Bo has not won one big game

[walksalone]

We spent years talking about "Callahan has never beaten a Top 20 team", etc. Now that Bo has done this, numerous times in his first four years, suddenly the standards are totally different? I don't know about that.

 

People seem to have a short memory when it comes to things like this...

[sd'sker]

look, right now bo is not performing as well as we want, nor as well as i think he knows he can. he is still putting together good seasons. let him work on and figure out how to take that next step. all these threads and fans freaking out is ridiculous. being the best is not easy, otherwise everyone would be. yes, it is unacceptable that we are getting blown out. but it seems ridiculous to criticize a first time head coach who is producing 8-9 win seasons at this point in his career. everyone needs to calm down, keep some faith, and enjoy the ride.

As much as I hate the thought of 8-9 wins as the new NU, I have to agree. Firing anyone would set us back another 10 years. Bo is at a crossroads IMO. NOt saying to fire guys, BUT there are many changes Bo could make that don't call for heads to roll. Swallow his pride, admit what he is doing isn't working and go back to the drawing board and figure out a way to win. IMO, we have the O to win, mistakes aside. You really can't argue with the success we have had on that side considering the injuries to Rex, Moore and Klachko quitting and a OL starting 3 former walk-ons and a converted DL at center.

 

The main problem is Bo is relatively new at coaching. Throw in his "inner circle" has one year as a DC and two as an OC and you have a recipe for disaster. Paps came up under Bo. Bo goes to him and says "what do you think we can do". Bo is perplexed and Paps training/learning has been with Bo. IMO, he probably doesn't exactly have a library of experiences to pull from. Same with Beck. IMO, he really didn't do much at KU other than signal in pass plays. Hard to really create something new when you do not have a lot of experience to pull from.

 

The next 2 weeks and NW will be telling for me. I think if we do not see a much better, fundamentally sound program as well as scheme and personnel changes, Bo might be on an increasingly hot seat. If he does not changes and lose, it goes into Bo is stubborn and more concerned with the "system" or "procedure" than results. IMO, it would be better to see some noticeable changes on D in personnel and scheme and lose than see the same old crap we have for several years and lose. If a guy has a RS and can contribute, burn it. If a guys has a mental relapse during the game sit him. Simply the scheme and simplify the Offense (take pressure off Martinez) and see what happens. KISS principle. Keep It Short and Simple. Put the athletes on the field. An out of position David, IMO, will always outshine a knowledgeable Player X.

i agreed with what you said. i was saying 8-9 win seasons are good, not great. they are good enough to allow bo time to develop as a head coach and give him an opportunity to develop into a great head coach without going into a meltdown after every loss. i am not necessarily disagreeing with what you said, just clarifying what i said.

[Takeitsleazy]

All I am saying is you see teams upsetting teams like NC State over FSU and Florida over LSU. We have not beaten a team ranked higher than us on the road. And have only beaten one team ranked higher than us at home in 5 years. Yes, we lack big wins. And I am not national championship or bust. But when you can't win a big 12 championship, and you lose to teams like Washington, UCLA, Northwestern, Iowa State, Texas Tech. (teams that we should not throttle, but handle) yes it is disappointing.

I am the first person to tell people that we are not and will not be national championship material for awhile, but cmon. And STL Husker fan, We beat Oklahoma in Lincoln if I recall on a certain double reverse pass back in 2001, and beat a damn good Kansas State team that year too. Solich got us to a National title in 4 years, so do not compare him to BO. You are ridiculous to think Bo is a better coach than Frank. Look what Frank did to Ohio (undefeated).

And you look ridiculous evening mentioning the 2001 BCS title game appearance. We didn't belong there. I was at that game and we got f'ing embarassed by a far superior team.

Are you honestly going to tell me other teams could have stacked up to that Miami team? No one could have

[Takeitsleazy]

If you recall my first post was not saying we should fire him, it was simply stating he has not done much, but defeat average competition, which is more than what Callahan did but to put this in perspective.

Bo Pelini:

Against BCS Compeition at Home: 12-6

Against BCS Compeition Away from Home and Neutral: 14-12

Against ranked bcs compeition at home: 3-1 (solid)

Against ranked bcs compeition away from home and neutral: 4-10 (wins against missouri on that thursday, arizona in holiday bowl, oklahoma state, and penn state last year).

