OmahaPoohBear

He has a lot of talent but there is a big difference between D1 and DII.

Maine--2005?

Maine is D1-AA, putz

No kidding? It would have been nice to beat them by more than 15 pts, a-hole. That's my point, smart guy.

Stay off the cokey-coke and nutt-up.

Better than Marlon Lucky?

What a great kid.

FYI, BRI, before you start (weakly, I might add) trying to bust somebody's chops for a typing error, you may want to understand the difference between "your" and "you're."

But YOU'RE not smart enough to.

Just go away......don't go away mad..........

Good read. This one will get ripped to shreds.

what an absurd comment. that was one of the greatest dynasties of all time. clearly thats what we should strive for, but using that as a measuring stick is unrealistic. your rarely going to be happy.

I guess that is where I differ from everyone else. I am a pefectionist. I don't half-ass things and accept them to be good enough.

We may not get the best talent but there is NO reason why we cannot be the best conditioned team in football. I guess I'm not as eager to settle for just being okay (like Trev Alberts has pointed out).

it took TO 20 years to get to that point, and he inherited a program that won back to back NT.

No they didn't. TO's first year was 73. Devaney didn't win the title in 72. Again, Tom never went under .500.

I'm not saying that Cally didnt make mistakes in that game, clearly he did. but he came very close to a perfect game plan, and very nearly embarrassed carrol when he home field advantage and superior talent

Your opinion is different from almost anyone else I have heard. Again the thought to shorten the game was a good idea, but the plan he drew up did not take advantage of USC.

Embarrassed? The embarrassing thing was the reaction to Callahan's gameplan. He was widely criticized for it.

i actually see some of poopbear's points. he makes a little sense in his arguments, and has stayed pretty consistent with most of his talking points. it doesn't change my mind about the change and the progress we needed and have made.

 

i just think a little reality HAS to play a role in dealing with our current situation. plain and simple: something happened that night in Boulder when CU trounced us. a cosmic shift in the football world occured. "mike tyson was beat by buster douglas." we just have not been the same since. everyone kicked the top dog while it was down.

 

but now the dog has a new owner. and to teach an old dog new tricks, it takes time, patience, repition, cadence, and language. we are learning to piss in the neighbors yard instead of our own (see ya Beck & Co.). we have quit chasing our tail and now are ready to establish some turf. we were ALL loyal to our former owners, that's what makes this state special. we are being fed with top recruits, a new dog house, fresh grass, and let off the rope. we will still sniff the wrong butt sometimes, but mostly are hunting the right prey.

Good points, I guess I don't see the overall progress that I would have hoped for.

poopbear--you have every right to feel how you do and be pessimistic about the future (and the past) but, i think people here just want to be positive and have a bright outlook. especially since we're undefeated right now. we realize you have some valid points and just want to be level-headed about your assesment (some things i actually agree with you) but damn kid, nearly every post you write is negative. how about a few things you do like about the program every once in a while?

How is that interesting, where is the fun in that? There is enough of that talk going on. 99% of what is posted here is a love fest and I don't see the need in repeating what everyone else has already said.

PS-nice name calling. Very mature.

24-41

 

9-38

I guess it's OK to look over two glaring problems as long as the numbers work out in the end.

Absolutely not. I was not happy with those peformances either but "losing more closely to top 25 teams" is "as hollow as a tree that has been dead for 30 years."

I heard that somewhere once

Would have been done regardless.

You gotta be joking. The focus was far from football when Pederson took the job.

I agree but Callahan had nothing to do with these facilities. Firing Solich may have hindered the financing.

Not that I wanted to get into this discussion, but Solich has won "Coach of the year awards" in 2 different conferences. He won the Big 12 championship, won a BCS game, played in the National Championship game, coached 2 Heisman winners.

Having this discussion in 2007 is dumb. This is the same discussion we were having in 2004.

I agree totally. I try to form my current opinion on the program based on its own merits. Whenever anyone criticizes the current state of the program the usual response is to bash Solich. I'm looking towards the future not in the past.

I agree. But what does that future behold?

Who knows. I'd like to find out without creating a coaching carousel.

Good point, but what if it continues to be 8-4, 9-4, 9-5, winning the North and getting beatup by OU and UT?

Let me know when they live up to the hype. W's, L's, and trophies.

Yea, because there was never any hype before.

 

All of this is just too familiar. You must have a twin somewhere.

Fair enough. My frustration stems from people totally ignoring what isn't right with the program and believing what they are fed. It should sound familiar because there are many, many people with the same concerns and questions.

