Stickney

Winning is a remarkable salve for all wounds. It probably will make those 2 connection flights more palatable too. Despite Bo's defensive genius, NU's future rides heavily on the shoulder's of Tim Beck, whichever QB wins the job, and O-line.

All of that. Time will tell with TM. I think we can all agree we hope he continues to improve. But there are issues or potential issues up and down the lineup (particularly on D -- who will become a playmaker?). Definitely an interesting offseason for the staff.

I understand your concern, but I don't think it is a big deal. Some of the best players of all time in all sports had all sorts of fashion concerns (Jordan -- sweatband, Dr. Jay -- high socks, The Sweetness -- headbands and Roos, heck the Hogs refused to get their helmets fixed/repainted). Bell plays hard and with reckless abandon. If a blue shirt and crazy socks help him do that, I say hand out blue shirts and crazy socks to the entire team. My parents are as old school as they come and they raised me to be humble and a team player, but even they didn't bat and eye when my sports uniform attire veered slightly from the standard issue. YMMV

Bell has style. Look good play good. They should let Bell design the alternate uniforms.

Semantics. Many of the "traditional" powers have worn one or multiple alternate jerseys, whether they be crazy modern or throwbacks. The end result is a demand for a "new" piece of merchandise for the fans. Sales for the apparel company. Licensing royalties to the school. Some schools like Oregon do this constantly. Others have done it once or twice a season. But many schools have done this, and many will do it more over. The reasons they do it are all the same.

I'm pretty sure we used to have a striped field back in the 60's or 70's, so that's actually something that has been around before. Can someone help me on this? I'm pretty sure I've heard that before. I thought they tried to sell it that it was supposed to "look" like a grass field mowed in opposing directions or something, but perhaps the old astroturf was striped. My point is that the stripes are very noticable, not many schools do that, and it isn't traditional. Of course neither was weight training, huskervision, the forward pass, the option, the fumblerooski, and a litany of other accepted traditions and tactics.

I don't think anything to do with Penn State this season can be descriped by "top." Despicable, horrid, tragic, sad, criminal, yes. Top, no.

Nope. OU, MU, Bama, LSU, ND, TX -- all have sold out in some way. Heck, NU wore throwbacks. Is it possible USC hasn't? I can't picture their alternate uni. But I bet they have (EDIT, evidently they haven't, but are pondering it for next season (http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_19396436)

The Oregon unis with the neon green are generally awful. Others aren't so bad. Just heard on 1620 that the chrome helmets cost $1,000 each (250 for the helmet plus 750 for the paint job). I'd like to think that Nike and the NFL would finally figure out a way to keep the pants on offensive line guard from falling down -- maybe they could call it Pro-Support Gear or Pro-Girdle gear.

At least those MD uni's had some meaning (state flag), some of their uniforms worn later in the season were "uglier." Of course, who would know since it was MD football.

Oh, I think NU sold out to Adidas a long, long time ago. As well as pepsi, runza, the phone company, st. e's, etc, etc.

If Oregon was smart they would have put the Google logo on the back.

Times are a-changin folks. Bring on some alternate unis. For goodness sake, NU's field is striped. They have a ginormous TV (plus 4 other ones and two "ribbons").

Believe me, there is plenty to critique about this NU team. And I have no doubt Bo realizes this. Offering your opinion does not make you less of a fan.

1. Bo needs to do some self reflection and determine whether his complex scheme is the right fit for college kids. Remember, BC's scheme "worked", but that didn't make it work (wins and losses, and BC got fired). Even with DOMINANT Ds in 2009 and 2010, Bo neither got to a BCS game nor won a CCG. 2. Regarding #1, it comes down to Bo's pride and arrogance, even TO came to realize that he needed to change (move to option O, change to a 4-3). Being able to swallow pride and adapt is a mark of a real CEO/HC. 3. Can you get talent onto the field and put them into a position to make plays? This reflects both #1 and #2. It is a question not only of accepting a player's weakness and playing to their strengths, but moreover, of player development overall. 4. Pass Rush

You know it's funny, I don't think Solich should have been fired at that time. The irony, for me, is that in many ways Bo put together much of that 2003 staff as his staff in 2008, and to a degree, we are witnessing what may have happened had Solich stuck around. Bo is going to earn his HC dollars next season. Does his D need to adjust? Does the O need a different QB? Can the DLine improve? Recruiting? Lots of questions.

I think people remember the bad, more than the good, and I think BAD losses are a solid indicator of NU fans' current quandary with Bo. So, using that theory: Number of 20+ losses in first four years (I did this quickly): BD -- 2 TO -- 2 FS -- 2 BC -- 8 BP -- 5 I don't think anything is more unpalatable than being uncomepetitive on the field. A loss is fine, if the team is competitive, but big losses are just ugly. The 2 big losses to WI and MI this year, I think, are the basis for a great deal of the angst in NU fans' minds.

TO won't fire Bo if he continues winning 9 games a season. But, I think it is fair to say, if Bo goes 8-5 or 9-4 next year with 2 or 3 non-competitive losses that the hot stove will be plenty hot. As far as Beck, I liked what he did overall in terms of scheme. I do have questions about personnel decisions, but it is unclear if that is Bo's call or Beck's. Papuchis has been DC for one game. Not much to really comment upon.

Pathetic replies simply because you don't WANT to believe what was said. Either you are saying he lied to me in the PM or I made the PM up. The manner in which the PM was written and what I knew of the poster makes me believe it. and if you think I would have made up 2 PMs like that...that elaborate then all I can do is smile about that. I guess I could take a screen shot of my saved PMs if you do think I made it up. Relax, just yanking your chain. I think we can all agree the BC era was "colorful." Which color you choose is up to debate. Now, have you gotten any PMs on whether Cotton will be back as OLine coach?

Funny, I just got a PM from the Secretary of Interior in the Congo, turns out I am an African prince!!!! Kinda strange since my ancestors are German Austrian, but you can't argue with the facts of the internet. I'm gonna be rich!! Anybody got any experience wiring money? PM me.

Additionally, criticizing someone does not equal hate. I criticize my brother all the time. I don't hate him. I love him.

Yes, on that we agree, proof positive that you can't let recruits determine decisions (but as you say, it was a done deal).

I don't hate Keller. Not at all. I just think starting him over Ganz was, and proved to be, a poor decision.

This is the quintessential example on why BC failed. His ability to use talent effectively was non-existent. His stubborness in year one ended NU's bowl run. His blind loyalty to Keller, despite the clear signs that Ganz was not only 1A, but also a guy the team wanted to battle for, cost BC dearly. You can try to say it was about offensive scheme, but even if that was true, it was clear in August camp that Ganz and Keller were neck & neck running that offense. BC went with Keller's "on paper measurements" and it cost him. It is a forgivable offense by itself, but for BC it was only the second to last example of poor personnel judgement (Not canning Cosgrove mid-way into the season was the other).

If BC was really a genius, he would have started Joe Ganz from the beginning, and it is possible he wouldn't have been fired. He didn't. And he did.