robsker

Here's the Tweet I was talking about:

 

Mike'l Severe ‏@MikelSevere 2m

You can see the wheels spinning for Joseph. But he looks comforable at S. CJackson is teams best tackler. IMO. Then Rose, Zaire and Gerry.

 

Perhaps it was a typo.

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

Would be nice for him to get healthy and add some depth.

 

 

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.

It's no coincidence that the posters here who have a vastly negative view of the state of the program "only hear bad things" about NU, while everyone else does not.

 

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.

It's no coincidence that the posters here who have a vastly negative view of the program "only hear bad things" about NU, while everyone else does not.

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?

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.

 

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.

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.

 

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.

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.

 

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.

No worries skersfan. What Tom accomplished is legendary.......but it is not without some blemishes in "national perception"......especially with the things mentioned.

You are quite correct on this point.

Robsker and I both fit into the blue hair category. I believe Robsker is a professor at a university. I am old retired Marine. We still see winning the right way as important, having a program that is respected in all facets. Robsker has focused totally on Bo and his actions, and given pretty good reasons as to why this is not going to work in the long run.

 

Being an old Marine, Bo is a beginner for me. Not enough F words to really carry on a conversation. lol. I was the first one on this board to voice my total displeasure with Bo being hired for many reasons. I have endured the pro Bo guys saying every year this is the year for Nebraska and Bo. It does get old, just as some of us and our Bo sucks gets old to the positive Bo guys.

 

I do differ from Robsker in that I think Bo can correct his problems, that he truly has worked on his temper, his public perception. I have a wife that thinks Bo is a complete idiot, should not have a job at any higher learning position, that he is a total embarrassment to the program by his actions and his win loss ratio. But she has stated that he seems to be working on his attitude.

 

I see a lot of positives from Bo, but mostly on the player side. His devotion to them, his protection of them and (what I feel) his sincere interest in their development as students, players and young men. Those are truly important parts of his job. His dedication it appears to only recruit quality young men, and run the program as I (personally) think it should be.

 

I had a Marine Drill Instructor, that was hard as hell, every other word was an F word and I and the platoon were lower than whale poo. But he made me a man, I ending up spending many years around him in the Marine Corps, one of the best, bravest men I have ever known. Rough around the edges, but truly cared about the men under him. So I have lightened up some on Bo, Polo and I used to go round and round about him, Polo supporting him to the enth, and me thinking he was just a step above a maggot.

 

Bo is not the pretty prince of football, but I think he is honest, hard working and gives us his very best. After this year, if it is not good enough, Bo will need to go, but I just have this funny feeling things are going to be better this year, and just possibly our Frog will turn into that prince we need.

 

I agree with Robsker about wins not being that important to me. I think that comes with age.

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.

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.

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.

Bo came in to repair a toxic situation but if or when he leaves, he's likely bequeathing a not-so-dissimilar task for the next guy.

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.

At the risk of putting words into the mouths of the "Bo-Leavers," I believe they want Bo and his staff gone, and to replace them with a better head coach who would better represent the university, who would stop the rash of blowout losses we've suffered, who would have the team ready to play 60 minutes of fundamental football every game, and who would better understand recruiting and attack it in a more effective way.

 

Through all the rhetoric I've read, this is the common theme. And it's not an absurd, outlandish desire. But the message gets lost in the back-and-forth we see on message boards.

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)

Bo came in to repair a toxic situation but if or when he leaves, he's likely bequeathing a not-so-dissimilar task for the next guy.

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.

the extension was totally unwarranted.......Bo did nothing to earn another year, except tell them he could care less if they fired him...nice reward for being an asshat!

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 NEVER post, but damnit i cannot stand the damn negativity anymore. What the hell has Bo done so horribly that you guys seem to think he needs to go so badly. We had a once in a lifetime player in Suh that single handedly made this defense a top five unit, take him off the 2009 unit and its not even close to the same. Then in 2010 we had like 4 guys in the secondary that were NFL caliber locking teams up from passing. We changed conferences into what is perceived(and rightfully so) as one of the most hard nosed conferences in the country, maybe not the fastest but one of the toughest in the trenches. It has taken time for him to change from defending spread offenses to ones that consistently send tons of o-lineman to the nfl, but last year showed that he has learned what he needs to do and is adjusting accordingly.

 

As for the offense, do any of you remember 2009??? We are leaps and bounds better than then even when half of our offense was injured. So many of you just want him gone because of his fieryness but refuse to look at all of the hurdles he has to overcome. I am about done looking at the damn husker football section because there is an absolutely stunning amount of negativity it makes me sick. If you really want to go back to Callahan then GTFO because even Pelinis' recruiting has improved tenfold. Give the man 2-3 more years and if we are still stuck in purgatory then I will agree that things need to change. Until then we need to give him support or watch the whole team turn against us, then we will be in a giant black cloud and become the next Iowa.

 

Go ahead and tear this post apart like you do every other one and call me a sunshine pumper idc. In 2 years half of you will be eating crow(or just saying how you knew he could turn things around).

 

/END RANT

 

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.

Do you think Kevin Sumlin taught Johnny Football to play like that or Jamise Winston has all that poise because of something that Jimbo Fisher did? Those kids were born that way.

 

A coach can work on enhancing and refining what is there, but they real great ones already have it.

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.

A lot of great college quarterbacks go off campus for training and work on their techniques in the off season. I'm not sure if you have to have someone on staff that can specifically focus on developing the QB and his talent. That's not something I know a lot about when it comes to other colleges/staffs and what their makes-ups are. Might be something to look into, though.

 

All I know is Stanton was a finalist at the Elite 11 QB camp, joining a group of some extremely talented college QB's in the last decade. Pretty fine company to be mentioned with (names like Vince Young, Matthew Stafford and Andrew Luck, for example). Throw on that TA also has a lot of talent and game experience, and you gotta like how this competition is shaping up.

 

IMHO the most important thing outside of playmaking ability/leadership is ball security. This was a huge problem in recent years. I'll sacrifice a little explosiveness or game-changing ability if it means we'll turn the ball over less. Whoever our starter is, he has to take care of the football better than TM did.

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.

I think that Tommy and Johnny have the potential to be very good. That being said, who is going to guide them to greatness? Do you believe that we have some people on staff that are capable of developing a championship/NFL QB?

 

Tim Beck is not a quarterbacks coach. RK3 is going to be a GA next year.

 

No one on staff has directly overseen the development of a big time QB. Taylor was great and he put up some very impressive numbers, rewrote the record book, but we all know what his career was missing.

 

Ron worked hard, paid his dues and got his much-deserved chance last year.Tommy still beat him for the starting spot, though. So now Ron is going to be coaching the guy whom he could not beat out? I just do not get what Kellogg could teach Armstrong.

 

How do we develop a championship QB if no one on staff has ever coached one or been one?

 

It's a team game blah blah blah but quarterback is the most important position.

 

gonna be a long offseason

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.

Iowa had no wins against ranked teams.  Iowa's premiere win last year was against...Nebraska or Michigan...depending on which program you feel had the higher prestige last year.

 

They lost to Northern Illinois, a team beat by 20 points by Bowling Green and 7 points by Utah State.

 

I'm stating this so you know that Iowa was not better than Nebraska on any given day....they were better than Nebraska on gameday.  That's what counts...but it doesn't make them better overall last year than Nebraska.

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