Wins against BCS teams that ended up making bowl games including bowl games (ucla, wisconsin, and ohio state included): 15-17

That last one is kind of ridiculous

[HuskerNationNick]

If you recall my first post was not saying we should fire him, it was simply stating he has not done much, but defeat average competition, which is more than what Callahan did but to put this in perspective.

Bo Pelini:

Against BCS Compeition at Home: 12-6

Against BCS Compeition Away from Home and Neutral: 14-12

Against ranked bcs compeition at home: 3-1 (solid)

Against ranked bcs compeition away from home and neutral: 4-10 (wins against missouri on that thursday, arizona in holiday bowl, oklahoma state, and penn state last year).

Wins against BCS teams that ended up making bowl games including bowl games (ucla, wisconsin, and ohio state included): 15-17

That last one is kind of ridiculous

 

I don't know if I am reading this right, but I don't think Pelini has had 17 losses in his head coaching profession...

 

EDIT: I stand corrected, he has had 18

[Count 'Bility]

If you recall my first post was not saying we should fire him, it was simply stating he has not done much, but defeat average competition, which is more than what Callahan did but to put this in perspective.

Bo Pelini:

Against BCS Compeition at Home: 12-6

Against BCS Compeition Away from Home and Neutral: 14-12

Against ranked bcs compeition at home: 3-1 (solid)

Against ranked bcs compeition away from home and neutral: 4-10 (wins against missouri on that thursday, arizona in holiday bowl, oklahoma state, and penn state last year).

Wins against BCS teams that ended up making bowl games including bowl games (ucla, wisconsin, and ohio state included): 15-17

That last one is kind of ridiculous

 

I don't know if I am reading this right, but I don't think Pelini has had 17 losses in his head coaching profession...

18 as of now.

[nathanwindu]

I like Bo Pelini, and I am not ready to fire him just yet by any means. Give him the rest of this year, but if he flops with an easy schedule next year it may be time to boot him. He just has not done much for the program besides restore it from a coach who had no business being in the state of Nebraska in the first place. What big games has Bo won. I look at schedules.

2008- Had a nice chance to win at Texas Tech, but couldn't get it done. We beat a Clemson team that was 7-6 at the time (not a big win).

2009- lost to Iowa State and Texas Tech. As well as a game where we completely outplayed Virginia Tech. Oh yeah and that Texas game. Won against Oklahoma who didn't have Sam Bradford and was playing for virtually nothing (not a big win).

2010-Lost to a horrible Texas team at home. Beat a sixth ranked Missouri team, but honestly since when has Missouri been considered a program changing or big win at all, we also played them at home. Then if you consider that game a good win, we almost went out and stubbed our toe at Iowa State the weekend after. Lost at A&M, against Oklahoma, and to Washington. 2 of those 3 could be considered very inexcusable.

2011- Michigan, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Northwestern. Beat teams we were suppose to lost to a team we shouldn't have.

2012- UCLA, Ohio State, and Wisconsin is dreadful. If wee lose Wisconsin, how many people are calling for Bo's head this week?

This is the state of our program. We have not had one big win since Frank Solich was here. Plain and simple. We all know it.

 

All I am saying is you see teams upsetting teams like NC State over FSU and Florida over LSU. We have not beaten a team ranked higher than us on the road. And have only beaten one team ranked higher than us at home in 5 years. Yes, we lack big wins. And I am not national championship or bust. But when you can't win a big 12 championship, and you lose to teams like Washington, UCLA, Northwestern, Iowa State, Texas Tech. (teams that we should not throttle, but handle) yes it is disappointing.

I am the first person to tell people that we are not and will not be national championship material for awhile, but cmon. And STL Husker fan, We beat Oklahoma in Lincoln if I recall on a certain double reverse pass back in 2001, and beat a damn good Kansas State team that year too. Solich got us to a National title in 4 years, so do not compare him to BO. You are ridiculous to think Bo is a better coach than Frank. Look what Frank did to Ohio (undefeated).

