HANC

Last week I posted a thread on how USC beat NU not ONLY because of coaching but more because of the talent level of USC was far more superior....... Although, my original post remains "correct" about the talent level comparison between USC and NU, I did say that if NU continued to struggle vs equal or lesser talent, that I would begin to see the light in the fire Coz' opinions... Ball State had "inferior" talent, and made the Defense look silly....no need to rehash all of that (only about 50 threads out there on this subject).....but I just wanted to keep my word, and say that Coz needs to step it up big time or step out.....

I am not going to argue with you about how important coaching is......my goodness, it is the backbone of organized sports.... Please read my posts without trying to make it into something it's not...... I have said that Coz has been out-coached numerous times......my ONLY POINT that I was trying to make is that if people are using the USC game as a guideline, DON'T...... I don't care how "long in the tooth" the talent talk gets, you can't honestly tell me that NU is at the talent level as USC..... no comparison at all..... Earlier, I said that if Coz and BC continue to show the same pattern as we enter the Big 12, I will totally agree with the entire arguement...... I refuse to use this past weekend as a viable comparison.... I too took the class with Coach Suhr, and respect him tremendously..... I can dig up my notes if you would like, and I promise you that Coach Suhr mentioned many times about "having the horses helps too"...... I just don't like the HS comparison to DI as far as developing players... in HS, everyone is "raw" as far as talent is concerned.....kids can develop by leaps and bounds during their 4 yrs of HS and yes, great coaches get kids to do this.... We both can give examples until we are blue in the face to support our own opinion, but that would be senseless....A lot of HS in Nebraska and Iowa are "football factories" small and large schools, and yes, that is the result of having a great coach who motivates and builds depth throughout the entire school (elem. and up).....that is what we are attempting to do here..... but , in more cases than not, teams come and go with the "talent" factor .......... I am done with the examples....and with "debating" this with you.... You make very valid points, and I respect that...... I just wanted to state that the talent level on the field this past weekend had a lot to do with the outcome..... If we suck it up vs Ball State, I will be in the same boat as you.....

Junior....your points are well taken....coaching does matter...... read more carefully next time.... I want you to point out exactly where in my post that I stated "coaching doesn't matter"......so don't you "dare" rant on my post and "paraphrase".... coaching does matter, and if you actually read the post for what it was worth, I think that I made many references to coaching.... Yes, by the way.... I began my football coaching career approx. 20 miles from Cambridge...... very well aware....did you realize that not long after the winning streak you mentioned, they moved UP a classification and played bigger schools ? May have had something to do with the streak ending..and the fact that they graduated a guy named Ed Thompson (3 -4 yr. all-state QB who went on to star at UNO)...so yes, once again....Cambridge had TALENT Furthermore, all of your references, especially in "small" towns are about High Schools.....anyone, who knows anything about "small town USA realizes that kids come and go in "cycles"........ not so much at larger HS, but in smaller schools....definately.... Personal example...... I have had many winnning seasons (only 2 losing seasons in 15 years).... two years ago was a 2-7 team...worst record I have had.... I had to start 7 1st year starters and sophomores and juniors.....we struggled..... parents pissed, not unlike many fans on this board.... the following year, SAME KIDS, SAME STARTING LINE UP....... and yes, maybe to someone's surprise SAME COACHES, PHILOSOPHY, AND PLAY CALLING and we went 8-1 and was feature in OWH...... Low and behold, I was the SAME coach as I was the previous year, just kids grew up, got more experience, and we made plays. and your "Track" comparison...doesn't always work that way..... I also coach track and have had many State medalists, including state champions..... had a kid that weight 180 pounds of pure muscle, ran a 48.9 400 meter dash (small school state champ), not worth a penny on the football field.....hand-eye coordination not there and not much for contact..... Track builds speed and fast twitch muscle fibers that help in football, but foot-speed doesn't always guarantee success in football. and as far as the coach who left (successful) and then returned (successful)...and while he was gone the team struggled.... once again , "cycles"...hell, if I left at the end of this year, I would have a "very successful" run.... and if I look into the jr. high and upper elementary... I see a few "lean" years ahead as far as numbers and just plain athleticism.... then I could avoid the "potential" lean years, and possibly let someone else "struggle" and then re-apply when the talent leve rose again.... then when I came back, we would "win again" and everyone would say that I was the reason...... I guess that I am too humble to accept ALL the credit for wins...... KIDS WIN GAMES...... coaching is EXTREMEMLY IMPORTANT.... if I didn't think so , I would change professions....just realize that TALENT dictates what a coach can do at MANY LEVELS...

