The Duke
All-Conference
First of all I am a Bo Pelini supporter. Compared to his predecessor, he has done a great job for Nebraska thus far. We have won at least 9 games every year since he's been here, and we have been to a bowl game each of those years. Yes, he hasn't won a conference championship yet, but I think in another year or two that will change.
One thing that does concern me to this point about Bo Pelini's Nebraska teams has been a lack of discipline. However, what is more troubling is a lack of competitiveness. What I mean by that is when a game begins to not go our way, our team slowly loses focus as the game continues and we get stuck on that slippery slope of giving up, folding it in, and calling it a day. It doesn't anger me if Nebraska loses a game or two each season, you can't win them all every year. What does concern me is when we have the blow-out losses or losses where we just flat give up.
I came across some interesting bit of information about Tom Osborne's tenure at Nebraska that I would like everyone to review:
In his quarter-century as head coach, Osborne was a model of consistency. His teams never won fewer than nine games in a season, finished in the top 15 of the final AP poll 24 years out of 25 (having finished 24th in 1990), and were ranked in every single weekly AP poll barring one week in 1977 and two in 1981.
Lately, Nebraska has been lucky to have been in the bottom Top 25 over the last few years. In order for Nebraska to become a perennial Top 15 team every season once again it is my belief that the blow-out losses must come to an end. Nebraska has to become competitive again in every game they play.
In Bo Pelini's tenure at Nebraska he has already had 6 blow-out losses:
2008
October 4 Missouri vs Nebraska Missouri 52 Nebraska 17
November 1 Nebraska vs Oklahoma Nebraska 28 Oklahoma 62
2009
October 17 Texas Tech vs Nebraska Texas Tech 31 Nebraska 10
2010
No blow-out losses
2011
October 1 Nebraska vs Wisconsin Nebraska 17 Wisconsin 48
November 19 Nebraska vs Michigan Nebraska 17 Michigan 45
January 2 Nebraska vs South Carolina Nebraska 13 South Carolina 30
Now I know that this is not exactly a fair comparison between Bo and Coach Osborne, I know that Osborne had his share of blow-out losses as well during his 25 years. In my opinion though, if Nebraska is going to take that next step to being among the nation's elite we have to turn the tide away from having these kind of blow-out losses every season. Even more important team discipline needs to increase from both the players and coaches. Finally, I still say that we must bring back naming permanent team captains for the entire season.
I know there will be many different view points and opinions on this topic, I am just throwing this all out there for discussion, and I am looking forward to reading the responses.
GO BIG RED!
One thing that does concern me to this point about Bo Pelini's Nebraska teams has been a lack of discipline. However, what is more troubling is a lack of competitiveness. What I mean by that is when a game begins to not go our way, our team slowly loses focus as the game continues and we get stuck on that slippery slope of giving up, folding it in, and calling it a day. It doesn't anger me if Nebraska loses a game or two each season, you can't win them all every year. What does concern me is when we have the blow-out losses or losses where we just flat give up.
I came across some interesting bit of information about Tom Osborne's tenure at Nebraska that I would like everyone to review:
In his quarter-century as head coach, Osborne was a model of consistency. His teams never won fewer than nine games in a season, finished in the top 15 of the final AP poll 24 years out of 25 (having finished 24th in 1990), and were ranked in every single weekly AP poll barring one week in 1977 and two in 1981.
Lately, Nebraska has been lucky to have been in the bottom Top 25 over the last few years. In order for Nebraska to become a perennial Top 15 team every season once again it is my belief that the blow-out losses must come to an end. Nebraska has to become competitive again in every game they play.
In Bo Pelini's tenure at Nebraska he has already had 6 blow-out losses:
2008
October 4 Missouri vs Nebraska Missouri 52 Nebraska 17
November 1 Nebraska vs Oklahoma Nebraska 28 Oklahoma 62
2009
October 17 Texas Tech vs Nebraska Texas Tech 31 Nebraska 10
2010
No blow-out losses
2011
October 1 Nebraska vs Wisconsin Nebraska 17 Wisconsin 48
November 19 Nebraska vs Michigan Nebraska 17 Michigan 45
January 2 Nebraska vs South Carolina Nebraska 13 South Carolina 30
Now I know that this is not exactly a fair comparison between Bo and Coach Osborne, I know that Osborne had his share of blow-out losses as well during his 25 years. In my opinion though, if Nebraska is going to take that next step to being among the nation's elite we have to turn the tide away from having these kind of blow-out losses every season. Even more important team discipline needs to increase from both the players and coaches. Finally, I still say that we must bring back naming permanent team captains for the entire season.
I know there will be many different view points and opinions on this topic, I am just throwing this all out there for discussion, and I am looking forward to reading the responses.
GO BIG RED!
