All Hail Herbie

Just now, Decoy73 said:

If it comes to that, then yes, I agree.  I think TA will really need to “sell” NU as a destination job in order to attract interest from top flight coaches.  Personally I think NU is a top tier job, although I’m clearly biased.   I’m sure the national perception of that is quite different, though.   

He will not need to "sell" a top flight Power 5 coach on Nebraska as a destination if the money is right.  While I have my opinions on the corrupting influence of money in sports (not a fan), I am a realist and know that this is the order of the day.  If we want to be a national brand once more, we need to decide if we are prepared to pay for it.  LSU had two down years following a national championship and said no mas.  USC has been up and down for more than a decade and have had enough.  Is 20 years long enough for the boosters and fan base at NU to say no more?  We find out next November...

19 minutes ago, Decoy73 said:

So what you’re saying is that your belief that HCSF’s unwillingness to deviate from his failing system or philosophy—whatever you want to call it—that will ultimately lead to an end of his NU coaching tenure a year from now, is based only on an assessment of games that happened over two years ago.  You’re either yanking our chains or you have access to some really good inside information.  Care to elaborate?

Why it is you dear Watson that provides my inside information on the program.  You and the other wonderful posters on this Board (genuine compliment).  Trying to appease the "content moderators" today.  To clarify, the reference to Watson was complimentary and not defamatory in any way as "Dr. Watson" as he is known is an intelligent sidekick to the eccentric Sherlock Holmes.  

With that preamble now complete, my assessment of the state of the program.  Our esteemed coach is quite convinced that his system is successful.  His one undefeated season at UCF and time at Oregon as an assistant have assured him that the system is without flaw.  Overwhelm the opposition with points, including two point conversions, and you render the need for special teams and defense moot.  Therefore, any assistant hires made may have ability to tinker with some of the sets, but will not alter the strategy; the emphasis on points and more points.  We now have 4 years of results at NU, and one 0.500 season at UCF to back this up.  The undefeated season is the outlier and not the norm.

He is back for a 5th season so let's wish him well on his farewell tour and prepare for transition in November, 2022.  Watching both USC and LSU aggressively pursue top flight coaches in the last week convinces me more than ever that we need to go all in next year on "the guy".  Who that is remains to be seen.

29 minutes ago, Undone said:

 

I generally have a policy of not trying to read into what coaches say during press conferences. I generally glean my understanding of what's going on by watching the games on Saturday.

 

But with that said I do think that your assessment of how Scott really feels about the plan is probably accurate. And it is again why I've said over and over that I don't think there's any way it was his idea to fire Lubick.

 

Now where I don't necessarily agree is your confidence that Alberts knows what he's doing. I don't know that Alberts has any more of a clue on how to fix our seemingly inexorable clusterf*** disaster than Frost did in the winter of 2018.

 

But we do know this: Successful college football teams have good assistants. We know our defensive assistants have been steering their side of the ball in the right direction, but the offensive staff was not. So, we'll see now if bringing in what is hopefully higher quality staff changes things for the offense.

 

 

Fair points all.  For some reason, I feel more at ease with Trev Alberts' leadership style than with any of the prior Athletic Directors that we have had in the past two decades.  Watching Bob Stoops right the ship in Norman yesterday following a turbulent weekend reminded me of what we similarly have in Trev Alberts.  Someone steadfastly loyal to the program, its' fans, and its' future.  He just fits the role well and I have confidence in his ability, like OU does with Bob Stoops, that better days are ahead (with or without this current coach).

24 minutes ago, ActualCornHusker said:

 

So if Frost does get this thing turned in a big way this coming year (9 or 10 wins), don't come crawling back and pretend that you're a fan again.

Since folks are quoting the board rules today, I will consider whether or not your challenge of my program loyalty is indeed defamatory.  On the line my friend...

In terms of next season, and to avoid any potentially defamatory comments about our esteemed coach, I will simply say that the prospect of the "program" (not an individual) achieving a "collective" (not an individual) 9 or 10 wins is indeed very slim.  

