84HuskerLaw

Sounds like the one thing going for Fresno State is the element of surprise as we really don't know much about how they will line up to attack us on either side of the ball. But, actually that should work OK anyway as we will be starting the season in our 'basic' plays on offense and defense, although we ought to be able to give 'em a few shakes and shivers in our offensive formations etc. If we block the corners well, we should be able to run wide on the 3-4 successfully. I don't think a 3 man front can stop us from running right at them either as our size and strength advantage will be overwhelming (at least it should be). I believe our strength and conditioning programs with Epley back now for about a year should be really making a difference. We will be more powerful up front and even our RBs should be more difficult to stop without solid tackling techniques. Can't wait to watch Ozigbo and Wilbon and hoping Newby will make a nice jump up on the toughness scale. I would say a good opener score vs. these guys will be 52-7. We should not give up many points as our defense should be able to pretty much dominate a freshman QB and bunch of inexperienced guys. I think the crowd alone will be difficult for these guys to overcome.

I think we are good enough talent wise to compete for the Big Ten West Division in the WRs, RBs, QB (Tommy A only), TEs, LBs, Secondary. The question is whether we have enough in the Offensive and defensive lines to get there if our QB doesn't get hurt. From the sounds of the coaches and the practice watchers this fall, we have the 'beef' to get it done but it is pretty much unproven. Of course this brings me back to my point (yet again) that you don't rebuild you reload and you do that by getting the second and third strings some playing time to learn and grow and develop and gain confidence (both the confidence of the players themselves as well as the coaches and other teammates. I feel we played quite a few guys last year across a number of positions (mostly those listed above) but in the areas where we are lacking comfort, we did not. We graduated several and had several more leave early across the lines - these create holes no doubt. I remain optimistic BUT the departure of Grimm is very disappointing (I feel he was our best 'future' receiver). Now we need at least 4 WRs in this class to replace talent lost by next fall). I am wondering what makes the 2018 season look so promising to some on this board. That seems like a distant star in the sky to me - we have some talked about guys but very little proven players anywhere and QB is very ify at best.

Who came up with this one? Kind of funny in spots but mostly a hard jab at football coaches. LOL

53 sounds right but we better not give up 20. 52-6.

Nice pair of players. I would think they both ought to come to Nebraska. With all the other California guys, they could all travel together back and forth and buy plane tickets or heck maybe there will be enough they can charter a small jet and save the bucks and ride in style. With all the parents coming to watch games, I would think one of the major airlines will want to set up some direct flights for the Californians for Nebraska fans and families and future players.

Wow - took 38 posts to get Ozigbo chosen! I will go out on a limb a tad and pick Tre Bryant to score first by running back the opening kick off 102 yards for the score in the north end zone! The balloons will block out the bright sunshine briefly! Go Big Red!!!

The emergency QB is simply to keep POB's redshirt intact. So both TA and Fyfe would have to be unavailable for ZD to go in as the emergency QB. Yeah, this. Example: Armstrong is out, Fyfe's helmet gets knocked off and he has to sit a play, so Darlington comes in vs burning POB's RS for one dumb play. So who comes in and for how long when Tommy goes down with a blown out knee in the second quarter of Oregon game and is out for the year and Fyfe gets a concussion later in the same game? We are going to play Darlington the rest of the day and hope that nobody really gets too unhappy about losing to the Ducks 62-3? And, when Fyfe is not quite cleared to play the following week against Northwestern, we will 'rough' it through with Zach and have POB 'ready just in case Zach gets bumped or twists an ankle and can't really even walk with any pace). Hoping that the now 2-2 Huskers can find a way to make that new "Wildcat - Spread - No QB - Run/pass Option" attack work against those Illini? Sounds like a plan to me! LOL Now, when Zach isn't the most popular back up back up emergency holder/QB/WR on campus after his first live game action with 3 interceptions and 3 fumbled snaps and 7 consecutive 3 & out possessions in a row, it will be time to host QB try-outs amongst all those walk-ons and once upon a time QBs from back in the day? Sorry but just can't help but wonder what all the comments will be if this kind of disaster happens. Probably about a 1 in 7 chance or something.