This is Barry Turner's 1st year as seeing full-time action.... he only saw time in special "nickle' situations..... If that was the only "technical" part of the post that you could find "wrong", then I am assuming that you must somewhat agree..... Turner was a "pass rush" specialist that made plays, thus earning him his "freshman all-american" status....how many times did he have to take on a "run-block" - get off the block- make a tackle vs an all-american caliber RB...... probably "never"......so my point about 1st year action is pretty much on tract.... Look guys...I am not saying that the coaching shouldn't be to blame and at the very least taking some of the heat, but I just don't think that you can use the USC game as a "barometer"........ If we look like this vs the Big 12 North, then I will totally jump on the same band-wagon as some of you, but for now, I will stick with my opinion that NU was out-classed just as much as they were out-coached.

I have always heard that "great players make coaches look great"....... I can tell you that this is more the truth than the other way around...... Give me a "great coach" and look at his players....I bet at whatever level you are talking about you either have all-state (HS), All-Americans (NCAA) or All-Pros on that team.... 100 % guaranteed !!!! I am not saying the coaches are not at fault....... I am just tired of hearing some of these guys talk about how BC and Coz are solely to blame... and Coz has taken a group of great athletes and can't coach them..... Everytime my team loses a game, I take it personally and feel as if it my fault.... so I believe that the coaches are feeling the heat... but common sense says the talent just isn't there yet !!!!!!

Although your comments are mostly correct, it is obvious many of you haven't coached at any level.... You can teach,preach, and do nothing but practice "staying on blocks", "wrapping up", etc..... and everything looks fine in practice vs the "scout team" (possibly not as good as USC ), and when you get on the field, athleticism takes over... I will admit, I am surprised that they don't have more "full contact"..... but I have had many players go onto college and they all tell me that HS practice is much more "physical" than in college....college is a lot more technique orientated than HS..... Sure, Bo Ruud can tackle the freshman I-back trying to be Chauncy Washington, but in game time, see what happens.. Once again, just trying to make a few understand the "true" views from the inside.....not the arm-chair or PC chair...

Agreed with all post so-far except the "our coaches can't recruit talent"........ Yes, I think that Coz needs to re-evaluate who he has on the field.....I mentioned something close to that in the original post, but not maybe that "in-depth"..... Thenarse, Dillard, Culbert (back on D).... should see the field more !!!!!!! Remember, I didn't say that the Coach's didn't need to shoulder some of the responsibility, but am just pointing out the talent gap also played into this type of game..... As far as recruiting talent..... I said pre-season that this year should NOT BE A DEFINING YEAR FOR BC.... he has talent, but "young" talent and we do not have QUALITY-TALENTED DEPTH.... I am sorry to spoil it for a few of you guys, but 2-3 pretty good recruiting classes does not make you an immediate "power"..... it takes time....... some guys pan-out, some don't, some leave, injuries...... relax, give recruiting time to build quality depth !!!!!!! I am glad someone mentioned the OWH article this morning...look at the missed tackles.....over-powered.....missed assignments..... all that can't be pinned DIRECTLY ON COZ..... but, yes, the coach needs to address these issues and take the responsibility to fix it.....

First of all, I am not a "rose-colored glasses" guy.... I am a realist and pesimist by nature..... Furthermore, as many know, I have coached football for many years..... as stated numerous times, this does NOT make my opinions right/wrong, but maybe just adds a little "different"perspective now and agian... I for one think that BC is doing okay.....not great, but not as bad as some think..... His game plan was perfect offensively for USC (better than other games)...but once agian, I felt that in the USC environment last season, he had a great game plan that gave his team the best opportunity to win (close going into the 4th...unlike this season).....this year, I felt at home with Keller, he had to take chances and he did.... I keep reading all of this stuff about Coz and his defense..... Granted, and agreed with..... Carroll out-coached Coz up and down the field...but Carroll has down this to almost everyone..... Yes, Coz needs to re-evaluate his schemes vs certain teams, but more importantly, he needs to re-evaluate his talent.... Anyone who actually "watched" this game in depth, realizes that USC outmanned NU at almost every position...face the hard, cold facts, NU STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE TALENT OF USC-LSU-FLORIDA-OU... Anyone who thinks that we match up physically with the top 5 programs is looking for a reason to complain about BC or Coz..... Look at Coz's defense: Potter: over-hyped since HS..attitude problem 1st yr...proved nothing yet Suh: very good, but missed numerous tackles in backfield....Coz didn't miss one...and had him in the right spot Dixon: JUCO kid in 1st year of DI...... proved nothing yet Turner: has potential to be stud....1st year in action LB- Octavien is the ONLY LB who will probably be drafted in top 4 rounds (USC has at least 2 1st rd) Grixby: hustles , under-sized Bowman: returned early from 2 major injuries and has only played 2 good games at NU Green: playing position number 3....not a great S Asante: missed tackles all night....Coz had him there, but Asante missed...hype-hype-hype-hype * Please make me understand why some of you feel that the players mentioned above should be able to compete against an offense that will have probably 9 or the 11 players in the NFL within 2 years ? - Yes, Coaching could and should be better, but my goodness, we still don't have the talent " it is not the X's and O's, it's the Jimmie's and Joe's"....... Barry Switzer !!!!

