JJ Husker

I think as soon as the repetetive poor play and fundamentals on the field lessen, so will those type of posts. Look at the posts after the MSU game and the general theme of posts was a positive. When people (fans) live and die with their team, the board is going to reflect that preceeding game until the next one is played. It seems to me anymore there are just as many threads decrying the "negative" posters as there are threads by the negative posters. Normally you can tell by the title thread what the content is going to be, if you don't want to read negative type comments, simply don't open the thread. Personally, I try to read them all, you never know when someone will post something that will make you think about something a little differently, and a lot of them can be down right entertaining to read. I actually get a kick out of some the total overboard world is ending fire everyone freakouts. In a sort of sick way they help put things in perspective because, even though you may also be somewhat disgruntled, they can reveal how much more reasonable and rational you are compared to some others. CJT-Comparative justification therapy???

It's a little arrogant to claim this game means more to Iowegans than Huskers when you know the meltdown that would come should Nebraska find a way to lose this game. Since I live in Colorado I really cannot comment about Iowa fans but the unflattering description of the typical Hawkeye sounded amazingly like Buff fans to me (and that can't be good). The good thing about living in Colorado is that there really aren't many CU fans around. Hell on my cul de sac there are 5 homes of Husker fans and not 1 Buff household. And we're not on the border, we're 3 hours into the heart. I had some family in Iowa that were diehard Hawkeye fans and they always did seem a little preoccupied with Nebraska considering we rarely met on the field. I have to agree with Duffman on one thing; the Nebraska of the last 10 years does currently have a lot more in common with Iowa than it does with the 80's or 90's we cherish. That is a painful truth for both sides of the river. I hope it does grow into a legitimate rivalry (with a much better trophy). Only time will tell.

I guess that is a possible takeaway just not one I would make. Those 4 tougher than tOSU, MSU, PSU, & UM? I don't see it. Maybe if you also throw in the Big 12 version of "and don't let the door hit you in the arse" officiating.

Amen. All these threads quesioning the coaches but this is where I think we're at. At some point the players have to accept responsibility for what happens on the field. I have spent a bit of time coaching (not college level but I think it relates) and it has been my experience that with some kids, groups, or teams, you can tell them the right things and try to motivate until you're blue in the face but, at the end of the day, they are the ones who have to decide they're gonna get r done. I don't see a severe lack of talent or severe teaching/coaching deficiency with our team. But I have seen some very uninspired football. If you don't step up and do it for the guy next to you, it ain't gonna get done.

I think that is a great idea for families in that situation. But you realize that is basically a gift from your Iowa cousin. To reciprocate you should have a gawdawful runner up award made that the loser of the game has to display. That way he'll have something to put up in his home as well.

Since so many on here seem vehemently opposed to ever pulling a scholarship, I have to ask in what situation do you think it would be ok to pull one? Personally I think it would be ok in the rare case a player is not contributing in any manner whatsoever. Not because of injury but due to a severe lack of effort or attitude. I assume if a scholly player got kicked off the team that the scholly would also disappear. I wouldn't do it just because a guy didn't turn out to be all you thought he might. But I'm interested in what ya'll think.

I would never ever go into a game hoping the Huskers lose. Never. But, there have been a few instances where, once victory is clearly unobtainable, that I have hoped it would get worse. Late in the game this past Saturday comes to mind and I know it happened frequently during the Clownahan era. For different reasons obviously. I wanted Clownahan gone but the Michigan game I really wanted to make sure the coaches and players realized something is not right. So, only when I feel it will help the team in the long run but never when victory is still possible.

Says the guy who suggested we burn down Memorial Stadium, fire Pelini, and dump Little Red Seriously though, if you have trouble putting it all in perspective and realizing that it is really a small portion of the fanbase that goes totally overboard bonkers when we lose, then it is good to step away for short periods. I am as bipolar as they come. I was more upset with our play in some of our wins like Wyoming than I was with the NW loss. Losing doesn't necessarily bother me but playing like we did against Wiscy or Michigan and losing the way we did really gets to me. Sometimes it takes as much as 4-5 days for me to return to reasonableness. But if I ever start calling for the coach to be replaced after 3 losses, no matter how much I am smarting from a poor performance, just shoot me and put me out of my brainless misery.

