Something's Rotten in the State of Nebraska.

[NUpolo8]

 

 

 

NUpolo8 is coming to you live from the West Coast watching the Michigan st vs Oregon game! You've heard of them I wager, two BCS caliber teams, two teams ranked in the top ten, two teams if given the chance, and one will, would likely embarrass our Nebraska Cornhuskers and scarcely break a sweat doing so.

More importantly, they're two teams that would never allow to happen to them what happened to Nebraska today. They'd have made damn sure they didn't need a possible career highlight from their all world running back to scrape out a win against a Division 1-AA team (calling it that is just easier).

-----I'll pause here so everyone can run to google, find Michigan St's narrow wins over Western. Michigan and South Florida last year, then post it on this thread as fast as they can, as if it somehow refutes and invalidates what I'm saying. Michigan St and Oregon are better than us, better coached than us and would likely make short work of us if play like today continues-----------

There, we're all back, and we need to discuss the endemic problem plaguing Nebraska football, until there are drastic, sweeping changes made on the coaching staff, probably including it's head coach, this is our fate. Nebraska's resurrection was greatly exaggerated. Our resurgence was a dead cat bounce in 2009 and 2010, only to return to the underachieving, mentally deficient, poorly led death marches of the mid 2000's. Nebraska is a team that wilts in the spotlight, needs statistical miracles to beat the McNeese St's, non bowl eligible Northwestern and the probation racked Penn St's of the world, but due to perhaps some of the easiest schedules in a conference that appears to be a class of one, they're allowed in the same rarified air of 9 wins by numbers only. All it takes is an opponent with a pulse, a prime time audience, or just a set of non myopic eyes to spot the difference between Oregon, Alabama and NU, but hey look, the number nine! Look how pretty!

Except the entire nation knows better, and it's time the greatest fans in football did too.

So those last few sentences probably riled up the last remaining "Bolievers" right good. (And let's just retire those two phrases, we are Nebraska fans and I'm done propping Bo Pelini up as something bigger than the University of Nebraska). So let's just file through the knee jerk excuses, most of which I've noticed have been addressed on this board.

-Tim Beck Sucks and it's His Fault

Last I checked Tim Beck is employed at the behest of Bo Pelini. In fact, I believe he gave him a raise before this year.

-Papuchis Doesn't Get It

See above. It applies.

-Tommy Armstrong Isn't Good Enough.

Tommy Armstrong is a 20 year old young adult playing a game the best he can hundreds of miles away from his home. There are few and far between the ones who walk straight in and immediately get it. So the choices for Bo Pelini and his staff are to either recruit in a fashion where they get those that do, or develop the talent that they have. The obvious way to do that would be with a dedicated QB coach, like the reigning National Champion has. Instead, our head coach decides to employ a full time TE coach, which happens to be a position his own OC called obsolete earlier this year. Seems odd considering QB play has been a gripe by many for every year of his tenure instead of his first.

-Look at Ameer and co. This team is Good

This team has talent. No question. I've said that all offseason. And they deserve better. Ameer deserves a full fledged Heisman campaign, but they don't give that award to 4+ loss teams. And that's what Nebraska is. Hell, without Ameer I'll say Bo is probably unemployed. Ameer should get part of his salary for saving his ass after today and Northwestern last year.

-Injuries are killing us

Honestly pay attention to the football landscape. Injuries happen to every team. The difference between the good teams is that they actually treat recruiting differently than our staff, which resembles a desperate junior in college cramming like crazy just before the finals to salvage a B-. Actually retaining the Clinkscales, Stringfellow's and the other targets of the world, let alone actually functioning at a scholarship level that doesn't resemble a team on probation helps depth. Oh, and giving free scholarships to the players that walk on and wouldn't see the field anywhere else on the level we all still think Nebraska should be probably shouldn't happen either.

-We could keep doing this forever but frankly it's redundant to our arguments over the offseason.-

Random Fun Fact! In Tom Osborne's seventh year, his team played New Mexico st, a very similar team to McNeese st, and won 57-0. He also went 10-2 that year.

Another random thing stands out to me immensely. An anonymous, non coach, moderator on this site was prescient enough to ask the question, "Is Nebraska good enough to keep the gas on for four quarters after a good victory?" It would appear the coach who is paid 3 million plus a year, and the players who have a full ride and some of the best facilities in the nation didn't have that ability.