I don't know but I bet he would have at least tried to win.

The idea that a coach would not try to win a game has got to be the most ludicrous thing I have ever read.

 

 

anyone who thinks that cally wasnt trying to win that game knows nothing about football, or sports in general. this is no different than in basketball a playing a running, pressing team and slowing it down. you do what gives your team the best chance to win. people dont realize how close that game plan was to pure genius.

I'm not saying that the plan to shorten the game was a bad plan, it was how he tried to execute it. It seemed like most of the plays he called ran right into the strength of USC's defense instead of trying to attack its weaknesses. When weaknesses were attacked it was successful. One thing I have noticed about Callahan is that he tends to change things up when he doesn't need to. When things are working, stay with them until the other team stops you. He has shot himself in the foot at times.

Back in the 90's when our strength and conditioning was the best in the country we tried to make every game as long as it possibly could be to destroy the opponent. I do miss that.

OmahaEeyore,

 

Reading your reply gives me that sensation of lethargy and disbelief that there is anything logical left in the world. It's like there's this veil that wraps around you, comforting you much like Iowa's QB philosophy (the next guy in line is really the one) comforts them. You live in this world where every shred of evidence against your Husker worldview is simply ingored––not rationalized or realistic––but disregarded entirely.

 

Look, I had thought about doing this long, eloquent diatribe against every point you made, and it might have even been a wee fun, but I'm going to forego it for the simple reason that you don't care about reason. It's obvious from your post that you can't even read progress from a five win season to a nine win season with talent like you couldn't imagine flooding in this spring. Your content to live in your fantasy realm, and I'm content to let you. But please, do us all a favor and stop spoiling the atmosphere around here. Some of us like Husker football. You'd probably fit in better at a Mizzery board.

Let me translate for you-

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blablablah, bla blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blablablah, bla blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blablablah, bla blah. You are right and I have no response.

 

I will drink my milk and go to bed. I am your personal biatch.

P.S. How cool would it have been to see a Frank team playing SC last year? Wouldn't THAT have been a riot.

I don't know but I bet he would have at least tried to win.

What, exactly, is your thoughts on where the program would be right now if Solich had stayed on board? Where was the quarterback? Where were the running backs? Where were the facilities? Where was any pulse in the program that you can honestly say would have sparked life into us again? Just looking at the 9-3 season he put up (after a memorable 7-7 finish in 02) is enough reason for me to see the logic in the transition. We were going nowhere, getting destroyed by the likes of Mizzery KSUcks and Texas, and there was no future in sight.

I'm not sure and anything I say will be purely conjecture. I would have liked to have seen how Pelini, Williams, Sanders, and Co. would have done. They should have had their fair shake. I bet they would not have had a losing season.

Then along came Bill Callahan.

5-6

70-10

40-10

Updated facilities,

Would have been done regardless.

5 star recruits, an offense when once fixed in position will attract pro hopefuls like you to negativity, and trivial non-season events, pro coaches clinics, etc. etc. etc.

And still the record is not any better.

record crowds

That was done way before Pederson and Callahan. Strike three.

If you can honestly say that Solich had a prayer in hell of accomplishing what Callahan is doing right before our eyes, then pal, I admire your faith.

Not that I wanted to get into this discussion, but Solich has won "Coach of the year awards" in 2 different conferences. He won the Big 12 championship, won a BCS game, played in the National Championship game, coached 2 Heisman winners.

Callahan hasn't. Callahan has yet to live up to the legacy that Frank left.

Callahan is the future, Solich is the past.

I agree. But what does that future behold?

You cannot give me one defensible reason why Callahan will not get the job done in the coming years. I defy you to present me with one shred of evidence that this program is not improving day by day, game by game, year by year.

I could but you wouldn't listen to them anyway so I won't waste my time.

With names like Gabbert, Gray, Keller, Witt, Asante, Castille, and Bowman appearing on our roster, I just can't understand why you would not have hope for the future of this team.

Let me know when they live up to the hype. W's, L's, and trophies.

I thought Suh played as a true freshman and is a junior this year/

There is a reason that they are still not paid for.

Crotchety, bitter old donors.

And that reason would be because they don't believe in Pederson, what he stands for, the direction of the program, and what he has done. That's on Steve's head, not the donors.

Pooh,

 

Weis and Stoops inherited a lot of talent. Most said when both were hired that the talent was there to win. Stoops did with Blakes talent, he has not really done much since then as far as NC's. Weis in my mind has been a total flop. I expected him to be much better than he has been.

