Chatelain's column - 2003 all over again

[TheSker]

Ah yes, we've reached the "we can't recruit here but our recruits are good just you wait" corksrew turn in the circular argument. I'll make sure my hat doesn't fly out of the car.

Your attempt at wording doesn't phase me. We have recruited much better.....and we've needed to. The number of miles we have to go for a number of our recruits is different than being located in Tuscaloosa AL. We can recruit here.....we've done so before and are doing it again thanks to an increased focus and resources dedicated to recruiting.

 

So can we stop using location as an excuse for perceived recruiting faults? Yeah they've got to travel, but there''s quite the budget in place to do so.

 

Nebraska does have excellent financial resources in place to be used for recruiting. The unfortunate thing is that schools located in recruiting hotbeds have those same resources....and in some cases more.

[TheSker]

People where getting frustrated with not winning the national title, because we were so close for so long. People are frustrated with Pelini for entirely different reasons. We've been nowhere close to sniffing a national championship during his tenure.

Osborne was getting blown out on occasion by Oklahoma.....and not winning the conference.....which had 8 teams.

By 1988 Osborne still hadn't won a conference title? I need to brush up on my Nebraska football history.

Yes, Osborne won conference titles, but certainly not every year....in a conference with 8 teams. Roughly equivalent to winning your 6 team division in a 12 team conference. That's why Osborne points out Pelini's division championships.

[The Dude]

People where getting frustrated with not winning the national title, because we were so close for so long. People are frustrated with Pelini for entirely different reasons. We've been nowhere close to sniffing a national championship during his tenure.

Osborne was getting blown out on occasion by Oklahoma.....and not winning the conference.....which had 8 teams.

By 1988 Osborne still hadn't won a conference title? I need to brush up on my Nebraska football history.

Yes, Osborne won conference titles, but certainly not every year....in a conference with 8 teams. Roughly equivalent to winning your 6 team division in a 12 team conference. That's why Osborne points out Pelini's division championships.

I disagree with it being an equivalent, but thanks for the clarification.

[True2tRA]

I just don't remember ever seeing a program surrounded with so many excuses. Especially when every other sport in that program is either already successful, or on the rise. Does it feel like Nebraska Football is on the rise? Should we be struggling so much? Especially Nebraska Football. The ground work has been laid, the foundation has been built. It's huge! We are amongst the top in the country in every tangible tool needed to be successful. So again, what is going on around here when excuses are just everywhere.

[throwing bones]

You guys do know that the only way we are getting a new coach is if Bo leaves for another job right? Just thought I'd settle this argument. Also, just a "note" to the people who use "quotes" in their "opinion" rants, you come off as "self-entitled" "whiners."

[suh_fan93]

You guys do know that the only way we are getting a new coach is if Bo leaves for another job right? Just thought I'd settle this argument. Also, just a "note" to the people who use "quotes" in their "opinion" rants, you come off as "self-entitled" "whiners."

 

 

 

[The Dude]

You guys do know that the only way we are getting a new coach is if Bo leaves for another job right? Just thought I'd settle this argument. Also, just a "note" to the people who use "quotes" in their "opinion" rants, you come off as "self-entitled" "whiners."

 

[True2tRA]

You guys do know that the only way we are getting a new coach is if Bo leaves for another job right? Just thought I'd settle this argument. Also, just a "note" to the people who use "quotes" in their "opinion" rants, you come off as "self-entitled" "whiners."

 

If Bo was being retained for certain, the athletic department surely would have made a statement saying as much by now wouldn't they?

[Huskerzoo]

Ok, I don't "disagree" with the column, but look at the landscape of colleg football. There is so much more parity today than when TO coached. During the 70-80-90's, there truly where only about 10 really good programs in the entire country, and only 2 good programs in our conference.

 

Based on what Dick, ( oops ), I mean Dirk, wrote, I am sure glad he wasn't making decisions during the 70-80's and early 90's or Tom, nor we as fans, would have ever had the opportunity to celebrate like we did...

 

Lets' see.... Winning 9 games a year, filling stadiums, having guys play hard and never quit, and LOSING most of the big games that your team plays.......are we talking about Tom or Bo.... because that is exactly what Tom did for the longest time. If Nebraska was able to beat OU, then you could almost automatically assume that we would lose in the bowl game or NC game... and yes, Tom's teams did get upset more than once.....Missouri, Iowa State, Florida State, Syracuse, on and on....

 

Now, I am not bashing TO, because he is my role model, (named my son after him), my wife has extremely close (daily) ties to TO and you will not find a bigger TO fan in the world than me.......but just trying to point out that TO and Bo are taking the same path... and TO only had to win 1 big game a year....not UCLA, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan State (last year's schedule)..... and with only probably 10 great programs in the 70-80's, it was pretty stinkin easy to stay in the top 25.

 

This defense is very young and in given time, they will be outstanding. I predict that even as soon as next year, this team will have a top 10 defense, and if not, it will be in 2 years. The offense was destroyed by injury... You lose an All-American lineman, 1st team All-Big 10 qb, and injuries to basically the rest of the O-line and 2 of your top 3 WR.......WOW.... and you still find a way to beat Michigan at Ann Arbor and you somehow are even "in" a game after turning it over 5 times.....

