Nebhawk

No bowl game, no real chance at getting better on the recuiting end is there ? The best thing right now is for Riley to leave for a different job, like USC. They wanted him when they hired Lane Kiffin, so maybe his phone might ring again for that position. Highly doubtful, but thats the best insight I have right now. Other insight is that his loss of all of them is the least of the issue. This loss was to a team that did beat Stanford and Duke who are Top 25. So with that in mind, this loss is bearable, if we wouldn't have loss to Illinois, BYU, and maybe even Wisky before. This loss joining those others just magnifys the issues that this staff has. Like I was saying, this loss is not as bad of a loss as others, but this one on top of those just makes losing suck even more.

I would also suggest that its time to move forward with this experiment and delete it from out memory as soon as the season ends. Fire Eichorst, fire Riley, and hire Alberts as AD and Frost as Coach, and lets get Big Red Nation united once again. I was one who with common sense say that Riley deserves at least 3 years, but common sense also says that if we don't get a bowl game, we won't get that extra practice, we won't gain exposure to more recruits, and with the lack of talent on the field as of now, that will kill this program worse than firing another coach, or AD. Riley is a nice guy, better suited for USC, if he wants to coach a power school. His style is West Coast, his recruiting tyes are West Coast. The best single thing that could happen is if he would go to USC on his own, and then we could move on without being a negative in the opinion of the football pundants.

I am in the group who also would like to see something different from TA. Either TA gets benched for a quarter or runs more instead of heaving it off back foot. I don't know if he is the leader or a leader. I think as everyone knows, the QB position can change a teams way. Don't forget that NW did beat Stanford and Duke this year, who are legit top 25 teams. They are a decent team. They are not great, but just maybe, the best team that Nebraska has played this year to this point. This loss isn't as bad as some of the others. The issue is this loss following the Illinois and Wisky losses makes it worse than what it is. We will see that Minny is just an average to below average team that will end up with the same win total as Neb.

The shadow of Ozzy makes those of importance or relevance shake in their boots. This is classical. No matter in what manner we seem to look and judge the happenings since Ozzy retired, we all know that the legacy left can't be matched, and it make those in this position jealous. Until the University accepts that Tom was the football program and is the living icon that still represents the program, your going to have lines in the sand drawn amongst fans and school officials. In order to embrace the future, we must accept our past. Until we hire an administration the can accept the past, without being jealous, without being nonchalant, and have pride in what made up the program, folks its never going to resolve itself. I agree, this shouldn't come out of the woodwork now, but its an issue thats in need of resolve, and in need of some deep soul searching amongst the powers to be at Nebraska. I say no matter how Coach Riley does this year, the University needs to go and hire Trev Alberts as the next AD. Let Trev have a year or so and get the money boosters really back on board, bring TO back into the picture, and get those teams and players from the dynasty years back to some level of involvement in the program. That is what made Nebraska great. That will be what makes them once again a force to be reckoned with.

Go ahead and keep dreaming about the good old days of Nebraska football. First off just a reminder but when Osborne was coaching for the better part of his 25 years as head coach the Big 8 was awful. Nebraska could run there 3 rd string squad on the field and beat the likes of Iowa St, KSU, KU, Mizzou, Colorado. 3rd string. 2nd String would have beaten Okie St most years. Point is running the ball was easy against the likes of those teams. Keep comparing what Osborne did what is going on today, and no wonder the program appears to be in a mud hole spinning its tires. Being honest, whether most like it or not, Nebraska usually had one good non-con game, and one real opponnent in the conference season, which was OU. 25 years of that mostly. Sure Colorada has some good seasons and beat NU, sure KU, KSU started having some better seasons towards the end of Ozzys reign, but by an large, it was a 2 pony race every year, even when OU fell off, it was Cu taking its place. Big 12 had better talent going forward from 1996 and into the 2000's. Now with the Big 10, even though I think the style of play is dead in the water, top to bottom, pretty much average football teams with no one being great, and no one being poor. West Div talking. The issue with looking back is, the competitiion level. The level of competition now is far better overall than ever in teh BIg 8 for 23 of 25 years Ozzy coached. Since I read that we have talent its just coaching blah, blah, blah, blah, its got to be teams are better today than 30 years ago.

