Nebhawk

Expectations: 1. Good non con season. Good competition. 2. Winning the games you have to win to play for a chance at the title. 3. Playing meaningful games in November. Having a chance to play for Big 10 title 4. Major bowl game against major competition. This helps in recruiting battles. 5. Recruit our in state studs, keeping them home, and getting some speed and quickness from Florida, Texas, or California. If we can't keep our home grown talent here we have nothing. Those are the boys who have pride in the program. They instill that in the ones we recruit from all over the nation. Start playing elite teams in the non-con. We use to play Florida ST, UCLA, Penn St, USC, Arizona ST, Syracuse, Notre Dame, and more. Since leaving the Big 12, where did those games go? Lets get OU, KSU, Mizzou back on the ached for non-con foes. Playing elite teams in the non-con gives you recruiting lines to battle on, builds program confidence, and allows you to get better playing better teams. You might lose a couple of those, but those game will make you better going forward, and should provide some steam for winning the West div.

No big time names will ever come here in the current shape that this athletic department is in. Frost would be the only one to consider it. And for his sake, we need to make that move sooner than later. This would allow Dr Tom access back into this program and have some say so in what happens once again in the program. Since he was let go for the new AD, this program has fallen very short. He had an impact on this program yet, even at AD. Before its too late, he is the one person who could change the fortunes of this program with some guidance. He watches football, and would 100% get in Frosts corner and maybe even set up his offense and defenses skemes to suit the Big 10. He would address the issues of the fanbase once again. He might even help in recruiting. Regardless, this staff won't be here long. They won't last. Riley is a nice guy, and its not personal, but he has no business coaching at a school that has no ties to him in any way. There is a reason why he never went back to Alabama. Hell the only reason he left Oregon St was this lawsuit againstt him and his program at Corvallis. He was scared of the outcome, the AD suggested he leave, and guess what, he is our mess to deal with now. Good luck. Boosters are surely opening the checkbooks and checking the balances owed to Pelini and now what would have to be made to Riley. $$$$$$$$$

Hate to say this, but the image of Nebraska football is not what it was 20 years ago, not what it was 12 years ago! If we fire another coach, we better have the next "TO" in the closet already or this will never be close to what this program once was. I don't know if you will ever see this program near the top. Several factors. Big 10 wanted our money, but in return put us in the worst division in college football. Would you come to Nebraska from the east coast to play Iowa, Wisky, Michigan St, NW, and Minnesota? Hell, no. Play at Michigan, Ohio St, Penn St and the others on that side. Even if Penn St sucks right now, they have a better chance of being better first. They play the Big boys every year. Not every 3 years. Its no coincidence that since joining the Big 10 we have gone down hill. That was the plan. That is Ohio St and Michigan's conference, and don't forget it. Next coach has got to be someone who knows Nebraska, the tradition, the passion, the fan base expectations, and most of all, inspire our HS programs to produce the Beefeaters as lineman once again! Remember, the root of our most effective teams had home grown talent up front on both sides that bled Nebraska red, and it was contagious. Yes, that person is Scott Frost. I was against it last year, but he is the only one who can reclaim the glory and restore the state back to what was once one of the most feared programs in the nation.

7 years Bo was here was the first 7 years he had ever been a head coach of a major program. Rile's has 10 months or so at NU, but several years of playing big boy ball including some NFL experience. He also played at Bama, when Bama was, well Bama of the 70's, while Bo played for Earle Bruce, who was Earle Bruce fired coach who couldn't beat Michigan, of OSU. In a few seasons, if not already next year, you will see the upgrade in talent, scheme, and execution. Heck, when DPE comes back you will see a major upgrade on the field for the offense. Defense will gain some needed muscle when Gangiush comes back. BYU and Miami are better than Iowa, Minnesota, Purdue, Illini, Rutgers, and possibly Northwestern. DPE will help a lot. Gangiush will help out a lot, and since the Big 10 isn't pass happy, the last thing to worry about is pass defense.

