BigRedN

I can acknowledge that I have been there. I think I stomached a couple of games last year. I even turned off any notifications. When I checked the next day it felt good that it didn't stir me in any way. I'm sure you will get mocked for a post like this. I just wanted to identify with that feeling and hope that for you, like me, you can come back and really be a part of something that I know deep down kills you. In my own recovery journey [from addiction and in my disappointments with this football program], what I came to see what a whole lot of things that really did bother me [and had sorta become "identity" for me]. Today, I'm getting healthier as it relates to following Nebraska football. For me, a win or a loss with my Big Red really did impact me. The last 20 years was really tough. Losing to Texas killed me. Even recruiting losses killed me [like losing on Breece Hall, losing Wandale and various players like Fant in the past]. As others will note ... I'm having and have my own battles with my emotions with the program. The thing this season that really helped me was to just follow the live thread during the game [rather than watching]. Folks are always extra negative in that thread during the game. They expect the worse ... and then get it. It actually helped me to see although I seem to come across as negative in a post ... I see others really have even more deeper thoughts of negativity and feel free to express it. In it ... it helped me to see my own "fandom" in a new way and the parts of mm own mind that are unhealthy. I also recently found out that my three sons [who have cut me out of their life], think I was a real a$$ as their tennis coach. I really just wanted them to excel in ways I knew I could have been successful if I would have applied what I already knew. In it all ... I was the Dad that screwed up and probably needed to be more of a cheerleader and just love them as they were. What I did was focus on the key mistakes. The home videos are rather telling. It's embarrassing [my comments and negativity]. Today, I'm going on 4-5 years with no relationship with them. In all of this ... I can say I'm really enjoying this season. I watched the last two games and had a blast. Rather than get frustration, I actually had some compassion. In the end, I'm finding I'm rooting for Nebraska to persevere and I'm just "hoping" more for the best for the program and for Scott amidst what is obviously a disappointment to me. I'm of the belief that we can and will be competitive in every game ... for that ... I really am thankful. We may not turn the corner but still, for me it is entertaining again and something I'm emotionally willing to tolerate. Enjoy that gardening. I enjoy that as well. Connect when you are ready Herbie. As a fan, I welcome you back when you are ready to join the dance.

I think that is a great point. I went trying to find any quotes on this. Unfortunately, our "special teams" are so "special" that you can't really find that type of article with so many more recent articles on it. In any event, one would think that you would apply what a golfer would do ... if you are driving the ball straight and getting your yardage, if you irons are working for you in your approach shots are fine ... and it comes down to chipping and putting ... any good golfer then doesn't take their hour practice sessions and hit driver for 45 minutes. Nope, you hit a couple of 9's, a couple of 8's, then 7 irons ... a few of each ... then you get to the 3 wood and hit 4-5 and then the driver and hit 4-5. Then you spend 45 minutes on putting and chipping. That is how a golfer improves where the scoring really counts. Sadly, I don't think this sort of logic seems to bleed into the current thinking and mindset. It's like I tell guys in recovery, if it is play 66 that is killing you ... then make sure that if you lose your sobriety it's anything but play 66. You gotta stop play 66 if that is the play that has always defeated you. Again, in year 4, it amazes me how many stupid things can occur and we allow play 66 to happen 6 more times with no consequence or detriment. What is usually stated is, "that shouldn't happen ... that kid is a really good football player ... I'm tired of it". Ah shucks, nope ... that player doesn't or isn't getting it [as I see it].

Yep, whether it's setting up games on the putting green, chipping green or my favorite, the range ... those who miss the goal of the drill or the losing team or teams have a run, sprints and/or exercises for missed goals. It was different for each player in some cases as what the goal was for the A player was different than the C. As a player progresses the bar gets moved upward and onward. You have to create a mental edge and make things competitive to get a player into a deeper focus.

Can't say I ever had this experience in any teams I've coached in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf or tennis. After killing the kid with consequences for each pre-determined error and consequence, they figured it out or quit. It's a soap box, but running, sprints and exercise drills for each error does reinforce one's mental capacity to move forward or stop playing. Here is a novel idea, how about less reps in practice at this point toward D, a few more to the Special Team area and OL. More film study on the issues and then connect it to field? If they are doing this I'd be surprised.

