Stewart Mandel addresses his picks against Nebraska

[Count 'Bility]

Why do we have to call it luck. Its obvious as the games wear on that we are under the more understanding of the "60 minute game" concept than the other team. We wear them down and take over in the 4th qtr. The only reason these games were even in question in the 4th is because of our own miscues. I dont see where luck has played a huge factor. We're the ones that are becoming unstoppable in the crucial situations and executing when it matters most.

 

+1 - Luck is a combination of preparation and opportunity. Nebraska has put themselves in a position to do well, and have prepared themselves effectively to win the game!

I wont argue that there was some luck involved. Missed FG by NW. Dennard Robinson injured by falling down. PI call Michigan St. Possible phantom fumble Penn St. But if youre 100% honest with yourself, you would agree that not one of those incidences were THE deciding factor in our wins. Maybe the missed FG by NW is the closest to that, but there was still well over a minute to go. We could have just as easily driven for our own go ahead FG, and obviously the other 3 have been discussed in-depth enough over the past few weeks that we know where everyone stands on those, one way or the other.

 

I just think to say we were "lucky" the past 4 games is a far stretch and again looking for reasons to say we suck.

[QMany]

Why do we have to call it luck. Its obvious as the games wear on that we are under the more understanding of the "60 minute game" concept than the other team. We wear them down and take over in the 4th qtr. The only reason these games were even in question in the 4th is because of our own miscues. I dont see where luck has played a huge factor. We're the ones that are becoming unstoppable in the crucial situations and executing when it matters most.

 

+1 - Luck is a combination of preparation and opportunity. Nebraska has put themselves in a position to do well, and have prepared themselves effectively to win the game!

I wont argue that there was some luck involved. Missed FG by NW. Dennard Robinson injured by falling down. PI call Michigan St. Possible phantom fumble Penn St. But if youre 100% honest with yourself, you would agree that not one of those incidences were THE deciding factor in our wins. Maybe the missed FG by NW is the closest to that, but there was still well over a minute to go. We could have just as easily driven for our own go ahead FG, and obviously the other 3 have been discussed in-depth enough over the past few weeks that we know where everyone stands on those, one way or the other.

 

I just think to say we were "lucky" the past 4 games is a far stretch and again looking for reasons to say we suck.

 

+1

This has been my biggest qualm with people calling us lucky, many of these times we were already dominating the half/quarter, and I wouldn't have seen that changing.

[KJ.]

+1 - Luck is a combination of preparation and opportunity. Nebraska has put themselves in a position to do well, and have prepared themselves effectively to win the game!

If luck is a combination of two things you can control, doesn't that disqualify it from being luck?

[kchusker_chris]

Why do we have to call it luck. Its obvious as the games wear on that we are under the more understanding of the "60 minute game" concept than the other team. We wear them down and take over in the 4th qtr. The only reason these games were even in question in the 4th is because of our own miscues. I dont see where luck has played a huge factor. We're the ones that are becoming unstoppable in the crucial situations and executing when it matters most.

 

+1 - Luck is a combination of preparation and opportunity. Nebraska has put themselves in a position to do well, and have prepared themselves effectively to win the game!

I wont argue that there was some luck involved. Missed FG by NW. Dennard Robinson injured by falling down. PI call Michigan St. Possible phantom fumble Penn St. But if youre 100% honest with yourself, you would agree that not one of those incidences were THE deciding factor in our wins. Maybe the missed FG by NW is the closest to that, but there was still well over a minute to go. We could have just as easily driven for our own go ahead FG, and obviously the other 3 have been discussed in-depth enough over the past few weeks that we know where everyone stands on those, one way or the other.

 

I just think to say we were "lucky" the past 4 games is a far stretch and again looking for reasons to say we suck.