Frankly, I would welcome the chance to eat crow next season for a change.  For board monitors, my suggestion of eating crow is not self-defaming.  I granted myself a one time exemption.

28 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

 

If a gentle rib is now considered defamatory, than it must be true that Twitter is setting the rules of the road.

Peace be with you my friend.  Genuine, not defamatory.

2 minutes ago, Born N Bled Red said:

 

I think that is called trolling and it is against board rules. 

Thank you Judge for the admonition.  

I did receive your subpoena to testify and will cooperate.  Since we are taking oaths here, I think you to should be sworn in.

12 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

 

Thanks for the redline edits BRB.  Much like my legal counsel, I know you care.

Incidentally, when can I get that holiday fruitcake out to you?  I owe you.

18 hours ago, Husker03 said:

He wouldn’t say that as the transfer portal didn’t exist then. It a HUGE game changer that coaches have had to learn to navigate over the past 3 years. Add in a once in a century global pandemic and NIL policies and it’s not hard to understand why a first time P5 head coach trying to rebuild a dumpster fire may warrant a bit of slack. 

Your point comes with an asterisk, as it did not exist then.  However, any coach worth their weight in the Power 5 leagues would not honestly argue that 1 year players through the transfer portal are the solution to finding sustained success.

It is one thing to fill a temporary roster hole, or upgrade a skill position for one season, but it is quite another to make the transfer portal the centerpiece of your roster strategy.  To me, it speaks volumes about not only our inability to recruit high school athletes, but our inability to develop talent.

20 hours ago, Undone said:

 

I have had many of the same thoughts you're putting out there about Frost also.

 

We know he's been stubborn and possibly overconfident about doing things his way thus far. But here are two possible things that will actually trump those tendencies he's shown to-date:

 

1. Alberts recognized these patterns and let Scott know that if he doesn't change them - starting next year - he's gone.

 

2. Osborne and/or other trusted mentors have pointed it out to him, or maybe he came to it on his own, and decided that his dream of leading the program "back" outweighed his own pride.

 

It's too soon to say that Scott Frost is completely incapable of being a decent Power 5 head coach. Way too early, IMO. 

 

Hopefully he's recognizing that the only reason he's not getting fired this week is because of who he is as a former player here. I do think the real litmus test of where his head and his humility is at this offseason is what steps he takes on fixing special teams.

One can only hope that he will be receptive to mentoring.  The comment that struck me was the one where our HC said that AD Alberts suggested more of a CEO role in being a HC.  That there was a need for him to step back from offensive tactics and manage the whole team.  Moreover, AD Alberts suggested that the Coach should also spend more time engaging with the fan base.

Coach Frost almost sounded resigned when discussing this possibility.  It was almost a tacit acceptance that Alberts was right, but that he was internally resisting giving up control of the offensive tactics.  

Here is what I believe, we are in good hands with this Athletic Director and no matter the result with this existing staff, we will be in a much better position either way next November.

20 hours ago, Touchdown Tommie said:

I bet you're fun at parties...

 

Man, woman and child did that put 'em in the aisle!!

Incidentally, do you still talk to Eddie what's his name?

20 hours ago, ActualCornHusker said:

 

If you get this miserable following the team, why don't you just find something else to occupy your time? 

Since you are new to my posting, I will cut you a break.  I have not watched a Husker game since CU more than 2 years ago... The meltdown in Boulder.

In terms of finding something else to do, I get my kicks from posing thought-provoking and dare I say controversial comments to the loyalist masses each and every day.  Your response to my message warms the heart...

Be well my friend and keep the picture of our esteemed Coach close.  

20 hours ago, BigRedBuster said:

There is absolutely nothing that is going to make you happy, is there?

Simply put, progress....

0.500 this season with a veteran defensive group and a 4 year starting QB would have been very encouraging.  Real missed opportunity.

The new Nebraska recruiting strategy, one year players and filling holes.  Selling the UCF success story is now a failed proposition.  Playing time for degree-holders wishing to get noticed in a Power 5 league is now our main selling point.  

