Huskerzoo

These guys do have a lot of fun.q

love that video

Awesome

You should make a thread of this, Huskerzoo.

Oh sure, you're just trying to create the same Juju as yesterday. 

@JJ Husker only by request. I'm only minorly superstitious myself, I held off making this post for a whole half. 

That's exciting! Congrats!

LDR's are no fun - good for you that it's going to turn into a SDR!

Except for the conjugal visits.  Those are fun!  

@zoogs

I'm not 100% sure I agree. I think there were many criticisms of Riley when he was hired. One of them being he was bringing a bunch of assistant coaches that were his buddies. It seems he figured that out. Riley has always come across as more of a big picture guy instead of a super hands on person like Bo was. I think this to an extent is why he's so flummoxed about what's going on. In the big picture, things should be going the right direction. The moves have seemed to be pretty good, but the details just aren't playing out in the way we might predict. In theory we have a higher talent level in our starters than we have for awhile. In theory, we have the right players for the system. Yet, something is going wrong. 

From a management perspective, you look at your mid-level managers (the assistants) to assess why the product isn't right. My (uneducated) impression is this.

1. Too many mistakes were made at the initial onboarding. Riley has enough connections we should've been putting together an A list roster from the get go. It's absurd that it's taken us this long. With that said, the hires we have made have promise for the most part I think. If this translates to reality or not I'm not sure. However, I think Williams, Williams, Bray and co are pretty solid. I think Bob has potential. I want to see what happens through the season. My field demands you need a minimum of 3 data points to make a read of a situation. When one datapoint (NIU) isn't like the others, you have to collect more information. 

2. I think this team is better in practice than on the field. I think the team has some issues with performance anxiety or something. It sucks, but I don't think that's something that's easy to evaluate in scouting and it's hard to pull the plug on a guy who kills it in practice but can't execute on the field. 

3. I think our depth right now is not good. I think we have good talent in our starters, but beyond that the team is full of journeymen and/or potential. Yes, Riley should have his guys by this point, but his guys are rSO or Jrs. While it's no longer rare to see true Fr make impacts. It's certainly still more rare than rJrs and rSr making a difference. I think you could easily make the case that 3 of our 5 best players were injured against NIU. Granted 2 of them were on D and I think our D played a good game (not amazing, but good). I still stand by my belief that our team is not deep enough to lose our starters. 

4. I think change starts at the very top. SE has had a disappointing career across the board sans volleyball. I don't think there's any reason that our basketball team should be this bad given the resources we put in. I think our baseball team continues to underachieve. I also think that SE is not objective when it comes to HCMR. Unlike HCMR who seems to be doing his best to adapt (firing those who need to be fired) which makes me want to give him more of a chance (as all you can do is adapt when the situation calls for it). I think that SE has shown nothing but rigidity. I think that unless we salvage this season somehow, SE needs to go. Our new AD can come in and really assess the state of the program and determine if HCMR is inept or not. However, in the meantime, I say keep firing coaches who can't do their job. It's not like we're firing guys after 1 year. Cav has not done anything to show that he can perform with college students. Davis has questionable recruiting at best in my opinion. Unfortunately, Nebraska is a program where there cannot be squeeky wheels. We don't have talent base to have guys who cannot coach and recruit. Further, we don't have an established system where we can find the right guy and plug him in ala Wisconsin. This is a program that seems to need everything to go right and it's just not right now. The question is: is this coaching regime the people fixing up the old fastback mustang and we're just dealing with the trial and error process that goes into repairing something amazing? or is this a situation where we're a dude trying to get the childhood he never had, so he bought a nice old car that he has no clue how to drive? 

At the end of the day, I want to make sure that we're doing everything we can to salvage the nice car. I do think there's going to be a lot of trial and error though. And it sucks. If you've ever attempted something like that, it's painful. It makes you want to quit and just trash the thing. That doesn't mean the cars bad, it just means you've got more work to do and you might need to change some parts. Eventually you'll know when you've got to sell and cut your losses, but it's hard to know exactly when that is. Right now though, I think we just need a new alternator. 

Zoo--great post. 

I'd also like to add that someone needs to tell Riley to hit up JuCo players and FCS kids to fill gaps in our depth.

We have plenty of both types of programs in the immediate vicinity, yet we're not giving them any attention. Most of these kids honestly aren't going to be world-beaters, but many will have some modicum of talent and can fill glaring roster holes. Plus, for some kids, it's a second chance at the big time, and they're going to work their ass off as a result--those kids are positive contagions for a program trying to establish a good work-ethic.  

I completely agree Vector. I have a bit of a guess that this might be a somewhat high risk high reward game that's being played and has been from the get go. 

I kind of wonder if this was a known long term rebuild aimed at 2019. Every move seems to be compromising the short term to "ensure" the long term. Now it might be backfiring because they didn't understand how bad it could get. It feels like the long game though, mainly in terms of changing culture. I think they want to have the players be theirs for as long as possible to have the "right" guys. 

I was pretty squarely in the fire Bo crowd. I don't know if HCMR was the right hire, but I thought bo had created a toxic environment. This trying to do things the right way seems to be priority number 1, even over winning. I think that could pay off long term...if the staff can make it to the long term. I have started to wonder if giving KJJ a second chance was more a favor to Keyshawn than Keyshawn being the super dad. 

It's a bit conspiracy theory, but I think there's something that happened with the football program that led to a we gotta change this no-matter what situation. To that end, JUCO guys are interesting because they usually messed up pretty big at some point. We've shown almost no willingness to go after them. I think I remember 2 guys. I would love if we could get some help from those ranks though. 

