robsker

that was very well said.

not sure if it is his being hesitant, tentative, fearful of fumbling, or whether he has been told not to run much... or whether he simply is not much for speed or quickness. He certainly does not appear to be a dual threat QB. His running is not overly effective. That said, if it is hesitancy or confidence, then perhaps he'll grow past that. But... to date, he does not look like a guy who will be able to run the ball. But, once more... we do not know the whole story... is there a chance he is being told not to take hits... hold back on the running? Who knows?

Oh for god's sake man. Do you think this team would struggle with those teams now? It is an obviously improved team. Just stop. They are young and talented. They will improve. Hell, we could still end up in a decent bowl game. Don't look past the fact that MSU is a good football team and guess what? They have a lot of upper classmen playing... we don't. Eh, I'm tired. I just don't get how people miss the fact of how young we are, how beat up we are and yet we still have an opportunity to get 10 wins. Florida was a top 10 team adn now they are nothing. Bo would not let that happen here. He will figure it out. I believe he has, he is just waiting for his young guns to grow up. So are we dude. We still have a shot to play a decent bowl game and have positive energy going into next year. This isn't the 1990's anymore. Nebraska will come back around but hiring and firing coaches does not increase that chance. certainly it does if you get a better coach and a better staff. We know we NU has now... see what is out there and improve the program.

Chill pill Red Stripe. Its just a game. True... the program has been struggling for a decade or so now. But beating a dead horse is not that valuable either. Again... a few good things were out there... Burch, AA, Cross, SJB, RG, among others. Lets see some of the positives too. The defense, overall, played pretty well... now MSU is not good offensively... but still, NU'd D was not bad at all. And again... enjoy NU football.. it is for entertainment purposes and does not define who we are. Even if NU is not that good, there are still things to be pleased about.

Well. I just see MSU as having not really played anyone yet and they are really over-rated. They are, at best, a fringe top 20 team. UCLA would roast them. OSU will kill them. So... my take on why NU did not look really bad is that MSU was rather average out there. Actually, MSU was perhaps less than average... consider they were +5 in turnovers and yet they did not romp all over NU (solid win, sure... but +5 you should have a laugher of a blowout).

Whether it is Bo or his coordinators matters not. Either way, Bo is responsible... he hired them. He is the boss. The buck stops with Bo.

as others have posted... MSU was not overly impressive. They looked good (but not great) on defense. They looked OK at best offensively. They will get just curb-stomped by OSU... and... I am not sure exactly how good OSU is, but MSU is a fringe top 20 team at best. As for NU... we saw what we have been seeing for some time now. Not a bunch to learn. But a few guys look good. I was impressed with Burch. Gregory looked good... real good. I also liked the speed from Cross... he can scoot for a big guy. TA is going to be a fairly solid passer I'd think --- struggling some now... but he is young. As for dual threat... that he is not nor will he be.

Wisconsin hasn't had that much success. They've been OK...and Nebraska's been OK. Stanford has had that much success. Why? Probably because they had one of the best coaches ever in Harbaugh, handed it off to what looks like a tremendous success in Shaw, and along the way one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. That's the "formula" -- identifying incredibly talented program-building coaches and hitting on the hires. Not "recruiting power" and "selecting the right offensive playbook." Wisconsin has been much more successful than NU over the past decade and it is not even close... if Wisconsin has been OK than NU is well below OK --- or, if NU has been OK than Wisconsin has been really good. The two programs are on entirely different levels. How many conference championships for Wisconsin in the last decade... how many for NU? Bowl wins? BCS games? No the Badgers (I hate to admit because I do not like that program) are at not one, but two full levels above NU.

Your post makes it seem like somehow Stanford is the desert of college sports and that it is surprising that a great program is emerging there. Well... Stanford has the best overall college sports program in America. Stanford wins the Sears Cup (I think that is what it is called) every year almost. Putting together killer sports teams at Stanford is the norm. Sure... football has been the rarity there in that it has not been emphasized much ... but still, Stanford is a perfect place to build a great program. I agree though that you can win anywhere (almost) with the right coach and the right vision. And your post is spot on --- NU needs to have conditioned, tough, physical players (which, of course, currently they do not have). They need a good HC and assistant coaches too --- and NU does not have that either.

