Nebula

Essentially, all you've said here is that as long as they adhere to your personal sense of moral standards, you don't care. Which is actually the exact same thing the rest of us are saying too. Just with different standards. You've got a point there. Except, I have to argue the point that I don't think I'm unique in abhorring child abuse or rape and feeling like those actions deserve swift and significant punishment. Those aren't really my personal sense of moral standards...they're basically the standards of behavior in society. And they have to be. A community cannot function if innocent citizens are left at the mercy of vicious, predatory individuals who are allowed to operate unfettered, with impunity. Society itself would cease, as fear would paralyze the populace, bringing with it astronomically increased hostility to anyone unknown to the individual. So...and this is semantics, I'll state that right from the beginning...I don't know if those are even primarily issues of morality. Certainly, a lack of morals is self-evident in the condemnable actions of someone that commits a sexual assault. But the demand for adherence to the stipulation of, say, not raping people, stems from a public safety standard of living. Really, at the end of the day, the person isn't punished or removed from society due to their lack of morals and values. They receive the consequences they do because they have severley assaulted an innocent member of society. As for Jake Long...until he is either an All American or an honorary All-American, I have to confess that I don't think that argument holds much water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceRg_rxXQ_E

Soft schedule, so I'd be awfully surprised if we don't crack ten wins, and eleven is definitely feasible. A lot of it depends on how well the young kids play on defense. I'm still just amazed at how much discussion about this year ends up on Martinez and the offense in general. The defense was clearly our first, second, and last problem in 2012. I already think Santos is better than Fischer or Whaley. If Afalava or Brown or Rose, one of those guys, can step in an cause the havoc that Fisher and Whaley were incapable of unleashing, we might see some improvements on that side of the ball. But, as always, it all starts with the line, and we all know the situation there. Can McMullen come in as a rFR and get in the backfield? Ankrah is serviceable in the run game, but that's about it. He and Rome were two recruits I was wild about when they signed, but thus far, if we're being honest, they haven't been game changing players thus far by any stretch of the imagination. Our line needs to improve dramatically. I've heard good things about Curry and Valentine, and we signed that big juco kid (name eludes me but there is a real chance he might even break the starting lineup.) The problem with that position, when it comes to guys like Valentine and Curry, is that it's pretty rare for those guys to hit their potential until they hit 20, 21, when they've fully matured. So with that logic, maybe Rome is a different player next year. I sure as hell hope so, because our front four did very little in the way of blowing up plays, disrupting offensive cohesiveness. I know about the "amoeba" strategy and all that, but I sure remember guys shredding O-lines and just eviscerating people behind the line in '09. You can't tell me our plan is to have our D-linemen get stood up and held in place while the offense has enough time to screen the movie Ghandi while going through progressions. Young LBs can come in and make an immediate impact. The line is traditionally the domain of the upper classmen, and we ain't got seasoned vets who've shown they can take a game over. So someone needs to step up, and maybe we'll get lucky through the juco route again and find a bonafide hellion in the middle of the line who will create some consistent breakdowns in play development by pushing guys into the backfield. (Gregory. That's the kid I'm thinking of.) It's possible. We really could see an influx of new blood that gives the D some teeth. The secondary has a glut of guys that can hold down their end. The front seven need to do their part for us to make the next step. Hinges on the line. I think we've stocked the LB position over the last two years with some legit play makers. Compton was kind of a one man army last year, and before that, he was dinged and Lavonte was basically the only guy roaming the middle with any gunpowder. If we can have some edge guys with some speed and a little violence to their game, we might look a whole lot better. Fischer will be a hell of a Dr. and he's a great kid. But we need a serious upgrade over what he brought to the field. Whaley too. Kid played as hard as he could, but he just didn't have the wheels. Seems like we've really upgraded there. So...line? Make us doubters look like idiots and do...pretty much the opposite of what we did the last two years. (Minus Martin.)

And let's not get too carried away when talking about how Nebraska has some inarguably higher level of integrity than everyone else. The Jet, whose Heisman we proudly display, robbed a store...with a GUN as a freshman. He served 30 days. AFTER his senior season. And Christian Peter's detestable activities have been pretty well documented. Lawrence Phillips is one of the greatest running backs I've ever seen. That '95 team that we all consider one of if not the greatest team in CFB history capped off that season with an absolute trouncing of Florida. I seem to recall Phillips hauling in a pass in the flat with a great catch (especially for a RB) on a high pass with some juice on it, then bulling his way into the end zone with that brutal speed-power combo running style he had. He played a huge role in '94-'95. He also is in prison currently, I believe. Abdul Muhammad made HUGE plays in the '94 Orange Bowl. He is probably not what you would call an upstanding citizen. I'm proud of our Academic All-Americans, honestly I am. But if you think our glory years weren't peppered with some guys who you would walk off your porch with a shotgun if they came looking for your daughter, you're lying to yourself.