We need to support Riley for a few seasons. I think he will upgrade the talent level overall. I think this team is two years away from contending for the West. As far as the Big 10 conference, thats another story, but I think if at least we can have a chance to playfor the conference title, thats a major improvement. Big 10 conference in the next few seasons will be a beast once Harbaugh gets things rolling. Ohio St and Michigan will be hard to beat, but only one of them will make the conference champ. game. Unfortunately, Bo shoulld have been fired two seasons ago. This would have paved the way for the next HC to get a head start on Ohio St and Michigan before Michigan got Harbaugh, and Ohio St won a title. Now it will take a perfect storm of recruiting, violations, and other unknown circumstances for Nebraska to claim any kind of hierarchy in this conference. Hate to say this, but stayed in Big 12, could have been big dog faster. Texas and OU fading some, and Baylor and TCU trying to act the part of Big dog, would have put Nebraska right back into the mix sooner.

With some players injured and not seen in action yet its really hard to make a bold prediction. We have some playmakers not on the field yet Morney-Pierson is a game changer. He alone give Nebraska that missing downfield receiver that can go deep each and every time. Put him on the field against BYU, Nebraska wins. Miami, NU wins. The issue is lack of speed on both sides of the ball. Westerkamp can't be the leading receiver, at least deep threat. He is a possession receiver 10 to 15 yards, slants, crossing routes,etc. Frankly, Nebraska is easy to gameplan for. Stop the run, stop the easy pass routes and try and make Tommy beat you. Armstrong hasn't shown that he can lead a team to win a game when the game is on the line. Defense is lacking talent. Lacking depth. Lacking Speed to cover deep routes. They have to play bend but don't break defense, otherwise they would get burned worse than what has already happened. Last point to this small rant is TALENT. No one wants to believe this, and its been this way for 10 years, but talent is a concern. We haven't had top notch talent for years now. Where are the cornfed lineman? If Nebraska is to ever get BACK, just back to at least a conference contender, the pride of in state, prideful players that bleed NU red will have to be the ones suiting up and playing. Your lineman, on both sides of the ball. Thats what made Nebraska so great for such a long time, and still those few make Nebraska fans proud. Regardless, lack of talent is and will be the number one issue. Once that is fixed, coaching is not the biggest issue. Pelini won, but couldn't beat better coaches, and teams with more talent. I honestly think that Riley is a really classy and good coach, better than Bo, but the lack of talent that was created by BO will take some time to get back. One season, isn't long enough, neither will two seasons, but I think we will at least see some improvement next year.

I agree with the ones who think that not talking too T.O. is not a very important matter right now! Right now is all about recruiting, hiring staff members, and recruiting. Talking too former and past greats shouldn't be on the top of the list. Invite them back for the Spring game, and have a reunion then. There is work to be done right now. It seems the more we move onto the future, the further we slip back into the past. Almost every person on the outside of this state and program says that expectations placed on this program by its fanbase are somewhat unrealistic. Hard pill to swallow, but in deed its becoming more and more true each day. Expect division titles right now, and hope for a chance to be in the playoffs in the next 4 or 5 years. Win a Big 10 title in the next 3 to 5 years. It is not going to happen every year. May not happen more than once every 5 years.

It also depends on if your a football school or a basketball school trying to find some kind of sort of football relevance. If I were going to put a list together, it would also have in mind which schools get majority of its revenue from football and those who get it from basketball. Those teams on the bottom in the graph are basketball schools, and don't depend on football to make or break the sports departments. In other words, football isn't the end all, be all with those. With these TV deals and schools getting several $millions from it, schools can afford to change football coaches in a shorter amount of time. Don't like it, but thats the issue at hand. Schools like Michigan and Nebraska need there football programs to be the cash cow. They can be more patient, but when a change is needed, its needed. School like Kansas, Kentucky, and Duke have other resources and tend to pull the plug faster because frankly football doesn't matter as much.

Areas that I expect to see major improvement is QB play first. Second I think we see better route running from our WR's. Like someone stated, our OL needs much attention. Without that being improved, it doesn't matter how much QB is improved. We won 9 games with a sub par OL this year. The OL didn't give up 59 points to Wisky. They didn't give up the early lead to Michigan St. So although it is help, defense is major concern first. I think that there will be no regression. I think that the offense will be ok. I think that our special teams will be ok. Defense is where it starts at. Defense needs to get better upfront, and in the middle. Front 7 needs work. Losing Gregory, but he never went all out every play, so are we really losing alot there? DL never went after it hard every time either. When those players went for it, our front 7 didn't look that bad. So I think with some come to jesus meetings and change in attitude this team is closer than most think. At least close to winning the West div.

