presidentjlh

We do need to go back to being NU. Was trying to explain to co-workers how our identity is, to a degree, wrapped up in the success or failure of our program. Hard for folks who have Pro everything. I know that sounds cliche, but if you didn't grow up in Nebraska, it might be hard to understand.

 

When Borland slammed Martinez and another dove at his needs and there was no repercussions, I really saw that this staff and team do not have that "fire". Back in the day, either of those incidents would have resulted in a penalty for the entire OL going after those guys. We used to be feared. We were mean and nasty. Not cheap shot artists, just junk yard mean.

 

We need to get back to a smash mouth running attack. This spread or whatever it is works. Sometimes. I watched Bama beat GA with smash mouth. Watched in disbelief as Wisky put up over 500 yrds ON THE GROUND. We have become soft and lost. Again, if you are new to the Huskers 2000's onward, you have missed what they used to be. We won games before they were even played. Teams feared us.

 

Iowa proved passing won't always work on the plains. TO knew this and designed a play scheme around this.

 

How many teams run the spread or it variations? I would guess 70%. How many run a base smash mouth? Hardly any. Running the spread, we are competing against a lot of schools for recruits. Get shorter, less recruited bulldogs who can move the pile. Running opens up the passing game. Just ask Gill, Frasier, Crouch, Frost etc.......

 

Folks say Bo's scheme is not to complex. BS. When Wisky went in motion, they looked to the sidelines and pointed at each other trying to get lined up. A simple scheme allows you to flex. We broke. the guys were lost. Action is faster than reaction. We are currently playing a read and react complex scheme. PJ Smith, in the post game, said that the D is predicated on everyone doing their job. If one guy makes a mistake, it is 6. THIS IS A COMPLEX scheme. Why can other teams throw in a 3rd string QB and win. Or the kid form NW last year. Or any other player that has stepped in and looks like a world beater against us? The reason, IMO, the D is so complex, it leaves little room for change and less for error.

 

Unsure what will happen. we are in a trick bag. You really can't fire a 10 win coach. He is one of now only 2, IIRC, that has now won 9 in the last 5 years. The staff, IMO, is another issue. Bo has surrounded himself with inexperienced persons' and it is telling. Our inability to counter Wisky is proof. Further proof is the inability to even design a different offensive game plan.

 

Bo needs to either hire some experience or swallow his pride and reach out to some folks. Get some help. Go back to school. Talk to Biliema and figure out how he did what he did or better yet why. Look at teams that win the tough games and the big ones. Look at bring back a psychologist. Make the kids and staff accountable. Miss a tackle sit. Miss another one, sit a series. 3 strikes and you are out. Same with fumbles. Martinez leads, for the 3rd year, fumbles in the FBS. FIX IT BO. You do not win by being the most mistake prone coach in the FBS.

 

Copy McBrides success for personnel. Speed, tackling and size. Copy Stoops and only recruit kids who can contribute day one. If they need to develop, pass.

 

Lastly, back on track, GA will be a great test. They can run and have the #2 QB in the country passing. Great way to build into the off season or a way to lose our recruits. Anxious to see how the staff rebounds. Last night was the largest coaching failure I have seen at NU (fan for 30+ years) and one of the tops of all time.

This.

So much this.

Nebraska...they used to be feared. They scared teams. They were a team that, even if you won against them, you never wanted to play them again. A former K-State player once said: "They were always very classy. They lined up, kicked your ass, then went back to the huddle."

A former Mizzou player said that the most painful game was always the Nebraska game, the sheer physicality was just unbearable.

You didn't see Nebraska commit too many penalties. Turnovers were a rarity. Discipline was the name of the game, and Nebraska played it very well then.

We've lost that. It's like the Keystone Cops out there sometimes.

There are hints of that former glory. Bell's block...some of Stafford's hits... It's there...but we aren't capitalizing on it. We aren't building on it.

This game will serve as a measuring stick.

If we can actually make it a game...keep in striking distance, lose by a TD or less...then I will feel like there's something to build on.

We know that Nebraska is a good team. Yes, I will still say it. But what we want is a great team.

This is a decent chance to make a move towards being a great team.

I believe Bo has what it takes, if he's willing to get some actual O-line, D-line, and LB coaching.

The skills positions are all well-tuned. Martinez still has troubles, but he'll be excellent next season. Abdullah, Heard, Cross...awesome. Bell and Turner are great. Secondary is fine.

But that front line...what Nebraska used to pride itself on...

Horrible.

That hit gave me some hope for the future of this program. Players like Bell are what this team needs most of all: Heart, ferocity, and talent.

I have a ton of Nebraska baseball hats that I have worn almost every day, to work, for recreation, and for casual dress for the past 42 years. Today, when I went outside, I could not bring myself to wear one. Instead, I picked my other favorite hat, my Corvette Baseball hat. Went for a ride in the Vette and ended up at BW's with friends to drink a few cold ones and rehash the humility of the azz kicking in the game. The main topic of discussion was the ineptness of the coaching staff. One of the folks I was with was a former player for NU back in the early 90's. I cannot print the adjectives used in his descriptive verbal assault of the coaches, particularly the defensive coaches. He had no kind words for Pelini either.

The coaching performance has been horrible this season. Yes there were comebacks, but I put those more on the players than the coaches. Guys like Martinez, Burkhead, Abdullah, Bell, Stafford...they've been willing this team to victories.

Execution wasn't the problem, because the defense had no clue what they were doing at any point.

Angles were terrible. They failed to cut Wisco's RBs off at 3 yards, instead, giving them 10, 20, 30 yard runs.

Unfortunately thats the kind of slump that got the Hawkeyes into the position there in now.

One difference though, in their entire history they've never had more than 3 seasons in a row with 9 wins. We should keep Pelini just to always be better than they are no matter what.

I don't want us to be just "Better than Iowa". That's just being mediocre.

I want greatness.

I will root for the Huskers, I'll watch the game...

But I do not expect a good result.

This...

 

This is what hell feels like.

 

Really? Have you ever heard of "first world problems". 'Cause this is one of 'em.

 

This is one of them. Though someone could argue that the socioeconomic impact of a mediocre or downtrodden Nebraska program could be significant at the state and local levels...

Lol, I know. Just a sucky moment right now.

4 losses.

Again

4 losses.

This...

This is what hell feels like.