The Clintons are the most corrupt and blatantly evil (they will both do and say anything to get what they want, right or wrong, on any subject) that they make some of the gangsters look like amateurs. . There is so dam much evidence of all of the many many scandals (there have been so many scandals involving the criminality and corruption of the Clintons you can't even remember half of them. They have corrupted the FBI and IRS and State Department, Justice Department, Attorney General's Office, etc etc.

POB will redshirt unless both players above him are hurt. That's a fact. So, no, the redshirt is not out of the question. Not wanting to belabor the point as time and events will ultimately answer our questions certainly, but are you suggesting by this that ONLY will POB play one snap this fall as the number 3 QB IF both Tommy and Fyfe are seriously hurt. We'll let Fyfe limp his way through half the season on a bad ankle sprain in order to preserve POB's valuable redshirt season? I firmly believe we need a back up QB (at all times) that has meaningful game experience and is prepared to be 'the man' if called upon by circumstances as they may then be. . To me, having the QB be ready to play is perhaps the most fundamental part of roster and team management the HC can do. He needs to always be planning and keeping the various positions staffed and ready for action. Injuries, personal problems, etc, etc etc are a major part of the management of personnel of any organization. Personnel management means having the people in place, trained and ready to perform so that the organization functions at a high, efficient and successful level. Quarterback performance is essential of a team's success. This is not debatable really. Without Bush, we now have two seniors (one with nearly 3 years of real life game experience and almost nobody is saying we should bench him as he's had his chance and failed to get R done. But, we have to plan not only for 2016 but for 2017 and beyond. I don't want to go 10-3 this fall and 3-10 next fall because we are starting over training our next Tommy Armstrong. This is unfair to the fans, the other players and everyone. Mismanagement gets many people fired. You must be committed to winning both now and in the future.

You can divide the 2015 season into three parts (first four games, middle five games and last four). In games one through four, we went 2-2 with close losses to BYU and Miami early. Considering the newness of everything and everyone, and the undercurrent of negativism from the coaching changes, dissent and distrust, etc. I think that was not all that unexpected. Perhaps we might have been in about the same state had no coaching changes occurred. In the middle third of the season, the bottom fell out really and we went 1-4 winning only the MN. The team actually did fairly well in that game, although perhaps MN was more the reason for the Husker win that we were. Still, despite the turmoil and the horrendous record, the team did not completely fold up and quit and of course the Purdue game was the bottom. I don't feel we lose that one IF Tommy A had played instead of Fyfe, all other things being equal. We should have been able to defeat Purdue with our third string QB and several other starters out but the effort and confidence was just not there. The final third of the year, starting with the next game after Purdue looks like a 180 degree reversal in many ways. From the Purdue 'stinker' to the defeat of Michigan State (a team on a mission and with everything to play for). I am not sure what magic dust Riley sprinkled over the team meal platters but the final four games were much better for the team as a whole. Tommy had several ugly throws in the Iowa game but statistically we kind of won that one. Iowa played not to lose as they had an undefeated season riding on things and in a relatively low scoring, close game, a quick TD or sudden change turnover would have allowed Nebraska to snatch victory from the Hawkeyes. I think something happened in the locker rooms or within the team chemistry that reversed our fortunes and the season finished with much more positive than negative vibes. At least that is my feeling. The team played hard in the bowl game, despite all the naysayers and constant criticism of both players and coaches. There is every reason to believe this good vibe will continue over into this season.

