It's Happening

[Husker_x]

College football is a seasonal thing. As a fanbase, we spend out winters rehashing the omens––good or ill––from the season before. Spring finds sports writers and their laziest and least informed. It's not their fault, this drought of truly useful information, but so many eye catching headlines destined to be forgotten are printed here. Summer is potential and hearsay congealing into the shape of a football team. We get our depth charts, our final rosters, and count the days until kickoff. Then there's fall.

 

Fall is reality. I've been along for every year of the Pelini tenure. Seven trips on the merry-go-round, so to speak––enough to make me hesitant about grandiose predictions before seeing a full non-conference schedule fill in the gaps. Being a part of the Nebraska fanbase during this time has been nothing if not instructive. We have seen some incredible things––again, good and ill––during Pelini's time. And while this post should not be mistaken with the Nebraska football program standing on the mountaintop, after so many trips around this seasonal thrill ride, an inkling I had in spring may turn out to be real. I think it's finally safe to say it's happening. Nebraska is taking the shape of the team it needs to be to bring trophies back to Lincoln.

 

You start with Ameer. Who wouldn't? Barrels of ink will be spilt praising his performance last night, but speaking for myself (and avoiding a string of well-deserved adjectives), this guy is beyond. Talk about his play, talk about his leadership. Talk about the fact that gravity seems to leave him the f*ck alone. Talk about whatever, but thank the football gods he's on our side, and credit our staff for finding him wandering around somewhere in Alabama.

 

Tim Beck. You've caused a lot of damage to my liver since you became coordinator (I learned in AA step one is to always blame other people for your problems). At times I thought your plot to kill me would succeed, but at some point between Taylor Martinez making his merciful exit and last night, you had a revelation. That revelation was to win games at Nebraska, you need to commit to a physical, option-oriented run game––and don't leave it for another woman. I commend you for your game plan and the discipline you showed in sticking with it for four quarters. I hope you stick with it for the rest of your career. You bludgeoned and demoralized a mouthy, trashy team and sent them packing back to Miami. I suspect we are waiting for a more consistent #2 at tailback, but Ameer will get some rest another night. Maybe next Saturday.

 

Tommy Armstrong is a player we've been waiting for. He's good-not-great, exactly what I thought he'd be, but he does a few simple things well, and his unselfish, intelligent play is the axis around which the offense rotates.

 

Our defense has a weakness or two, but my sense of the game was that Miami was simply doing some things right. Kaaya was on the money several times last night. You do have to tip your hat. You also have to tip your hat to a secondary that forced game-closing turnovers. Barring too many injuries, Pelini defenses tend to get better the more they play. Let's hope the trend continues. There is some eye-popping talent on that side as well, and the distance between where they are and dominance is not so far as it may appear.

 

One sportscaster likened the first three games to quizzes and the Miami game as the final test of the non-con. We completed 3/3 and passed the test with flying colors. We're 4-0. We're talented, tested, and the offensive blueprint is in place at long last. It's a long march to the end of the season, but I have not been this optimistic about Nebraska football and the direction of this program in a very, very long time. As of today, everything is in front of us, including a spot in the final four.

 

I could not be more f'ing proud of this team.

 

 

[In the Deed the Glory]

I agree with most of that, but I am still cautiously optimistic at this point.

 

We will see in two weeks against Michigan State

[TheSker]

We're seeing the results of the learning curve of a first time head coach. Pelini's scheme has been questioned the past three seasons when we didn't look as good, especially defensively......when the real learning curve was recruiting.....getting the Jimmys and Joes. What we are hopefully seeing now is the intersection of scheme and talent.

[Husker_x]

I agree with most of that, but I am still cautiously optimistic at this point.

 

We will see in two weeks against Michigan State

 

Yes we will. Hard game to peg but I think Nebraska has every tool it needs to get a W.

[Husker_x]

We're seeing the results of the learning curve of a first time head coach. Pelini's scheme has been questioned the past three seasons when we didn't look as good, especially defensively......when the real learning curve was recruiting.....getting the Jimmys and Joes. What we are hopefully seeing now is the intersection of scheme and talent.

 

I feel like we're approaching the phase where we have talent, and the potential to pile on a lot more with a good season. A few guys who are missing this year will be a boon next season when they're healthy, too. There are too many variables in championship runs to know for certain what's about to happen, but as far as program-level analysis, I think we're in better shape than we have been since . . . well . . . the late 90s? And the offense and defense appear to be about on equal footing talent-wise, a first in the Pelini era.

[BIGREDIOWAN]

I feel we are turning the corner here, but I'm cautious in my thinking. We beat MSU at their house.................I'm drinking a whole keg of kool-aid! I'll be all N at that point, not saying I don't support the team now, because I do, we've just been burnt so many times I don't want to do that again!

[Husker_x]

I feel we are turning the corner here, but I'm cautious in my thinking. We beat MSU at their house.................I'm drinking a whole keg of kool-aid! I'll be all N at that point, not saying I don't support the team now, because I do, we've just been burnt so many times I don't want to do that again!

 

I know the feeling, but I think Michigan State has as much to fear from us as we do from them. That's a huge change for me as a fan. It will be a big time challenge to go on the road and take them down but I think we are more than capable.

[husker B-rent]

We look good but realistically (did i just say that) we will drop a game this season, maybe two.

 

Even if we beat Msu in two weeks, if we take care of business we'll see them again in Indy. On top of that while wiscy has looked average they always get ramped up to play us. Still a lot of season ahead!

[jsneb83]

Now I can't get that gif out of my head.

[presidentjlh]

We look good, but much remains to be seen.

 

But I haven't felt this good about Nebraska football in a long time.

[deedsker]

We beat Miami and I am happy, but I will say it again that this team will go 10-2. We look better, but I still have my doubts about playing MSU. Prove me wrong Bo...prove me wrong.

[wilber24]

We have the potiential to win every game we have left, as Ameer says, "one game at a time".

As long as we improve and not regress in any area, I like our chances going forward!

[Husker from Kansas]

Wisconsin and Melvin Gordon scare the crap out of me, We are a better team then we have been for awhile, but I'm still worried about our ability to stop an elite runner like Gordon

[Count 'Bility]

Narduzzis watchin theiami film right now and rubbin a hole in his forhead

[theknife]

Next game will tell us as much about this team as this week. We've had games where it feels like finally it's happening, then come out an lay an egg against a subpar team. THIS is that same scenario, we have a huge game in two weeks, and a precevied bye week team this week. Does this team overlook them or do they show up and play like they did last night? We play like we did last night, and MSU/Wisc games will be fun to watch, and the rest should be wins. #GBR