014/nebraska-addition-helps-b1gs-title-push

Five consecutive national championships are remarkable, but what's even more impressive is that four different SEC teams have hoisted the crystal football in January. While the Big Ten has held its own against the SEC in non-BCS bowls, the SEC's depth advantage at the top is undeniable.
Other than Ohio State, the Big Ten hasn't consistently put enough teams in the national championship mix. The Big Ten has had nine different teams win at least a share of the league title since 2000, but how many of those teams could be labeled national championship caliber?

Here's where expansion can really help the Big Ten. The addition of Nebraska potentially gives the Big Ten another dog in the national championship fight.

It's important to note that Nebraska hasn't been to a BCS bowl since after the 2001 season (Rose). Fourth-year coach Bo Pelini still needs to prove he can beat top 10 opponents. But Nebraska has recorded 10 wins in each of the past two seasons, coming up just short in the Big 12 title game in both years. The Huskers have been close to a BCS breakthrough, and they've restored their traditional excellence on defense. Pelini and his staff also are recruiting well. There's momentum in Lincoln.

The SEC needs their streak to be snapped.

 

[Malth]

The SEC needs their streak to be snapped.

And Nebraska needs to be the team that does it.

 

[stlspartan]

Welcome to the conference (wish the game was in E. Lansing this year)

I can see Nebraska doing very well. When Penn State joined the conference, I think they may have won the B10, so there's no reason N couldn't do it. UM and OSU have lots of distraction so that's another advantage. The traditional challenge for most teams in the B10 has been injuries. I don't know if it's the colder climate or just a tendency for smash-mouth, but it's pretty rare to get through a B10 season without losing several top players, especially at QB. N seems to be well set up for the attrition game or at least that's my perception. You don't seem to build the team around a handful of skill guys so one wouldn't expect you to lose a lot of momentum as the season goes on.

One thing that I'm sure you will come to appreciate in the B10 is the officiating. It is unimaginably terrible, and the zebras in the B10 LOVE to determine the outcome of big games with crazy calls on key plays. Traditionally, UM and OSU have been the beneficiaries of these calls so the jury is out as to which way the flags will fall for you newcomers but prepare to be amazed.



I'm already gearing up for the Nebraska game and can't wait to see the next game from my seat in Spartan stadium.

 

[zoogs]

Great. If there's one thing the Husker fanbase always handles well and with an exceptional degree of even-handedness, it's officiating.

 

[Hercules]

Wow. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but that's actually worse than any of the bad calls we've gotten over the past couple years, including Gabbert's fumble not being reviewed and the extra second against Texas.

 

[Green and White]

Welcome to the conference (wish the game was in E. Lansing this year)

I can see Nebraska doing very well. When Penn State joined the conference, I think they may have won the B10, so there's no reason N couldn't do it. UM and OSU have lots of distraction so that's another advantage. The traditional challenge for most teams in the B10 has been injuries. I don't know if it's the colder climate or just a tendency for smash-mouth, but it's pretty rare to get through a B10 season without losing several top players, especially at QB. N seems to be well set up for the attrition game or at least that's my perception. You don't seem to build the team around a handful of skill guys so one wouldn't expect you to lose a lot of momentum as the season goes on.

One thing that I'm sure you will come to appreciate in the B10 is the officiating. It is unimaginably terrible, and the zebras in the B10 LOVE to determine the outcome of big games with crazy calls on key plays. Traditionally, UM and OSU have been the beneficiaries of these calls so the jury is out as to which way the flags will fall for you newcomers but prepare to be amazed.

Another 'Welcome to the B1G' Nebraska... You'll be a great addition. Being an Illini Alumnus, my son attending MSU's College of Med., and nephew just graduating from Northwestern, we live and die for our sports also. In years past I always enjoyed watching the T. Osborne teams match up against Oklahoma and the passion your fan base brings to the sport. Simply, we'll all need to work together to bring the SEC down a few notches.