If he had gone there, they would have arguably lost 2 recruits including JJB who it sounds like would have signed with us. 

He can still go tomorrow. 

Hate us cuz they ain't us.

If possible...see if the basement has a deep well...it can come in handy.  My last neighbor, Buffalo Bill, he had one, raved about it!

If you live in a northern climate that gets snow, its best to have a south facing driveway (or at least not a north facing driveway).

Avoid homes with backyards against a main road. Unless you can handle that constant noise

But it's worth 4 questions in a press conference: 

who cares

I for one, am pissed

I've run into a similar issue in corporate America with my boss. Worked my ass off on a project, got it going and was getting accolades, then she saw the upside and reassigned me to take credit for my work. I think she's having problems with karma right now as a result though. 

Just be patient and keep a journal/track of these grievances, so if something more serious comes around, you can show a pattern/history. 

@ZRod yeah, sorry was typing late last night. It's unethical for him to not give me proper credit. Also unethical for him to retaliate if I were to bring something up. He'll still do both. This was from my last job, so the finished products of the stuff I designed are starting to roll out, this will probably come up about 3 more times. However, he's still my best bet at landing a grant, still need him to help figure out the two body problem, he also will be a reviewer on a large amount of my publications. 

There are some people you just can't afford to piss off. 

I don't want you walking into a lose-lose situation. Why is he the best bet at you landing a grant? Sounds like you're working together on research and without him you wouldn't be able to complete the research? I just don't want you to find yourself in a position where he's your best bet at landing a grant and then he pulls some sort of stunt that doesn't benefit you in any way, shape, or form. 

I'm also very unfamiliar with the grant process. How much does the reputation of the submitter play in the awarding of the grant? 

I didn't know you had to gap the spark plugs the first time I did it.  The car was running funnier than before.

Sometimes you can just clean and gap them without changing the plugs.  I used to do that in high school, to save a few bucks.  But now, if I'm gonna go to the effort of pulling the plugs out I just put new ones in.  Plugs really don't cost too much. 

Tried to change plugs on my old V6 96 Camaro. Could only get 4 of them changed. Had to take it in for the other 2 because they were burried behind the exhaust manifold. My friend with smaller hands and I tried for hours to get them out with no luck. Plugs and wires are the easiest thing ever as long as the engineers gave you room to do it.

Congrats!

http://phdcomics.com/comics/archive/phd072011s.gif

It can't be coincidence that @Huskerzoo and his wife accept new faculty  positions the same time that KU announces a new course offering (mentioned in @RedSavage's update). First, welcome to Lawrence. Second, which of you is teaching that course?

I should be clear, one of the priorities is a mask with the soulless eyes. 

you have this one, but I doubt it's what you're looking for

edit: nevermind, the link wont work and looked horrible.

@Huskerzoo You and me both, man.

@HuskerzooYou really need to make another status update like this one soon. #superstition

I'm an assistant professor as well, so I am asking to gain some perspective. What puts you on the job market after a year or so? I was approached by a department chair from another university to send in an application for a new position, but I turned it down because I was in year 2 of my job and thought I need more time to lay roots somewhere.

@Thanks_Tom RR two reasons. The first is that I got married to someone who is also looking for a position in academia. My school initially talked about a position opening up a year from now and could point to a lot of reasons why that needed to happen. At some point last year, the narrative changed to maybe in three years when the chair retires. I'm not thrilled about the idea of living away from my wife for another 2 years on top of this one.

The second reason is the research infrastructure. Our IRB is terrible and our masters program isn't as research focused as I was led to believe. It means that I can't run a good chunk of my research agenda, the part that I'm most passionate about, very easily.  I very much would've preferred to not move again. 

I can commiserate about a university overselling a bit during the hiring process. Right now, I feel that the institutional support for me is weaker than I would have liked, but what keeps me settled at the moment in my current job is several strong, supportive colleagues.

Family matters was a BIG reason that I accepted this job in my current location, so I can also understand your wish to improve your home/work balance.

Good luck with the search.

No ligament damage. 

He doesn't want Troy to expect the Bunch Attack.

You could probably make a career out of studying this year's team.

It's true. I'm actually working with the AD at my current university to see if we can do this with the teams here. I'm hoping that I can get a little momentum behind the application of this stuff to sports. 

Do you follow Brett McCabe? Go work for him. His podcasts are very, very good. 

Con-GRANT-ulations!!! My wife came up with that expression.

@Thanks_Tom RR my wife always just says, great job putting in a ton of extra work, as your reward we've got even more work for you. 

I appreciate it though.

Now it's time to put your mouth where your money is 

That’s what she said.

What's worse is when you get the grant and then realize you said you'd do way too much stuff for such a small amount of money.

Someone cut your cocaine with drywall and you're going through withdrawl?

You picked a bad day to stop smelling glue?

 @NM11046, you just reminded me of another movie I have to add to my most re-watchable movies list.

I don't think so Tim.

My favorite expression lately at work is "if all you have is a hammer, everything you see is a nail".  Seems to work at work and on HB!

Netflix and/or Youtube

And chill at RedDenver's place

@huKSer, that made me laugh. Now other people in the office are looking at me funny.

@Redux that's why I said next year. 

In all honesty, I think a strong sports psychologist would go a long way for some of our players. Lightbourne and Jackson among those who could benefit the most. 

attitude and effort is much better. Agree with @StPaulHusker, tackling still needs to get better if he wants to make it in the league. Several times it looks like he tries to go low with the shoulder rather than initiating contact through the player.

Forced fumbled on saturday with a tackle... as most of us are saying...he is getting better, not perfect.

Jessica will live in our sock drawer forever. 

Jessica exists so some individuals can agitate.