I realize we have to talk about something on these boards but this issue is pushing us beyond our bounds as fans. Managing schollies is up to Bo and the football staff and no one else. They know and understand the ramifications of awarding or pulling scholarships better than we do. When they give a one year renewable scholly, I would assume they review all pertinent information before deciding to renew it. Is there any reason they could not rescind one now if it was warranted? Seems it would have to be a pretty serious situation to go back on your word. We don't know everything that goes on. I would bet that if/when we have a kid really abusing a scholly by absolutely not contributing anything to the team that Bo would pull it. Please correct me if I'm wrong. What about the "Rudy" type kid that maybe got the scholly, didn't totally pan out as a game contributor, but puts forth effort and helps the team in other ways? If we start pulling those, good luck convincing future signees.

Or promote him to head coach? Lots of benefits; wouldn't have to hide his mouth when talking to throw off the lip readers, a sure distraction for opposing coaches and players, and when we lose we could just throw up our arms and ask the rhetorical question; have you seen our headcoach?

I think it is some (plenty) of both. The 2 gap system works great when you have the athletes to run it. I feel safe in saying we do not have the personnel to run it successfully. So, the system is flawed at least for this group of players. No matter what system you use, the players have to make plays. This might be the age old chicken or egg question. Is the system preventing them from making plays or are the players preventing the system from working? All I know is that both seem to be compounding the problems of the other. And I am not convinced they would be doing much better in a different system. The D line is slow and not physical enough (a terrible combination). Our DB's, quite frankly have been bad, mostly due to youth I believe but, after 11 games, also due to lack or technique and/or speed. LB's are probably the best of the groups but there is only so much they can accomplish with no pass rush from the line, dealing with opposing O lines blocking into the 2nd level, and also having to cover on long extended pass plays. Lavonte overcomes but there is only one of him and ten other positions we need pulling their weight. I think you can overcome some slowness of foot by being stronger and more physical. And you can overcome some lack of strength or size by being quicker and faster. But when you're generally lacking both, it's sure to be a long uphill battle. One or two players (eg a Suh & Prince) may be all we are missing. Good coaches find a way to exploit one weak link or to minimize it. I think we have run into opp coaches who have figured out how to exploit our weaknesses (NW comes to mind) and I feel our coaches have failed to minimize our weaknesses. So, it is all 3; players, coaches, and system.

That couldn't be more irrelevant to this season. Really? The post I responded to questioned whether this (running with fear of contact/lack of aggression) is the case now. My comment was simply that at seasons close last year (the bowl game) the impression held by our opponents was that this was the case. I suppose you assert that it is not so relevant now because you are assuming that TMart is further removed from his injury than he was then... which may be. Or, perhaps that which the poster surmises is maybe the case now is precisely what our opponents posited then and may still be the case. In any event, do you have a better explanation for how it is that TMart has been, essentially, a non-factor in the running game here in the B10? Really really. You're talking about an injury a year old, a game played nearly a year ago. Further, Taylor is not only NOT a "non-factor" in the running game in the Big Ten, he's #8 in the conference in rushing yards. Rex is #4. The numbers don't support that allegation. My post about Taylor running like he is afraid was not meant to imply that his running is necessarily the problem. I listed it as an example of how tentative our whole team seems to be playing. I know he has been instructed to run out of bounds or to slide rather than take the big shot. I am just not sure why they haven't decided, at this point, why it might not be better for him to run like he used to and to hell with the possiblity of injury. My personal opinion is that he is more likely to get hurt going about it half-assed rather than running with a purpose. They apparently have absolutely no confidence in Carnes running the offense. My point was that the whole team seems to be following the lead of Taylor and Bo and playing (or chewing out refs) at less than 100% balls out effort. Why? I have no idea.