 

This team has heart and passion, along with RAW talent.... the heart and passion start at the top....Bo....

 

If you want to set the program back another 5-8 years, listen to Dick (oops, did it again), I mean Dirk....if not.... pray that Shawn makes the right choice. I can 100 %, without doubt, say that TO is hoping that Bo sticks around....and no, I will not a source on the last comment...

 

 

Yeah it would really be a scary thing if Bo Pelini got fired and Nebraska stopped being ranked, lost twice a year at home, usually in embarrassing fashion, constantly shot its foot off in big games, and didn't win a conference title for a decade and a half.

 

 

Guess I was unaware that Bo was responsible for the last decade and a half.... that is what happens when you start firing coaches after 9 win seasons...... you just made my point. Thanks.

 

Bo has had NU in title games in new conferences and old..... just haven't won.... and without the fluke Texas thing, he would have one on his resume...

 

Not saying that I am happy with this losing crap, but the revolving door of firing 9 win coaches and showing no patience is exactly what up and coming HC or established great ones are looking for.... a very attractive job, huh? Good luck with that. History shows that changing coaches works well around here. Let's run right out and do it again !

 

Job description: If you are only going to play in conference championships more than not, win a minumum of 9 games a year, icrease graduadtion rates, protect your players, cut-back on off field incidents, show passion for game, only get 3 years with your "own" recruits, switch conferences into the un-familar territory and still win......... then no need to apply.... you are under-qualified.

 

You must recruit to the middle of nowhere, win a championship (not just a conference, because that shine will wear off within 2 years without a NC) and you must get this done within 5 years, and make sure you win double digit games EVERY year.... screw parity...this is Nebraska...(should sell itself to a bunch of HS kids who don't even remember who TO is). .......... Man, wear do I sign up ?

 

Help me understand your point about 9 wins. It only takes 6 wins to become bowl eligible. They play at least 13 games a year. There are 6 winnable games against teams that are under matched against the Huskers throughout the year. Every year. Mostly at home. That leaves 7 games a year to play against similar competition. Under the direction and leadership of this coaching staff, they do find a way to win 3 of them.

 

I don't think of any of our losses as bad losses. At first I did with Minnesota, but they're looking legit. Again given our bad luck with injuries this year, I'm not up in arms about our record. UCLA was tough to swallow, but that was a young D that couldn't figure out how to close out.

[NebraskaHarry]

You guys do know that the only way we are getting a new coach is if Bo leaves for another job right? Just thought I'd settle this argument. Also, just a "note" to the people who use "quotes" in their "opinion" rants, you come off as "self-entitled" "whiners."

 

If Bo was being retained for certain, the athletic department surely would have made a statement saying as much by now wouldn't they?

No. If they say something then they are addressing controversy. If they don't say anything then there is nothing to talk about.

[EZ-E]

People where getting frustrated with not winning the national title, because we were so close for so long. People are frustrated with Pelini for entirely different reasons. We've been nowhere close to sniffing a national championship during his tenure.

Osborne was getting blown out on occasion by Oklahoma.....and not winning the conference.....which had 8 teams.

By 1988 Osborne still hadn't won a conference title? I need to brush up on my Nebraska football history.

Yes, Osborne won conference titles, but certainly not every year....in a conference with 8 teams. Roughly equivalent to winning your 6 team division in a 12 team conference. That's why Osborne points out Pelini's division championships.

I disagree with it being an equivalent, but thanks for the clarification.

 

Osborne won his first conference title in year 8

[EZ-E]

You guys do know that the only way we are getting a new coach is if Bo leaves for another job right? Just thought I'd settle this argument. Also, just a "note" to the people who use "quotes" in their "opinion" rants, you come off as "self-entitled" "whiners."

 

If Bo was being retained for certain, the athletic department surely would have made a statement saying as much by now wouldn't they?

No. If they say something then they are addressing controversy. If they don't say anything then there is nothing to talk about.

 

This.

 

It's the kiss of death for any coach when the school says anything

[True2tRA]

Ya, you guys may have a point.

[suh_fan93]

Osborne won his first conference title in year 8

 

Actually we were conference co-champions i/e we tied for 1st in Osborne's 3rd and 6th year in the Big 8.

 

 

[Hedley Lamarr]

This thread is comical, fans trying to rationalize our mediocrity. Blaming the young defense for the UCLA game. The reason so many of them are young? 3 years of recruiting failure on the defensive side of the ball. Then the Minny game wasnt a bad loss.....We have continually lost to teams that either out execute us. Bo preaches process etc yet his team fails to ever put it together in 6 years. In regards to comparing our crap show to what Osborne did is a joke. We are not getting spanked by Alabama each year we are getting spanked by teams like UCLA who are not even top 10.

 

Bo is 3-9 his last 12 games against top 25 opponents. His W total is inflated thanks to crappy scheduling and a weaker than expected conference. The B1G is hiding how bad we truly are guys.