 

BC had a talent level that would not have done well who ever coached them. Tell me which QB on the team was going to lead Nebraska in a option offense. We did not have a QB to run the option. Daily was brought here to change to a more balance offense. He could not run nor could he pass at the college level. There was no one behind him. You can not just look at the wins and losses and decide what is going to happen the next year, do you remember the year before. If it were not for cupcakes we would have been a 500 team that year.

 

The wheels were off period, someday you guys are going to have to realize just how far down we were, and I know we won 9 games and lost 3. Yes we lost to any team that had a pulse and by a landslide margin.

 

And yes TO did win a lot of games when he started and through his career, but he played in a total joke of a conference most years, could never beat Oklahoma and then lost to any bowl contender they faced.

 

BC plays in a much tougher time. I seriously doubt TO could come in today and do a much better job than BC is doing. I really do not think there are many out there that could. I am not saying BC is the best college coach by any means, but I just do not know who you would get to do a better job.

 

He gets 6 years in my mind, he has had 3 and every year has been an improvement. I think this will be the year we all have a change of heart about him. I hope at the end of the six years I am man enough to admit I was wrong if I am. I hope you are the same. I understand your concern, but it just to early. I do not want to throw the bady out with the bath water just yet

Talent, talent, talent. Recruiting, recruiting, recruiting. Like Barfy said if the recruiting has improved SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much with Callahan over Solich, then why in year 4 are 32% of the projected starters Frank's kids?

OPB when are you going to nutt up and join me in the woodshed? Actually you are so scared you wont even respond to me when I ask you this!

I really don't need to respond to you :asshat . Like a guy from another board said, there is enough mindless blather around here, honestly I'm better than the locker room atmosphere of the Woodshed. I'm not here for a pissing contest.

You can't out-think or out debate me on the public forums, I would destroy you in the Woodshed, too.

Six years? There have been many who have done it in less time, with much less.

 

It's not like he took over Baylor.

Who are you referring to?

Stoops and Weiss come to mind immediately.

Six years? There have been many who have done it in less time, with much less.

Your totally right about this...Tom Osborne inherited a 2 time defending champion football team, and it took him 20+ years to win his first National title.

 

MAYBE if we woulda canned osborne sooner on, somebody else woulda came in and then Nebraska would REALLY be considered a powerhouse..

 

This whole comparing Callahan to Osborne bit is getting old. For those of you have forgotten, Osborne changed offenses too in the late 70's. He went from a pro-style offense to the option, without an option qb which was much tougher than what Callahan did. He still won 9+ games every year, never went under .500, went to a bowl every year, and finished in the top 20 every year.

Let's put that dog down.

It doesn't take any real thought to reach down into a statistical bag of bullsh#t related to a team which is rebuilding from days of decadent nothingness.

Like I said, it's not like we were freaking Baylor. 10-3 and a top 15 final ranking isn't "nothingness."

Callahan has THREE SEASONS to effectivley transition a run-attack to a balanced attack using square pegs

Yadda, yadda. We tried throwing the ball all over the place in year 1 with a qb who couldn't, and a team that was built to run. Now we are trying to run with guys who are built to pass. That's on the coaches.

Forget that even in spite of some rocky times these last few years the support base has still produced massivly updated facilities that are practically the 8th wonder of the football world,

There is a reason that they are still not paid for.

well, it was a pretty negative read, with some eye brow raising stats.

not a lot of good news, but remember, cally really should have 2-3 more years to put this thing together, if we are still going 9-3 or 9-4 at that time, yeah, may be time to show him the door, but i really don't think that will be the case. 6 years to totally rebuild a team and a new O concept plus establish some depth is not unreasonable. patience.

Six years? There have been many who have done it in less time, with much less.

It's not like he took over Baylor.

I can't stand the guy but this is a great read.

Big 12 Football Preview: Callahan still must mold talent into titles

BY LEE BARFKNECHT

WORLD-HERALD STAF WRITER

 

 

 

Hey, Nebraska football watchers, have you gulped a little too much red Kool-Aid this month? Worried about sugar-shock from all the frosting-covered quotes coming out of the closed practices at Memorial Stadium?

 

Then welcome to the "Big Red Reality Check" hotline.

 

This is a chance to cleanse your palate before the first game with a straight shot or two of Nebraska football facts and figures. So let's get right to your questions:

 

Q. Isn't Husker recruiting the greatest? We've got some 10-stars and 28-stars and 54-stars and maybe even a couple of 100-star players coming in. Isn't it great? Did I mention the current coaches are the greatest ever at recruiting?