I freakin' love it man.......... the whole deep beat to get the crowd's juices flowin....knowing that during this part of the song that we will be watching a tremendous "high-light" video of bone jarring hits and great plays.... then right before climax, breaks into siruis and shows the team in the tunnel...... friggen' awesome....can't wait until tomorrow..... Plus, if anyone has seen the movie "SAW"........ the actor that plays jigsaw starts the entire thing by saying "let the games begin"'......... and if you have seen the movie or movies, you will get goosebump on every part of your body... Couldn't love it more.....hope it is exactly the same that is on mikeybo's facebook....

As many of everyone else's wives, my wife is a true blooded big red fan...... In college (UNL), she took a road-trip with 8 other guys (yes, including me ) to CU in a blizzard to stay in a small hotel room with a bunch of drunken idiots.....Only female in the group...... She has allowed me to spend $$ and decorate our house, name our son after TO, and many more.... This is the story that takes the cake........ When ND came to Lincoln, the state was electric..... Well, I am a HS football coach...andmy Friday night game was post-poned due to lightning...the friggen game was rescheduled for the Saturday afternoon of the ND game, not giving me time to coach and also got to the HUGE game........ being the loving, supporting coach's wife she is, stand by her husband and his team..... she said "screw you" and took our season tickets and went to the game WITHOUT ME !!!! Because she spends a lot of time at HS games and NU games, she is very well versed about the rules and terminology too... Only downfall....she is a Denver Broncos fan

Once again, I will never say anything negative about TO, but if BC was coaching in the Old Big 8.....or the Big 2 (OU and NU), he would probably have a chance to win the conference titles you talk about...... teh word PARITY comes to mind....... this is a different age and time.... every D-I program is starting to get improved athletes.... $$$ is all over in all of the big programs, not just NU any more...... other schools are starting to get the facilties that were once only NU's to brag about... What has Weiss done that is so special? If you don't think that Urban Meyer walked into a better situation athletically than BC, then you aren't well versed in college football..... Florida was and is loaded with talent, unlike the team that BC was "blessed" with during his first 2 years....Stoops also walked into a loaded field...Blake recruited well at OU and they had talent up the wazuuu....... you have to be kidding me if you feel as if the Urban Meyer and Stoops comparison is remotely valid !!!!!! Furthermore, the reason TO recruited the "non-top *" guys is that he HAD TOO TO FIT HIS SYSTEM..... and, I am not sure were you are getting the 1-5 * stats from, considering rivals didn't do a lot of ranking during the TO era...... TO is awesome.....best coach ever.... I will take that to my grave..... but for some of you people who refuse to see the upside of BC is beyond me..... but, just my opinion, not right or wrong......so I respect your opinion, just don't agree with it...

Just thought I would chime back in since starting the topic....... great posts and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but a few are throwing me for a loop....... I still have a hard time believing that people are still not giving BC the props he deserves......Man, I am the world's biggest TO fan....I even invited him to my wedding, I have a "shrine" to him, and my son is named after him...... but to people like Pooh Bear..... I will tell you that BC has only had 3 yrs., not 4...... being named HC with little or no recruiting time is not even close to being "fair" when considering his time-table..... Please do your homework..... TO is completely and will always be the man in my world and this State, but don't kid yourself, if you give BC or any other coach the talent that that the 93-94-95 teams had on them, they would be winning championships....just count the number of NFL "studs" who played during that era.... Yes, I agree that being "unique" with the option offense helped tremendously, but you must have "athletes" to be successful...... remember, TO ran the same offense during all the years leading up to his 1st NC and people said he couldn't win the big one..... one day, he realized he must recruit speed and better athletes..... RECRUITING is the key to WINNING.... and BC is getting the job done, unlike Solich.....no questions..... As I stated in the topic starter, as soon as BC get "quality" depth as USC, TX, etc..... he will be winning many, many games.....you don't build depth in 3 (oops) I mean 4 recruiting years.....depth will only come with time......time will only come with patience.......I wonder how many of the people on this board actually had to endure "patience" with TO.... I am assuming by some of this BS rationale, that many of the posters can only remember the early to late 90's and either didn't follow NU or weren't born prior to the NC's.....