 

so beating the #7 team in the nation by 2 scores isn't a big win because they're Missouri and it was at home, yet you cite KANSAS FREAKIN' STATE as a big win for Frank? Cause Kansas State was unranked at the time, and we played them at home, too. "So, yea, we beat Kansas State, but really since when has Kansas State been considered a program changing or big win at all? We also played them at home"

 

just saying

 

EDIT: also would like to note that we were losing at halftime to that KSU team, and *only* won by 10. Kansas State was 4-4, and 2-4 in the Big XII when we played that game as well. So I don't see how they were a "damn good" team that year...

[HuskerNationNick]

If you recall my first post was not saying we should fire him, it was simply stating he has not done much, but defeat average competition, which is more than what Callahan did but to put this in perspective.

Bo Pelini:

Against BCS Compeition at Home: 12-6

Against BCS Compeition Away from Home and Neutral: 14-12

Against ranked bcs compeition at home: 3-1 (solid)

Against ranked bcs compeition away from home and neutral: 4-10 (wins against missouri on that thursday, arizona in holiday bowl, oklahoma state, and penn state last year).

Wins against BCS teams that ended up making bowl games including bowl games (ucla, wisconsin, and ohio state included): 15-17

That last one is kind of ridiculous

 

I don't know if I am reading this right, but I don't think Pelini has had 17 losses in his head coaching profession...

18 as of now.

 

Yes, I made my edit as you were obviously typing that lol. Either way, we have won big games, but each person has their own opinion on what a big game is. To me, as long as I see progression, I am fine with whats going on. Of course, I want to win, but patience is needed, especially when you hire on a first time ever head coach. He coaches with passion and loves his players, and that is what we need. The players and upcoming players respect Bo very much, and like I said, if we are improving, we will do fine.

[HuskerNationNick]

Solich got us to a National title in 4 years, so do not compare him to BO. You are ridiculous to think Bo is a better coach than Frank. Look what Frank did to Ohio (undefeated).

 

Sure you can compare the two... Solich took over while our program was prime and elite RIGHT AFTER T/O. Bo was hired to clean up a huge mess, which would have been difficult for even a big name coach. Solich is a damn good coach, but so is Bo. Many people forget that Bo is still a rookie head coach and is still learning. He didn't have the cushion Solich did, and learn from a very well, respected and knowledgeable Osborne.

[Landomatic]

We have some wins over top programs at the time. I think there is a total of one that we beat and they remained in the top ten at the end of the season, of course we fell to the mid 20's.

 

Interesting point. Should be easy enough to research.

 

I love how this has become a big one for our program, no we haven't had big wins under Bo, we haven't won anything other than a couple joke Big 12 North titles, we beat an outrageously overrated Missouri team in Lincoln. We beat Oklahoma State in Stillwater a week after losing to a bad Texas team in Lincoln. We haven't won a big game by Nebraska standards since 2001 Oklahoma?

 

 

This appears to be true. Here's a little data to back up this back and forth...

 

Bo's Teams - Games vs ranked opponents and their ranking at the time and unranked losses.

 

2008

Virginia Tech - L - NR

Missouri - L - 4

Texas Tech - L - 7

Oklahoma - L - 4

 

2009

Virginia Tech - L - 13

Missouri - W - 24

Texas Tech - L - NR

Iowa State - L - NR

Oklahoma - W - 20

Texas - L - 3

 

2010

Texas - L - NR

Okie State - W - 17

Missouri - W - 7

Texas A&M - L - 18

Oklahoma - L - 10

Washington - L - NR

 

2011

Wisconsin - L - 7

Michigan St. - W - 9

Northwestern - L - NR

Penn State - W - 12

Michigan - L - 20

South Carolina - L - 10

 

2012

UCLA - L - NR

Ohio State - L - 12

 

So, Bo's record against ranked (at the time of the game) opponents is 6-11 with 7 more losses coming to unranked opponents.

 

Now, let's look at where those ranked teams finished in the polls. Because let's face it, an early win against a highly ranked Arkansas really means squat this year so ranking at the time is a little misleading.