Every day on America's roadways, there are literally many millions of drivers behind the wheel. A certain percentage, known by the statisticians who care to compute these things, are driving drunk by having a Blood alcohol content by volume in excess of the stated maximum (in Nebraska .08% I believe). Common sense tells us that not all are drunk drivers but we know there are a large number. Therefore, we should, in order to prevent someone from killing another person by causing a motor vehicle accident while driving drunk, terminate all the employment contracts of all employees who have drivers' licenses or who just might make the foolish decision to get behind the wheel of a car and take off down the public roadways. The criminal laws, so far as I am aware, do not provide that the penalty for violating a traffic law is to have one's employment terminated because society has determined that the best way to punish violators of the law is to take away their livelihoods and forever banish them from the benefits of societal living and banish them to the desert. Taking away a drivers' license is a severe punishment for any driver, whether the result of half a dozen speeding tickets or a first offense DUI. Often, the indirect result is loss of employment. This can penalize the violator and his or her financial dependents seriously as many jobs require the worker to have driving priveleges and a safe driving record to boot. Truck drivers can lose not only their license but their entire life savings and business for just one offense. If the employment contract that Williams signed to be hired as a coach specified that a DUI would be cause for dismissal, he was given fair warning. Otherwise, losing his job is unfair in my view. Some kind of 'conduct unbecoming' clause might arguably apply but then of course, such a general term for bad behavior would surely have disqualified many prior coaches for any number of 'offenses' to the sensibilities of Nebraska and its fans. Bottom line is all citizens are entitled to the fair and just treatment under the laws (not ex post factor btw) and due process and notice are fundamental. Letting an unhappy mob with pitch forks after the fact decide the punishment that best fits the crime and the criminal is very dangerous to all of us.

In my view, UCLA could have won the west division last year. They will be about as good this year too. I guess time will tell.

I feel good about our chances to perform much better this year. I expect the team to take off and play somewhere close to where it left off in the bowl game. That was a top 20 level UCLA team with top 15 talent. We overpowered them along the line of scrimmage. Our blitzing was much better and the LBs and secondary should be much improved. We played better, although not perfect admittedly vs. UCLA and Rosen. He was likely the best QB we faced last year. He had success but not as much as he would have had in October. The team improved considerably. I think we went from being about a number 55 team to playing at a number 20 team by the bowl. If we make further improvement as this year goes by, we can be a top 15 level team. We need a bunch more depth but that will take several more recruiting classes and a dozen extra walk ons in the key areas.

After Bennett posted this article I asked him: He didn't respond, and you can see why. Irvin's history of drug use/abuse is pretty grim. Multiple accusations of sexual assault as well. While employed by ESPN, Irvin was suspended for two days after a misdemeanor arrest for speeding when officers found drug paraphernalia in his car. None of this is to excuse Williams for what he did, or to claim NU's punishment is severe enough. But it's difficult to take a lecture from an organization like ESPN when they have shown they're far more lenient with their employees. Good Catch and response Knapp. ESPN also is the network that often overlooks the infractions of their 'pet' teams and leagues - depending on who is buttering their toast. I do think in the case of KW, an administrative position would be a good 'parking spot' for him until he has completed his counseling and has dealt wt the deeper issues that lead to his 3rd DUI. He is a great coach, recruiter and he means a lot to this team, but I prefer to have him around long term by making sure he has conquered his demons. In the corporate world, many organizations will help an employee via their health care plan to overcome these types of issues. NU can do the same. Assuming Williams' demons are alcoholism based, then he will be battling them for the rest of his life. How long should you 'park' him somewhere as a clerk/secretary or something paying him a big salary when being a great coach is his forte' ? Frequently, the best 'therapy' for people with mental, emotional and physical issues is to remain emersed in something they love to do and apparently Williams loves being a receivers coach. He will need lots of extra attention and monitoring closely for an indefinate time frame - probably as long as he remains at Nebraska which hopefully is many years based on what we've seen to date of his coaching skills. Addiction is difficult for even the most determined invididuals to overcome and they need plenty of friends and coworkers to help and support them all along the way. Ultimately it is up to the addict but they rarely can do it alone. Keep him focused and stay on him - limit his alone time and keep him away from the temptations that can lead to disaster. That is the best hope for Williams, the man. Keep him extra busy doing his job - that is the best hope for Williams the coach. IMO