Wow, you know as well as I do that the best candiate on the board was Harbaugh, whether he came here or not. I would want our AD to at least reach out to his agent and try and set up some kind of meeting. I get the feeling that some on this board are downplaying what Harbaugh is now, because he is on the other side. Everyone knows he was the superstar head coaching hire of the year. I personally don't care if we didn't go after Harbaugh, but feel that Riley was not the first person contacted about this job. That is why there was not a hiring firm involved. Hiring firms have to many leaks about who is being approached for the job. Eichorst did all of this himself to avoid any slash back of fans knowing who and how many were approached, and how many said no. This is my opinion, no facts, no common knowledge, just I would think that if our resources are what we think they are, we at least made attempts to get the strongest person who might be available. Thats all I am saying. Should have not made the comment about "guaranteed" , but feel strongly that Riley was not the only coach we went after. He is the one who said yes.

If everyone on here has to have proof of what they are posting......good luck. This is a message board for having an opinion, expressing those opinions and talking about "what ifs".

Great to see what happened last night in all areas. Makes me wonder now what other years in the past might have ended up if they had this playoff scenario? Those years that teams like us and OU who got in despite not winning conference champ games. Someone earlier nailed it however. The SEC will have at least 3 if not 4 teams in the Top 10 at the start next year. This is where I don't care who votes on this, its never going to be right until all preseason rankings are completely discontinued. The funny thing is this playoff [panel of voters basically kept things the same, but maybe just switched a few teams around from what AP and Coaches polls all had. If this is going to work, rankings should reflect what teams are doing in October and November, since that is what and how Ohio St got in. ESPN funnels this SEC crap. If I was the Big 10, Big 12, ACC and Pac 12 I would look at signing tv deals with NBC sports or CBS sports. CBS could actually do what they have done with the NCAA Basketball and farm out games to TNT, TBS and TRU tv along with networks and CBS sports tv channel and do really well. The issue is all conferences are so worried about making money, they have basically sold their souls for what ABC/ESPN/Disney can do in tv revenue.

First off, we can't compare ourselves to Ohio St when they switched from Tressels to Meyer. Wow, how many programs go from one NC coach to another NC coach. Only Ohio ST has done that in the last few years other than Saban to Alabama after a stint in the NFL and leaving LSU. I would say that 8 wins are expected. 9 wins are good. 10 wins make us feel like the future is bright and 11 wins are great. I think given that our schedule appears tougher, in certain areas, we have a good conference schedule and a winnable one. 9 wins should be the goal if not 10 wins. Getting Wisky here, and MSU I think with any kind of upgrade with the QB we can win. Miami @ Miami is going to be tough, but that game is winnable. Really, I don't see alot of games to scare me this point.

Why was Eichorst in San Fran the day after we or he fired Bo? Why San Fran? I will guarantee you that the first Guy we offered this job to was Mr. Harbaugh. I am not knocking that. We should have gone after the best coach on the landscape. At that point however, San Fran was still in the playoff hunt, and Nebraska wasn't his cup of tea. Prove otherwise. Listen, no one knows for sure other than maybe a booster or two, but all signs point to Harbaugh being a pick. Michigan is going to change light years next season. Look at the game they lost. Coaching wins at least 3 of those losses. At least 3. Riley can win at least one of the games that Pelini lost, but its right, much easier to upgrade from 5 to 9. Michigan was also a program much like Nebraska was in its last year with Callahan. Players quit midway thru and it got worse as it went. So who really knows if they are in that bad of shape.

If were going to tout ourselves still college football royalty, then yes, we should act like it. Throw some money on the table and see who wants to come here. That was all I was saying. Oh, we did, and Harbaugh laughed Eichorst right out of the trolley car in San Fran. Really, Eichorst wants no one to know that he failed with Harbaugh and Riley fell into his lap. Riley and his agent pursued this job. Eichorst did nothing. Dont matter to me. I do think Riley will do fine here, but if you want the name hire next time, use the "resources" and pony up the money and go and get the big name. Other wise I am starting to think we don't have the resources and ability to compete with our checkbook like Michigan and Ohio St. These are the schools we are following, not Iowa Minnesota, and Wisky. Seems like to me that if we win the west and thats all that matters. We want to win the Big 10, whole and completely. We want playoffs. We want to have a shot at NC's. Riley is a good coach, but I do doubt that he can get this program to the next level in 5 years. I think if our fan base and boosters don't relax some, 5 years will be all he wants. I will root for him to do well. If he can't bring in a Big 10 title, and we do seem more solid on and off the field, then he has upgraded the job. I do expect to win the west in the next 2 years, and at least challenge either Ohio St and Michigan.