Call it whatever you will - but this team has not won a game "convincingly" in some time. Outside powers - whatever they are - seem to be creaping in (fortunately in our favor). A missed field goal is unlucky for the other team, but they didn't execute. We've missed plenty. Now, a 60 mile an hour gust on a calm day would be lucky for us...but that didn't happen. The Dennard injury was lucky (it's not as though our preparation contributed to that) - but happened far to early for us to consider the outcome decided by that. I'd say both the phantom fumble and the PI call were game change officiating decisions that we got lucky on though. That's 2 wins. I know the game is 60 minutes - but both of these were towards the end and all but sealed a victory for us. We still executed and took advantage of both, which certainly isn't luck - but had neither happened I think we'd be looking at 6-4 right now. The fact that we can even point to a single officiating decision and know that the game would have turned out differently is rare, the fact that we can point to 2 in two weeks is probably unheard of for a team. There is plenty of luck in our current situation. Catching a hail mary is lucky, but it's also execution. Getting clearly questionable officiating calls to go your way and swing the outcome in your favor 2 weeks in a row - very lucky.

[Saunders]

Why do we have to call it luck. Its obvious as the games wear on that we are under the more understanding of the "60 minute game" concept than the other team. We wear them down and take over in the 4th qtr. The only reason these games were even in question in the 4th is because of our own miscues. I dont see where luck has played a huge factor. We're the ones that are becoming unstoppable in the crucial situations and executing when it matters most.

 

+1 - Luck is a combination of preparation and opportunity. Nebraska has put themselves in a position to do well, and have prepared themselves effectively to win the game!

I wont argue that there was some luck involved. Missed FG by NW. Dennard Robinson injured by falling down. PI call Michigan St. Possible phantom fumble Penn St. But if youre 100% honest with yourself, you would agree that not one of those incidences were THE deciding factor in our wins. Maybe the missed FG by NW is the closest to that, but there was still well over a minute to go. We could have just as easily driven for our own go ahead FG, and obviously the other 3 have been discussed in-depth enough over the past few weeks that we know where everyone stands on those, one way or the other.

 

I just think to say we were "lucky" the past 4 games is a far stretch and again looking for reasons to say we suck.

Call it whatever you will - but this team has not won a game "convincingly" in some time. Outside powers - whatever they are - seem to be creaping in (fortunately in our favor). A missed field goal is unlucky for the other team, but they didn't execute. We've missed plenty. Now, a 60 mile an hour gust on a calm day would be lucky for us...but that didn't happen. The Dennard injury was lucky (it's not as though our preparation contributed to that) - but happened far to early for us to consider the outcome decided by that. I'd say both the phantom fumble and the PI call were game change officiating decisions that we got lucky on though. That's 2 wins. I know the game is 60 minutes - but both of these were towards the end and all but sealed a victory for us. We still executed and took advantage of both, which certainly isn't luck - but had neither happened I think we'd be looking at 6-4 right now. The fact that we can even point to a single officiating decision and know that the game would have turned out differently is rare, the fact that we can point to 2 in two weeks is probably unheard of for a team. There is plenty of luck in our current situation. Catching a hail mary is lucky, but it's also execution. Getting clearly questionable officiating calls to go your way and swing the outcome in your favor 2 weeks in a row - very lucky.

 

Against MSU, PI was being called extremely tight all game long. MSU was gifted two TD's off of similar ticky-tack penalties. It wasn't a "shocking" call, unless you subscribe to the "you don't call that" fallacy that you must call a game different in the last 2 minutes, than you did the previous 58. We were still inside the 20, and well within FG range to take it into OT. MSU was gassed, we weren't.

 

As for PSU, there was almost 8 minutes left on the clock during the fumbledown. Even if they get the TD, they weren't stopping our offense. We went into ultra conservative mode to kill the clock and end the game.

 

 

We were in easy FG range against MSU, and PSU had no answer for us in the second half.

[Count 'Bility]

Why do we have to call it luck. Its obvious as the games wear on that we are under the more understanding of the "60 minute game" concept than the other team. We wear them down and take over in the 4th qtr. The only reason these games were even in question in the 4th is because of our own miscues. I dont see where luck has played a huge factor. We're the ones that are becoming unstoppable in the crucial situations and executing when it matters most.

 

+1 - Luck is a combination of preparation and opportunity. Nebraska has put themselves in a position to do well, and have prepared themselves effectively to win the game!