I would be a bit surprised if this Coach could honestly say that this was the vision four years ago.  To the loyalists, I know, this is working out just as he planned...

5 hours ago, Hedley Lamarr said:

He still talks way to much about catching a "break" or if one thing happened different etc. As if going 3-9 is not his fault but up to luck and how the chips may fall type of crap. I am going to start using this at my job and see how long I last. 

I have been clear on this point for some time so good to hear others catching on.  Our esteemed coach is a bit like the poker player that loses all of their money repeatedly.  We just caught a run of bad cards!

In our case, our run of bad cards goes back 4 years now!

12 minutes ago, Decoy73 said:

A year from now, we may very well be saying you were right, but doesn't your stance hinge on HCSF being either too bullheaded to or mentally incapable of becoming a better coach while working on his shortcomings?

 

I'll present the argument that he was, to most everyone's surprise (including me) not close to a complete coach worthy of a P5 job in 2018.  Fast forward to today, and while many deficiencies still exist, Scott has improved in some areas--although not as quickly as we could have hoped.  He's still not near the top of the B1G as far a coaching goes, but with his steady, albeit slow, Improvement, why can't this work for him?

 

You seem pretty certain it will not work.  Which I can only conclude that you either know him well enough to say he literally is in over his head, or for whatever reason you just don't like him as a person.  I hate to assume your reasons and maybe I'm wrong on both counts, but help me out a little here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being right is not my objective, getting it right is.  In the universe of collegiate athletics, it is very rare air for the coach of a major program to oversee sustained failure for 4 years and then through an epiphany, alter course, and find sustained success.  The closest example of this would be the legendary Mike Krzyzewski at Duke.  Even in this instance however, following an above 0.500 first year followed by two losing seasons, Krzyzewski showed dramatic gains in the 1983 - 84 season (his fourth) going 24-10.  We know the rest of this legendary story.  We are entering Year 5...

My comments on our esteemed Coach are not pejorative, they are pragmatic.  He is extremely confident in what he is doing and is not willing to alter that approach.  His one successful season at UCF and his time at Oregon have convinced him of that.  If he actually had an open mind to a new approach, that would have been manifested in his approach in Year 2 or 3.  We are beyond that now.  

I actually believe he could be a successful head coach again, but not at the Power 5 level.  AAC or the Mountain West would welcome his talents.  Very few get the opportunity to be head coaches, and even fewer are successful.  Therefore, why not have him take his talents to a league more befitting his skillset.  Again, I wish him nothing but success following his departure and thank him for his effort.  

Let's only hire assistants with ties to the University of Nebraska.  If you did not previously play for, associate with, or work for / with the University of Nebraska football program, you need not apply.

Another notable program once took such a dim hiring view, Alabama perhaps?  Ray Perkins, Mike Dubose, and Mike Shula all had sterling years at the helm of that program (with sarcasm).  That said, even in consistent defeat, at least they all were Tide loyalists!

Time to open our minds to program outsiders.  The era of Devaney and Osborne, while rightfully still revered and honored, is over..

4 minutes ago, The Dude said:

 

Day by day.

Year by Year...

November, 2022 (New HC)

33 minutes ago, Hedley Lamarr said:

Wonder if he knows who our OL coach will be....

Does it matter?  The system is a huge success, so any additions will need to tactically support the overall system.  

Let the one year countdown begin...

20 minutes ago, The Dude said:

 

Practice facility?  I thought Scott was talked to about that . . . 

Every advantage we can get (even if not NCAA sanctioned).

We are so close now...

4 minutes ago, Undone said:

 

There are several possibilities that exist to actually get to 7 wins next season by making good decisions in the offseason.

 

The litmus test for me on whether or not he gets it is whether Bill Busch gets promoted to an actual ST coach so he can do on-field coaching, or if we bring in a tried and true ST coach for the position.

