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He was a 3 for 2 guy, but if he used one this year he probably wouldn't get his hardship for a fifth year.

Kinda like how we trotted Martinez out there against Minnesota after he was a month into an 8 month injury? Not even close to a good comparison. We are talking about Zach's brain, not his 2nd and 3rd toes. What about playing Cody Green through a concussion? Of course he's not going to play a guy who is ~0% like Darlington is now. But what about when he recovers to the point that he's 40% and doctors are saying "Yeah, probably should wait a little longer on this one" but Bo looks past that because it benefits him? What empirical evidence do you have suggesting Bo wouldn't play him then? I am not privy to the exact circumstances with the Cody Green deal but I do know there were rumors that he played against ISU with a concussion that year. I think you are reaching pretty far on your last comments there.

There could also be a reason Bo is a dick to him as well. We'll know 100% in a few weeks, but as of now, my money is on Bo being the head football coach at Nebraska next season.

Aaron Bailey... didn't he commit to Illinois..then think about coming back to us and we said no? I know the staff thought they got the best (interested) QB on the board and it was affirmed by Chip Kelly trying to pluck him from us. I'm in no way complaining about JS and I wouldn't trade him for any other QB. But in January 2012 I don't think he was number one on our big board. Correct about Bailey. Number one on our big board? Probably not. Number one on actually interested potential recruits? I think so. For instance, Malik Zaire said he was interested. I highly doubt there was any way he would've legitimately came here. Pulling a kid away from ND in that area is easier said than done.

He's way down in weight and he appears very small for a DE. Had this issue in college myself where you gain lean mass only to have it drop off when your season starts. Jason Pierre-Paul says hello to your last sentence however.

Aaron Bailey... didn't he commit to Illinois..then think about coming back to us and we said no? I know the staff thought they got the best (interested) QB on the board and it was affirmed by Chip Kelly trying to pluck him from us. I'm in no way complaining about JS and I wouldn't trade him for any other QB. But in January 2012 I don't think he was number one on our big board. Correct about Bailey.

Malik Zaire we wanted too, IIRC. But Stanton was def up there....Chip Kelly wanted him too. I knew there was one I missed. Had Malik committed with Hart Johnny never would have been a Husker IMO.

My football IQ probably isn't at the level of yours, but this is where I am at right now as well. Earlier in the year, I was ready to usher Bo out the door because the defense was flat out embarrassing. I knew there would be growing pains, but that group was BAD to start the year. Now that the defense is finally showing what it could be, and the emergence of Michael Rose as a leader at MLB, we've got a group that could be absolutely terrifying to play in a couple of years. The only problem is that next year, we will be molding new CBs, Nickel, and whoever takes over Cooper's spot, and that could take a while as well. Hopefully we get a good DB class with a JUCO or 2 that will be able to fill the void left by SJB, Ciante, and Coop. Cooper is a rs junior I see. I was thinking he was a Sr for some reason. In that case, I feel VERY good about the defense, as long as we get CBs to step up for SJB's and Ciante's spot. And also, hopefully someone with some athleticism to take Josh Mitchell's spot. Josh is also a junior. With the emergence of Leroy Alexander, my hope is that we move CJAX to nickel. I like CJAX, but fact of the matter is that Leroy is just better than him to this point IMO. CJAX would bring a lot of hard hitting tackling ability and athletic ability. At nickel, he'd be nice and close to the LOS to help in run support.

Aaron Bailey Kincade Two that come to mind. I feel had we gotten either we wouldn't have taken Johnny. I'm more than happy we got Johnny though. He didn't start at the top of our board, but with the summer he had he ended up there.

My football IQ probably isn't at the level of yours, but this is where I am at right now as well. Earlier in the year, I was ready to usher Bo out the door because the defense was flat out embarrassing. I knew there would be growing pains, but that group was BAD to start the year. Now that the defense is finally showing what it could be, and the emergence of Michael Rose as a leader at MLB, we've got a group that could be absolutely terrifying to play in a couple of years. The only problem is that next year, we will be molding new CBs, Nickel, and whoever takes over Cooper's spot, and that could take a while as well. Hopefully we get a good DB class with a JUCO or 2 that will be able to fill the void left by SJB, Ciante, and Coop. Cooper is a rs junior