Most definitely. You can already point to these two "would of, could of, should of" wins. For me, we still have at least two more wins in us ... and their isn't anything to say that we can't win an Iowa and/or Wisky as well. In the end, we are financially LOCKED IN with Frost. If this was next year and at this stage in the season and the same scenario, the whole buyout and "let's be done with this guy and move on" would make more sense. At this stage, we just lost two games against better ranked opponents. If it was a lessor opponent then yes, perhaps you decide if it is so deplorable and have to move on. I've been perhaps more vocal in the off-season about "the stink" and I was called out for being so negative. But as expected, we get into the season and all the, "we will go 6-6 at a minimum" folks are calling for Scott's nuts. I don't know which is more epic at this point ... these losses or the fanbase that is just so damn emotional within and after a loss that they really state such stupid stuff [if that offends anyone ... hey, then stop flappin' your mouth at me in the off-season when it is stated what you see will happen]. For me, I'm totally fine if the stadium is empty. I'll be expecting a "turn the corner" type season. If it doesn't happen, then we lose the "sold-out streak" and we know Scott had his most experienced team with his guys and even with the easiest season ... didn't get it done. Sure, it will be a lesson learned ... but at least we proved that we hung in their with a coach and gave him all the benefit of the doubt. I can live with that. It beats all the coaching changes every three years [as I see it].

Quite honestly, I think takes the cake on that one. How does a team that recruit Top 25 talent produce this kind of result? At least for Iowa St, they average around 50th in recruiting rankings and have worked their way into a Top 20 team on average. We take talent like a Wandale and ruin it ... or at least make it want to transfer. I'd take that "underachieving team" and be frustrated with it ... over what we get/have [but I do understand your statement and frustration].

Nope, we could have won that game. Correct. You don't go and fire Frost after those two losses. The players are playing hard. Fire Frost at the end of the season if you like. It would be stupid to do so now.

This board is amazing. You give crap all off-season for folks having a negative perception of the improvements ... [we stopped drinking the kool-aid] and gave caution. Now, we lose to the #3 and #20 teams, both games we almost won [on the road] ... and now the folks who have been bloviating for the past 2-3 years with unrealistic standards of how good we would be now think to fire him after this game would make any sense for the effort being given. This team still can win 3-4 more games if it plays hard. Keep your head out of your ars and stop the whining. We were not suppose to win but 4-5 games.

Too bad. Special teams and not see wide open TE's most of the night.

Breece is killing it again. Regret, regret.

If you take a deeper look at their class, it's also better then just those 4*'s. They got a few 3* kids that I could see ending up 4*'s. It's a nice hall for them. I think they have four OT guys this year in the class.

I believe we will win this one. I had it penciled in at the beginning of the season and won't change it now. It will be a bigger win than originally thought before the season. For me, there is no game on the schedule left that is a "signature win". At this stage in the season, I'm just hoping to build something sustainable. Let's win this one and then not let NW play amazing to beat us or even be competitive. That would be a nice momentum build into this season and give it some real flair with lots of possibilities!