 

 

2009

Missouri - W - NR

Oklahoma - W - NR

 

 

2010

Okie State - W - 13

Missouri - W - 18

 

 

2011

Michigan St. - W - 11

Penn State - W - NR

 

So in looking at that, 3 of Bo's wins against ranked opponents can probably be chalked up to the fact that the teams were overrated when we played them. So, technically, Bo has beat 3 teams that were ranked when we played them and finished the year ranked. None finished ranked in the top ten so I can see where people say he's never beat a top ten team.

[knapplc]

The glaring caveat to that, Lando, is that losses tend to drop teams from the rankings. So when we beat a ranked team, we're contributing to them dropping out of the rankings. It's a tiny catch-22, but a catch-22 nonetheless.

[Takeitsleazy]

I like Bo Pelini, and I am not ready to fire him just yet by any means. Give him the rest of this year, but if he flops with an easy schedule next year it may be time to boot him. He just has not done much for the program besides restore it from a coach who had no business being in the state of Nebraska in the first place. What big games has Bo won. I look at schedules.

2008- Had a nice chance to win at Texas Tech, but couldn't get it done. We beat a Clemson team that was 7-6 at the time (not a big win).

2009- lost to Iowa State and Texas Tech. As well as a game where we completely outplayed Virginia Tech. Oh yeah and that Texas game. Won against Oklahoma who didn't have Sam Bradford and was playing for virtually nothing (not a big win).

2010-Lost to a horrible Texas team at home. Beat a sixth ranked Missouri team, but honestly since when has Missouri been considered a program changing or big win at all, we also played them at home. Then if you consider that game a good win, we almost went out and stubbed our toe at Iowa State the weekend after. Lost at A&M, against Oklahoma, and to Washington. 2 of those 3 could be considered very inexcusable.

2011- Michigan, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Northwestern. Beat teams we were suppose to lost to a team we shouldn't have.

2012- UCLA, Ohio State, and Wisconsin is dreadful. If wee lose Wisconsin, how many people are calling for Bo's head this week?

This is the state of our program. We have not had one big win since Frank Solich was here. Plain and simple. We all know it.

 

All I am saying is you see teams upsetting teams like NC State over FSU and Florida over LSU. We have not beaten a team ranked higher than us on the road. And have only beaten one team ranked higher than us at home in 5 years. Yes, we lack big wins. And I am not national championship or bust. But when you can't win a big 12 championship, and you lose to teams like Washington, UCLA, Northwestern, Iowa State, Texas Tech. (teams that we should not throttle, but handle) yes it is disappointing.

I am the first person to tell people that we are not and will not be national championship material for awhile, but cmon. And STL Husker fan, We beat Oklahoma in Lincoln if I recall on a certain double reverse pass back in 2001, and beat a damn good Kansas State team that year too. Solich got us to a National title in 4 years, so do not compare him to BO. You are ridiculous to think Bo is a better coach than Frank. Look what Frank did to Ohio (undefeated).

 

so beating the #7 team in the nation by 2 scores isn't a big win because they're Missouri and it was at home, yet you cite KANSAS FREAKIN' STATE as a big win for Frank? Cause Kansas State was unranked at the time, and we played them at home, too. "So, yea, we beat Kansas State, but really since when has Kansas State been considered a program changing or big win at all? We also played them at home"

 

just saying

 

EDIT: also would like to note that we were losing at halftime to that KSU team, and *only* won by 10. Kansas State was 4-4, and 2-4 in the Big XII when we played that game as well. So I don't see how they were a "damn good" team that year...

I somehow thought Kansas State was better...my fault. But we did beat Notre Dame two years in a row. Has to mean something since they were actually pretty good.

[HuskerNationNick]

I like Bo Pelini, and I am not ready to fire him just yet by any means. Give him the rest of this year, but if he flops with an easy schedule next year it may be time to boot him. He just has not done much for the program besides restore it from a coach who had no business being in the state of Nebraska in the first place. What big games has Bo won. I look at schedules.

2008- Had a nice chance to win at Texas Tech, but couldn't get it done. We beat a Clemson team that was 7-6 at the time (not a big win).

2009- lost to Iowa State and Texas Tech. As well as a game where we completely outplayed Virginia Tech. Oh yeah and that Texas game. Won against Oklahoma who didn't have Sam Bradford and was playing for virtually nothing (not a big win).

