observer3

3 hours ago, Mavric said:

I think it's kind of the opposite.  There are more players to go around so there's no longer much difference between the Power 5 bottom feeders and most everyone else (except the few elites).  And the Group of 5 teams are also much better than they were 20-30 years ago.

Right on, that is an excellent point and a powerful effect for sure.  The Washington example fits here nicely, since I believe they have historically recruited out of state,  3 star-ish players from CA.

But what is the expression, two things can both be true.

I think my original point is happening as well, where national elite recruiting powers have hurt many programs by taking recruits those programs may have gotten more easily in the past.

This article from a USC site points out several examples:

https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/2021/02/19/building-a-fence-around-california-not-in-this-era-for-usc-trojans-in-recruiting/

Quote

The USC Trojans have long said that building a fence around California is the best way to maintain success in the game of college football. One of the first things Pete Carroll did when he took the job at USC was work to rebuild the fence around California recruiting, bringing in the state’s best players and convincing them that USC was the place to play. The plan worked for a good while, but then it fell apart when schools such as Alabama and Clemson were able to convince kids in California to leave for greater riches on the opposite side of the country.

(It is amusing how the USC article uses the words 'greater riches' LOL, given how the Pete Carroll situation went down)

And here about Texas:

Quote

Take Texas for example. Ohio State has enjoyed more four and five stars out of Texas than the Longhorns. Why? The program wins.

...

OSU (7) has 3 more pledges from 5-stars in Texas than UT (4) since 17:
Browning(OSU, '17)
Okudah(OSU, '17)
Foster(UT, '18)
Sterns (UT, '18)
Wilson (OSU, '19)
Whittington(UT, '19)
Smith-Njigba (OSU, '20)
Jackson (OSU, '21)
Sanders (UT, '21)
Ewers (OSU, '22)
Burton (OSU, ‘22)

Not to say USC and Texas couldn't get things going and start to get those recruits (and others nationally), but the elite recruiting sharks now tend to find and nab the top recruits wherever they live.

One more quote from the article:

Quote

Florida and Florida State have to deal with Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia poaching their best in-state players. That also never used to be a thing. In short, it has become nearly impossible to put up a fence, as they call it. There’s just too much competition.

Miami too.   The three major Florida schools really stink this year!

Wow Washington too.   So many historically solid programs are struggling in recent years. 

The CFB landscape has changed I guess.   

Maybe the top-tier powers with national recruiting organizations are grabbing many of the the blue-chip prospects from everyone else?

Frost and company have been REALLY GOOD at losing!  

Well Florida did pull out the win, but imagine surrendering over 50 points to Chicken#@# Saturday opponent Samford!  How 'bout that rugged SEC defense!  

Despite the dumpster fire of a season, wouldn't beating Wisky in Madison count as that signature win for Frost and the modern program?  

9 minutes ago, krc1995 said:

Why would Lincoln Riley go to LSU? Talking to several Tiger fans today and they really believe he’s their next up? 
 

what am I missing? Oklahoma’s the better job, right? 

I also think OU may be a slightly better job, but in the end a decision could come down to $$$$$$.

Baylor looks pretty darn good taking out OU today with their rush-oriented offense.   Out rushed OU 286 to 68.

Rattler is now in the game at quarterback for OU.

Caleb Williams from OU with a 2nd pick now vs Baylor.  The dude just chucks it up for grabs all the time.  That worked against TX's absolutely  awful defense in that game, but won't work against any secondary with a pulse.  The OU receivers are good at making plays but that prayer ball is not a sustainable strategy.   

Baylor trying to go up 2 scores currently....nope Baylor fumbles and fails to score in the red zone for a 2nd time this game.   10-7 Baylor still.

Wisky shutting out NW 21-0 so far. 

12 hours ago, GSG said:

Glad they woke up. Would much rather have Cincinnati in the playoffs over 2 SEC teams

Just wait, if they playoffs expand to 12 teams, look forward to 3-5 SEC every year.   Well probably not 5 but I wouldn't put it past them!

20 minutes ago, teachercd said:

JH said he was from Chicago and that is how they do things things there and he said he would kill him.

 

But, I guess that is okay

Hey man you are totally right, Juwan's college coaching career could have easily flamed out right there depending on the response by the university, conference, or NCAA.

On 11/11/2021 at 7:49 PM, teachercd said:

Well Michigan was in a good place and JH can recruit like a real boss.  

 

Now, he also should have been fired for threatening to kill the MD coach last year but whatever...

 

With that said, he is probably already the 4th best coach in the conference behind Izzo, Painter and Underwood

That's right I remember now, there was some trash talking and brawl event at the Maryland Michigan game....involving the head coaches!