This is copy and pasted straight from a conversation I had via PM with someone last night. I thought it was something that I could share with the board. It is sometimes hard for me to explain what I am trying to say through a message board. I think if all of HB sat down and talked in person that we would probably find we aren't in disagreement all of the time. A lot is lost on a message board. For example, you can't tell someone's tone of voice and sometimes someone has a thought that they think is in context, but you read it differently than the way that they intended it to come across. I thought I did the best job explaining it here so I thought I'd post it. Here are my thoughts as to where we stand if a change were to be made and my thoughts on the offense and defense. It is not that I don't think we would get somebody good post-Bo. It is just tough for me to see a realistic candidate that would leave their current position. It is not like I don't think NU isn't a top job. Maybe what I should have been saying for awhile now is that other jobs are EASIER and more attractive than ours. For example, I really think UCLA and TAMU have all the makings to be BIG TIME programs in the next ten years. All of the pieces are in place to do that for them. As I currently believe is the case with us. I realize we as over-educated fans are not indicative of the fanbase as a whole, but the last thing I usually do is blame individual players or coaches. I hate excuses as much as anyone else because I wouldn't accept an excuse from a soccer player that I've coached, but given the circumstances this year, come on now. We lost an all-American player and our four year starting QB to injury. We've had the worst luck of really any team in the B1G in my personal opinion. Beck? He's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. If he throws the ball three times on the goalline people say he should have ran it. If he runs it, people say he should have passed it. Next time that we sit down for drinks I'll explain to you our running game in my eyes, but you've got to commit to how we run much like Oregon does. With our blocking schemes, you'll never just line up and go hat on a hat like we used to and knock people back five yards, but with the way we run it you don't have to have the biggest and strongest guys. What Oregon and we do really reminds me a lot of what Denver under Shanahan use to do with Terrell Davis in the sense that there is no designed hole that Ameer is suppose to hit. We show them exactly what we are planning on doing with our formation. From there, our OL is taught to read where the defense is over-pursuing because the defense knows where the play is designed to go. From there, it is all about Ameer making the right cut. Which he has done so much this year and that is why he's special. Every once in awhile since the defense knows where the play is designed to go they make the play. That is why Oregon leads the nation in plays for negative yards. That is why we have a good amount of plays also go for negative yards. But much like the option back in TOs day, you have to commit to your system. I am actually impressed with Beck but I do agree every game there is a series that leaves you scratching your head. But we were spoiled so long with the greatest offensive mind and play caller in history that anyone is going to be a downgrade. Newby has an opportunity to be better than him if he gets the vision part down. He hasn't gotten carries this year IMO because he doesn't have that part and just tries to out-athlete people. Which you can't do at this level. But he has that break away speed Ameer doesn't have. As you can look back and see, I've always been critical of us against the run. In Bo's scheme, he concedes it a lot because he doesn't want to give up the long pass. The scheme he likes to run calls for two high safeties most of the time and if you look back at the thread about our defense against 10 personnel, we had no chance stopping it because we simply didn't have the numbers we needed to in the box. I attributed it to Bo not trusting the secondary. Would you with the safety play we had earlier this year? We have been bringing a lot of pressure lately and I'd attribute it a lot to Bo putting more trust in CC and Alexander and the secondary as a whole. When looking back at the Michigan game, we brought very controlled pressure. We'd make Lewan think that our DE was dropping into coverage only to bring him on a delayed blitz basically rocking him to sleep. It's been fun to watch exactly what we are doing because you can read about the scheme a lot online. The emergence of RG44 cannot be understated either. That guy is a huge reason why we've gotten relentless pressure. If you double VV which he now requires, you've got RG44 to deal with coming off the edge. At the airport I was privileged to meet a scout from the Bucs that was going to meet with Bo and watch practice. They were going to see RG44, VV, Moss, and our whole WR core. I was also fortunate enough to talk to a guy from the Steelers last year through my job and the Steelers have a lot of respect for Bo as a defensive mind and coach. With the talent we've recruited the past 3-4 years I think it would be a mistake to not give Bo a chance with it. If after 2-3 years it hasn't worked out, then I'd be on the side that it's time to move on. But with as much promise as there currently is in this program with as young and talented as we are I think it would be a damn shame if a change is made. I hope that clarifies more of my opinions for you. Anyone who is more knowledgable about football X's and O's I encourage you to correct any of the mistakes I may have made. I would really enjoy hearing it as I love football. GBR

Tim Tebow was a 5 star recruit - by your reverse logic, he must be an elite passer. Nevermind that you pick his lowest rating of all the services. But as long as you know that he isn't rated high because he's a bad passer and you also have informed knowledge of why he got that nickname locally living in California then I totally trust your judgment all the way man. I think someone has to annoy LandLord more often. This is post is gold.

Of course you'd want to use our class rank right now to support your agenda against Pelini. A class that is barely half full and more than two months still to go until NSD. A class that Sean Callahan also said should be in the top 20 again. But by all means, use the ranking RIGHT NOW to support your stance because in two months you won't be able to... Key word being 'should' but had you read the previous post it was more a commentary on comparing the two (Tressel vs Pelini) when it came to recruiting. Also you can relax young grasshopper because Bo's not going anywhere. I finally got a straight answer at least. Bo sucks at recruiting because the services say so. Which is fine for people to think. Well e-z let's leave the services out of it then. Let's just say for argument's sake Nebraska does indeed have good players across the board. How would you argue then where the program is today after 6 years of Pelini's recruiting classes? It's slowly going downhill. Final ranking for Nebraska 2010: #20, Final ranking 2011: 24th. Final ranking 2012: #25. Right now, 2013 with 2 games left: Unranked... You do realize that you don't recruit this 2014 class to play next year right? Unless you are bringing in only JUCO kids. As previously noted, the DL class of 2010 was a fail and we in no way brought in the players that we needed to in order to compete. Also previously stated, the last 3 classes it is very hard to find much wrong with. Even the last part of the 2010 class was pretty solid.

