Cataclysmic fall

[tmfr15]

Rewind back to the 2001 season.

 

Eric Crouch was playing well. There were some holes in the o-line, but the defense seemed to be OK.

 

We beat Oklahoma in the battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 and looked destined for a Big 12 title game rematch with the Sooners, and, if we were lucky, a chance to win the national title.

 

The rest of the season played out well, until we rolled into Colorado. A huge loss, then we backed into the title game and took our lumps to Miami.

 

2002 opened and we all wished it would have stayed closed. A 7-7 season was unheard of in Nebraska.

 

2003 was better, but still featured ugly beat downs.

 

Enter Bill Callahan and four years marred by blow outs and two non-bowl seasons.

 

That's what I would term to be a cataclysmic fall. And, outside of maybe a few of us, no one saw it coming.

 

Bo Pelini came in 2008 and seemed to restore our hopes for the program

 

We have had nine wins and been to bowl games each year, even won a couple, which was nice.

 

There have been losses. The 2008 blow outs could be excused. But each year has had disappointments. It still seemed like we were a year away, a recruiting class away. It was close.

 

UCLA's win over Nebraska isn't alarming because of the score. It isn't even alarming because the defense gave up a lot of yards.

 

It is alarming because UCLA doesn't seem to be a factor for the Pac 12 title, and they looked to be a heck of a lot more athletic than us. We seem a lot farther away than one year or one recruiting class now.

 

Is Arkansas State going to be the Ball State of 2012? Are we getting close to the cliff? To a cataclysmic fall?

 

How worried should we be? I ask because I would like to be ready for it this time, and not blind sided, as I was in 2001.

 

Thoughts?

[FLU]

It all depends on the defense... time for Bo to PROVE that the he's the defensive genius that he's billed to be.

[robsker]

I'd settle for defensive competence --- no need for genius.

 

I know Jr High coaches with enough "defensive competence" to drill their players in practice often enough that they know how to tackle. That is all we ask here... let our defensive coaching be at that level and the improvement will be great.

[ADS]

It all comes down to recruiting, and Bo's first two classes are really hurting us right now. Alot of reaches in those classes, but the past couple of classes are loaded with talent.

[OldGoldKnights]

It all comes down to recruiting, and Bo's first two classes are really hurting us right now. Alot of reaches in those classes, but the past couple of classes are loaded with talent.

 

I was looking at all of Bo's recruiting classes before coming onto the board today. I noticed the exact same thing. 2008 and 2009 had a lot less talent than I had orginally thought.

[OrderKindOfAlmostRestored]

I'd settle for defensive competence --- no need for genius.

 

I know Jr High coaches with enough "defensive competence" to drill their players in practice often enough that they know how to tackle. That is all we ask here... let our defensive coaching be at that level and the improvement will be great.

 

To add on to the "defensive competence" of Jr. High and High School coaches, they put their 11 best athletes on the field and let them go make plays. Bo's problem has always been choosing players that know the playbook the best -- O'Hanlon, Blatchford, Cassidy, Compton -- over better athletes. Lavonte David started out as third string in 2010 and wouldn't have seen the field much had it not been for Compton and Fisher's preseason injuries.

[junior4949]

Rewind back to the 2001 season.

 

Eric Crouch was playing well. There were some holes in the o-line, but the defense seemed to be OK.

 

We beat Oklahoma in the battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 and looked destined for a Big 12 title game rematch with the Sooners, and, if we were lucky, a chance to win the national title.

 

The rest of the season played out well, until we rolled into Colorado. A huge loss, then we backed into the title game and took our lumps to Miami.

 

2002 opened and we all wished it would have stayed closed. A 7-7 season was unheard of in Nebraska.

 

2003 was better, but still featured ugly beat downs.

 

Enter Bill Callahan and four years marred by blow outs and two non-bowl seasons.

 

That's what I would term to be a cataclysmic fall. And, outside of maybe a few of us, no one saw it coming.

 

Bo Pelini came in 2008 and seemed to restore our hopes for the program

 

We have had nine wins and been to bowl games each year, even won a couple, which was nice.

 

There have been losses. The 2008 blow outs could be excused. But each year has had disappointments. It still seemed like we were a year away, a recruiting class away. It was close.

 

UCLA's win over Nebraska isn't alarming because of the score. It isn't even alarming because the defense gave up a lot of yards.

 

It is alarming because UCLA doesn't seem to be a factor for the Pac 12 title, and they looked to be a heck of a lot more athletic than us. We seem a lot farther away than one year or one recruiting class now.

 

Is Arkansas State going to be the Ball State of 2012? Are we getting close to the cliff? To a cataclysmic fall?

 

How worried should we be? I ask because I would like to be ready for it this time, and not blind sided, as I was in 2001.

 

Thoughts?

 

Cataclsymic? I don't know if I'd go that far. Actually, it's quite remarkable the 2002 season didn't happen in 98'. When TO retired, he left with a lot of the experienced players. We entered into the 98' season with two freshmen QB's with zero experience whatsoever. Ahman was gone. It's somewhat remarkable we didn't see a lot worse season than we did. The reason we didn't was because OU was still reeling from probation, and Texas hadn't gotten it quite together yet. In 2002, OU had already won a NC and Texas was getting pretty dominant. When Solich was fired and Clownahan was brought in, I'm not sure how anyone thought we were going to have a good season in 2004. You can't just dominate when the offense with players recruited for the option are converted to run a prostyle offense without some major losses. Clownahan also brought in very good talent which is why the 2009 team was incredible on the defensive side of the ball. Bo had some sure misses in recruiting in probably the 2008, 2009, and 2010 classes with regards to both OL and DL. Shawn Callahan even addressed it on Big Red Wrapup last night. He basically said we're going to have to get at least two if not three JuCo DL in this upcoming recruiting class.