Final random thought-- In 2005 Maine took Nebraska to the wire. It was Bill Callahan's second year and alarm bells sounded from Rosenblatt to Chimney Rock. Will it happen tomorrow? Or will only the good be promoted "for the sake of the program?"

This program needs some tough love. They need to be told those trophies in North Stadium do not belong to them. It belongs to the ones who put the work in, went above and beyond, and achieved. And it isn't apparently going to come from the coach not apologizing for nine wins and checking the twitter trends so he can serve up a delicious Bon mot during the national championship, as if that's somehow better than having his team playing in it. And it sadly isn't going to come from the media, either, as they've been bullied into a corner as well. I would hope the fans, considered some of the most knowledgeable in the nation, could offer up some, but I'm sure this will be met with ridicule and abuse, as if I'm part of the problem. If only I gave more money than I already do, stopped hurting recruiting, or just was a better sycophant/fan, or something.

Basically, I don't know where Nebraska goes from here, but it doesn't look good. Imagine East Lansing in a few weeks, or Autzen Stadium in a few years, or any random week this year where Nebraska looks like that again. And I have news, sports fans, if they turn in that performance against anyone else on our schedule this year, it's a loss.

Because that's reality, looking only at the 2-0 record that this team currently holds is anything but.

Here's hoping we can discuss reality.

 

Let me summarize your lengthy diatribe. You don't like Bo. You believe NU is still an elite football program. 9 wins sucks to you.

 

A whole page of bitching. Anybody can piss and moan. Come with solutions and make things interesting....not nearly as easy.

I've got ideas. Not sure why it's my job to do it for free when Bo is paid 8 figures to do it......

We aren't asking you to coach. Who do you hire? Why? Surely you don't suggest if someone offered you 8 figures tomorrow you could right the ship. Give us two solid ideas that aren't comprised totally of "fire xyz". Specifics please.

I've done this. Several times.

[sd'sker]

 

 

 

 

NUpolo8 is coming to you live from the West Coast watching the Michigan st vs Oregon game! You've heard of them I wager, two BCS caliber teams, two teams ranked in the top ten, two teams if given the chance, and one will, would likely embarrass our Nebraska Cornhuskers and scarcely break a sweat doing so.

More importantly, they're two teams that would never allow to happen to them what happened to Nebraska today. They'd have made damn sure they didn't need a possible career highlight from their all world running back to scrape out a win against a Division 1-AA team (calling it that is just easier).

-----I'll pause here so everyone can run to google, find Michigan St's narrow wins over Western. Michigan and South Florida last year, then post it on this thread as fast as they can, as if it somehow refutes and invalidates what I'm saying. Michigan St and Oregon are better than us, better coached than us and would likely make short work of us if play like today continues-----------

There, we're all back, and we need to discuss the endemic problem plaguing Nebraska football, until there are drastic, sweeping changes made on the coaching staff, probably including it's head coach, this is our fate. Nebraska's resurrection was greatly exaggerated. Our resurgence was a dead cat bounce in 2009 and 2010, only to return to the underachieving, mentally deficient, poorly led death marches of the mid 2000's. Nebraska is a team that wilts in the spotlight, needs statistical miracles to beat the McNeese St's, non bowl eligible Northwestern and the probation racked Penn St's of the world, but due to perhaps some of the easiest schedules in a conference that appears to be a class of one, they're allowed in the same rarified air of 9 wins by numbers only. All it takes is an opponent with a pulse, a prime time audience, or just a set of non myopic eyes to spot the difference between Oregon, Alabama and NU, but hey look, the number nine! Look how pretty!

Except the entire nation knows better, and it's time the greatest fans in football did too.

So those last few sentences probably riled up the last remaining "Bolievers" right good. (And let's just retire those two phrases, we are Nebraska fans and I'm done propping Bo Pelini up as something bigger than the University of Nebraska). So let's just file through the knee jerk excuses, most of which I've noticed have been addressed on this board.

-Tim Beck Sucks and it's His Fault

Last I checked Tim Beck is employed at the behest of Bo Pelini. In fact, I believe he gave him a raise before this year.

-Papuchis Doesn't Get It

See above. It applies.

