robsker

Boaz is a safety? For some reason I thought he was a CB. Was he not recruited as a CB?

That's the thing that stinks, it like once there's this type of injury it seems the odds of re injury go way up. Those in the know, do athletes who have faced these types of injuries have a greater chance of re injury or is the body part stronger than ever from rehab thus the odds of an injury somewhere else due to over compensation? In general, knee injuries are really bad news. The chance of re-injury goes up a whole lot - about 6x more likely. Wow. I dd not realize there was such a high likelihood of re injury. I would have expected perhaps a doubling... but a factor of six is, at least to me, unexpectedly high. I am in no way doubting the number, you probably have that from some reliable source (I'd assume). Is there any position-specific data out there. That is, is an interior lineman more or less prone to re-injury of a knee relative to say a WR? I might thing that it could be. Anyway, lets hope Williams never re-injures that knee.

Confirmation bias. bingo Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to selectively search for and consider information that confirms one's beliefs. Everyone struggles with this... no matter what the predisposed position might be. I'd have to think at some level this will be true for Bo-leavers and Bo-lievers alike. That said, the comments I hear are reported as I hear them... one might contend that I latch onto more fully those comments that I concur with... probably a little. But still, that NU's coach is negatively viewed and that this reality hurts NU's reputation is a fact that extends well beyond one man's anecdotal experience. Now ... those who fail to see how Bo impacts NU's reputation are perhaps expressing a conformation bias.

After my last post, Saunders edited and change to current state of the program. That is closer to the mark but I do not have a general sense of negativity towards the state of the program overall either --- just the coaching. I and others like me have stated (even in this thread) that wins/losses are not so much the point. I do wish the team played harder and with more focus and better fundamentals... but not really negative except on the coaches.

Saunders.. come on now, you are better than this. If you have me in view (as I surmise you do for this is what context suggests) then you mis-characterize me. I have a very high view of NU's program --- not at all what could be called a vastly negative view of the program. I would imagine that everyone who takes time to post on this board has a very positive view of the program, loves the program, wants to see NU prosper and cares about the program. Why post if not because you you are a hardcore fan of NU. I am no different than you or others posting here in that sense. I am a professor out of state and have many, many new students each semester that visit my office --- and in my office are Husker and Chicago Blackhawk items that often elicit comment from students. So, my office is a hockey and college football central of a sort. So I get many, many comments. Regarding NU, as I stated, most comments are negative and most (almost all) of those comments are centered on Bo. Hence the anecdotal testimony of my posts. For completeness sake, there are a few comments recently that are negative but not centered on Bo (but centered on Incognito). A couple years ago, Suh was part of the negative perspective too (though Suh comments are not that common for some reason now). The positive comments are about the fans, the "old days," and hopes that NU again becomes a power (as many fans, interestingly, think college football i general is a better place when historic powers like NU are competitive). So... it is what it is... just reporting what I hear.

at this point, given the statements we read, the CB position looks fairly promising. One guy not often mentioned (reasonable in that he is young) is Boaz Joseph. Have I missed it or have there been any comments on Boaz and the likelihood of his contributing this season?

You never hear any mention of Jack Hoffman or Nick Pasquale? Or opposing fans' reactions after seeing a game in Lincoln? That's too bad. Of course he did. It doesn't fit his mindset though. Ahh. I do hear about opposing fans enjoying their time at an NU game. That is indeed common. NU fans have a great reputation. What often I hear (being out of state) are fans of other programs having an historic positive impression (or, at least, neutral impression) of NU in general who basically are wondering why we "put up with what is going on (with pour coach's conduct)." But yes, I (and I surmise others from out of state too) do hear of great things of NU fans. That said, my recent comments in this posting have been perceptions of NU elicited in view of Bo's conduct... not about NU fans in general.

You never hear any mention of Jack Hoffman or Nick Pasquale? Or opposing fans' reactions after seeing a game in Lincoln? That's too bad. Of course he did. It doesn't fit his mindset though. Interesting Saunders... you know what I have heard from others. Quite a skill you have there. Actually, no one has mentioned the Team Jack thing in connection with Bo. Which is too bad because that is quite a positive thing. Like I said, outsiders tend to dwell on what they see, and what the media tends to center on (and hence what they see) is the negative stuff. That is the way it generally works.

When this young man got minutes early on a couple years ago he looked to be really promising. If he is again healthy and, as the article suggests, he is hungry and wanting to play badly... well that can only mean good things for NU. When we think of DT names like Valentine and Curry tend to get most of the attention... but Williams may be right there with them come season's opening... and that would be great.