 

A. In four years, according to the NU media guide, coach Bill Callahan has signed 93 scholarship players.

 

This season, 32 percent of Callahan's projected starters are Frank Solich recruits.

 

Yes, the general talent level has improved under Callahan. Up to now, though, those "stars" haven't contributed as quickly or as regularly as in other big-time programs. Scrutiny of NU's over-hyped recruiting and over-complicated systems will dog this staff until there is a breakthrough season.

 

Q. Husker Athletic Director Steve Pederson just got a five-year contract extension. Don't we need to lock up Callahan with a long-term deal to keep him from leaving?

 

A. Let's check the balance sheet before cutting a big deal.

 

Callahan is 19-15 against Division I-A opponents. He is 0-6 against teams ranked higher than 20th. He has no Bowl Championship Series bids and no conference championships. And he is coaching at a time when the Big 12 North Division is at its nadir, with the North going 15-42 against the South the past three seasons.

 

NU also suffered its most-lopsided loss in history under Callahan and saw its NCAA-record streak of consecutive bowl seasons snapped at 35.

 

We've never talked to anyone leading a coaching search who would be excited by those results, especially at a program of this caliber.

 

Q. Nebraska went undefeated against teams in the Big 12 North Division last season. That's a sure sign of progress, isn't it?

 

A. Sure. Maybe the Huskers can hold a joint celebration with Baylor, which also was undefeated against the North last season.

 

Q. This Sam Keller fella, is he the real deal at quarterback?

 

A. He's an intriguing mix of physical skill and cocksureness. In his first four games of 2005 at Arizona State, he threw for 16 touchdowns with two interceptions, and had a couple of 400-yard games.

 

Also note that Keller's all-time record as a starting quarterback is 4-4 in a program that last year fired its coach and has been to one major bowl game in 20 seasons.

 

Clearly, much has occurred since spring practice. But at the end of spring drills, three "men of football" we trust and who attended all spring scrimmages were asked independently which quarterback impressed them the most. All three said freshman Patrick Witt.

 

Q. At what positions will Nebraska be equal to or better than last season?

 

A. We posed this question to a handful of former players who are more interested in football than grinding axes. The consensus:

 

Quarterback: Maybe. Keller could be Callahan's first real difference-maker at the position. But remember that Zac Taylor was the Big 12 offensive player of the year.

 

Running back: No. Fullback is a mystery and Brandon Jackson is a major loss at I-back, especially with Marlon Lucky still unproven and Cody Glenn hobbled.

 

Offensive line: Not necessarily. Just because this group is older doesn't mean it's better. The sack total the past two years (68) is mind-boggling.

 

Receivers: Probably, provided Maurice Purify shows his off-the-field woes won't drag him down on the field.

 

Defensive front: No, though there is mouth-watering young talent.

 

Linebackers: Yes, though Stewart Bradley will be a bigger loss than many think.

 

Secondary: Maybe, but it's no guarantee unless Zack Bowman can play a lot and at close to 100 percent.

 

Special teams: Yes, but the only way to go is up (punt return 69th nationally; kickoff return 112th; kickoff coverage second-to-last in Big 12; no field goals longer than 40 yards).

 

So that's two votes yes, two no, two maybe, a probably and a not necessarily. Add it up and it points to another 8-4 or 9-3 type of regular season.

 

Nebraska at a glance

 

• Coach: Bill Callahan, fourth year, 22-15.

 

• Best player: Curious, isn't it, that four years into this you have to stop and think about this category. We'll go with guard Matt Slauson, a preseason All-Big 12 pick.

 

• Best newcomer: Place-kicker Adi Kunalic. This Texas thunderfoot is a welcome addition after a season of field-goal struggles and with kickoffs now from the 30-yard line.

 

• Good news: The development of quarterback Sam Keller. With the schedule NU has, there was a desperate need this season for veteran leadership on the offense. If Keller lives up to half the hype, he'll be a hero to Husker fans. Live up to most of it and he can move into the governor's mansion.

 

• Bad news: There isn't a lot. Just nagging questions about how Keller will adjust, about cornerback Zack Bowman's knee, about the defensive front, about the need to show off with trick plays and about being too stubborn to simplify and execute.

 

• Key game: Oct. 6 at Missouri. Win this one and the Huskers could be home free in the North by simply avoiding any upsets.

Link

1. Who will play running back?

 

Lucky, Glenn, Culbert, Castille, Helu, Mendoza, maybe Amukamara

 

2. Can Lucky handle the load, or is he a china doll?

 

Yes.

 

3. How good will the D-backs (who burnt up the field last year. be?

 

Better than last year. Not all conference, but not worst in conference.