-Tommy Armstrong Isn't Good Enough.

Tommy Armstrong is a 20 year old young adult playing a game the best he can hundreds of miles away from his home. There are few and far between the ones who walk straight in and immediately get it. So the choices for Bo Pelini and his staff are to either recruit in a fashion where they get those that do, or develop the talent that they have. The obvious way to do that would be with a dedicated QB coach, like the reigning National Champion has. Instead, our head coach decides to employ a full time TE coach, which happens to be a position his own OC called obsolete earlier this year. Seems odd considering QB play has been a gripe by many for every year of his tenure instead of his first.

-Look at Ameer and co. This team is Good

This team has talent. No question. I've said that all offseason. And they deserve better. Ameer deserves a full fledged Heisman campaign, but they don't give that award to 4+ loss teams. And that's what Nebraska is. Hell, without Ameer I'll say Bo is probably unemployed. Ameer should get part of his salary for saving his ass after today and Northwestern last year.

-Injuries are killing us

Honestly pay attention to the football landscape. Injuries happen to every team. The difference between the good teams is that they actually treat recruiting differently than our staff, which resembles a desperate junior in college cramming like crazy just before the finals to salvage a B-. Actually retaining the Clinkscales, Stringfellow's and the other targets of the world, let alone actually functioning at a scholarship level that doesn't resemble a team on probation helps depth. Oh, and giving free scholarships to the players that walk on and wouldn't see the field anywhere else on the level we all still think Nebraska should be probably shouldn't happen either.

-We could keep doing this forever but frankly it's redundant to our arguments over the offseason.-

Random Fun Fact! In Tom Osborne's seventh year, his team played New Mexico st, a very similar team to McNeese st, and won 57-0. He also went 10-2 that year.

Another random thing stands out to me immensely. An anonymous, non coach, moderator on this site was prescient enough to ask the question, "Is Nebraska good enough to keep the gas on for four quarters after a good victory?" It would appear the coach who is paid 3 million plus a year, and the players who have a full ride and some of the best facilities in the nation didn't have that ability.

Final random thought-- In 2005 Maine took Nebraska to the wire. It was Bill Callahan's second year and alarm bells sounded from Rosenblatt to Chimney Rock. Will it happen tomorrow? Or will only the good be promoted "for the sake of the program?"

This program needs some tough love. They need to be told those trophies in North Stadium do not belong to them. It belongs to the ones who put the work in, went above and beyond, and achieved. And it isn't apparently going to come from the coach not apologizing for nine wins and checking the twitter trends so he can serve up a delicious Bon mot during the national championship, as if that's somehow better than having his team playing in it. And it sadly isn't going to come from the media, either, as they've been bullied into a corner as well. I would hope the fans, considered some of the most knowledgeable in the nation, could offer up some, but I'm sure this will be met with ridicule and abuse, as if I'm part of the problem. If only I gave more money than I already do, stopped hurting recruiting, or just was a better sycophant/fan, or something.

Basically, I don't know where Nebraska goes from here, but it doesn't look good. Imagine East Lansing in a few weeks, or Autzen Stadium in a few years, or any random week this year where Nebraska looks like that again. And I have news, sports fans, if they turn in that performance against anyone else on our schedule this year, it's a loss.

Because that's reality, looking only at the 2-0 record that this team currently holds is anything but.

Here's hoping we can discuss reality.

Let me summarize your lengthy diatribe. You don't like Bo. You believe NU is still an elite football program. 9 wins sucks to you.

 

A whole page of bitching. Anybody can piss and moan. Come with solutions and make things interesting....not nearly as easy.

I've got ideas. Not sure why it's my job to do it for free when Bo is paid 8 figures to do it......

We aren't asking you to coach. Who do you hire? Why? Surely you don't suggest if someone offered you 8 figures tomorrow you could right the ship. Give us two solid ideas that aren't comprised totally of "fire xyz". Specifics please.

I've done this. Several times.

 

i guess we are just to be held hostage by bo until polo can provide a roadmap to victory.

[knapplc]

 

We aren't asking you to coach. Who do you hire? Why? Surely you don't suggest if someone offered you 8 figures tomorrow you could right the ship. Give us two solid ideas that aren't comprised totally of "fire xyz". Specifics please.

I've done this. Several times.

