An Outsider's Perspective on this game and the direction of Nebraska football

[nittanylionstorm07]

So as a PSU fan who used to live in Nebraska... I am one who truly appreciate what Nebraska football is and I cheer for you guys in every game except against PSU. I thought when Nebraska hired Bo that you guys had hired a game-changing coach who would do amazing things for you guys. He was an exceptional DC at a national championship school, and one would have expected that you would have the Blackshirts back.

 

Oops.

 

This game today is a pretty good representative for Bo Pelini's tenure at Nebraska. It started off well and Nebraska looked really good...and the improvement on defense was amazing. Then everything fell apart.

 

If you guys end up being crushed by a large margin after leading by 18 points late in the second...which is what looks like is going to happen... I'm afraid it's time to lay down the law and get rid of Bo and the entire top staff of the Nebraska football time. This isn't a knee jerk reaction...this is just a simple realization that Nebraska has pretty much gone as far as it can go under Bo Pelini...which is to say that it's an okay football team but not great. If Bo... who was such a great DC at LSU... can't rebuild the Blackshirts with as much talent as Nebraska can get... how is one supposed to expect him to go any further? I honestly don't think he is... and when Taylor Martinez leaves.... well, offensive productively will likely go down a good bit.

 

The state of Nebraska...The B1G... and honestly college football as a whole is better when Nebraska is a good, strong football team. Not when it's as impressive as a wet noodle. I know some will disagree with this opinion, and that's fine...but ask yourselves what you want out of Nebraska football. Ask yourself what you want a Nebraska football team to look like. Does that include a defense that gives up 28 points in one quarter? An offense that just ceases being productive due to lack of creativity?

 

Do what's right. Get rid of Bo, etc. now, state that you want to take Nebraska football in a different direction, and start rebuilding and looking for who is the right person to take over this program.

[Malth]

I agree that major changes need to be made. It's the same sh#t every year. I love Bo, but these terrible performances have become the new normal and it simply isn't acceptable.

[TripleOption]

Agreed. This is the new normal and that's not cutting it. 6 years is a long time.

[HuskerShark]

I hadn't felt that way until the second half today. I don't know how I feel about firing Bo right NOW, but he needs to make changes to how he uses his players on both sides of the ball, or he is as good as gone.

[Ric Flair]

Good post. The problem isn't a lack of talent, it's a coaching issue. And if Bo can't get it done in Year 6, then it's time to move on.

[Norhusker]

Yes, the theme is consistent. Year after year now. We never have a complete game for all 4 quarters. Almost always get destroyed by teams with equal talent. It has to be coaching. We will be lucky to win 8 or 9 games this year. Let's get a coach with a proven track record.

[nittanylionstorm07]

I agree that major changes need to be made. It's the same sh#t every year. I love Bo, but these terrible performances have become the new normal and it simply isn't acceptable.

 

I think the most alarming part is how your defense over the course of Bo's tenure improved for the first few years, but has degraded horrendously since then. That's really the killer.

 

Agreed. This is the new normal and that's not cutting it. 6 years is a long time.

 

I didn't even realize it had been 6 years. I'm pretty certain that's enough time to rebuild Nebraska football from the Callahan accident.

 

I hadn't felt that way until the second half today. I don't know how I feel about firing Bo right NOW, but he needs to make changes to how he uses his players on both sides of the ball, or he is as good as gone.

 

That third quarter was a killer. I was so excited to see how well Nebraska was playing in the first half... but a third quarter like that is a killer... not just to that game by itself...but to team morale. I mean it's a true poison...you get ahead so far and then collapse. That gets in the heads of the kids out there... just ask Texas A&M from two years ago.

 

Good post. The problem isn't a lack of talent, it's a coaching issue. And if Bo can't get it done in Year 6, then it's time to move on.

 

Thanks, and exactly.

[HuskerUnity]

Agreed . This was it for me. He better at least fire JP, but he wont, so its his own damn fault for being loyal to his little buddy grad assistant

[In the Deed the Glory]

I have been a supporter of Pelini since day one. The OP said it best, this game is a microcosm of the Pelini era at Nebraska. Penalties, late in lining up, terrible tackling are all discipline problems. Not to mention the highly questionable shift in play calling that makes me wonder if Beck wasn't directed to change after the lead and if he, in turn, directed Martinez to not take opportunities in scrambles. My head is out of the sand and I am firmly taking a running leap off of the Bo Pelini bandwagon. That being said...

 

He has to do some serious soul searching this off season. I say that because the B1G is not a good conference and he will still win 10 games this year. I realize the problems but that UCLA team would dominate the Big Ten.

 

With this schedule, believing Pelini is going anywhere is a fool's hope.

[HuskerLuke]

Agreed . This was it for me. He better at least fire JP, but he wont, so its his own damn fault for being loyal to his little buddy grad assistant

 

Don't let the offense off so easy. They moved the ball at times, but had one scoring drive that was longer than about 30 yards. Beck abandoned the run right when we needed it the most. Half of that third quarter implosion lays at the offense's feet.

[Cpt-Needa]

As soon as we were up 21-3 I said "Watch, going to get our @@@ beat".

After UCLA scored, you could look on the sideline and see Bo melt down, AGAIN.

 

If they fired him tonight, and lost every game the rest of the season I for one would be happy.

[HuskerJax]

Problem is we will still likely win 9 games this year. If we fire the coach it will give us a black eye because Espin will only talk about how we fired a coach with 6 9 win seasons, not one who was consistently out coached

 

[308_Husker]

 

This game today is a pretty good representative for Bo Pelini's tenure at Nebraska. It started off well and Nebraska looked really good...and the improvement on defense was amazing. Then everything fell apart.

 

 

This metaphor has got to be the most accurate I've ever heard relating to Nebraska football. The game is a perfect representation of what Nebraska has been the last 3 years.

[Malth]

I think the most alarming part is how your defense over the course of Bo's tenure improved for the first few years, but has degraded horrendously since then. That's really the killer.

 

It really is. Bo has fielded some pretty amazing defenses, so it's absolutely mind boggling that our defense has become so terrible. A classic Pelini defense with a decent offense would win championships.

[lo country]

Good post. It is not a knee jerk reaction. It is looking at the totality of the products he has put on the field. Whether the D was horrific and O was great or vice versa, the normal trait is a blow out loss, loos to a team we shouldn't and a complete lack of discipline ie fumbles, tackles, penalties etc...... As a person, Bo seems to be a great guy. He coaches character over wins, but as a coach he is lacking. He was inexperienced when he took the job and hired even less experienced staff.

 

Say what ypu want, but it appears that the loss of Sanders, Carl and Eckler have truly negatively impacted this program.

 

Hate to compare Bo to Dabo, BUT Dabo runs a great program, develops character, BUT hired highly experienced staff. Look at their resumes and see who you would rather have...... The difference, IMO, is the staff. Please don't give me the recruiting hotbed crap. Clemson has never been one of the top 10 spots for this area.