You can see the Divine Lover dancing to the rhythms of the redemption to and for mankind though out scripture. There is an “Us”, an “Our”, a “Them”, and a “Oneness” in various passages that all point to God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. The “Us” and “Them” of Their “Oneness” always had a predetermined plan to demonstrate the love of “Us” to mankind [Romans 5:8]. I could link you to 4-5 very special passages that speak to the whole idea of redemption even before the foundation of the world. Thus, one can and should conclude that the “Our” knew that Adam would fall and that man would become “excluded from the life of God” and would need restoration. In this share, I want to highlight three passages that will connect the dots to all that the “Lover of your spirit” has worked to make a way for you to know Them in “spirit and truth” [John 4:24] so you could again experience “the eternal life of knowing Them” [John 17:3]. You probably recall the creation account in Genesis 1:26-27, where we read, Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.” So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Next, it’s in Genesis 5:3, where we learn, “When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.” It’s in this passage that we learn and discover that Adam has lost the image and likeness of God after his fall into spiritual death. Thus, Adam has a son, Seth, and Seth is now in the image and likeness of Adam, rather than God. Let’s fast forward to Isaiah as this Prophet comes on the scene. All of Isaiah 1 is a wonderful read that is communicating the state of Israel. It’s in Isaiah 1:18, where Isaiah communicates a promise that is going to come forward from the Lord. Here’s that passage, “Come now, and let Us debate your case,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.” As you read that passage, I changed the word “us” to the word “Us”. I did so because I believe that the “Us” represents the Lord [this is the very Spirit and Essence of “Their” “Oneness”, communicating the “debate of our case” as “One”. In essence, the “Oneness” of God comes now to this proclamation of the coming “time of reformation” [Hebrews 9:10] that was in the predetermined plan of God before the foundation of the world. Thus, in Isaiah, here is a statement about the coming attraction of God demonstrating His love for mankind in that while man is yet a sinner, helpless, ungodly, an enemy and deserving His wrath [Romans 5:1-15]. Here, God is going to demonstrate His Goodness by giving the commandment to Jesus to go and purchase eternal life [John 12:50] by sending the Holy One of Israel to be the redemption. Again, think of it, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool” [Isaiah 1:18]. In other words, Jesus is going to mediate His New Covenant so that man can experience His Fourth Provision/Promise of the New Covenant where “He will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more” [Hebrews 8:12]. Now we fast forward to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as He is in prayer with God the Father for the event called the crucifixion where Jesus is going to die for the sins of the world. Earlier in Jesus’ ministry, His mind had moved forward to this event to where He needed to be ministered to. Here is what is recorded in John 12:27-33, “Now My soul has become troubled; and what am I to say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 So the crowd who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him!” 30 Jesus responded and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for yours. 31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” 33 Now He was saying this to indicate what kind of death He was going to die.” Let me get you back to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is praying there to God the Father. This is recorded in John 17. It’s such a beautiful prayer. Here is where we see the Third Provision/Promise of Jesus’ New Covenant, which states, “And they will not teach, each one his fellow citizen, And each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ For they will all know Me, From the least to the greatest of them” [Hebrews 8:11]. It’s John 17:3 that tells us clearly what “the eternal life of knowing Him” is really all about, we read, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Here are the snapshots as you move through John 17 to describe what the “Us”, “Them” and “Oneness” desire for the disciples and all those who will ever believe. I left the verse numbers in here so you could see which verse you are reading and which ones you are not. John 17:6 “I have revealed Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have followed Your word … 8 for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. 9 I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on the behalf of those whom You have given Me, because they are Yours … 13 But now I am coming to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth … 20 “I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, 21 that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” It is John 17:21 that completes this article. It’s really the summation of the “time of reformation” [Hebrews 9:10] and the “good things to come” [Hebrews 9:11] that were prophesied through Isaiah and coming to completion through Jesus. Here is John 17:21 again, “that they [any/all who will believe] may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” There you go … you just read it again … “that they also may be in Us”. That “Us” is God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Indwelling Holy Spirit. Each of Them have had a role within Their Divine Love to redeem you and I to experience Their “eternal life of knowing Them”. Ah, such great love of the Father … for you and I. May we each continue “to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God” [Ephesians 3:18-19]. Mark Jesus New Covenant Academy http://www.facebook.com/JesusNewCovenantAcademy

After 4 games, it's apparent that the OL and the special teams are the two main issues, along with coaching. I don't know where to go with the coaching. This game brought Frost out of a bit of a hole in my mind. He has the whole season to prove himself and my view is that we will more clearly our issues. I believe that the administration is squarely behind Scott [which is great] ... but I hope that doesn't mean he gets to just set his course as he sees it. If Frost is here [and financially we are committed in that direction], then my hope would be that more upgrades in the OL coaching, special teams and perhaps RB can happen [I do like Held as a recruiter, meow thus far on results impacting the field or development]. I'm still of the view that we need new coaching in the OL area ... and we need to add 2-3 recruits every year [including this one]. Don't like anything out there in terms of recruits but we miffed at some local talent in that area that could have been our guys. My hope would be that a new OL coach would take what is there and make something out of it. My fear is that someone like Corcoran will be a four year starter and really not be good. We regress the talent it seems verses develop. Ya, I'm told it's youth ... but the hits keep on coming. The OU game should us what the team looks like when motivated and playing hard ... which now allowed us to see our real weaker area ... OL and special teams are those. On the special teams ... they really are "special" for us. I can't really comment on all that. I don't get it ... the problems nor the ability to not fix them. The RB position would be my next possible red flag. In the RB position, it would be interesting what a guy like Breece Hall could of/would of/should of looked like. Thus far in the RB spot, it feels like we need a guy with a bit more speed and about 5-10 more pounds.

So elated to see us not get blown out. That was a lot of fun. I'm sure the fans will be frustrated. But, I'm tickled pink here!