 

Yes, he has. So have about eleventy dozen other people. Let's not go through those conversations again. It's all wishing on stars at this point.

[True2tRA]

 

See, I think the decision to replace Bo is partly tied to who you could get to replace him. My guess, is he (and certain boosters) didn't want to take the gamble. I dunno...

My guess is that there are a couple of big guns in the university who were quite adamantly in Bo's corner. At least that's the way it sounded when it went down last year.And our course of action seems OK, barring some fresh ridiculous off-field embarrassment. While I supported a coaching change last year, the fact was the fan base as a whole was quite split. Welcoming a new coach when half the fans are sour over firing an 8/9-win guy, that's not a good environment. And we do have all the resources and team makeup to do pretty well in the next couple of years.So I'm on board with what we're doing. The AD has made it very, very, very clear that we're giving the football program all it could possibly need in the way of support, backing, recruiting resources. Bo will do 1) win games, 2) recruit well, and 3) represent the university well, and I believe those are the explicit standards laid out by Eichorst before the start of the season. Now if he fails on any of those counts, there will be far fewer excuses and far less tumult.But, don't count Bo out. He's a capable coach with a strong team and an easy schedule. He's got it all laid out for him and if he does go and win us 11 games this season, all the better for everyone.

Boy you covered it all Zoogs. I like that. While in support of a possible change last year, you're still covering all the bases by not counting Bo out if he can pull it off and be successful. No matter what happens, you saw it coming, in a sense,......good on ya.

[Husker NoNo]

I get that people are emotional. I too am disappointed with the play of the team. Two things:

 

1) Those of you who are ready to fire Bo do no respect how good many FCS teams are. Should it have been this close? No. Was McNeese far better going in than anyone in Nebraska gave them credit? Yes.

 

2) If you as a fan are frustrated and want Bo gone. That is fine! Turn in your tickets to the athletic program in protest, cancel your donations to the college, and put the sellout streak in jeopardy. If there enough other fans like yourself change will happen.

 

As for me I will be at the Miami game, in the new Husker shirt I bought when I got to town. And I will support my team. You can DO something if you are pissed husker fans! Sniping and trolling a message board is not action.

[It'sNotAFakeID]

I get that people are emotional. I too am disappointed with the play of the team. Two things:

 

1) Those of you who are ready to fire Bo do no respect how good many FCS teams are. Should it have been this close? No. Was McNeese far better going in than anyone in Nebraska gave them credit? Yes.

 

2) If you as a fan are frustrated and want Bo gone. That is fine! Turn in your tickets to the athletic program in protest, cancel your donations to the college, and put the sellout streak in jeopardy. If there enough other fans like yourself change will happen.

 

As for me I will be at the Miami game, in the new Husker shirt I bought when I got to town. And I will support my team. You can DO something if you are pissed husker fans! Sniping and trolling a message board is not action.

 

1) Why did our coaching staff not prepare this team like they thought McNeese State was better than anyone gave them credit?

[Hoosker]

 

I get that people are emotional. I too am disappointed with the play of the team. Two things:

 

1) Those of you who are ready to fire Bo do no respect how good many FCS teams are. Should it have been this close? No. Was McNeese far better going in than anyone in Nebraska gave them credit? Yes.

 

2) If you as a fan are frustrated and want Bo gone. That is fine! Turn in your tickets to the athletic program in protest, cancel your donations to the college, and put the sellout streak in jeopardy. If there enough other fans like yourself change will happen.

 

As for me I will be at the Miami game, in the new Husker shirt I bought when I got to town. And I will support my team. You can DO something if you are pissed husker fans! Sniping and trolling a message board is not action.

 

1) Why did our coaching staff not prepare this team like they thought McNeese State was better than anyone gave them credit?

 

Ask Bo Pelini.

Nobody on this board knows, so there is no point in asking the question.

[NUpolo8]

I get that people are emotional. I too am disappointed with the play of the team. Two things:

1) Those of you who are ready to fire Bo do no respect how good many FCS teams are. Should it have been this close? No. Was McNeese far better going in than anyone in Nebraska gave them credit? Yes.

2) If you as a fan are frustrated and want Bo gone. That is fine! Turn in your tickets to the athletic program in protest, cancel your donations to the college, and put the sellout streak in jeopardy. If there enough other fans like yourself change will happen.