We just beat a team with a 4-2 record. Lets not forget that one of those losses came to a team rated in the Top 5 nationally. (TCU) This was to this point the best team we beat. Our best win of the season. Its a building block game. I heard post game interviews and players were talking about how this game should have gotten everyone on the same page finally. Lets see how next week plays out. The Riley system worked well against Minnesota. If you need proof, we lost two in a row to this team. Frankly, Minnesota embarrassed us the last two years because they sucked. Now, we beat them, its not a good win because we almost threw the game away by passing the ball in the fourth. Lets just say that I would rather see a team go out and win the game as to just sit and play not to lose the game. Once fans realize that our O-line isn't all Big 10 caliber, our Rb's are not All Big 10 caliber, and our Qb on average isn't All-Big 10 as well the wins will seem sweeter and the losses less bitter. Pieces of our O-line are good, our Rb's are decent, and TA is up and down. When TA plays like yesterday, he is a player who could be All Big 10. If our O-line blocks like yesterday, they could challenge against the West Div. I think more than anything our team yesterday played together and for one another. This is what we have looked for all season. Improvement. Major improvement against a Big 10 team.

If you reread posts and threads from the last two weeks, and watched the game, I think this was near a complaintless game. They ran the ball with bad intentions, and passed the ball well when needed. Run game set up the passing game. Newby is progressing, Armstrong looked like an an All Big 10 QB. DPE looked better, but you can tell he is not at 100% yet. Watch out when he is........

35 players have never fulfilled there scholarships! Thats like losing two years of recruiting. Two years. Imagine if one of those players who left was a potential Mike Rozier or Grant Wistrom? Not sure if any of those who left possessed that kind of potential, but even if they are half as good as those to types, your missing out on good players.

Actually, listening to some other perspectives on this matter of Cross's runs, the 2nd down play was designed for him to cut out left. Watch the blocking scheme, watch even TA on this play. Cross didn't run the play call right. Listen to former players who seem to know alot about things going on in this program. First off, its noticable that some players are not buying into this coaching change. Jay Foreman pretty much eluded to that on this radio call in part. IE: not running the ball where its designed to go, might cause some issues. Jankovich would have been such and easy target. He got his long run of the year, that more than likely won't ever be there again. When he is in the backfield, linebackers will be keying on him the rest of the season. Not saying that we don't keep using him, but don't expect any more 50+ yard runs for TD's. Blocking during the last parts of the 4th quarter in these games hasn't been really great either. Sure blame every aspect of the team for there mistakes. Its starts and stops with offensive and defensive lineman doing there job first. If our D-line appllied more pressure, this would take some pressure off of our db's. If our O-lineman held a block longer than 1/2 a second, we might gain more than 2 yards a rush. The only reason the Janko run happened was the defensive line bull rushed and were in our backfield before Janko even received the ball. Than ran past him! Good play call, with some defensive help as well. Foundations of all teams start on O line play and D line play.

My comment on this is brief and simple. Would you rather have 12 walk-on players for 4 or 5 years or have 12 Juco players for 2 years? Either way has been ridiculed and also glorified. Some schools can do both IE: K-State. Most can't do both or want to do both. I say I would personally rather see 12 walk on players who have passion and desire to see the field. Those players often push your starters or prized recruits who think they are entitled. Thats what college sports is about.

Again, 07' KU team was the best that they will have. That was again a really good team on both sides of the ball. Of course, these teams and losses are easy to remember because they have slowly undone the Big Red mojo. Personally, I am a Big 12 fan yet because of the old school rivals and teams, but to be honest, the losses to some of these Big 10 teams are far worst than some of those on the top 10 list. Excluding the 01' CU loss and a couple others, some of our Big 10 losses have been awful. Minnesota x 2, Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, Wisky x 3, because of the manner we lost some of these games, they are bad losses, that kind of lead to Bo being let Go.

I will only point to one thing about the KSU loss in 03' and that KSU was the best team Snyder ever put on the field. That team went on to embarrass OU in te Big 12 title game. For me the worst loss has to be 01' Colorado. Everyone is right who says this was the start of the downward spiral. The invincibility of the program was damaged. If that loss would have been a game where we lost by less than a touchdown, who knows what might have happened in the future. This was the downfall. 02' season was bad, but expected in some ways after losing most of the roster after the 01 season. That was when I think most realized that Solich couldn't recruit enough athletes to compete with the best, but 03' was decent, and had some very good players. As far as the rest on that list, its a toss up. Where did the 08' Kansas loss rank? Too me that was a complete low point. That game and Callahan made Fatgino look like a genius.