Once again this is another example of why coaches must play the second and third string guys in games. You can't run a college football program like an NFL team with half a dozen back ups for a dozen spots. You need at least 5 tackles and 5 guards and 3 centers ready to go each fall. A couple of those guys must be ready to swap positions in addition. You can lose three starters before the second game kicks off. You build a winning team, like any other structure or organization, from the ground up. The foundation is the O line and D line. Most agree with this. We are apparently about 4 scholarship linemen away from where we should be. We better get some more walk ons and build them up to contribute at least about 15 snaps a game. One guard goes down and there seems to be panic. Nonsense.

I keep wondering why it makes any sense for Texas to leave the Union when the whole nation would benefit greatly by expelling a few liberal states such as California and Washington? In fact, let's sell California back to Mexico for about 100 billion.

For all you supporters of the disappointed underclassman transfer practice, this transfer highlights the problems therewith. Bush transfers to some other school and presumably will start out at the bottom and have to earn his way up the team's depth chart. He leaves Nebraska as the clear number 3 guy with only two seniors ahead of him. Rarely has Nebraska football had but one starting QB make it through the year without a bump or bruise or something. It is not terribly unlikely to have the top two QBs go down making Bush the starter. One major injury to Tommy this fall and it is quite probable that by mid season Bush would assume the starting role as Fyfe has demonstrated he is at best 'back up' material destined to be the emergency fill in until somebody else can be installed. As a senior, he cannot reasonably basis be called 'the future' of the program at QB. Now the redshirt season for POB is pretty much out of the question, which suits me fine, but apparently bothered many on this board. If as many argue POB should not play this year, we are then facing yet again the ugly prospect of entering a season without a returning QB with ANY game experience in Lincoln at all. NONE. This being the third year of the Riley experiment, that ought to give even the most confident supporter cause for alarm. Tanner Lee comes with some collegiate experience but not in our offense or at the Big Ten level of major college ball but he will have had to sit out for entire year and the live action under the lights experience of Tulane football will be a distant memory and have little relevance. Perhaps Riley has told Bush he is just not ever going to be suitable for the job and that he would be wise to move on to better oppotunities elsewhere. ? Absent that, I just don't see the logic of Bush transfer.

One thing is for sure: if you don't recruit them, they won't come! It never hurts to try. I think the interest expressed by a handful of the top recruits helps to draw interest from other higher grade recruits and can be helpful in the long run. We might well find as much 'talent' in the mass of 3 star guys as in a handful of the 5 stars but we need to build momentum and get national attention from the pundits and commentators and etc. :Publicity helps as the word of mouth advertising that goes on with the internet, etc, certainly ought to make a difference. Considering the 5-7 record, I think it is rather amazing the interest and the looks we are getting. This suggests to me that the Nebraska brand remains more attractive than many want to give it credit for in the recent years. Now, if we put together a 10 win season this fall, I think we'll see a number of 4 and 5 star guys and quality 3s (which maybe should be rated higher) sign with the Huskers. Now, if we flop on the field, things may collapse. This is the risk one takes when making major changes - it will either work or it will not. Once a plateau or ceiling has been hit, the only option becomes make a radical shift and hope the new approach will break through given a little time. If not, one has no choice but to try, try again. We need a dozen or so legacy kids from the late 90s to come in as well. Time is ripe for the 90s guys to be having college age sons ready to help.