 

4. Do we have a true pass rushing threat?

 

I think Turner will emerge, also running different looks on defense will bring pressure from different places.

 

5. After losing the entire D-Line, will the new starters be able to play as good as last year's average line?

 

See above.

 

6. Will we be able to kick a 40 yard FG?

 

Yes

 

7. Will we be able to finish in the top 100 nationally in KO/punt returns?

 

It won't take much improvement to reach that mark.

 

8. Is Keller a Hypesman candidate, or a guy who throws 5 picks against good teams?

 

Keller put up almost 5 bills on LSU which was a top 5 team and defense, so I would safely say legit QB.

 

9. Can this coaching staff set up a game plan for an ENTIRE game?

 

Yes

 

10. Can this staff produce a win against a top 25 team, with or without the use of trick plays?

 

Yes, already had 2 of them in 2005.

 

11. Is there a TE in the house?

 

Good question

 

12. Can Keller actually pick up this offense?

 

Yes

 

13. Can we actually beat Mizzou or freaking Kansas on the road?

 

I think Kansas will be the tougher of the 2 this year, but yes I think they can.

 

14. Is the O-line really "better and deeper" without any all-conference players on it?

 

Slauson is an all Big 12 pick, 11 guys have plenty of game experience. Safe to say, yes here.

 

15. Will Bowman be able to contribute?

 

Good question. I'd like to think so.

 

16. Is there a Terell Farley or DeMorrio Williams type difference-maker at LB, or just a bunch of solid guys?

 

I think Octavien could provide that type of spark. Perhaps one of the freshmen will step up.

Your rebuttals are excellent, but I think that they are more speculation. We will wait and see.

But I ask, which 2 top 25 teams from 2005 are you talking about. When I look at the final poll top 25, I don't see any.

I wonder if they will change his helmet. Isn't there a different kind of helmet people can wear to protect further against future concussions.

I think most of the skill guys have the air helmets. They could always put an extra pad on it like Buffalo's safety (Kelso?) did back in the 90's.

It's a good story, but I don't think he will be that big of a deal. He was average when healthy, hasn't played in almost 2 years, and has 2 messed up knees. He's not 100% I certainly wouldn't count on much from Bowman this year.

 

I dunno if 11 PBU's in the final 2 games of 05 is average, but he does have a lot of rust to shake off.

 

He certainly did play much better in those last 2 games, but can he return to that form after 2 major knee injuries?

 

 

Can he return to that form after 2 knee surgeries is yet to be seen. Instead of forming your opinion of how he is going to be before he even plays a snap this season, why don't you wait until you see him play before you start saying that you wouldn't expect much from him this year! He has made a great recovery so far. He wasn't expected to be back until mid season. I think that alone goes to show you the guy has great motivation and work ethic! Wait and see. I think he will suprise you!

He may not even play but a few snaps per game until Mizzou. Like I said, if the season is halfway over before he contributes I wouldn't expect much.

So basically, look at everything you post...then believe the complete opposite. I get it.

 

In the World Herald today, he said that he "wasn't even thinking about Nevada or Wake."

 

Link

 

You should know what you are talking about about before you make a smartass comment.

 

I think he said that referring to he wasn't worried about exactly when he gets back to play, just focusing on getting healthy so he can play. I took it as him not wanting to set a goal and not be able to reach that date and be disappointed.

I guess I didn't read that much into it, who knows?

Any questions?

Yes.

1) Who will play running back?

2) Can Lucky handle the load, or is he a china doll?

3) How good will the D-backs (who burnt up the field last year) be?

4) Do we have a true pass rushing threat?

5) After losing the entire D-Line, will the new starters be able to play as good as last year's average line?

6) Will we be able to kick a 40 yard FG?

7) Will we be able to finish in the top 100 nationally in KO/punt returns?

8) Is Keller a Hypesman candidate, or a guy who throws 5 picks against good teams?

9) Can this coaching staff set up a game plan for an ENTIRE game?

10) Can this staff produce a win against a top 25 team, with or without the use of trick plays?

11) Is there a TE in the house?

12) Can Keller actually pick up this offense?

13) Can we actually beat Mizzou or freaking Kansas on the road?

14) Is the O-line really "better and deeper" without any all-conference players on it?

15) Will Bowman be able to contribute?

16) Is there a Terell Farley or DeMorrio Williams type difference-maker at LB, or just a bunch of solid guys?

Is there anything else you want me to ask?

Wow! that's really unexpected. What about Murillo?

over.................................................rated