Stlspartan hit on a topic that has been going thru my mind recently in that very few QB's in the B1G get thru an entire season without injury. Cousins, DRob, Stanzi, Persa, etc. all were 'nicked', Persa's was serious. Chances are you will need to tap into your QB reserve a few times during the season.

The one thing that has me a bit concerned is Bo going 'Pelini' and at most un-opportune time. Can he control his emotions and not let it get to him like it did to Woody Hayes? The B1G will not let that happen again, believe me.

Can't wait for the season to get going full throttle for the Wisc./Neb. game should be/must be Championship caliber.

 

[knapplc]

The one thing that has me a bit concerned is Bo going 'Pelini' and at most un-opportune time. Can he control his emotions and not let it get to him like it did to Woody Hayes? The B1G will not let that happen again, believe me.

I don't think Bo would ever go Woody Hayes on a player. The biggest thing you have to remember is, each of the situations where the press has splashed Angry Bo all over the screen, we've been royally screwed by the officials. The most famous example being the Texas A&M game last year. A&M entered that game as the most penalized team in the Big XII. They walked out of that game with two penalties, and Nebraska had 16.

That game just happened to be called by the same Big XII crew that called the NU/Texas and the NU/Iowa State games. The penalty disparity in those three games was 33/9. I cannot imagine a coach who would take that kind of blatant screw job with aplomb.

Also, we are NU. Northwestern can be whatever they want to be, but we are NU. It may not make sense, but that's the way it is.

 

[It'sNotAFakeID]

Thanks for the welcome, NU certainly does have the means necessary to make a run every year. I think that with this being the first year in a new conference with what looks like an insanely difficult schedule, I'm toning back my expectations for a MNC. Maybe a Big Ten Championship and a BCS Bowl, but certainly not a MNC. 2013, when we have experience and an easier schedule, that year could be magical.

 

[irafreak]

So you mean to say that those games we were screwed by the officials was really just Delany's way of preparing us for the B1G?

 

[Joe_5700]

When Bo first got here, the staff sat down and looked at the roster, and the schedule, and they circled 2010 as the year to make a run.

Can you back this up? Also, I'd like to see evidence that T.O. will fire Bo & Co. if he falls short of a MNC this year. Pony up or STFU already.

Also we're still waiting on proof that Bo got kicked out of a softball game, or whatever you said before.

Now you just aren't reading too well, and instead are reading your own personal bias into it. I said a conference championship and/or BCS Bowl game, which is completely different in the scope of the conversation.

I don't have to provide you with squat. The softball game incident is what it is, since your mind is already made up on the matter, and your head firmly implanted in the sand about it, there is no point in providing you anything else in the matter. It is a closed matter, has been for a week.

Ok, fair enough, please provide evidence that T.O. will fire him if he falls short of a coference championship this year.

And, no my, mind isn't made up on the matter, because you still haven't provided evidence. Go on, I'm all ears.

You can say your mind isn't made up, but the tone indicates that you are completely dismissive of anything and everything, so there is nothing gained or served by sharing any more information about the incident, which isn't in question.

Perhaps if you were aware of striking difference between where Osborne is perched now as opposed to a year ago at this time, you would actually see what I'm talking about. He has distanced himself from the day to day operations of the football program for a number of reasons, and I can't believe that being disrespected by the head football coach and his subordinates makes him feel like being understanding and empathetic, should they struggle.

A simple "no I can't back up any of my claims" would have sufficed.

Only on the conditionality that your interpretation of that post was accurate. As it isn't, the post isn't worth the wasted pixels used to publish it. I suppose I better go all CIA and start wearing a wire, a helmet cam and tapping my own phone, so I can upload conversations, emails and other forms of personal communicae to this board. GTFO, the useless message board adage of "show me a link, or it ain't real" is the best way to "lose" and argument.

Does anyone else on here think that EndoQuan gives himself a +1 for his posts under another ID on here?