Nebhawk

L-ville, Washington, OU/WVA, will get in before 2 or 3 Big 10 teams get in. I shouldn't forget Clemson or FLorida St yet either. Michigan has the best shot if they win out and beat Big 10 west in champ game. I am sure I am forgetting someone else, but the committee won't put 3 for sure and more than likely two from any one conference in a year when 1 loss or even two loss teams are on the board from all power 5 conferences. I think given the overall scenarios we will see Pac 12 left out and see the other power 5 get one team in each. Bama, L-ville, Michigan, and more than likely OU if they win out. Big 12 teams have better scheduling and have better overall teams than the Pac 12. Clemson and L-ville are a toss up, but think overall that the Cards are a better team.

Basically if everyone loses, {Ohio St, Michigan} more than likely the chaos will then begin. Big 12 with OU/WVA winner being deeply involved at that point. Early season losses will carry more weight than late season losses. Washington having a Pac 12 title game still in play helps them.........so many scenarios, so many teams.........? I actually think that if Ohio ST or Michigan win the Big 10 title they are in the playoffs. Right now I would say that Alabama, L-Ville, are in. Fill the other spots with whomever...............actually fill the 3 spots with whom ever because no one is beating BAMA. 8 team playoff would eliminate so much of this. This year is a rare year in which no one clearly wants to play against BAMA. Not a BAAMMAA fan or SEC, but know a winning horse when I see one and that horse isn't losing to anyone in the Top 25 based on what I have seen this year.

I truly believe that in 2 to 3 years of recruiting top notch talent can win you a title, not 5 to 7 years. Harbaugh is on year 2 as well and has Michigan competing for Big 10 title and maybe even a National title appearance. Michigan was competing last year for the Big 10 title. Petersen is on his third year at Washington and very possibly will have the Huskies in the playoff picture. If you can coach and recruit, 2 to 3 years should be the expectation level. Riley goes 10-2 this year with no more blow out defeats and brings in some good recruits, who knows, Big 10 West should be in reach.

Losing isn't the issue that i think bothers most. Its getting ran out of town against Top 10 teams on prime time that has people questioning any coach or coordinator. Talent gap right now is glaring. Sure most will raise a fist and say"Were Nebraska, we have talent" and point fingers at the coaching. Talent is improving, but miles behind Ohio St and Michigan. Might even be behind Penn St. Gold standard in recruiting is Michigan and Ohio St for Big 10. WR's are not even close to game changers. RB's are not capable of busting long runs against above average defense's. CB's can't cover true speedy athletes. Not saying that each of those positions don't have talent, but not enough game changers. I wonder even if TA is considered to really be a game changer? Cupcake scheduling is never a real advantage for any team, but it happens. Will Riley ever recruit Big 10 caliber stud players? I doubt that because he is still recruiting Pac 12 style players from the West coast. Need rugged players from midwest states and Texas if your going to make dent into Big 10 landscape.

This experiment came about because Riley was looking for a new gig. He was facing allegations/accusations of sexual misconduct. Oregon St was looking for him to leave as well. Yes, I truly believe that in the present state of the program coaches aren't jumping for this job. Urban and Harbaugh have complete control of recruiting in the Big 10 area, and most of the other hotbeds. This was a perfect storm for Eichorst. He had no options. Riley was it. Scott Frost is the next head coach in waiting. He is the only one that has ties to the old program ways and TO. He could bring back some former coaches, players and others with strong ties. The thing that most bothers me is that last night a QB who can't hit wide open receivers made our defense look stupid. A running back that weighs 212 pounds running over our linebackers. Wide Open receivers that had at least two steps on every defender. Yes, there was some heart, but heart and desire doesn't let running backs run over you. Riley isn't the bad guy here. He was given a chance. He has done better this season, but the schedule was back logged once again. This is why Bo had a good record here. He has cupcakes for the first 7 games each and every season. We should be beating Illinois, Purdue, Maryland, and Rutgers each and every season. Oregon is obviously a fluke this season. Wyoming is a decent team, but not Big 10 caliber. Yes supporting the team is absolute. Supporting Riley is a key. He isn't any worse than BO. Wait for next season and better recruits. My issue is that anymore games like last night, and recruiting becomes a harder line. Finding 5 star talent after you get whooped is a challenge. The loss was expected. The 62 points allowed wasn't. The 3 scored wasn't. I expected to score 17- 21 points. Thought that the Buckeyes could put up 35 on the Big Red D. Tommy getting hurt didn't help, but we do have enough talent to do better. Running the ball more, options.........anything but heaving down field throws to covered receivers............ Coaching and players, playing was below average.

