moveitforward

Iowa just pounded Ohio State - not looking forward to that game in the least. It has been a long, long, long time since anyone outside NE has talked about our football team. Just being honest.

Michigan State and Iowa were highest Big 10 teams in the rankings a couple years ago, and were both blasted in their bowl games by teams from other conferences. Those scores were embarrassing for the conference.

I honor our past - as do my children and grandchildren. However, I do not LIVE in the past - big difference my friend.

There is a reason they actually play the game - to determine who is the better team. Your statement falls flat, IMO.

Several critical steps necessary to move forward - 1. Any coach that is hired (including our current coach) should be given at least 5 years. 2. Although the number is shrinking, our “emporer’s new clothes” fans - who still are too many - need to step into reality. Our team is not entitled to victories just because we have a Red “N” on our helmet, or because we were national champions 20 years ago. Support our players and their coach. 3. High school players today were babies the last time we were a top 10 program - 2001. In their eyes, we are an average program in an average conference - because we are! Come to grips with that, and the fact that recruits look at these message boards - what they read here today is chaos. 4. We will only rebuild this program one practice, one game, one year at a time. It will take years, and supportive determination. No magical coaches. 5. Finally, I guess we should be thankful we no longer play in the Big 12. A few weeks ago, OU beat Ohio State in Columbus, and last week Iowa State beat Oklahoma - in Norman. Just the facts.

After a whopping 2 1/3 seasons?

You are exactly right. This program will only be rebuilt one recruit, one practice, one game, one season at a time. No shortcuts, no magical coaches. The opposing players today don’t even know, and don’t care, who we used to be. That was a long, long time ago.

Wisconsin and Iowa now consider Nebraska to be a sure thing in their win column.

Actually, getting hammered by Iowa last year really stung, and they are our next door neighbors.

Fire our head coach after just 3 seasons? Seriously? Name one established coach who would have one inkling of interest in stepping into this program if that is the reality - just one. The magical coaching merry-go-round just keeps on spinning.

You are correct, and we should support our coach and our team. Although declining in number, there are still too many in our fan base living in the 90s, and think it is as simple as hiring yet another new coach to return to national prominence. With so many fans with unrealistic expectations, who would want the job? I am glad Riley has stuck with us.

The number of exceptional athletes has grown exponentially over the last 20 years, and they are available to many well-funded programs across our country. Earlier this year, Oklahoma beat mighty OSU in Columbus, then yesterday the Cyclones beat Oklahoma in Norman before 90,000 fans. It is time to recognize our program’s new reality. Long gone are the good ol’ days where we were viewed to recruits as a superior program to play football. More importantly, it is time that we recognize that yet another “next in line” head coach on the coaching merry-go-round is not going to magically give us a national championship. In fact, that is ridiculous. We need to stick with a coach, support him, and grind it out one game, one year at a time - just like everyone else. But hey, at least we don’t have the Cyclones on our schedule this year!

After watching Iowa's defense against Penn State last night, I don't believe anyone would consider us to be the Blackshirts of the Big 10. We have a long way to go to catch up with the leaders in the conference.

Iowa had to come from behind last week to beat ISU in overtime. Why would you assume we would beat Iowa State? Reminder - ISU beat us the last time we played them at home - just before we bailed to the Big 10.

Ok, first, switching to a lesser conference did not work for us. Second, scheduling NIU did not end well. So, let's schedule a I-AA opponent, how about North Dakota State? Oh wait, Iowa lost to NDSU last year, and following that they blew us off the field. We need to work hard to win 6, maybe 7 games and recognize our new reality in the modern landscape of major college football. Playing musical coaches is not the answer.

On the bright side - we no longer play in the Big 12, or it would be even worse.

NIU's players don't even remember the last time that our team was considered a top 10 program - 2001. We were just another game on their schedule this year - and they beat us.

Let's be very honest - When Oregon went into halftime they knew they had won the game. It had been complete domination. In the second half they had no reason to play at top effort.

I like your frankness, and many fans need to yet let that sink in. We stopped being a big fish in the pond a long time ago. There are now many programs with a lot of money and prestige, and we are somewhere in the middle. Further, there is no magic coach that will suddenly cause the old days to return. We need to learn to grind it out against the likes of Iowa and Wisconsin and hope we can win one now and then. That is reality.

The whole "black shirt" thing needs to go away. Put what once meant something in the closest until it is earned.

The only way we can prove there are teams that we "should" beat, is by beating them. After many average seasons, I believe our "should" beat list has become quite short, and every opponent needs to be given full respect. I do agree that we are moving forward, but it is a journey.

Our fans are learning to have "realistic" expectations. It sure was great to win a national championship - Twenty years ago! Neither the players, nor the students on campus, even remember that. Our last Top 10 finish, in 2001, was Sixteen years ago. Most don't remember that either. The landscape has changed from years ago. We are just one of many programs with resources attempting to do what it takes to rise to the top. The program will be rebuilt one practice, one game, one year at a time. No magical answers, no magical coaches, no easy wins. After the 40-10 loss to close last season, let's just hope we take another step forward this year.

You are referring to the single one that we have played in, 2012, and lost 70-31? I say let's first come to grips with the fact that there are no easy games on our schedule, and take them one at a time.

A perhaps realistic, and significant step forward this season, would be to finish ranked in the top 25. Let's hope so.

There's no reason for #2 to exist. This is Nebraska, not a mid-major.This is Nebraska in a 20 year conference championship drought. Not to mention haven't finished a season in the top 10 since 2001. Most students on campus don't even remember that. There are many programs today with resources attempting to do the same thing, and there are no magical solutions.