There is a sound and logical reason why we line up off the ball so far. It is so it takes that split second longer before our D line is getting totally manhandled by the opposing O line. Duh.

10-3 is decent, no arguing that. And, considering it is our first season in the B1G, better than I thought we might end up. Also, we are not 10-3 by any stretch of the imagination yet. Iowa could beat us and we could lose our bowl game just as easily as assuming 2 wins it could be 2 losses. 9-4 or 8-5 are not good considering the competition we will have played against. I tend to look a lot more at how we play than simply if we win or lose. I have not been impressed with how we are playing. IMO the B1G is fairly weak this year. Wisconsin has shown signs of being really good but they have also laid some turds. MU, MSU, tOSU, and PSU are all fairly solid but nothing to write home about. Given the amazing turn of events in the top 10 this past week maybe this is just how it is nowadays. Personally I just wish for consistently good play and we have been neither consistent nor good. I am already in looking ahead to next year mode. There is nothing that can happen to salvage my opinion of this season unless we come out and play 2 complete killer games to end the season. I can see 2 wins but I don't see them being pretty.

Yet we also know how GOOD this team can be. We've see what we can do when we are prepared and motivated (i.e. MSU) We are a good team but we are an inconsistent team. I think that's what is so frustrating (at least to me it is) If we were not a good team we wouldn't be 8-3 right now. But I totally agree with you in that some things simply have to change and I think one of them has to be to get better talent and coaching on the O-line for starters. I have no idea how good this team could be based on anything they have actually done as a team in a game thus far. I have witnessed some sporadic instances of great individual effort which leads me to believe those instances could be brought together into a full team effort but, I have not yet once seen a complete full team effort. Second half tOSU or MSU were probably the closest things but if you watch that very carefully, you will begin to see how painfully inept MSU really was. Beating an otherwise good team on their worst day does not mean you played a good game. Our offense is highly inconsistent, our defense is just plain bad, and special teams has been steadily declining and found the bottom this past week. I am certain the skill is there (with the exception of either line). The things that are missing have to be preparation, motivation, and focus. I like Bo, I really do and I don't think yet is the time to call for his head but those 3 items are his baby and his alone. I really feel something happened internally that coincides with Bo's sideline behavior change and Taylor now running like he's afraid he'll get hurt. This team has lost their aggressiveness and I am not sure why. It's like they have all become eunics with very few sporadic exceptions.

The question places the cart before the horse. "IT" comes from being successful and winning games. A person doesn't simply show up possessing "it". So, to answer your question; No, Bo doesn't have "it". Hopefully he acquires "it" soon.

That's just it - we could beat several. We just need to show up and compete. Unfortunately, game to game, we don't know if this team is going to come to play or just go through the motions. After 11 games I think it is safe to say our team is going to just go through the motions if they bother with that much. There have only been very short spurts of NU playing semi-inspired football and that is all. A few good personal performances with no all around team efforts. Not one complete game all year. Not even 3 quarters of a game all year. 2 or 3 times they have put together enough to say that they played about half a game. Everyone likes to point out the tOSU comeback and the MSU game. I will credit the Huskers for the tOSU comeback even though Ohio St obviously lost quite a bit with the QB change. And, even though the MSU final score looked impressive, I still feel we played only a mediocre game and luckily not nearly as poorly as an awful looking MSU. PSU was another game where we basically just didn't suck as bad as the opponent but we did show some signs of being able to play in an adverse situation. We have had some moments offensively and many fewer moments defensively. I can only hope the offensive moments are a sign of greater things to come and that the defenses absolute uselessness is a one year temporary situation. It is only hope until they prove it on the field and, in my estimation, they have not proven anything once, yet this season. As the saying goes; if you have hope in one hand and dog sh!t in the other, all you really have is a handful of dog sh!T. (BTW- I'm not sure if that really is a saying or just how I feel about it). I have seen "could" turn into "won't" or "doesn't" too many times with this team. Yes, I'm bipolar-it is to be expected when a person gets their hopes up so many times only to be let down just as many times.