Trump is not in any way a 'conservative' or typical "Republican' of course. He won with a minority of the Republican primary vote because of several important factors that are impacting the American electorate generally. First, many new voters entered the voting booth to cast their vote for Trump who have not heretofore voted Republican. I would estimate that as many as one third of those who voted for him did not vote Republican in previous primaries. Many are disaffected Democrats and many more are new voters. Another bunch of Trump voters are disaffected Republicans who are very upset and angry with all politicians from both parties for the lack of responsiveness to the needs of the people and the Nation as a whole. There are perhaps another 1/3rd of the Trump voters who wanted to send a message to the Republican 'establishment' types that business as usual in Washington DC is over. No more BS is acceptable - they expect action to stop the runaway socialism that is threatening the future of the country. There are plenty of disaffected Democrats as well, many of whom are NOT going to come out to vote for Hillary. The polls, I suspect, will not reflect the disaffected and disgruntled of the traditional Democrat voters who are not happy with the Clintons and are not ready to go full blown Bernie socialist. These voters are not likely to vote for Trump either and I would expect many simply won't take the time and effort to vote at all, feeling 'a pox on all of them' is the best approach. The likely turnout at this fall's election may well be one of the lowest in modern times as many Americans REALLY don't like either one and won't vote. This could be a good thing as it is the only likely way that Trump will win and while Trump is NOT the most eloquent of speakers to take the Presidential podium, he certainly speaks so people can understand when he means. Trump may well turn out to be a very good President and he has the chance to get a great deal done to remedy many of the Nation's ills (God knows there are plenty). He will get the budget in order within his first term and he will fix many of the waste/fraud/abuse issues that are literally costing hundreds of billions now. He will get the tax code simplified and corporate rates down to be competitive with the rest of the planet. He will get people working again at decent salaries and will get something done to fix the healthcare mess. Sadly, the Dems are so radically polarized to the far left they can't see anything but socialism as a solultion to everything. Socialist solutions are only making matters worse as most of the problems are being caused by left wing actions. Doubling down on stupid is only going to beget more stupidity.

Let's see how they do in our first three games this fall and I expect at that point, we can reasonably discuss the coaches, their 'schemes' and adaptations to the available players and the opponents faced. Game plans have to be developed to fit the players that will actually be playing in that particular game (adjusted for injuries, other absences, deficiencies, etc) and designed with the relative strengths and weaknesses of the opposing team. Nothing Earth shattering with this. These coaches will have had adequate time to build some basic trust, instill the kind of attitude and understanding in the players of their 'systems' and methods and schemes and play designs and etc. The 20916 by game 4 should be pretty well adept at running the 'Riley & Company' plays effectively. Every team tends to improve as each season progresses and, absent injury losses, the team should be playing its best by the end of the year. But, most of the kinks and wrinkles should be smoothed out by game 4, just in time for the conference schedule to start. While we all want the team to win every game, the critical games at this juncture in the Riley program development, is still finding a way to play our best in the critical conference games, ultimately in hopes of winning the Big Ten west division race. After having taken the time to rewatch the entire 2015 season's games a couple more times, I believe there is clear evidence that the team struggled in the first half of the season to accept the new coaches and schemes, etc. There seemed to be a general lack of confidence and in some cases effort. However, by the second have of the season, the effort was there and despite a slate of opponents that were improving and overall more challenging in my view than the first half schedule the team DID GET BETTER. Improvement can be seen across the offensive lines, the secondary, the running backs, the linebackers, and D line. The receivers were very good from game one and Tommy A played his usual (good mixed with not so good) all the way through. I believe some of Tommy's forced throws and interceptions and so on were motivated, in part at least, by Tommy feeling intense pressure to find a way to win on his own. By Nov. 1, the season looked quite bleak and yet, somehow, the team hung in there and turned things around, winning several big games. The Iowa loss hurt but it was a sort of 'do or die' kind of point in time as the team desperately wanted to find a way to be the unbeaten team and get to a bowl and finish 7-6 but fell to 5-7 in the process. Had we played as well vs Iowa as we did later vs UCLA, we would have won. IMO. Give these coaches a chance to prove themselves with this team. Hopefully, no major distractions (another death in the Husker family or legal issue or critical injuries, etc), will enable the Huskers to do better.