More defeats to come in more years to come. The talent gap between most West div teams and the East div is astonishing. Michigan and Ohio St alone have more than almost all of the West div teams. Wisky has an outstanding defense, but no offense. Penn St has some talent. This gap is only going to get more noticeable. Michigan is only going to get better and better. Ohio St is a machine. Even with that, other teams compete against them. Yes rally around this team. That is correct. Did the team rally around itself? Did the team rally around its coaches? Rose-Ivey can kneel during the anthem, but can't kneel low enough to make 3 game changing tackles? I have read other posts asking why we didn't blitz..........we did and whiffed! Those blitz calls were spot on, but our tackling was not even close. Rally around the team!

Hold my feet to the fire right now because I have said several times thru out Tommys career that he isn't a very good qb. Good athlete, but limited in passing and making the right decisions when he is rushed. Martinez was a better runner, and had the same passing issues. Passing while going backwards. Never set feet. Don't commit to the throw. Future of the program is riding on finding a Quarterback who can pass down field and be mobile. Finding WR's who can catch the ball and run with it. Speed. When you have average Wideouts and and average QB play, you can't pass the ball downfield. I think we have good if not really good running backs. Good tight ends. But no downfield threats. Yes, this is Riley and Co. 2nd year and really first year of his recruits. Your still telling me that Ryker is our best option at back up? Thank god we are not still in the Big 12! Riley will bring in some better talent at skill positions. I think he can do that. I think that if we lose another spotlight game that shrinks as well. That game last night was a train wreck. I would have had better feelings if the final score would have been 45-17, or 42-21. Northwestern, Indiana didn't allow Ohio St to score this much. Penn St beat them. Is it talent gap, coaching gap?

Would like to also add that firing Riley isn't going to do anyone a benefits. Scott Frost is maybe the only coach on the radar who would take this gig right now. I am for that because he represents Nebraska, and knows what it takes to compete. UCF is competing. Frost wasn't good enough two years ago. Is he now? Firing Riley will only set this program back. Yes, back, further than Callahan years. This starts at the top. Eichorsts needs to go. It seems that I always hear we have this luxury of cash in place to compete with any program when it comes to donor dollars. Why in the world can't we hire proven AD's and head football coaches? Why? Where is this money? If these donor dollars exists, lets start throwing the cash out, firing anyone and everyone until we get the people in position that will fight for what was once a proud and powerful football tradition. Show me the money!!

I have read comments on several sites. Some of those have really stood out. Nebraska isn't a top tier program in means of competing in today's game. Haven't been relevant since 2001. This Big 10 gig, well is been great for volleyball, but its killing the football program. When you have the money to hire a great coach, and no coaches want that money, self explanatory, your program is not the power it once was. Nebraska is not a doormat, but it's also not a feared program. It hasn't been since TO retired. Can Riley win out this season and have a fine 10-2 season with a possible 11-2 season? Sure. Odds are that we play a great team in a bowl game like Washington or Louisville and get completely blasted again. Louisville, yes Louisville has better talent top to bottom than our program that boasts about having 5 Nattys and played for many more in an era of football that truly might never, ever appear in this great place called Huskerville. Reality bites.

Eye Test. I have watched Notre Dame play against Temple, Pitt, and Clemson this season. I have watched multiple other teams play in each conference this season. Notre Dame wouldn't compete, week in, week out in any power 5 conference. They are not a great pass defense team, and do allow some chunks in the run game. Thats my eye test. Isn't the eye test based on what you see thru out a season? Clemson blew out Notre Dame. Clemson played not to lose football in the 4th quarter and it almost cost them. Eye watched the game. I don't think it is a scam, but wonder about its future going forward. I agree with those who say 8 teams. This is the fairest model. Make all power 5 conferences play a title game and then take those 5 automatically. 3 at-large.

Put ND in any conference and this year they lose at least 2-3 games. Big 10, they would get beat by OSU,Michigan, and more than likely Michigan ST. Big 12, they would lose at least 2 or 3. SEC, 3 or 4. Thats an eye test, if we need one.

Not saying that it is a scam, but pointing out that last year the Big 12 was left out for not having a Champ game. And if thats the case, Notre Dame shouldn't be considered this year because they don't even have a conference to play in, and have one loss.

Looking at the newest rankings and looking at message boards on various sites has me confused. Consider the fact that Iowa's biggest games this season will be the narrow win vs Wisky and when they come to Memorial stadium in two weeks. They are #5. Consider Notre Dame, an Independent, ranked where they are, and the schedule they have left. Remember the Big 12 was left out last year because of a lack of Conference title game. Is the committee setting up Notre Dame with the same arguement this season. Is the playoff committee going to make a point to not let Notre Dame in when its all said an done this season? I think this is how its going to play out on most ends. Clemson will get in. Alabama/Florida winner will get in for the SEC. If Ohio St and Iowa go into the BIg 10 Champ game both Undefeated, the winner will go. That leaves Notre Dame and the BIg 12 champ. If a Big 12 team remains undefeated, they will get in this year. IF the BIg 12 champ is OU with only 1 loss, they will get in based on strength of schedule. What is the thoughts on this Playoff system for this year?