2010-Lost to a horrible Texas team at home. Beat a sixth ranked Missouri team, but honestly since when has Missouri been considered a program changing or big win at all, we also played them at home. Then if you consider that game a good win, we almost went out and stubbed our toe at Iowa State the weekend after. Lost at A&M, against Oklahoma, and to Washington. 2 of those 3 could be considered very inexcusable.

2011- Michigan, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Northwestern. Beat teams we were suppose to lost to a team we shouldn't have.

2012- UCLA, Ohio State, and Wisconsin is dreadful. If wee lose Wisconsin, how many people are calling for Bo's head this week?

This is the state of our program. We have not had one big win since Frank Solich was here. Plain and simple. We all know it.

 

All I am saying is you see teams upsetting teams like NC State over FSU and Florida over LSU. We have not beaten a team ranked higher than us on the road. And have only beaten one team ranked higher than us at home in 5 years. Yes, we lack big wins. And I am not national championship or bust. But when you can't win a big 12 championship, and you lose to teams like Washington, UCLA, Northwestern, Iowa State, Texas Tech. (teams that we should not throttle, but handle) yes it is disappointing.

I am the first person to tell people that we are not and will not be national championship material for awhile, but cmon. And STL Husker fan, We beat Oklahoma in Lincoln if I recall on a certain double reverse pass back in 2001, and beat a damn good Kansas State team that year too. Solich got us to a National title in 4 years, so do not compare him to BO. You are ridiculous to think Bo is a better coach than Frank. Look what Frank did to Ohio (undefeated).

 

so beating the #7 team in the nation by 2 scores isn't a big win because they're Missouri and it was at home, yet you cite KANSAS FREAKIN' STATE as a big win for Frank? Cause Kansas State was unranked at the time, and we played them at home, too. "So, yea, we beat Kansas State, but really since when has Kansas State been considered a program changing or big win at all? We also played them at home"

 

just saying

 

EDIT: also would like to note that we were losing at halftime to that KSU team, and *only* won by 10. Kansas State was 4-4, and 2-4 in the Big XII when we played that game as well. So I don't see how they were a "damn good" team that year...

I somehow thought Kansas State was better...my fault. But we did beat Notre Dame two years in a row. Has to mean something since they were actually pretty good.

 

In '00 they went 9/11 and in '01 they went 5/11, but to give credit where credit is due, ND was good in '00.

[Landomatic]

The glaring caveat to that, Lando, is that losses tend to drop teams from the rankings. So when we beat a ranked team, we're contributing to them dropping out of the rankings. It's a tiny catch-22, but a catch-22 nonetheless.

 

You're right. But in my opinion, neither number is impressive so it doesn't much matter how you want to look at it...6-11 or 3-14 against ranked opponents. In my opinion, both are below what Nebraska standards should be.

 

So what are "Nebraska standards"? I'm sure everyone has a different idea but I see a lot of people who want to compare TO at this point in his career to Bo...TO almost getting run out of town and aren't we glad he didn't and we should look at Bo the same way, etc. Let's take a look at these same stats for Osborne's first 4.5 years and see how they stack up. And don't give me that Bo's cupboard was bare and Tom's wasn't. Bo inherited plenty of talent. Looking at only games against ranked opponents at the time of the game...

 

1973

UCLA - W - 10

NC St - W - 14

Missouri - L - 12

Kansas - W - 18

Colorado - W - 17

Oklahoma - L - 3

Texas - W - 8

 

1974

Kansas - W - 13

Oklahoma - L - 1

Florida - W - 18

 

 

1975

Missouri - W - 12

Oklahoma - L - 7

Arizona St - L 7

 

 

1976

Missouri - L - 17

Oklahoma St - W - 13

Oklahoma - L - 8

Texas Tech - W - 9

 

 

1977

Alabama - W - 4

 

So, we see that Bo is 6-11 against ranked opponents. Osborne was 11-7 against ranked opponents through the same point in his career.

[knapplc]

So, we see that Bo is 6-11 against ranked opponents. Osborne was 11-7 against ranked opponents through the same point in his career.

 

Which would tell us something if Bo and Tom had both started off with teams that had just won back-to-back national championships. Unfortunately, Bo didn't have that luxury.