The question should be asked of Hillary Clinton supporters: When, if ever, does she tell the truth and how can you tell? That might begin to unravel the mystery of why anyone would actually vote for such a person. Many don't care for the way Trump speaks so bluntly about the many problems and issues this country is facing, but he speaks plainly and doesn't avoid the tough subjects - he addresses them head on and holds nothing back. It should be refreshing to have a 'politician' who is not so political (full of BS). Trump was certainly not my choice to be President but he is far and away better than Billary!

The courts and the legal system is designed and operates as the arbiter of criminal and other legal wrongs and the consequences thereof. I do not believe the employer is or even should be responsible for or empowered to pass sentence upon an employee for any personal actions of that said employee, when not on the job. We do not know, so far as I have read, if he was 'at work' or on his personal business at the time. If he was driving a University vehicle, etc, then he should be treated in accordance with the employment contract which governs all public employees, etc. No better and no worse. If he was Williams being Williams, private citizen, then the University has no rightful business imposing criminal punishments or fines or such on him. He is a free citizen and entitled to be one when not on the job. In my opinion, schools passing judgment on students and employers passing judgment on employees when not on the job is wrong.

The matter is far from over as the legal process will go on for at least several months and even assuming he pleads on some basis, he will at a minimum serve some jail time and or a long period of strict probation which unquestionably include AA, testing, dr license revocation, etc, etc. and big fine. He will be out most likely around 20 grand (not counting all the extra personal expense he incurs from hiring rides, car insurance premiums and etc etc etc). Not that this matters to most I am sure but this is NOT the end, just the beginning of the process. Most likely Williams is experienced in much of this from his previous cases but then other courts, states, old laws, etc are all different. There are often new developments and etc that can arise during the course of the legal process and the follow ups which will be years long. The pronouncement of a 4 game suspension and loss of some pay, etc, which of course is all public and certainly hurts his hard earned reputation could have costs which are huge financially, personally and socially, etc. Just wanting to be sure people are aware of the whole situation. This is not like paying a small fine for a speeding ticket. The ramifications and consequences are dramatic, whether or not he would lose his coaching job. He may find that the social and personal consequences are such that he opts to resign from Nebraska football on his own. Let things play out before you forever condemn the man.

The fault lies ultimately back with "Dollar Bill Byrne" who helped engineer the Big 12 to begin with. The Big 12 sucks and always has really. It really should have been named 'The new and improved Southwest Conference Starring Texas" as that was what it was intended to be and became. The best decision Nebraska ever made was getting out of that cluster. The departure of Nebraska basically sent the conference into a long slow death spiral. Frankly, in my view, the Big Ten has been reborn with the addition of Nebraska as well. The Big Ten was the weakest of the power conferences before we joined and we are now a rival to the SEC which was easily the 'top' conference. Nebraska football carries enormous political and image weight if you will in collegiate football. If Nebraska were to suddenly withdraw from the Big Ten and join the PAC 12, that conference would rise up and become the new rival with the SEC. It is rather amazing. There seems little argument on this fact as we know the Rutgers and Maryland didn't transform the conference 'power image' from mediocre to championship level. Ohio State benefited as much as anyone from Nebraska's joinder as it legitmized the entire conference in terms of gravitas and strength.

It amazes me sometimes the 'logic' of some of the comments on this board such as attacking my criticism of guys transferring out of a big time school in the middle of their 4 years becasue they aren't starting but then to turn around and be excited when some other school's third string junior QB wants to transfer in to Nebraska. ? Like trading baseball cards or something? We give up AJ Bush and get Tanner Lee. Maybe that is something that becomes a 'net gain' for all concerned but then again who knows. Changing colleges is rather drastic for a student who is NOT a football player but may well create issues academically as well. A third string QB (Bush in this case) whom many of you say flat out won't ever play at Nebraska (apparently he is not a good enough QB?) is somehow going to magically become a good QB at some other top school? Why? I am happy for guys who finish school and move on with their adult lives in whatever way possible.