Why wouldn't Chip Kelly succeed here? Four letter word----N_I_K_E.

Would agree. Stop with the Riley bashing, at least until the end of the season. I agree with some that expectations should remain at a championship level, but reality is, unless you hire Saban or Meyer, it takes more than one or two years to win a title. Meyer did inherit a good program, that won games and played for recent titles. Saban is the king of turn arounds. Harbaugh is next on that list. Followed by the B list of coaching talent. "A" level coaches are slim for the picking. This is my arguement for Scott Frost as the next coach in a few seasons. Obviously, in my opinion, "A" list coaches are not coming here. This job has been open 3 times in 12 years, and they haven't broken the door down to get here and coach. If you select another mid tier coach, your looking at more of the same. Be patient, see if Scott Frost is willing to come home in a couple of years and make this program Big Red Strong once again. I would be willing to say that Frost will involve many past and former players/coaches in this turn around process. Those who know, understand, and believe in Nebraska football. Riley is an experienced coach, but his experience is only limited to Canadian and Pac 12 football. Chuck and gun ball, and more chucking and gunning. Thats what his identity is. That who was hired. I do think with a couple of recruits, this team next year could be a really fun team to watch. Hell, with a healthy DPE, and if Stevenson is for real, that might make the difference right there. I am a strong supporter that this team needs to try different players at all 22 positions the rest of the way. Seems like we have some tampering going on with in our lockeroom by former players, and coaches. Alot of stuff being circulated. Now is not the time to change coaches, again.

I just wanted to play the same game everyone else does. Seems like when ever any name is mentioned it is destroyed. Chip Kelly won't come here, he is being mentioned now for USC, Texas and yes even Oregon if they so choose to walk Helfrich to the front door. Seems to me that Nebraska now, on 3 different occasions has either waited too long to fire coaches or not long enough. Seems like the next year after Nebraska has hired there next great coach, a list of A List coaches are looking for work...........patience. Seriously, Chip Kelly can recruit, but like Riley his offensive game isn't meant for the Big 10, at least thats the going rate on Riley our fans disapproval of him! Funny fans here in the Big Red Nation. Funny.

South Carolina open, USC open, and Maryland open. USC is clearly the headliner of this group. Early rumors are that they are going to target Briles and Sumlin. Would any of you see those names being possible? Its just starting, but its about to get interesting. Now places like Texas are thinking about what to do. It will be fun to follow as the season ends come near. Rumor is that if Stoops loses 3 or 4 games this season he is out.

What has Chip Kelly ever won or even played for? He wasn't the coach when they played in the playoffs last year....lost to Auburn few years back......struggle to beat Stanford every season, struggled to beat USC every year................Kelly would do what here? Several issues come to mind. Nebraska doesn't have that mega rival game to draw in fans, recruits, and national attention. This is gone. When can be bring back OU, or even KSU for a rival like game? Chip Kellly=Bill Callahan. At least Callahan coached a Super Bowl team. Kelly ca't even win enough games at Philly to even make it another year. When Nebraska hired Bo, Paul Johnson was available, and its been stated was interested in this job. Think about that. Also think about Maryland. If they get a splash hire, and they could, they play in the big boy divison of the Big 10. This will make NU fans sick. Another reason to love the Big 10.

Good Grief gents: Smashmouth football was a by-product of having NFL caliber offensive line. Keep talking about the golden era of NU football, but reality gents, reality. How many of these linemen will get drafted? How many have been drafted in the last 12 years? Smashmouth football would be great, but you have to have the blockers. Listened to 590am this afternoon. They pointed out on the last offensive series against Wisky that on 2nd down Cross ran right when the design of the play was left, where he had Jank, and linemen pulling to run the ball in that direction. It was blocked wonderfully, accept our RB went right where the whole defense was. Include that when bitching about this team, include that. Was that coaching or was that players not knowing left from right!