Turgeon said something and then Juwan went totally off the rails and was ejected.   I don't think it was ever clear what exactly Turgeon said, he claimed it was something like 'don't talk to me', but it had to be more than that!

Going to have to catch the Maryland Michigan game for sure this year.

2 hours ago, UniversalMartin said:

And imo, the Duck offense does not bother me. It can work, it just needs someone who can call it with current and future purpose in a game.

The Ducks under Helfrich did make the college football championship game.   If he were the offensive coordinator, it would be a good hire IMO.

I agree with the idea that different schemes can work, what is important is that the plays fit the player strong points and are executed well, along with some adaptability.

I just saw that Juwan Howard's coaching record at Michigan is 43-17, pretty much the polar opposite.  

I guess the programs were in polar opposite situations when each coach took over, and coaching has maintained each program in pretty much the same position, at least so far.

That was sure a stinker of a game.

I guess it can happen.  I see that Virginia lost to Navy and Ohio State barely beat Acron at the buzzer.   

Let's hope things get better.   It is one game out of many in a basketball season.

Whatever scheme Nebraska runs, they need to be somewhat adaptable.   Go with the strengths of the players they have, and not ideal players the coaches wish they had.  And vs. the particular defense they are playing against week to week.

Also, the team needs solid fundamentals or the rest won't make a difference in tough games vs disciplined opponents.   I believe that is why Scott is looking for new assistants, so that that fundamentals can be improved.   I hope going forward Scott spends more time worrying about the details of the entire team operation.

I wonder if they have any candidates in the pipeline already for assistant coaches?   Have they talked to anyone yet about the open positions?  My impression from other posts is the leadership knew they were going to clean house since the Purdue game.

I would say win a bowl game.   End a season with a positive result on the national stage to energize the program.  Get some good exposure for recruiting.

At least playing in a bowl game is a must with the easier schedule next year.

I love how Purdue uses 3! quarterbacks.  Make a defense really have to deal with a lot.

If we had revamped QB coaching I think Martinez could be a key cog for an offense.  The dude does make some great plays and makes the defense prepare for scrambling, options, and called runs, in addition to his passing.

If we grabbed a very good QB  to form a combo, it could be pretty effective IMO.  Take some pressure off Martinez and help him to relax and just do his thing when on the field.   Imagine if we somehow got Rattler to form a 1 2 QB punch.    They both can throw and run - Rattler more with the throwing and Martinez more with the running.   Probably not a high chance to get Rattler to be honest, oh well.

3 hours ago, 3rd and long said:

I think it’s still the same. I don’t know that anyone in the Big 10 this year is really very good. And typically the playoffs show this each year. 
 

Can you imagine even what TO’s weaker teams would have done in this conference?  We might have gone years without losing a conference game. 
 

We’re the bottom dweller of the weak division of a weak conference. 

For what it is worth, the old conference, the Big 12 has yet to win even one playoff game.

The Big 10 has had some stinkers in the playoffs for sure, but is almost at .500 in playoff games.

Going into the game against Ohio St, I don't think many thought Nebraska had a chance.

The fact that they played well enough to keep it to single digits led to the familiar prototypical 2021 loss - a game where the team had a chance to win but didn't get it done.

But since it was Ohio State - and back to point one - I think this game was fine.   The losses against IL, Purdue, and MN were not fine.  The failure get at least one from Michigan / Michigan St was not fine either.

To me anyway, this Ohio St game did not move the needle one way or the other in terms of a decision to keep Scott Frost.

8 minutes ago, The Dude said:

7-6, going into next season with some momentum would be intriguing.   5-7, missing out on those bowl practices again while recruiting is nose diving would be alarming.

I still don't understand why the team opted out of a bowl game last year?  

Is there any positive way to view it?  Might have made a real difference getting more ready to play this year. 

Just imagine if the team had won at Illinois to get some momentum.  /broken record

18 minutes ago, TheSker said:

Yes I think he should be retained.

 

Get the right side of that line fixed.  Improve red zone efficiency alone and one score losses are wins.

Yea I agree.  To me the the reality is that HCSF was not ready for a major conference job when he took the job, he just didn't have enough experience and skills yet.   That is now evident in hindsight.

In a somewhat raw deal for Nebraska so far, Frost has been conducting on the job training over the last few years.

So now, Nebraska has already put in an investment to train HCSF.  I don't think firing HCSF at this point would lead to a better situation than keeping him for the next couple years.  I lean to keeping him to go for the high ceiling I still think Scott Frost has as a coach.

Yea I have been reading previews and listening to podcasts recently, a common view out there seems to be that the Huskers will be somewhat improved, but not enough to move the needle very high in the standings.   We shall see.