Shatel: Erstad's Huskers learning to restore past glory

[Nexus]

LINCOLN — The last out was registered. The fans roared. Then they headed for the exits, serenaded by Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days."

 

Nebraska 9, Iowa 4. Glory Days?

 

Whatever works. Here in 2012, this was a must win, and it came with a feisty, restless crowd of 4,672 that squawked loudly over several balls and strikes calls. Stuff usually saved up for Texas.

 

The night before, after Hawkeye baseball came from behind to beat Nebraska in front of 5,000, first-year head coach Darin Erstad was pretty blunt in postgame interviews, accusing his team of being timid.

 

These are strange days at Haymarket Park. Tense days. It comes from the pressure of a team learning how to win, with a coaching staff that is relentless in teaching players to do the little things that make up a winning culture. It also comes from expectations that, frankly, this program hasn't earned.

 

Nebraska is 4-4 in the Big Ten. What, you expected 8-0?

 

It doesn't work that way. The Huskers more than held their own in the Big 12 back in the day, but those days are long gone. The past two years, NU finished ninth in the 10-team Big 12. Nebraska baseball hasn't played in a conference tourney in four years.

 

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[HuskerFanChuck]

Good article, with the even-handed approach I've come to expect from Tom. Love Tom and Sam. Great approach with their writing, in reporting, offering insight, but not making or becoming the story. I also Dirk is at his best when he emulates those guys, instead of the sensationalist junk he uses at times that he seemed to learn from Lee.