Scott Frost would at least bring the fan base under one roof. This is why Nebraska is in trouble. There is not one candidate out there that everyone can get behind. Not one. Pelini was thought of as that guy, but as he went here, it was obvious this job was meant to be a stepping stone job for the Buckeyes. Chip Kelly- runs a spread system, short quick passing game, runs 50% of the time, but throws it around more than Riley. He is Riley 2.0. Richt isn't a good enough recruiter/coach to win here. Gets good players at Georgia, but after losing 2 in row, sounds like his time is up at Georgia after this season, wait, he was suppose to be fired several different times, and has been able to win enought to keep his job. Nebraska isn't the same job it was 15 years ago. Baylor, TCU, Utah, Georgia are all better jobs in power 5 conferences already. It would be different if TCU was still in the WAC and if Utah was still in the MTN WEST. Reality is these guys have been there during the previous 12 years of coaching searches, they didn't want this job or they would have had their agent contact the University of Nebraska. Saban told Bama he would take the job before they fired who was the coach. These guys pick who they want to coach for, not so much the school picking them. This job is not worth the struggles to a coach who can go anywhere and be embraced. Riley proves that no matter who get hired here, 50/50 on fan reactions. 50/50 on booster support. As long as this is that way, Riley may be the best possible coach on board. Scott Frost would bring this back together. He can coach, he can recruit, he is fresh and a new face. Most of all, he is a Nebraskan. He gets it, and knows what it takes for this program to win, to be a winner. Most comments on this board are "we need to run the ball more" " these coaches don't understand Nebraska football" Can't pass the ball in this weather" " need to run more" Any way you dice this up, until whomever is coach is backed 100%, this job is not very desirable from any perspective unless your family, and your back by the family. FROST is that guy.

Again, coaches coach, and players, play. Not all of this is just coaching and just playing. Its a combo. Singling out one point and not being open to the others is why Nebraska has fired two winning coaches and hired a sub .500 type to replace. If your willing to point out the coaching issues, be willing to recognize that players haven't ran play calls right , and defensive players haven't played where they were told to be. Yes, it all comes back to coaching, and that is true. BUt when your losing games by 11 points total, its also execution. Players aren't believing in what there being told. Not executing is a program issue overall.

Yes weather plays a part......Don't tell the Packers that though....... The game has changed. Yes running the ball still wins games, but you have to have a threat of a passing game. You have to have deep threats, mid range threats, and over alll threats that hit home runs on a moments notice. Watch other teams play football. Those who do run, have Heisman candidates at RB. They have NFL draft pick material on the lines. Watch, LSU will play a defense that can stop the run, and then watch them get embarrassed because they don't have a passing game. You saw what Ole-Miss did to Alabama via the passing game and run game, and shut down Bamas run game for the most part, forcing a QB to win it. The logic of running the ball is still the number one thing to do to win. Having a balanced team is what wins championships at any level or conference in College football. Bring back LP or Ahman, or Rozier and you might be able to just run the ball and win games. I dont see those types of RB's in the current lineup or on the roster. Ameer was a great back, and they won games thru his 3 years of playing the main RB. Since Ahman, I would say that Ameer was the best since him. Talent people, talent wins games as much as coaching does in this age of ball. You got to have horses to go and win games 50-49, and win games that are 14-13. With the old systems, we haven't been able to win playing either way. Callahan could score on nobodies and got scored on by somebodies. Pelini offenses could score 20 points on good top 25 teams and couldn't score 35 or more on crappy teams. The last few years allowed more points each and every year he stayed here. The game has changed, you have to able to score in the 50's sometimes to win and sometimes you have to win games that are scored in the teens. Regardless talent is the key for success. That starts this off season with recruiting. Make your judgments next year and the year after if you want to judge the current staff. This season isn't enough to make anykind of decisions on what we have seen. At the best this team would be 3-3 under any circumstances. No matter who the coaching staff is. I truly believe in this theory. Now if Riley next year at this point is 2-4, and lost some games in the same manner, I would say theres no chance for improvement. At this point, a coaching change will completely send this program in a tailspin, and it won't recover. It might end up on the same level as Iowa St or Texas Tech.