Definition: Bo Hater- someone who expects our program to win with respect and honor and lose in the same fashion. A program that expects excellence, not mediocrity. I think almost everyone is now a Bo-hater.

yeah, Paul Johnson is in his 7th year. Sound familiar? I was touting this guy when we had to have Pelini. Yes, this guy was out there when we had to have the fire of Pelini. This guy is a class act, who this year beat Georgia, and could and should have beaten FSU. This guy has built something in his 7 year tenure. This is the program that all Nebraska fans should look at and wonder , HMMMMM. Saying it again. GTech is fun to watch and they recruit and win alot of games every year. Johnson has a good product, and his product always appears shiny and new. Even if its the old Triple option. They looked the better team, the faster team, and more physical team on the field against the SEC # 2 team. They looked the part.

There is mid range talent right now in our program. The same type of talent that I feel KSU has each year. You can either coach it up and go and win 10 games a season or let it be what it is and win 6 or 7 games a year. Anyway thats not my point here. My point is there is a fine line of whether you recruit elite level talent or you recruit 3 star talent and make them 5 star players. Frankly, elite level recruits are few and far between and are going to go to FSU, Alabama, Oregon, Ohio St and now Michigan. I think that having an NFL ready program and recruiting NFL caliber talent is where it starts in todays game. The days of recruiting corn fed beef lineman from in state are over. No one has that level of passion for the program anymore. Thats what separated Neb from most schools for so many years. Our tough beef fed boys from in state could go out and play with passion, purpose and basically just run over you. That is gone. That has been gone for years. Thats why TO never had to recruit 5 star lineman and players. Player came here and played with purpose and passion. Team first. Nebraska first. Our new breed of recruit does not care about Nebraska as much as they care if they get 25 carries per game, thrown at 8 times a game, 2 sacks, 3 tckl for losses. We use to keep track of pancakes. This is what is missing at Neb.

Riley will do fine here. Fine. Fans need to curb there thoughts about winning a title. The cards are stacked against Nebraska right now because we had less than effective coaching and recruiting for the last 15 years. That takes more than one season and a new coach to upgrade. Hell, its only been a month with Riley, he hasn't even coached a game yet, let him at least get a season under his belt to make judgement. For those talking about resources and "this is Nebraska", stop that as well. This is not the dominant Nebraska of the 80's and mid 90's. This is not a job where you come in and just flip a switch and kaboom, instant winning of a NC. Its going to take some hard work and a few years of above average recruiting to get back to a good decent level of respectability nationally. Michigan and Ohio St have the reigns right now and for what Michigan is investing and for what Nebraska has invested makes me wonder about "resources". If your truly a college blue blood football program, then where is Riley's 4 or 5 Million$? If your university and AD actually think this guy is the one, he should have been given $4 mill per year, not $2.7 mill. Proof is in the pudding on this issue. That is where I question our AD, not in who, but how we hired this next savior for the program. Where is our commitment level in this process? Is the athletic department fully in or is it one foot in, one foot out the door right now? I don't have an issue with Riley. I have an issue with those who say we have resources, we are NU. Why are we not making that commitment in dollars? Hiring a coach at a rate of pay of $2.7 million tells me that this is a hire with 65% confidence in it. If your convinced this guy can win games that matter, $ 4 million should have been the money on the table. This is where I question the level of this hire. Its time to pony up and get into the game or shut up and ride into the sunset and be happy with 9 wins a year.

Even a bigger ground out, was the fact that Eichorst was in San Fran, and we all know his first choice was Harbaugh, and that was quickly turned away. Then Mr Riley was on the board somewhere from our 3rd to 5th choice. We know that Bielema was contacted. We know that Harbaugh was first choice. I think Riley was at least 3rd on the list if not 4th or 5th. Like I have said, the new Tv deal almost guarantees us at least 40 million $ per year once its up and running in full capacity. That right there should have been enough to lure in a huge home run hire. I guess at some point you decide if Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball and other sports really matter. Alabama doesn't care about anything other than football. Most of the athletic budget is generated thru the football program. Its time for Nebraska to consider where we stand. Do we want to compete in all major sports or do we put our eggs back into our football basket and start acting like 1980"s Nebraska.