 

This is off topic to the thread, but I also think we need a throw-first QB out of the portal. There has to be some kid that got cut from a Texas Tech or a Washington out there that can roughly do what McKenzie Milton did in the quick-decision passing game for UCF in 2017. Just has to be.

Optimism is great, but there are quite a few moving parts in this scenario.  After 4 years, the building blocks should already be in place (personnel, game management, etc.).  If we are counting on a number of external factors that are not even part of the program today to deliver the type of season you are describing, then that is a very tall order indeed.

If fixing the program 4 years ago was akin to climbing Mount Everest, than the scenario above would be akin to scaling Mount Olympus.  Coach "Zeus" aka Frost might need a lightning bolt or two to pull that off.

2 minutes ago, Undone said:

 

I do think you're right that there's at least some kind of a stubbornness issue with Frost that is evident.

 

Somebody may argue that his comments about Dawson having made great progress on special teams prior to the Wisconsin game were fair. But then in that game we let them return the opening kickoff for a TD and then we lost the Iowa game on a punt play.

 

Special teams are not only the biggest problem on the team, they're the easiest one to fix by the start of the 2022 season.

I believe it is beyond stubbornness UD.  He "knows" that his system works (because it worked at UCF) and what is that system?  It is one that places greater value and importance on offensive tactics and scoring.  In other words, bury your opponent on the scoreboard and defense and special teams are simply an afterthought.  The problem for him has been that Big Ten teams actually play defense (unlike his time in the PAC-12 or AAC).  

He struck gold this year with the competitiveness of the games in that he had a very experienced defensive unit that could cover many of the flaws that lead to larger margin losses in year's past.  Unfortunately, that will not exist next season so expect to see loss margins on the rise in 2022.  We all know where this is headed...

9 hours ago, BaytownHusker said:

Nah he set the single season catch record at Kentucky yesterday.   He ain’t going no where. Lol

Which record did he set this weekend?  The Kentucky rushing record?  Must be the case as we know Coach Frost was right when he lined Wandale up in the backfield to take on 315 lb defensive lineman for isolation plays.  

Sarcasm aside, congratulations to Wandale for recognizing a great opportunity to contribute at UK, and then to set the receiving record.  Great kid and he is missed.  

9 minutes ago, Undone said:

Here's the thing: Fixing the offensive line in one offseason? Not all that easy. Expecting better running back play in one offseason? Not really something you should reasonably expect, probably. Better QB play? Probably depends on if we get a throwing QB out of the portal.

But fixing special teams is absolutely fixable between now and the Ireland trip. That's why I'll lose all confidence in Scott's ability to actually manage and lead this program if he doesn't cook up a plan to actually get the right attention on special teams that it so obviously needs.

 

I've said it probably a dozen times: it can't be as hard as Frost is making it look, just can't.

If a problem does not exist, it is logical to assume that one is unable to implement a fix.  He simply does not view any of his approach as flawed.  Accordingly, you should not expect any change in the way our team approaches the game in 2022.  

In his view, the problems are the result of bad breaks or poor player performance.  The strategy and schemes are perfect (per 2017 UCF).  Unfortunately for him, this is not the AAC...

The title of the article should be "Anatomy of A Punt Block - The Play That Defined A Program"

I find it fascinating that while we micro-analyze a failed play on Friday, other programs are aggressively moving forward with plans to re-shape the direction of their programs for years to come (USC, Florida, etc.).

I realize we have one lame duck season remaining with this regime, but I am looking forward to a time when we can speak in optimistic fashion about the future...

Since the weekly press conferences have come to an abrupt end, we all have a collective responsibility to maintain the positive momentum this current staff has generated over the past 4 years.  As we know, we are very close now.....

Therefore, I am happy to report that there is a great deal of energy around the program today.  The kids have bounced back with incredible enthusiasm in both the practice and S&C facilities.  This is a good team that the breaks have gone against.  One or two plays more per game, and the League Championship is in sight.  

Now I know why this coach earns $5 million annually (now $4 million), selling this each week is in point of fact really difficult...