I WANT some low character guys. Don't care how that sounds. I want mean, whiskey drinking linemen who legitimately enjoy inflicting pain on their opponent. I'm not talking about a Viking crew of robbing, raping fiends. I just don't give a sh#t about somebody's moral standards. As long as they aren't hurting women or children or robbing people, ect, then I seriously do not care what they believe in or how they live. We're way too righteously indignant in this country as it is anyway. I saw this comment on FB the other day regarding Frank Solich: Spare me. Benjamin Franklin was a known philanderer. Does that mean he had no integrity or contributed nothing of value to society? Feature a lineup with nothing but "high character guys" and get ready to enjoy some mediocre football. It's a vicious, violent game. There is a certain group of people that excel on the field who are, frankly, thuggish. And a good number of those guys are AC or AA caliber players. Plenty of guys with a lot of integrity are good players, too. But it seems like a lot of great players had some pretty dicey predilections, were guys with a rough edged persona. Sign 'em up. I want to win games, not pat myself on the back because my team has a bunch of milk drinking' boy scouts. (I'm kinda just trying to provoke some people, but I'm actually also serious.)

Smart man. He's doing well, seems to enjoy where he's at. A lot of people fall for that "grass is greener" thing and rue the decision. Good for him. Hope he continues to succeed up there.

What about the Osborne of the 70s? You're leaving out a decade in which Osborne directed an offensive overhaul which led to two national championships. In consecutive years. Still...what has he done for us lately? National championships are overrated. So is overseeing the astronomically complicated migration out of the shadowlands of the Texas monarchy. Again though...that's a long time past. Guy does nothing. Take down the statue! (Dead balls serious.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7-m32c6zsc

No disrespect to Coach Bohl, but I would murder orphans if he became our head coach. (He really has done a fine job at NDS, though. Happy to see him enjoy some success up there.)

I haven't read this thread yet. Anyone feel like summing it up for me? If it's anti-Beck my f'ing brain will explode.

Nobody hates you around here, not anymore than we hate the current five day weather forecast for southern Bolivia. You both share the similar trait in that, four weeks from now, both of you will be as a dissipated plume of smoke. Totally forgotten. That's not an insult to you, either. It's just the nature of things. Hate requires a lot of emotional investment. No one is emotionally invested in you, just as I'd wager you aren't spending sleepless nights worrying about the thoughts of people on this message board. As for your respect level...*shrug.* One thing though: No one uses chalkboards anymore brother. Get with the friggin times!

The words "Pat Forde column" make me laugh. I'd rather watch Steel Magnolias with a bitter gaggle of man hating spinsters than give that guy traffic. Only because his articles are trashbag worthless. I have nothing against Pat personally. Also, Missouri sucks.

For whatever reason, I've kinda expected this kid to either ride out his time here as kind of a non-factor or transfer. I don't know why...part of it (it being my suspicion that Peat wouldn't be the force in the middle that we'd all hoped) was surely Andrus not coming, but injuries seemed to be a perpetual hindrance... ...and I never really got the sense that Todd wanted to put in the work it takes to be great. That's literally based on nothing, so I'm not making any accusations or informed assertions or anything. Just a weird, intangible sense I've had for awhile. Which is why I've been keeping a closer eye on D-line recruiting this year than I usually do. Recruiting hype and flame outs/and stars emerging from obscure scout rankings have turned me off of the star watch. But Our D-line scares the bejesus out of me. And I'm not just talking about the bowl game. Valentine really needs to turn into a special player, and be durable as hell. That's kinda what I'm thinking. (Curry too. Thought his name had been thrown around last summer with some favorable evaluations. We'll see, I guess.)

Good lord! 22k+?

What are you trying to say with this sentence? I don't know who Abdulla is, but Ameer would be a welcomed, regular contributor to any backfield in the nation. That is an inarguable fact.

Nope! Feel just fine!

Good article! Nice find, Nexus! This is a stupid kind of word nerd complaint, but I hate it when people use any form of the word "notorious" as a synonym for fame or celebrity. It has an implicit negative connotation in addition to meaning that someone or some thing is widely known. Dork alarm deactivate. Merry Christmas everyone, by the way!

I guess this kid believes in coach Cotton, huh?

Nice!!! Welcome to the Husker family!

You asserted your own opinion, and he responded with his own rebuttal. That isn't having an attitude or "getting all offensive."

Man, I've needed that so many times in my life. I can't articulate how much respect I have for you for this response. Shows a helluva lot of depth of character. When I was your age, my rebuttal would've almost certainly been vitriolic and totally lacking in self honesty. Just would've lashed out, probably. You've got about a decade head start in life on me in terms of having the character it takes to turn awareness of your own flaws into lessons for wisdom and self-improvement. I'm really impressed.

Well....I held off for a few hours, but I just couldn't maintain. This is one of those classic posts you put out there with relative regularity: A lofty, morally rooted reprisal that's resonating with self-righteousness. I bet you're still in your early twenties or so. You sound like it...got all the answers. And those answers are delivered in a voice that's often just saturated in self-satisfaction. Actually cracks me up, 'cause I remember my own days of strutting around like Napoleon very well. I see it so readily in you because I was the same way. Self-assured, prone to speaking with the arrogance that's irreversibly woven into absolute declarations. You tack on moral points though, which I must admit I did not do. And man, there are few things more insufferable than the person who feels absolutely certain they are qualified to act as a moral authority. Not trying to actively go after you...but I kinda am, a little. You get on your high horse a little too much for me. I've ignored it for quite a while, but I think I'm done doing that. You'll read this and get pissed, but I'm actually offering you the advice of someone who can relate. Because I used to do some of the same stuff. And after a while I realized how unbearably obnoxious that is. I'm just suggesting you consider deflating the ego balloon a touch. It's getting to be a little much.

I was going to respond, but Guy rendered that unnecessary. Gotta big old plus for ya buddy...just get in my van.

Nah...I'm just a jackass. We all know it.