You never hear any mention of Jack Hoffman or Nick Pasquale? Or opposing fans' reactions after seeing a game in Lincoln? That's too bad. I agree that that is too bad. Human nature I suppose. People tend to notice the bad more readily than the good. I have not heard others comment positively now for some time. But... that can change... Caveman99 above posted that there have been good things too from Pelini over time. I agree with that assessment. There have been good things (I have, actually, posted on some of the good things too). It takes time for the memory of the bad things to dissipate (nationally, and in the media)... yet there is hope that the bad stuff from our coach go to zero this year (that is, new bad things) and some good things get highlighted. It would be wonderful were that the case. People can change and they do mature. I hope the many positive things re: NU football are the focal point going forward.

You are quite correct on this point.

Skersfan: You characterized me quite well... I too am old school. That said, To be a blue hair requires hair... something that left me long, long ago. I do get the sense that the primary posters that are in the "winning" silences all problems crowd probably are the young posters --- who also seem unconcerned (or, at least, less concerned) with conduct and character than we older posters. So... lets hope that classiness of the program and the notion of good sportsmanship and just decent conduct becomes more and more an emphasis for Bo. That would help a great deal.

Actually, they're not alike at all Bo's won 70 percent of his games, played in 3 CCGs, and has made the post season every year. Even being a Cub fan, I don't recall the last time we made the post season or won 70 percent of our games. 10 years ago???? I was not comparing the Cubs to the Huskers. I was comparing the fans of the Cubs to the fans of the Huskers. My point is that Cub fans tend to be terminally positive and hopeful all the time... and that NU fans are beginning to be that way too (if posters here are an indication). Point is, that is a good attribute. A fan base that thinks championships are around the corner no matter what the evidence is, is a fan base that is tough not to like. In this, I see Cub fans (I have been one for 50+ years and counting) and Husker fans (been one of those for 30+years and counting) both share optimism no matter what.

I should think that Lewis has a good shot at being a fine player at NU. He has, essentially, already proven himself on the field at this level elsewhere. Lewis is not the only OL that may be really good. Givens-Price, Corey Whittaker, and at least 4-5 others who have not yet seen the field have all sorts of promise --- or, at least, their press clippings and highlight tapes all indicate great promise. The future of the OL, while unknown because most of these guys have yet to don the "N" and play, is nonetheless promising. Hopefully these guys end up as good as we hope and anticipate they will.

I read above several posters whose points are well taken... but must be tempered. It was stated that Saban, among others have been shown forth as coaches who have bad sportsmanship and can, at times, be truly bad representatives for their respective universities (like Bo has been at NU). This seems to me to be true. The premise is that because these programs win, the coaches get a pass and the emphasis on their poor conduct is less highlighted. This seems true. As pointed out, that does not mean the conduct is OK... it only means that winning takes the focus off the bad conduct. But this is true only in certain quarters --- only among a subset of people (but the general media is doubtless in that subset). For many, the wins do not matter... bad conduct is bad conduct and a coach as a bad ambassador for the school is bad whether they win or not. Perhaps the subset that views things this way is fairly small... who knows? But I am numbered among that group. The wins and losses to me at NU are not so big a thing --- programs go up and down and one must expect times (numbered often in groupings of years) whereby the team is not so great. Follow any program and you will have this. No big deal. But how you conduct yourself matters (at least to some of us)... and loving my alma mater as I do, I truly wish that NU football had a better ambassador out there. It is as simple as that... winning a championship would, for me anyway, not change anything.

That's an interesting thought. IMO, Bo's successor will probably have similar or slightly less talent on the team when he walks through the door. The team probably won't have completely given up like Callahan's last team. Arguably, the most toxic aspect will be repairing the relationships with people outside of the program and assuming that our next coach has attended at least a single PR class that shouldn't be too difficult. Fans want to like their coach. Fans want to hope. Fans want to believe. It won't take long to reignite those feelings. No doubt the biggest challenge for the next coach will be to repair NU's wildly tarnished national reputation (in terms of being a class organization, good sportsmanship, etc.) . lol You can dismiss that, but there's truth to that statement. Talk to a non NU fan about Suh, and ask what his opinion of him is. Ask if they associate Richie Incognito to Nebraska or to Oregon. Ask what they think of our football coach and his antics. We all can defend Suh because we're in the sphere, and we can dismiss Incognito. And I can even defend Bo because I know his good points too. But perception is reality and Nebraska does not have a sterling reputation nationally right now. NU football has much, much less than a sterling reputation re:sportsmanship nationally. In fact, NU has among the worst reputations in college football... and this stems largely from the perceptions (very negative) of Bo, Incognito, and Suh. You are correct perception is the functional equivalent of reality. Living out of state, I hear nothing but bad things about NU football and it always centers on Boo's conduct (viewed very negatively) and Suh and Incognito... but mostly Bo.