As for me I will be at the Miami game, in the new Husker shirt I bought when I got to town. And I will support my team. You can DO something if you are pissed husker fans! Sniping and trolling a message board is not action.

1) I do not care in the slightest how good a FCS team may or may not be. Their coach doesn't make three million dollars, have a budget made solely for winning that tops seven figures nor boast some of the best facilities in the nation.

 

2). It's entirely possible to love the University of Nebraska and not Bo. He is not bigger than the program or the program. He appears to be a unfortunate blip on the storied history of Nebraska.

[QMany]

You nailed it, Polo, and it astonishes me that many of our fans seem okay with days like today (and all the other meltdowns and near-meltdowns).

Who is okay with days like today?

 

I'm not happy, but the sky isn't falling.

[zoogs]

Boy you covered it all Zoogs. I like that. While in support of a possible change last year, you're still covering all the bases by not counting Bo out if he can pull it off and be successful. No matter what happens, you saw it coming, in a sense,......good on ya.

Ha! I didn't see anything coming.

 

I'm just on board with the decision, which I wasn't when it happened. Basically, it comes down to make it clear that Bo has no excuses not to do great now. If he fails, there's clear justification. If he succeeds, hey, great.

[True2tRA]

 

Boy you covered it all Zoogs. I like that. While in support of a possible change last year, you're still covering all the bases by not counting Bo out if he can pull it off and be successful. No matter what happens, you saw it coming, in a sense,......good on ya.

Ha! I didn't see anything coming.I'm just on board with the decision, which I wasn't when it happened. Basically, it comes down to make it clear that Bo has no excuses not to do great now. If he fails, there's clear justification. If he succeeds, hey, great.

Hey, I'm with ya man, no judgement on my part. We are all just along for the ride. We hate on anyone who takes a definitive stance on one side or the other. Our stance means sh#t. Literally. A square turd in a round bowl.

 

Bo will do what he does. Nebraska will be what they are. It's established at this point.

 

Did we ever think we'd have a coaching staff so willing to throw its own players under the bus though? This has been a running theme for some time now. At least three years that I'm aware of? I have a hard time with that.

[In the Deed the Glory]

 

Boy you covered it all Zoogs. I like that. While in support of a possible change last year, you're still covering all the bases by not counting Bo out if he can pull it off and be successful. No matter what happens, you saw it coming, in a sense,......good on ya.

Ha! I didn't see anything coming.I'm just on board with the decision, which I wasn't when it happened. Basically, it comes down to make it clear that Bo has no excuses not to do great now. If he fails, there's clear justification. If he succeeds, hey, great.

This is exactly how I feel, and the fact that this opinion is perceived so negatively by many Americans sheds a lot of light onto our current, constant stalemate in Washington.

 

PICK A SIDE AND NEVER WAIVER, even if the other guy makes a whole lot of sense.

[NUpolo8]

 

You nailed it, Polo, and it astonishes me that many of our fans seem okay with days like today (and all the other meltdowns and near-meltdowns).

 

Who is okay with days like today?

I'm not happy, but the sky isn't falling.

The forecast is calling for 70% chances of particulate sky debris mist. Strong chance of full fledged falling.

 

If you don't see red flags after today then you're not going to see them.

[TheSker]

i am sure there are plenty we could take a gamble on for the chance of having a higher ceiling than 10 wins.

 

So list every coach who has won 11 game or more at least once in the past 6 seasons.......then tell us how your meeting with Eichorst went to get one of them here.

[True2tRA]

 

 

Boy you covered it all Zoogs. I like that. While in support of a possible change last year, you're still covering all the bases by not counting Bo out if he can pull it off and be successful. No matter what happens, you saw it coming, in a sense,......good on ya.

Ha! I didn't see anything coming.I'm just on board with the decision, which I wasn't when it happened. Basically, it comes down to make it clear that Bo has no excuses not to do great now. If he fails, there's clear justification. If he succeeds, hey, great.

This is exactly how I feel, and the fact that this opinion is perceived so negatively by many Americans sheds a lot of light onto our current, constant stalemate in Washington.

PICK A SIDE AND NEVER WAIVER, even if the other guy makes a whole lot of sense.

Whoa man!? What?

 

Cheers bro.