I don't think this is a Pelini problem, a Riley problem or a Callahan problem. Its all a combination of all those years now rearing its ugly face. Its a lack of any kind of serious presence as a factor in college football. No one win in the last 13 years to hang your hat as a program. None. Last great win was in 01' when Stuntz threw that ball to Crouch to beat OU! That was the last key victory for this program. The last one. That was the last meaningful win this program has had, and it was over the one rival that made it count or even more. Name one game we won since then, that would compare? Name a game since then that we have had the hype surrounding this program? It wasn't any of those Big 12 champ games either. Those games almost to a man, most thought we woudn't win, and in fact it was more of a matter of if we could stay in the games. You can point fingers all you want, but ultimately its so much bigger than one staff or two staffs or three staffs. Its a culture of losing and a culture of so-so football that has now caught up to this current staff. But I will wait for Riley to somewhat right the ship. That starts with recruiting skill players for skilled positions. Something that hasn't been done here for years. Yes, maybe Solich placed a curse on this program.....best thing I have read on here for a month, by the way. Point is: Pointing fingers can point at any moment in the last 12 years of coaching changes to realize that this issue is more than one staff's or this current staff. This is several years of not producing a meaningful game victory, a win over Top 25 team, a win or mediocre Big 10 West opponent. We haven't been relevent for 12 freakin years. 12! NO BCS bowl games even played in. KU, KSU, UTAH, TCU have all played in BCS bowl games...Iowa did about 10 years ago! Hell, most of those teams even one a BCS bowl game! Blame this current staff for some clock managment issues, but blame the players for not executing. Coaches can only call plays, they can't go on the field and make things happen.

Again, when you here" We have as much talent as anyone in the Big 10 West division" whats that really saying about a program who in the only program in that division to ever win a NC. Study that phrase a lot. It says alot about this program going forward. Think about it long and hard.

Throwing some numbers out try to follow. If you recruit 4 and 5 star talent and keept 40% those players on the team, you have something. If you recruit 2 and 3 star talent and keep 40% of those players, were never going to get over the hump. Nebraska has ranked in the mid 30's for too many years, and has accumulated way too many 2 and 3 star players. Yes those star ratings can be skewed. Remember 40% of great, is not the same as in 40% of average. Goes back to needing more 4 and 5 star difference makers. QB, RB, WR, DE, CB, and lineman. If you give me a 4 or 5 star RB with a 4 or 5 star WR, with a 4 start QB, now were talking. YOu can build the rest out of those who really want to be here and play. When your buidling around 3 star with more 2 nad 3 star talent, look up Nebraska for the last 10 years. This is what you have. By the way, when someone says you have as much talent as any one in the Big 10 West div, think about that! What is that really saying? Yes I think they are right........lost to Illinois, and Wisky by a few points, seems to me that statement is right on. Doesn't mean that anyone has an over abundance of talent. Michigan St has receivers, and a really good QB, and a decent Defense, other than that do you really see a difference in them over Wisky right now? Iowa? Nebraska, Northwestern? But statement doesn't say that your a top 15 program or any of them are for that matter. Even for some on here, if you listen to yourselves say that comment " We have just as much talent as anybody else in the West has"..................is that a good statement about the state of this program? Think about how that sounds. Your talking about a division in football,that is top to bottom one of the weakest. Is this statement a part of the reason we lost 7 of our last 10 games played?

I agree that we could run more, but teams are not stupid. Defenses can stop our run game. They can make us pass. This is why you have got to be balanced. Run game is important, but when your one way, either way, your setting yourself up to Solich like results. Talent is key still. Pull the blinders, and realize that talent can't cover wideouts from opposing teams. Talent can't throw timing pattern passes, talent can't break more than a 13 yard run. Its a talent issue. Riley may not be the answer, but going backwards in time to option oriented game won't last long either. Georgia Tech anybody. They have decent years, years like this one so far. Can't beat anyone, because they can't do anything but run. Keep watching G-Tech, and just think about Neb doing that still in this day and age. Did I see correct that someone is comparing TA to Tommy Frazier? The same Tommy that had Lawrence Phillips, Ahman Green, Makovicka, Schelsinger,ETC. Can't compare those, sorry. How many draft picks are on this current team? How many were on those teams in the 90's, 80's. The offensive lineman and D-ends alone were year after year draft picks. RB's were drafted yearly. TE were drafted often. WR's were drafted because they could catch the ball and block downfield. MAybe TA is as talented as TF, but the talent around him isn't even close. By the way, anyone who thinks that TA is better than TF is still living in the dark ages. There is also a difference among winners and losers. Again, second staff, same mistakes from QB, same issues. At some point stop fingering the coaches, and point the finger at the common thread, and thats the current group of players that are responsible to losing 7 out of 10 games. Again, look at the wins in that time frame, and look at the losses. We beat Iowa, South Alabama, and Southern Miss. We lost to Michigan ST, Wiskyx2, Minnesota, Miami, BYU, and Illinois. Illinois is the only team who wasn't ranked this season or last season. Those numbers don't lie. Talent doesn't lie. Talent wins.