As a Bo-leaver" of the reasons you give, I am about 90% about wanting a coach that will represent the university well.. and 9% wanting the team to play hard, focused football... and 1% the composite of the other things. Seeing NU's national reputation as it is now is a sad thing (I am not referring to the view of their lack of competitiveness, but rather the view of the character and integrity of the program... which is generally largely dictated by the perception of the character and integrity of the coach)

That's an interesting thought. IMO, Bo's successor will probably have similar or slightly less talent on the team when he walks through the door. The team probably won't have completely given up like Callahan's last team. Arguably, the most toxic aspect will be repairing the relationships with people outside of the program and assuming that our next coach has attended at least a single PR class that shouldn't be too difficult. Fans want to like their coach. Fans want to hope. Fans want to believe. It won't take long to reignite those feelings. No doubt the biggest challenge for the next coach will be to repair NU's wildly tarnished national reputation (in terms of being a class organization, good sportsmanship, etc.) .

One must confess that the Husker nation --- at least if this poll is reflective and representative at all --- is wildly optimistic and stays hopeful year after year. This is a little like Cub fans still holding out hope that this will be the year. I guess this as a good thing... people staying positive.

Indeed. Very few people get rewarded for the type of performance Bo exhibited --- most, in fact, are shown the door. Hard to understand why NU is doing this.

I would say it's not so much what he's done, but rather what he hasn't done that's the problem. A legitimate concern, imo. What he has done has hurt too. Specifically he is a bad PR guy for the university. His rants, his F-bombs, his sideline tirades, his dealings with the press, his poor interviews, his national reputation are all negative issues. So... it is both an issue of bad things he has done and good things he has failed to do. For balance, and in fairness... he has done some good things too and he has refrained from many things that could be worse. Overall... his performance, by my measure (and some others here) is not at all good. But I and others like me do not matter. The powers that be at NU must somehow be impressed... they gave the man a 100K raise. So... no matter what the negativism is here, those who make the decisions like Bo. Why? I have no idea. But clearly they do.

Would Ganz fit into your description? Or any number of other high performing junior/seniors that didn't have the "it factor" the first day the set foot on campus? I think you both are right. Certain great ones simply have it and can be refined and honed by coaching but will succeed mightily even in the absence of solid coaching contributions. Such players are comparatively rare. Guys like Ganz clearly do not fall into that category --- he was not that inherently gifted... but was skilled nonetheless. For guys like Ganz, it is still largely natural talent (in his case taking time to develop) but coaching can make a bigger difference in cases like this (a bigger differential) than with the superstars.

well said. I concur that ball security is really important and that I will take that over explosiveness from a QB any day. Just distribute the ball, make few mistakes... leave the explosiveness to Bell, Abdullah, etc.

well this is what you get when you hire your friends with no experience. you are quite correct. The NU staff is a very limited staff in terms of what it can successfully do. It is not an experienced staff with proven excellence elsewhere at their coaching positions. It is a staff (all the way up to and including the head coach) that is a work in progress, learn as you go, try to figure it out type of staff which has many limitations still. One of them is what you mention... no one to develop well a QB. That does not mean that none of our QB's can end up playing well... they can. But being "coached up" and getting the maximum from their talent is pretty unlikely with this staff. Still... one of these guys may end up pretty good --- Armstrong, Stanton, or Darlington. If so... they will do so largely on their own. maybe outside coaching (the likes of which Tmart received) will be possible. Who knows? Hopefully, we get some quality QB play.

Did Nebraska have any wins over ranked teams - maybe Georgia? Iowa's 4 losses came to all top 15 teams. At the time they played us, i think their combined records were something like 45-3. Iowa was a better team last year, and it showed when it mattered. I don't see why it's so difficult to admit that. We'll get em next year (actually we probably won't) It doesn't really matter...there is no evidence of them being 'better all year' than Nebraska. They were better against a 3rd string QB, ailing receivers, and a banged up line and a banged up defensive line on that particular day. You are a massive f****t/jew