 

Cataclysmic to me is more or less programs like what Miami is facing. We've seen several teams go through exactly what we're going through. Look at Michigan for instance. Even though Texas hasn't gone through a coaching change, they've had some somewhat dismal seasons ever since Colt McCoy graduated. Washington is another team that went from greatness to being mediocre. Notre Dame is another one. It happens. Losing to UCLA is not the end game for me in any way. UCLA has athletes. I'm very disturbed giving up the second most yards in half a century, but it is what it is. From the rumblings I'm hearing, it sounds as though this week we will be getting out athletes on the field. Competitiveness is all I ask for.

[junior4949]

I'd settle for defensive competence --- no need for genius.

 

I know Jr High coaches with enough "defensive competence" to drill their players in practice often enough that they know how to tackle. That is all we ask here... let our defensive coaching be at that level and the improvement will be great.

 

To add on to the "defensive competence" of Jr. High and High School coaches, they put their 11 best athletes on the field and let them go make plays. Bo's problem has always been choosing players that know the playbook the best -- O'Hanlon, Blatchford, Cassidy, Compton -- over better athletes. Lavonte David started out as third string in 2010 and wouldn't have seen the field much had it not been for Compton and Fisher's preseason injuries.

 

Didn't we have a guy named Mendoza that ran like a 4.2 40 a year or so back? I was always amazed they couldn't find a place for him somewhere. We have to find a way to get our speed on the field. I think this is being corrected as we speak.

[Joe_5700]

Rewind back to the 2001 season.

 

Eric Crouch was playing well. There were some holes in the o-line, but the defense seemed to be OK.

 

We beat Oklahoma in the battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 and looked destined for a Big 12 title game rematch with the Sooners, and, if we were lucky, a chance to win the national title.

 

The rest of the season played out well, until we rolled into Colorado. A huge loss, then we backed into the title game and took our lumps to Miami.

 

2002 opened and we all wished it would have stayed closed. A 7-7 season was unheard of in Nebraska.

 

2003 was better, but still featured ugly beat downs.

 

Enter Bill Callahan and four years marred by blow outs and two non-bowl seasons.

 

That's what I would term to be a cataclysmic fall. And, outside of maybe a few of us, no one saw it coming.

 

Bo Pelini came in 2008 and seemed to restore our hopes for the program

 

We have had nine wins and been to bowl games each year, even won a couple, which was nice.

 

There have been losses. The 2008 blow outs could be excused. But each year has had disappointments. It still seemed like we were a year away, a recruiting class away. It was close.

 

UCLA's win over Nebraska isn't alarming because of the score. It isn't even alarming because the defense gave up a lot of yards.

 

It is alarming because UCLA doesn't seem to be a factor for the Pac 12 title, and they looked to be a heck of a lot more athletic than us. We seem a lot farther away than one year or one recruiting class now.

 

Is Arkansas State going to be the Ball State of 2012? Are we getting close to the cliff? To a cataclysmic fall?

 

How worried should we be? I ask because I would like to be ready for it this time, and not blind sided, as I was in 2001.

 

Thoughts?

 

Thoughts? Yes. Why is Steve Pederson not mentioned a single time in your post?

[junior4949]

If you're gonna thorw Pud in the post, then you have to throw TO in the post as well. TO has picked two coaches while Pud picked just one.

[The Dude]

It all comes down to recruiting, and Bo's first two classes are really hurting us right now. Alot of reaches in those classes, but the past couple of classes are loaded with talent.

I was thinking about this same thing earlier. What we're seeing now is essentially the product of Bo's first couple recruiting classes. Not great recruiting classes by any stretch of the imagination, but he was trying to sell a broken product.

 

As he's put the program back together, he has a little better product to sell recruits, and his classes have improved. With a little patience, we'll see the result of those classes over the next few years.

[RedRedJarvisRedwine]

It all comes down to recruiting, and Bo's first two classes are really hurting us right now. Alot of reaches in those classes, but the past couple of classes are loaded with talent.

Agreed! Now if we can just keep them from transferring!

[sd'sker]

It all comes down to recruiting, and Bo's first two classes are really hurting us right now. Alot of reaches in those classes, but the past couple of classes are loaded with talent.

I was thinking about this same thing earlier. What we're seeing now is essentially the product of Bo's first couple recruiting classes. Not great recruiting classes by any stretch of the imagination, but he was trying to sell a broken product.

 

As he's put the program back together, he has a little better product to sell recruits, and his classes have improved. With a little patience, we'll see the result of those classes over the next few years.

you would think with everyone he has gotten to the nfl, especially on defense, recruits would want to play for him. he should just show an nfl highlight reel with former players. hell, just have recruits watch a redskins game.

[junior4949]

I hate to jump on this bandwagon considering problems that it leads to, but my gut tells me we need to bring in a few more JuCo transfers. The state of KS has some of the best JuCo's in the country. There's no reason to let KState have it's pick of the litter every year. Snyder has made a living with JuCo's. We've gotten some very good talent in the past from JuCo's. I'd like to see us hit it a little harder especially with regards to the OL, DL, and LB.

[Count 'Bility]

I thought the cataclysmic fall was at our feet at halftime of the Ohio St. game last year. Then they got the quick TD to start the 3rd to go up 27-6 and I just remember looking at my wife and saying "We may have an 07'-like meltdown on our hands here" But they responded, and that's the one thing about the Bo era is his teams have always responded.