I find it interesting how so many appropriate NU football to themselves... saying "we" want to play for the CCG and "I" want to play the best and be the best --- as if any one of us who posts here are on the team. Many seem to get a subset of their identity from the team so much so as to see themselves as part of the team. That, in and of itself, is telling. It is rational and reasonable to look at the team you root for and recognize that they are not yet ready for a stage like OSU in the CCG. NU is simply not yet playing anywhere near the level where they would be competitive and such a game would not end well (but NU could, theoretically, find themselves there anyway). If the better good of the team and the program is in view --- especially long term --- then backing into a CCG because no one else in the Legends division has risen to the top... and getting stomped on a national stage may not help recruiting or team psyche (or in any way). To quietly get better (and not play the CCG) and earn a bowl game and play hopefully some one comparable to NU --- that could be better for the program overall. As posted earlier, it is likely a moot point as I'd think MSU is far more likely to win out than is NU. In any event, there is nothing wrong with a fan of NU thinking that a CCG is premature for this squad and is better suited for perhaps next year (or, at least, we would hope NU is better then and at that point ready). NU is not yet ready for such a stage.

Even comparing these two catches is strange. Davison's catch was very athletic, much more difficult and way, way, way, way more important. Davison's catch was in a season where NU won a National Championship. Without that catch, NU has 4 NC's not 5. It was HUGE. The catch by Westerkamp was a nice one --- but in a meaningless game in a meaningless season. Win or lose that game and there is really no substantive difference. So the two catches are not even in the same league. Matt's catch is so much more important that no comparison is warranted.

It is hard to interpret Bando's comments to know precisely what went down. However, context makes clear that it was a trust thing that the players appreciated (or at least Bando implies as much). That is, while we do not know what happened in detail, whatever happened involved trust, communication and was a unifying thing that helped. So... good deal..

Regarding the QB... I hope it is Armstrong. He is learning and these experiences are invaluable for him and will prepare him better for next year. I do not know what to expect as to who will start... my hope though is for Armstrong --- who I hope has these bold passing problems (throwing into double coverage) out of his system. I watched 10 minutes of MSU vs. Michigan --- and Michigan is horrible against the blitz. Perhaps the Huskers can blitz and place pressure on the Michigan backfield all day. Michigan looked horrible in general... just physically over-matched against MSU. Michigan is beatable even by an average team... the Huskers could win this one. I think MU will, and probably should be favored, but NU does have a shot. As for our injuries... that may still play a role and mitigate against NU's success --- especially on the OL.

So spot on. That's exactly what they'll say. You are correct --- that is what people here will say... and they will be justified in saying it too. The point is Northwestern is the caliber team whereby victory against them is comparatively meaningless (as they are so weak) but defeat against them is horrible (because they are so weak). Just like Minnesota. And Iowa. These games are simply like those against teams like SDSU, Illinois, Wyoming, Southern Miss... victory against these types of teams show little. But losses to such teams show much. That is the curse of an easy schedule. It will not be until Michigan and MSU --- both decent teams --- that a victory can be meaningful. Of course... lets get a victory anyway.

I am only guessing here but... if you have ever worked for a failing organization with poor leadership before you might relate to this. When a unit is struggling and the workers no longer have confidence in the management, what often happens is the workers lose interest, do not work hard, do not expect much of the unit or themselves in terms of contribution to the unit. They tend to not really care much anymore. Certainly no one enjoys being there. Bitterness and in-fighting often result. Perhaps the NU team has a good subset of the players who have lost hope, who do not have confidence in their teammates and/or the coaches (or, at least a subset of the coaches). When that happens focus is lost, intensity is not there, no one is having fun and bitterness prevails. You add a sense of entitlement that another subset of players may have (thinking we'll win because we are NU) and the "shock" that comes from getting rolled by weaklings and the false bravado of that group of players leads as well to lack of confidence (and focus). Its just a mess. A fresh start for the program is needed.

The same can happen to NU --- if our next HC hire is as well a bad hire (like the last three hires have been)... NU will sink further. If it is a good hire, NU turns around slowly. If it is a great hire... NU turns around quickly and climbs back to respectability. The next hire is very, very important.