Again, players play, coaches coach. Remember this was one game. One game that the whole team played from start to finish this season with a purpose. Rutgers is horrible. Maybe the worse team in the Big 10. We will come out flat. Most teams do come out flat after a hard fought win. Good thing that we are playing who we are this week. Do I think the future is looking better? Absolutely! Is there room for improvement? Yes. Can we beat Rutgers with a sub par game? Yes. Effort will determine the outcome in this game. I do expect a close game, and a win, but warning everyone, that the hangover effect will be in motion. Iowa on Turkey Friday, now I expect the same emotions in that game, as we demonstrated against MSU. Again this is not a negative post. I will question players not giving it there all. Despite who coaches this team. They are here for the most part on a scholarship. They owe it to themselves and the fans to always play 100% all the time. We should never expect less. That is when you know our talent and depth are not up to par. These players know that the ones behind them are not up to the task. This causes players to get lax. Calling out players- with everyone on TV now, and with media, we don't have to worry about calling too many players out. The media will do that for us. Again, if a player is being lazy, they should be held accountable, by everyone. Its business. College football is all about the money.

Indiana almost beat the Buckeyes as well. So all the comparisions to Indiana and how teams haven't put them away is ludicrous. Indiana probably has the best offense in the Big 10. Worst Defense as well. Talent is 2 or 3 deep, when judging talent. Sure, we might have 11 on each side of the ball to compete most Saturdays, but we don't when we lose starters. We should be favored to win the west div next season. Should be. Having those kind of expectations are a good thing. That should be the expectations yearly. Can this staff get it done? Can we recruit enough players this season to become difference makers next season? All things are uncertain. Winning out, bowl game included, would however boost some confidence in my camp however. If we defeat two ranked teams period, that would infuse me with some belief in the future with Riley and Co. If we beat Rutgers and play Iowa tough and lose by a few points, I will scratch my head, but maybe lean to supporting situation going forward. IF we lose both our last two games, I think we need to replace both coordinators for sure. If we get a Top 20 recruiting class for next season, that will at least leave some hope for the future as well.

Another clueless fan............boy they are coming out of the woodwork this season. If I were a recruit for this program right now, I would bail. Go some where that a win is appreciated. I hope this message board is viewed by many across the nation. Win with class, lose with class.

First win against a Top 10 team in how long? Enjoy. Something that hasn't been done since 99' folks, no matter who did what and how it was done, its a W. Find reasons to fire all of them, but realize that this team, tonight played for there coach, and themselves. They sold-out, something that Bo's teams never done here. Go ahead, fire Riley. This program will disappear overnight. Go ahead. Brian Griese would love it, and so would the Big 10 conference. Go ahead. Listen to what the Big 10 tv guys say, ESPN guys say, cuz they are right........talent just isn't here right now. Its obvious on Defense we don't have enough horses yet to compete. Sure, some bad play calling, but find a game in which you don't find some bad play calling in certain stretches. Enjoy, probably going to lose next week, against a nobody and win against Iowa. Enjoy this one at least. Forget the coaching right now is the message. Be happy for the players on this team for at least competing for a whole game. They played with GUTS.

The talent arguement is valid in spots or by position. O-line is not talented, or at least doesn't have 2 deep talent. CB's are not talented enough for big time football. The only way that they have been used is for bend but don't break pass coverage in the past. Now they are being asked to man up, and can't do it. Linebackers are thin, and quite frankly not very good. Some bright spots here and there, but no dominate player in that group. Wr's are of more talent than most years, but not blow away/blow by talent. Possesion receivers are great, but don't bust a defense wide open. QB' position is not deep, but Armstrong isn't killing the team with 4 or 5 turnovers every game. Even though that interception return by NW turned momentum in NW's favor. Before the season started, the comments were," We should have enough or better talent than most in the west Division", I take that as a slap in the face comment. Do we have more talent than Iowa or Wisky right now? I don't think so. They have dominant line play on both sides of the ball. Thats where is starts. Just watch LSU and BAma tonight in spots and see the specimens on the lines. In short, we don't have the talent to compete against very talented teams. We don't have depth, and we don't have speed. This is Riley's first season, and been here since January last year. Spring practice and fall practice is his only time here to build up talent. Building talent on a roster takes longer than 8 months. You develop talent over a couple of seasons. That is why we redshirt.