Okay, this isn't really a "prediction" topic, because those have been exhausted since January 2nd.....but, instead, my question is....... What will it take for Husker Nation to be 'satisfied" with the progress of the program.... will it take a Big 12 title and BCS bid for people too consider 07 a success, or will something less be viewed as "progress"... Personally, I hope people don't look at the seaon-end "record" to evaluate BC and the team..... this year's schedule is killer.....now, if they win the North, Big 12, and or a BCS bid, it will be a great/fanatastic year, and I would say that this program is way ahead of the projections. Being a realist, this team could "easily" lose to USC, Texas, Mizzou, and maybe another 1-2 that will be tight games ( at WF or at KU) the schedule does them NO FAVORS !!!! I hope people look beyond the record and see that BC is bringing in great athletes and once he can build depth with great athletes, we will be on a roll......right now, we may have a few 4-5 * guys, but not any depth of "tremendous athletes" (ie USC, TX, FLORIDA)......... yes, it used to be "not rebuild, but reload"......until BC has a number of years to put recruiting classes together, we can't "reload"..... It will be interesting to see how we compete...

Absolutely, Pinkel is worth 7 points in NU's favor...... I think that he is an idiot....but he will eventually get that big win, and I hope it isn't this year... This game is 100 % "do-able".....but anyone who doesn't think that it will take a tremendous effort or won't be a hell of a battle is completely wearing "Big Red Blinders"....... Confidence and optimism are fantastic and necessary for Champions.....but at some point a few of the "posters" need to realize that this is not the NU of the '90's...... As much as I and everyone else hates the facts, yes, NU can be beat by KU, KSU, ISU, and MU......(makes me shiver).... Respect opponent's abilities...... MU is a true contender for the North....

I am not sure that they are any better at any other position than TE...but the TE aren't even close.....in fact, their TE's could rival a few of our WR........ QB is yet to be determined....... Chase Daniels is pretty stinkin good, and as much hype as Keller is getting, he has yet to take a "live" snap in over a year..... RB... Temple is pretty good, and who knows how Lucky/Glenn will hold up (not too well in the past)...... I think NU has an advantage as far as total athletes at most "positions", but don't use this as a predictor... Guys, I will catch a lot of crap for this.....and I have stated before that I am an alumn, season ticket holder, house decorated in NU (tons of $$), travel around the country to watch every season, ......NO BIGGER NU FAN THAN I.......but, this game concerns me very, very much.... A lot of people on this board aren't giving MU respect at all..... they are a good team.....and yes, they have beat us at Columbia with lesser teams....the fact that MU has a bye week to rest, recover, and game plan for NU is a tremendous advantage....... This is a game that I think that NU will struggle to win...... I am hoping to be wrong, and even with a loss, the "Pinkel factor" will catch up to them, and they will lose one that they shouldn't and we will still win the North..... I just don't agree with everyone saying MU won't be a threat....

When BC came to Lincoln, I must admit that I thought that NU was a "pit-stop" back to the NFL........ Now, I am not so sure.... as I have stated before, after the CU win at Boulder 2 years ago, BC got "choked up" and had trouble speaking after that win..... he talked about how proud he was of "his kids"........ this is not a behavior or statement made by a coach in the NFL....... I think he really does enjoy the college level, and it just took a year or two for him to rekindle his fondness for the college game...... He is no longer the "CEO" type of coach, but more of a typical college coach... By the way..... remember, he has spent 17 years of his coaching career in the college game.....