I've had a problem with Pelini since last year's Ohio State game. I've long believed this team has systemic issues. Pelini has been here too long for excuses. He does not deserve time, trust, or second chances. He's in year six getting whipped by a Minnesota assistant. It's over. Pelini has no defense and no defenders. The program is an embarrassment and there is no one left to blame. Good points. Who will be the next coach in line for 6 years then fired? Maybe NU will hire an experienced and qualified coach this time and the person will have the skills to last out and, in fact, prosper long beyond 6 years. When you make a bad hire, you expect a short stay... it is only natural. Bo was a bad hire (inexperienced, demonstrable immaturity & poor people skills). So was Callahan (experienced but highly unsuccessful, poor people skills). So was Solich (inexperienced hired at a time that NU had market position to get a rock star as a coach.. settled for an internal guy w/o skills or experience). Three bad hires in a row. That is why NU is where it is --- no longer a major football program of note. But... hold out hope... NU may make a good hire this next time and things will turn around quickly. Of course, another bad hire would doom the program and sink it further. This next one is very, very important.

One thing came to mind when I watched this. I feel sorry for Bo. It must be painful for him to have his livelihood debated on national TV. It would be tough to be a public figure in this nation at this time. Imagine how tough it would be for Bo to sit through watching that. Some of the older among those who post here (and maybe some of the younger too) have experienced at their work the hiring of someone who was unqualified for the job. When someone w/o the background experience comes in and are under-qualified, the hiring ends up being painful for everyone --- including the person hired. Bo never was a head coach and had questionable people skills when he was hired --- he was not qualified. When a person is asked to do what they do not have the skill set to do --- then they (and everyone) will struggle. Bo was thrust into a situation where he had no business being. And unfortunately for him (and Husker fans) it did not work out. For Bo, for NU... the merciful thing to do is end this quietly at seasons end. It must be agonizing for Bo... and I earnestly feel for him. He was asked to do what he could not do. He never should have been hired.

I truly hope you are wrong. Every additional minute with this staff is another minute wasted. I fear, however, that you might be correct.

At this point it is clear that NU is going nowhere this season. There will be no CCG. So... with Martinez hobbling, it makes sense to play Armstrong from here on out and get him the experience so that next season he is more ready to lead. Seniors like Ankrah and a few others should as well give significant minutes to their backups. Bo will not do this because he is coaching for his job and the idea of playing for next season makes no sense for Bo as he must be fairly certain for him that there will be no next season for him at NU. The idea of playing for next season is a common thing for middling teams... they start seeing long term and use now for the better hope of next year. NU is a middling team. There is nothing of note available for this season. But perhaps next year will be better. A seasoned QB would help. Let Armstrong and others replace (at least in part) their senior counterparts and let them work out the kinks now... NU might lose a game (or two) this season that they might not have otherwise lost... but it matters not. This season is over as regards anything of significance... so invest now for the future.

This is an easy schedule. My gosh, NU has only played one decent team so far and... remaining on the schedule? Not one legit top 20 team... or, maybe one, MSU. No... with this schedule it would take herculean ineptitude not to win 9-10 regular season games. The Huskers are really bad. Poorly, poorly coached. Out of shape. Lacking in effort. Poorly prepared. And... I'd have to think it is in the players by now (probably long ago) that the coaches they have are in over their head. It would take mighty ineptitude not to win 9-10 games against this schedule... but it looks like the Huskers might just pull it off.

I am glad then that you are not on the hiring committee. To not hire an experienced and proven, successful, head coach would be ridiculously foolish.

That is normal for Bo. It is too bad... but is one of many, many, many, many reasons why Bo has been and is currently unfit to coach. Every leader... if they are a leader... will take the blame.. whether it is true or not. In this case, Bo deserves to shoulder a great deal of blame... and, if he knew what it meant to lead, should take all the blame. I'm guessing at this point that Bo has quit caring. But who knows...

I think NU has a reasonable chance of running the table... no one in the division looks overly good. No one on the schedule looks ominous. But... the Big House is always tough and MSU could be tough too. Neither are that good... but both will be hungry. So... no reason to think NU can't win out. I think they can. They might not... but the schedule is way easy and set up for success.

Watched some of the Northwestern vs. Minnesota game. That game had the look and feel of a High School game. The play was ragged by both teams. The stadium is so small. The announcers added to it... but it just had a feel like a high school game. Neither team looks very good at all. NU should roll them both. That said, the big DL for the Gophers looks really good and could be a force. Minnesota runs pretty well but NU should have little difficulty with either team.