Brent Venables is more than likely the next KSU coach, unless a big time job comes calling. If there are 10 jobs now, that means at least or probable could mean that 10 more will come open. So yeah, more than likely 20 to 25 jobs open this year seems realistic. Your more than likely talking about Memphis, Houston, jobs of lower divisions in D1 football. From reading more stuff, seems as if Richt is going to be out more than likely at Georgia as well. So assuming that USC, Miami, Texas, and Georgia are all open, whats the best job of those 4? This means that If the assumption is that those jobs might be better than Nebraska is right now, we would be 5th best job on the market. Not the right time to be firing a coach, considering we will not get a top notch coach, unless we consider Frosty that one.

Getting rid of the toxic, non-buying in players isn't going to hurt the program one ounce. This is why its called a rebuild. If Husker nation is content with winning just 9 games a year, no Big 10 title games, no meaningful bowls, and so on, should have kept BO or Callahan or Solich. These changes were made to get back to the champ level. Dont forget the 40 point blowouts on national TV to Wisky. The change was made to get this program back to winning meaningful games again. Sure no one wants to be 3-6 right now, but this was coming regardless the coach. 2 strikeouts, and one that produced a NC title game appearance, with a Heisman winner, who was ran out. Riley has lost two games that are no brainers, but at this point thats done and over. If he can recruit top notch talent and get the athletes that should be here, here, all in for him for at least the next 2 years. Get rid of the players who don't and won't commit to this program and the coach. SEe ya later, happy finding a home now. Stevenson, now has been at this 2nd signed school in 7 months. Might be bigger issues at hand than either grades or body shape. Just saying.

If you don't think that money and boosters run athletic programs, check yourself. Schools (programs) depend of booster money to fund fancy facilities, dining rooms, football player housing dorms, airplanes for recruiting......etc. Who do you think made the call to fire Solich? Sure Pederson, did it, but money talks. Who was calling for Stoops job last year? Sure was the AD and school, it was oil money and boosters. Boone Pickens calls the shots at Okie ST......

KSU ended ranked there after losing in the Fiesta Bowl to Buckeyes. Not familiar with Texas' ending of season, but those teams were very good. NO disgrace in losing those games. Mizzou wasn't bad either. Brad Smith was super fast. Everyone points to that, but hardly anyone remembers that Ozzy lost games to unranked Mizzou, Iowa ST and other teams along his tenure. Sometimes, some teams rise above for a period in time, but don't sustain it. This is what made Nebraska so great. Sure, we lost a few games in certain years to teasm we should not have, but during a 30 year period, we stayed consistent. Too late to know what would have been, but I think Solich would have maintained 9-10 wins a season. We will never know. Bo would have been here at least 3 years, and would have added to the recruiting base here along with Solich. Now we are seeing the price we paid for being arrogant and unrealistic about the landscape of the sport.

Texas will be open this year. Texas has at least one more loss on there schedule. From what is being said, they are going to make a strong push for Herman. I do agree that USC and Miami are jobs that won't affect Nebraska's situation. Miami is a wildcard job. The right coach, recruiter, and that job is really decent. They have more obstacles than that though. USC can become anything they want. They can be a power run team or a passing team. There recruiting power is infinite. Sleeping giant. Nebraska has many assets to bring to the table, but stability is the most lacking one. We need to do something one way or the other. Our fanbase is getting very impatient, and the instability is going to hurt recruiting. Herman is the head of the class in this years coaching merry go round. Afer that Fuente is next, followed by Rhule. Personally, I would take my chances on Fuente over those other two. Houston and Philly. Any decent recruiter can get some decent players to stay home.

2022 is when we will make our money.??? Not sure, but read that somewhere...I think. Great plan wasn't it! This move is forcing the hands of the power players with in the program and outside (boosters) to make a decision now. This is Perls way to really making some feel uncomfortable and if we are even thinking about changing, were paying for it once again. I think there is obvious pressure to make a move, and this is Perls way of avoiding firing anyone. This might be his end of tenure as well. Boosters need to show the money, or pull all of the money and support.

Right now I think its best to stay with Riley. Don't know about his staff, but yeah, Riley should stay. IF by some chance we fire Riley, we know that Eichorst is gone as well. IF that scenario plays out, then we have Trev Alberts and Scott Frost coming, no doubt. Now if things play out as most think it will, Riley is here for another year at least, and then we look into the future. I think if Riley is back, Langsdorf and Banker need gone. Bring in Frost and ......Jay Foremen as our next coordinators. Give them two years with Riley to see if things are corrected. If that works for a few years, then we put Frost in position to take the reigns. Hypothetical, but this saves this program from disgrace and brings in some Husker ties. Dreaming a dream. This won't happen, but sure would be nice.