I have an opinion on this and it won't look good from how i state this, but consider it fact in a few years and remember this was said. We lost our rivals. We lost our natural rivals, and ones that were just once and a while rivals. Iowa will never be what KSU was, Mizzou was, hell what KU was for our fanbase overall. Iowa St was more fun to play than Iowa! By joining this conference, we will make more money and be on equal footing with all teams. We lost any rivalry game, and any games that fans are truly passionate about winning. That will take many more years to replace, and money can't obtain that. Harbaugh going to Michigan will make Ohio St, Michigan and Penn St much stronger. It will make Michgan St stronger. It will not benefit the whole conference, including Nebraska. First off, its another 3 or 4 years before we ever play them. Either us or them will be looking at a totally diferent scenario. Either Riley is great and were winning at least West division titles or we are a 8-9 game winners like we are now and still feeling left out of all major football conversations. Either Michigan is winning titles and playing in playoffs or they are in the same boat as Nebraska and only winning 8-9 games a year. There is not enough room in the conference for multiple 10 wins teams. It doesn't happen that way. Your going to have alpha dogs and then all the rest. The Big 10 wants those dogs to be Michigan and Ohio ST. They want that game in late november to be what decides a playoff birth. The Big 10 champion game will be just a formality. Like this years game actually turned out. I think Riley can win 9-10 games a year right now. I think the schedule will effect that down the road however. I think once Harbaugh and Urban get their rivialry going it will take over the Big 10 conference. That will be the key game each year, like it use to be. We can't compare ourselves to Michigan and Harbaugh or several fans will be and end up disappointed. If our days in the Big 12 should have taught us anything, it was once you lose your natural rival its never the same. If a conference wants to set up certain teams for more success than others, it can be done. Remember we are not blood Big 10, and never will be.

I not here to bash things or be negative. I do however think that our talent level is sub par in areas that matter. O-Line play is well below average. It gets covered up by having an extemely athletic QB and above average Rb. Linebacker play is well below what it should be or even comparable to most programs in this region. Some of that can't be corrected with scheme, some can. I have one question that I keep from posing on here, but I think its time. Yes we have better resources than alot of schools. We should be able to recruit 4 and 5 star players. My question is why aren't we and is it really that simple. I listen to local sports talk radio and the term "resources" is over used in my opinion. Like I said, we do have resources, but I think geography, and climate also neutralize some of our resources. Not winning anything now for so long hinder our resources. Can Riley change perception of what once was a giant, back into a giant when our relevance was 16 years ago? Michigan getting Harbaugh changes the landscape in a huge way, but does it do anything for Nebraska? We are not any kind of rival and won't ever be one because simply put, the Big 10 won't allow that. This makes Ohio St stronger, Penn St stronger, but really won't help Nebraska. Again geography. Think about my points with an open mind, but in all I think you can see my point.

What! What actually did Bo Pelini bring to Nebraska, that wasn't here..........9 wins a year. Look at those wins closely and you will see a cloud of bullish!t. His tenure started when KSU was without Snyder x 2. Colorado was nothing. Iowa ST was struggling, and KU just changed coaches as well. In all honesty, Callahan played much tougher schedule in the Big 12 North than Bo did. Mizzou was the only opponent in the North who had anything. Texas, OU, OSU, Tech, and Baylor were solid, but only Texas and OU were exceptional, but still had issues defeating most of those teams. Big 10, well by now we all know that the divisions that Nebraska has played in so far, might be the weakest in college football at this point. He has won the games that I think most coaches would have won at Nebraska just based on resources and money, and some talent. He should have steam rolled thru the West division of the Big 10. Steam rolled. So I fall into those who think that any kind of upgrade at HC, and Staff, will result in 10+ wins a year, and winning games that matter. Really, Pelini was all smoke and mirrors. Won 9 games a season, with talent that should have won 10 + games a year, and yes, enough to win or at least compete in the Conference Champ games without being blown out. I was watching OU tonight, and I do believe the Stoops brothers act is wearing thin as well down there. I watch them throw hats, fits and yell at players on the sidelines as if I was watching Bo again. And guess what, they are getting blown out.

So whats our record now on nationally televised games since Solich era began. I am too lazy to look up what our record is actually in games that showcase the program. I bet someone knows though............

Winning games that matter, would be a great identity to start with going forward. Sounds like Eichorst talking, but he is right and was right.