I wont argue that there was some luck involved. Missed FG by NW. Dennard Robinson injured by falling down. PI call Michigan St. Possible phantom fumble Penn St. But if youre 100% honest with yourself, you would agree that not one of those incidences were THE deciding factor in our wins. Maybe the missed FG by NW is the closest to that, but there was still well over a minute to go. We could have just as easily driven for our own go ahead FG, and obviously the other 3 have been discussed in-depth enough over the past few weeks that we know where everyone stands on those, one way or the other.

 

I just think to say we were "lucky" the past 4 games is a far stretch and again looking for reasons to say we suck.

Call it whatever you will - but this team has not won a game "convincingly" in some time. Outside powers - whatever they are - seem to be creaping in (fortunately in our favor). A missed field goal is unlucky for the other team, but they didn't execute. We've missed plenty. Now, a 60 mile an hour gust on a calm day would be lucky for us...but that didn't happen. The Dennard injury was lucky (it's not as though our preparation contributed to that) - but happened far to early for us to consider the outcome decided by that. I'd say both the phantom fumble and the PI call were game change officiating decisions that we got lucky on though. That's 2 wins. I know the game is 60 minutes - but both of these were towards the end and all but sealed a victory for us. We still executed and took advantage of both, which certainly isn't luck - but had neither happened I think we'd be looking at 6-4 right now. The fact that we can even point to a single officiating decision and know that the game would have turned out differently is rare, the fact that we can point to 2 in two weeks is probably unheard of for a team. There is plenty of luck in our current situation. Catching a hail mary is lucky, but it's also execution. Getting clearly questionable officiating calls to go your way and swing the outcome in your favor 2 weeks in a row - very lucky.

Your points/opinions are spot on. Cant really disagree with them except for the fact that IN EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE, we still had to execute on our part to still get the win. Not one single one of those instances, including the missed NW field goal (we still ended up having to play defense in the most nerve-racking situation in sports), "gave" us the win. That's why I'm reluctant to credit it all to luck. You also can't honestly say that if any one of or all of these situations go against us, that we dont find a way to win any. Like I said before, I know there is some luck involved, but I disagree with saying this team is just lucky to be 8-2. They've earned it.

[QMany]

Wasn't the missed kick at NW with 1:30+ on the clock?

[Count 'Bility]

Yeah, sorry. I edited the bold. Didnt sound right to me either.

[kchusker_chris]

Your points/opinions are spot on. Cant really disagree with them except for the fact that IN EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE, we still had to execute on our part to still get the win. Not one single one of those instances, including the missed NW field goal (we still ended up having to play defense in the most nerve-racking situation in sports), "gave" us the win. That's why I'm reluctant to credit it all to luck. You also can't honestly say that if any one of or all of these situations go against us, that we dont find a way to win any. Like I said before, I know there is some luck involved, but I disagree with saying this team is just lucky to be 8-2. They've earned it.

you're absolutely correct. this team has a will to win that has been missing (or at least seems to have been) for a number of years. that or they just finally have the offensive skill to execute on that will. we certainly could have found a way to win if those calls go against us. like saunders said we were in field goal range so that one was likely going into overtime regardless. in most years anyway - with maher this year that's about a coin toss. regardless, i never would have guessed we'd be 8-2 after the southern miss game when everyone was at the peak of the koolaid fest, and certainly never would have guessed that we'd be 8-2 after that ohio state game. i've just always seen 3, maybe even 4 losses on this schedule. granted the B1G is down in ways that I didn't anticipate either. however, the way we've gotten to 8-2 is nothing short of amazing. even the coach shakes his head and admits we can't keep winning this way. but a win is a win, and an 11-3 or 12-2 season is certainly in reach. most of us would have taken that in a heartbeat before the season started. we all would have after the UCLA game, and most would have paid a small fortune for that after Ohio State. i just really wish every week didn't feel like Iowa State 09'. my liver could use a couple gimme's the next 2 weeks.

[Joe_5700]

Why do we have to call it luck. Its obvious as the games wear on that we are under the more understanding of the "60 minute game" concept than the other team. We wear them down and take over in the 4th qtr. The only reason these games were even in question in the 4th is because of our own miscues. I dont see where luck has played a huge factor. We're the ones that are becoming unstoppable in the crucial situations and executing when it matters most.