Of course you'd want to use our class rank right now to support your agenda against Pelini. A class that is barely half full and more than two months still to go until NSD. A class that Sean Callahan also said should be in the top 20 again. But by all means, use the ranking RIGHT NOW to support your stance because in two months you won't be able to... Key word being 'should' but had you read the previous post it was more a commentary on comparing the two (Tressel vs Pelini) when it came to recruiting. Also you can relax young grasshopper because Bo's not going anywhere. I finally got a straight answer at least. Bo sucks at recruiting because the services say so. Which is fine for people to think.

Results could. Recruiting has improved, sure, but how in the blue Hell did Bo not know that recruiting was important when he was at his other jobs between 03-08? He can coach transcendent talent like no one's business. I am literally amazed at his apathy towards it the first few years here. I wouldn't say apathy as much as Id say a complete lack of us doing our homework. The 2010 DL class is the biggest fail that I'd point to. But when you look at it, we took Chase Rome and Jay Guy as our DTs. To be honest if you look at how many schools wanted them combined with their measurables they looked good on paper. But so much more goes into it. We should have known Guy was going to have the issues he does. We should have been able to figure out that Chase Rome was going to be a head case. That is also stunning. Again, it wasn't like Bo was working at smaller institutions. Admittedly, hes improved, and he worked at places where cutting guys loose were never an issue, but this goes to the camp that Bo was over his head. FIFY. Like you said, there has been improvement and an immense one. There is a lot of talent on our roster right now that Bo and his staff are responsible for bringing in. They've had to turn over every rock to find it, but it's there.

Results could. Recruiting has improved, sure, but how in the blue Hell did Bo not know that recruiting was important when he was at his other jobs between 03-08? He can coach transcendent talent like no one's business. I am literally amazed at his apathy towards it the first few years here. I wouldn't say apathy as much as Id say a complete lack of us doing our homework. The 2010 DL class is the biggest fail that I'd point to. But when you look at it, we took Chase Rome and Jay Guy as our DTs. To be honest if you look at how many schools wanted them combined with their measurables they looked good on paper. But so much more goes into it. We should have known Guy was going to have the issues he does. We should have been able to figure out that Chase Rome was going to be a head case.

The current class is in quite a bit of trouble though... the questions regarding Bo's future certainly aren't helping I see no reaches out of the current commitment list and I see them all worthy of Big Ten Scholarships. I'd like to know why we are in trouble.

So the consensus is that Bo can't recruit cuz rivals tells us so. Okay.

Maybe I am naive, but I don't see recruiting as an issue currently. Maybe rivals does. But I am really trying hard to find issues with the past three and a half cycles we have had. When I ask people this question as well, they don't seem to be able to give me an educated answer. Not saying an educated answer isn't out there, but I have yet to see someone give me one or break down any of the classes as a whole. I follow recruiting probably more than I should. Maybe the educated answer is that I need to put more stock into the rankings by people that aren't currently employed to coach and accept payments from player's parents to rank them higher on rivals.

I'm not above giving people second chances. I've made my share of mistakes in my life.

Just curious, you've probably stated elsewhere, but who is on your short list? 1. James Franklin 2. Jim Tressel 3. Mark Hudspeth 4. Tim Deruyter 5. Bobby Wilder 6. Bobby Petrino 7. Scott Frost 8. Joe Moglia Every single one of these guys are better than what we have. Please tell me where this crystal ball you have is? Maybe I can borrow it sometime I have some real questions about the future I'd like to ask. While we agree on some of these names not being legit options IMO, you still seem to say with such certainty that you know how these guys would work out. You do realize people aren't born as HC's? Tressel didn't come out of his mama with glasses and a sweater vest on. Bo didn't have a hoody and khakis on and start yelling at Papuchis the second he was born.....okay, he damn well might have. All I'm saying is, every HC starts somewhere. Some of those names above have been somewhat effective before. Now I think many agree with me on the stance that Nebraska does not need to hire another first time HC so that eliminates some of the names I've hear brought up. Other than that though, how do we know how well anyone will work out? If they are hired, they deserve just as much a shot as Bo was given don't they? If not, why? Also this one is directly for you, I get the feeling you would not support the new hire (if that happens), you and a few others strike me as the type that would simply wait in the weeds for failure just so you could point the "I told you so" finger. Am I wrong about that? I wouldn't wait in the weeds to do so. But in my book, he'd be held to a standard that he has to be better than Bo. Anything less than a conference championship in year two with the talent on this roster would be failure. I've said it multiple times, you don't remove someone to replace them with the exact same thing. Edit - I'm skeptical that any of those names are guys that can win a conference championship or have us playing at that level that quickly save Tressel.

Color me not surprised. Why? Thought he was interested? Always thought it was a bit too good to be true. You don't go down south and steal big boys of this guys caliber very often.

Just curious, you've probably stated elsewhere, but who is on your short list? 1. James Franklin 2. Jim Tressel 3. Mark Hudspeth 4. Tim Deruyter 5. Bobby Wilder 6. Bobby Petrino 7. Scott Frost 8. Joe Moglia Every single one of these guys are better than what we have.