It is interesting to read the different views people have on this issue. Seems everyone agrees that becoming physically abusive to visitors is not ok and most agree that being directly verbally abusive to visiting fans is probably going too far. I guess what I don't understand is how some people make the leap from being loud and supporting your team (which I have heard no one complain about) to hurling insults, objects, and foul language at visitors. Many people are saying "hey, it's to be expected" "it's a football game" etc. IMO there is a huge difference between doing what will help your team win (being extremely loud at appropriate times) and making visitors feel unwelcome and fearful for their safety. I don't think it should come as a surprise to anyone that yes you will run into jerks at virtually any venue. But it should also not come as a surprise that people who run into these jerks will complain about them and it will tarnish their opinion of that particular fanbase as a whole. Cheer for your team, show your support and school/team pride, and if you can, make it impossible for the opposing teams offense to operate but, it serves no earthly purpose to be rude, foulmouthed, or hostile to visitors to your campus, stadium, or town. If you struggle with that differentiaton or stick up for the a**holes that ruin gameday for many fans, you are more than likely part of the problem. There is no valid reason to behave that way and it should not be accepted or defended by anyone. The fans role is not the same as the players. Yes, players need to transition into a combat ready state of war and be extremely aggressive. Fans don't, they just need to be loud at appropriate times during the game. Big difference-learn it.

Oh and I learned that if my wife asks me to go black friday shopping with her that I will probably jump at the chance just so I won't have to risk watching this team play another game like that. I'll DVR it and check the score before I even think about it. Call me fairweather, traitor, whatever you wish. I am done with any emotional attachment to this years version of whatever it is they call what they're doing out there. I can handle putting forth reasonable effort and still losing. What I can't handle is what they did today. Hopefully I get over by next year, if not, oh well. Put me in DBag hall of fame if you want. I am mentally tapped out with the last 10 years of this sh!t. As far as I'm concerned the Husker team I know and love hasn't played a down of football since Eric Crouch was on the field.

Ill prepared? Under motivated? Mentally out of it? down by 7 at half and one more cough up to start the 2nd half took some wind out. Its not like we were ran out from the opening kickoff. Michigan's 1st td was a fluke that shouldve never happened if an off. pass int. wouldve been called, then our next off possession shouldve continued if a pass int wouldve been called liek it shouldve. D played decent overall, but damn, you cant chase that guy around for literally the whole game. Even when we scored it was a quick drive. The roughing call was bogus, ended the game. Realize that we literally skipped two offensive possesions with fumbles on returns. It's legitimate to say we GAVE the 21 points, and to do that while skipping 2 possessions, thats bad. I guess I should have specified I was commenting on the Nebraska-Michigan game today, not whatever game you apparently watched. Offense could not get a first down or convert a 3rd down to save their a$$, our defense could not stop MIchigan to save theirs, special teams put on the worst display in all facets of the kicking game I have ever personally witnessed, dropped passes, fumbles, stupid penalties. And you feel that is a result of them being well prepared, motivated, and mentally with it? You have so many should'ves and would'ves in your rationalization that it isn't even funny. If that is how a prepared, motivated, mentally focused team plays, I guess I have no idea in the world what I'm talking about.

Bo Pelini. I am not a BO hater but any team that shows up that ill prepared, under motivated, and mentally out of it, that is totally on the coach. Would've been better to stay home and forfeit. Absolutely totally f'n pathetic.

We learned just how awful this team can be. They have serious preparation and motivation problems. We are not a good team and somethings simply have to change.

C'mon MU def- hold us out of the endzone

Unranked, undeserving, unnebraska like, a totally inconsequential team. Repossess their jerseys. Unworthy to wear the colors.

Maybe we could get the Mens Warehouse to do our unis???? Dress for success and all that jazz.