 

+1 - Luck is a combination of preparation and opportunity. Nebraska has put themselves in a position to do well, and have prepared themselves effectively to win the game!

I wont argue that there was some luck involved. Missed FG by NW. Dennard Robinson injured by falling down. PI call Michigan St. Possible phantom fumble Penn St. But if youre 100% honest with yourself, you would agree that not one of those incidences were THE deciding factor in our wins. Maybe the missed FG by NW is the closest to that, but there was still well over a minute to go. We could have just as easily driven for our own go ahead FG, and obviously the other 3 have been discussed in-depth enough over the past few weeks that we know where everyone stands on those, one way or the other.

 

I just think to say we were "lucky" the past 4 games is a far stretch and again looking for reasons to say we suck.

Call it whatever you will - but this team has not won a game "convincingly" in some time. Outside powers - whatever they are - seem to be creaping in (fortunately in our favor). A missed field goal is unlucky for the other team, but they didn't execute. We've missed plenty. Now, a 60 mile an hour gust on a calm day would be lucky for us...but that didn't happen. The Dennard injury was lucky (it's not as though our preparation contributed to that) - but happened far to early for us to consider the outcome decided by that. I'd say both the phantom fumble and the PI call were game change officiating decisions that we got lucky on though. That's 2 wins. I know the game is 60 minutes - but both of these were towards the end and all but sealed a victory for us. We still executed and took advantage of both, which certainly isn't luck - but had neither happened I think we'd be looking at 6-4 right now. The fact that we can even point to a single officiating decision and know that the game would have turned out differently is rare, the fact that we can point to 2 in two weeks is probably unheard of for a team. There is plenty of luck in our current situation. Catching a hail mary is lucky, but it's also execution. Getting clearly questionable officiating calls to go your way and swing the outcome in your favor 2 weeks in a row - very lucky.

 

Against MSU, PI was being called extremely tight all game long. MSU was gifted two TD's off of similar ticky-tack penalties. It wasn't a "shocking" call, unless you subscribe to the "you don't call that" fallacy that you must call a game different in the last 2 minutes, than you did the previous 58. We were still inside the 20, and well within FG range to take it into OT. MSU was gassed, we weren't.

 

As for PSU, there was almost 8 minutes left on the clock during the fumbledown. Even if they get the TD, they weren't stopping our offense. We went into ultra conservative mode to kill the clock and end the game.

 

 

We were in easy FG range against MSU, and PSU had no answer for us in the second half.

 

The personal foul on the MSU interception return was critical to our winning the game. I think if that penalty was not called, we would have lost that game.

[knapplc]

The personal foul on the MSU interception return was critical to our winning the game. I think if that penalty was not called, we would have lost that game.

 

So they don't call that penalty. It's now 4th & 10 at the MSU 20, Nebraska has the ball with 17 seconds left. You're that confident Maher misses from 37 yards out?

 

Remember, he's 11 of 13 during Big Ten play this year. Maher missed a 30-yard field goal as time expired to finish the first half. You really think he misses twice in the same game?

[Count 'Bility]

 

 

The personal foul on the MSU interception return was critical to our winning the game. I think if that penalty was not called, we would have lost that game.

I gotta tell ya, with 10 minutes yet, down 17, and seeing what we've, I still wouldnt put it by them to find a way to win that game. 3 possession game, and remember, we did get the ball 3 more times after that.

[Saunders]

The personal foul on the MSU interception return was critical to our winning the game. I think if that penalty was not called, we would have lost that game.

And if MSU hadn't had 2 TD drives extended by ticky-tack PI, and another by a god-awful "late hit" call, they wouldn't have been in the game.

 

Works both ways.

[papersun87]

^ That's been my answer to Penn State and Michigan State fans pissing and moaning about the calls.

 

"Maybe don't give up a two-score lead next time and it's not a problem."

[Hooked on Huskers]

Well at least Stewie said Nebraska victory against the Gophers

 

Stewart Mandel