IMO, the fact is Mo is the type of WR who is a "game-breaker".......everyone knows the A-M game..... no one else on this team would have been able to go up and get that ball.....NU losses without Mo at that point.... With the schedule NU plays, there will be a lot of close games (less than 13 points), were 1 TD or even a key first down catch late to keep the offense on the field will be HUGE !!!! I like and respect the Nunn's, Swift's, and Peterson's of this team, but face it, Mo has the physical tools that these guys lack.....with that said, those guys have a lot of talent and heart...... From a coaching point of view, by having Mo on the field, he will draw a lot of attention from the D..... he will obviously face their best "lock-down" CB and will probably be the focal point of S help over the top.... because of this, the other guys will have a great opportunity to get open... Mo may not end up with the numbers , but his presence alone will make the WR corp very good..... IMO, Mo will be the difference in at least 2 games........ without him, I think we would lose 2 games that we win if he plays.....

HUSKNOKC...... In most Cubs fans case...... I HATE the fact that I LOVE them .....kind of a love-hate relationship..... even when they are 24 games out of first place, I still get pissed if they lose......

Just an inkling, but my player to watch this season is Barry Turner...... Watch out if is able to turn it loose.... Suh is another that could just have a dominant season....bringing back memories of other great DTs.

Not funny !!!! I have heard that a million times..... and as a HUGE cubs fan, that whole "september" comment is completely WRONG...... ......... THEY ARE USUALLY USELESS BY THE "ALL-STAR BREAK" But, "this year is NEXT YEAR"....

oh, I don't disagree with the Mickey Joseph "get"..... I was/am a huge Joseph fan..... I was at the OU game when they cheap shot him by running him into the bench, leaving Joseph with a million stitches in his leg...OU kicked our ass by the way.....thank god for strip clubs to save the trip Joseph was a huge "get", but I still believe that stealing Frazier away from ND was bigger.....it got more national media attention..... than signing Joseph.... of course, there was no ESPN radio or rivals at that time, but local radio made a HUGE deal about the NU/ND battle for Tommie....... If you want to go with the OU/NU recruiting battle...how about Osborne stealing Gill away from Switzer..... Gill was a Sooner for sure if Switzer would have not been so "sure" of Gill and would have made a follow up visit personally...... Osborne swung in and "stole" him away.....and Switzer was stunned...... IMO, Frazier, based on recruiting hype, the big name battle with an institution like ND, and the fact that Frazier turned out to be the real deal..... 3 1/2 year starter, 3 title games, 2 NC, and 2 MVP, and heisman runner up (friggen joke)......leads me to believe that Tommie is NU biggest recruit of all-time.. Just my opinion.....not right or wrong..

I am not into all of the *** , but here are a few of my takes... Crouch would have been a 4 * guy as one of the top rated qb's Bobby Newcomb would have been a 4 * guy, but probably listed as an "athlete"... Frost would have been a 3* "athlete" Frazier would have been a 5* option QB..... IMO, he is NU biggest "get" in decades...it was a HUGE deal when he waited until the last day to decide between NU and ND..... how about the Mackovicka's....... probably 1 * , and look at the results

No doubt here...... Mike Brown..... He is on my top 5 of all-time list... I love this guy..... I am breaking the rules , but I would like to add, based on what I think will be the "weakness" of this year's unit... the D-line..... if we could add a Grant Wistrom or Jared Tomich at DE, that would be nice

I am not sure that I would label anyone as the "least impact" player....... at this point, Harrison Beck and Josh Freeman were "no impact" 4-5 star guys and Stew Bradley was a huge impact 1-2 star guy.... Besides, this kid is an ATHLETE !!!!!! He was on a 4 x 400 relays that ran an insane time at the State Track Meet....you can't teach speed and competitiveness...... I have relatives that live in Crete and the word is that he may be the best athlete to come from Crete in many, many years...... He supposedly is a tremendous "hitter" as a DB.... the kid loves contact and plays QB because of his athleticism... Welcome aboard John....we will just have to wait and see if his is a high or low impact player....but I am going to guess that an in-state kid who has grown up a Husker, and has his type of athletic ability, will work his a$$ off and will be a player before all is said and done....

Just like most of you, my entire basement is a Husker shrine...... I have spent all 38 years of my life traveling to many, many places following the Big Red, and have spent a small fortune collecting memorabilia......... My most prized possession is a signed letter from Coach Tom Osborne wishing my wife and I a happy marriage Yes, I proposed to my wife at Memorial stadium, under the bleachers at a fall practice, and yes, invited TO to come to the wedding....... this is the absolute truth.... on the DAY of our wedding rehearsal, we received a "congratulations" letter from TO and he thanked us for inviting him..... (yes, I know that his secretary probably wrote it and stamped his name ) , but I show it off to everyone who enters the "shrine".