Am I alone here

newearth

I get what your saying, seriously I do, but I don't think taking positives from a loss is not necessarily making lame excuses for the team. There were positives to be taken from the VT game, alot of negatives to be sure, but there was alot of good play as well. Everything is relative I suppose, you said 'It is not giving up 35 points to an average Va Tech team and then turning around and being happy about it.' and yet the '97 team, ranked number 1 in the country, gave up what, 38 points? to an unranked Missouri team and it was an instant classic. I am seldom a 'glass is half full' type but, in my oppinion, this team is signigicantly better than the team we had last year at this time.

 
newearthhusker said:
First off just let me say that I know this is a “rebuilding” process and I know we aren’t going to win every game.

That being said am I the only one that is sick of the defeatist mentality that is floating around the Nation this year? I know we are fighting an up hill battle and I know we have taken our lumps since November of 2001, but come on. WE ARE NEBRASKA. When did losing become alright? When did losing become expected? When did it become acceptable to predict a loss by your favorite team? When did people go from caring about the scoreboard and start caring if we just play hard? When did it become alright to lose a game we SHOULD have won just as long as there was “fire” in the guys? If you ask me a lot of this is freaking J.V. or High School crap.

I know Mizzou has a great offense but they are beatable. Chase Daniel is good but he isn’t unstoppable. Coz figured out how to slow him down in 06. MacLain is awesome as well but if we kick away from him that takes away a huge threat in their game plan. One man won’t beat us this isn’t basketall. Their defense is completely untested aside from Illinois and the Juice lit them up that day.

Sure Tech has an awesome offense but they have not played anyone. Their defense is also untested and unproven. Their offense is awesome against J.V. squads but what happens when they play a team with a good red zone defense?

For the record if I hear anymore of this crap I’m going to puke:

1. I don’t care if we finish 6-6 as long as we show improvement over last year.

2. I don’t care if we lose as long as we play hard.

3. We can’t beat Mizzou, Tech, or OU this year so I just hope we keep it close.

4. It is ok that we lost to Va Tech because they fought all the way to the end.

5. It is alright that our fundamentals still stink and that we still have mental breakdowns because Bo tells us like it is and that is so refreshing.

6. We need more talent.

7. These linemen were brought in to pass block.

Maybe I’m naïve and all but like I said WE ARE NEBRASKA losing should not be acceptable. I know it happens but come on why be alright with it?
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the fact of the matter is we have fallen so far, so fast, that expectations are risky for us as fans...most of us realize "Rome wasn't built in a day" and we haven't had a master architect for at least 5 years, give or take 3 or 4 more......yes, the down turn has been pronounced and long (just like the economic cycle we are about to enter), but we should be supportive and hopeful......on the other hand "hope" never guarantees anything, never has.......we need a plan to recruit better and coach better.....and that takes time....

 
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robsker said:
mjmartin1970 said:
Losing is not OK. Losing is NEVER OK!!!! Just ask Bo. But what I think people are saying is, I don't think we need to fire Bo if we lose to Missouri.
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Actually losing, if you do it well --- with humility, learning from what happened, and doing so in a classy way w/o complaining, feeling sorry for yourself or blaming others or the situation is more than OK. It is life --- it is maturing and it is part of what sports are about. Losing can be great --- or good, or neutral, or bad --- depending on how you do it. Winning can be less than OK --- if you win with arrogance and pride, thinking that you, by virtue of winning, are better than your opponent --- well then winning like that is not OK. Winning can be great, or good, or neutral or bad --- depending on how you do it.

Sports are a microcosm of life and college kids need to know how to both lose well and win well. So too do fans of college sports.
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true, there is more to it than how you played the game......it is what you take away from the experience.

building blocks, foundation laying, turning points, call it what you may, but it is a process of building on little success, which in turn breeds bigger accomplishments....good post rob!

 
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Some very good points have been made here, for both sides, and the fact that we are all so supportive of this great University is the best part.

New, I admire your tenacity and your loyalty. You are a true fan and your ideas are spot on. No grief from me on your thoughts by any means.

Again I remind you to stop by the tailgate and have a beer or something to eat. That goes for all of you. WE are all Nebraska fans and we all love them more than pretty much anything else, outside of family.

Never hesitate in your comments and loyalty to this team.

 
You're not alone, newearth.

I've never been able to take losses well. My first memory of the Huskers was when I starting crying when Nebraska lost to Florida State for the National Championship in '93(?).

My parents actually suggested I take anger management classes because I get so pissed off after Husker losses.

I threw a deck of cards at my little brother because him and my mom beat me and my dad in a game of Pitch. But that has nothing to do with Husker football. I just wanted to illustrate how sore of a loser I am.

F*** LOSING!

But I have to agree with skersfan, also. Patience.

 
newearthhusker said:
First off just let me say that I know this is a “rebuilding” process and I know we aren’t going to win every game.

That being said am I the only one that is sick of the defeatist mentality that is floating around the Nation this year? I know we are fighting an up hill battle and I know we have taken our lumps since November of 2001, but come on. WE ARE NEBRASKA. When did losing become alright? When did losing become expected? When did it become acceptable to predict a loss by your favorite team? When did people go from caring about the scoreboard and start caring if we just play hard? When did it become alright to lose a game we SHOULD have won just as long as there was “fire” in the guys? If you ask me a lot of this is freaking J.V. or High School crap.

For the record if I hear anymore of this crap I’m going to puke:

......

Maybe I’m naïve and all but like I said WE ARE NEBRASKA losing should not be acceptable. I know it happens but come on why be alright with it?
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WOW, Lots of questions...

When did losing become alright? NEVER. It's NEVER alright to lose. But it happens, you can't take it back.

When did losing become expected? uhm.. last season on the way to a 5-7 record.

When did it become acceptable to predict a loss by your favorite team? always acceptable to predict either a win OR a loss, just not acceptable to hope for it. (like some did in their zeal to get rid of Cally). those folks know who they are.

When did people go from caring about the scoreboard and start caring if we just play hard? uhm.. last season on the way to a 5-7 record.

When did it become alright to lose a game we SHOULD have won just as long as there was “fire” in the guys? NEVER. It's NEVER alright to lose. But it happens, you can[t take it back.

For the record if I hear anymore of this crap I’m going to puke: might as well start puking. You'll hear lots of the things you don't want to hear.

WE ARE NEBRASKA losing should not be acceptable. sorry, being a fan of (fill in the blank _____) doesn't entitle anyone to a winning season, not NU, ND, Michigan, etc. entitlements must be earned on the field of play.

I know it happens but come on why be alright with it? The losses will come, right along with the wins this season. It's a free country (mostly) ... be anyway you want to be with it.

me ... I'll expect a 6 or 7 win season and be happy if it is better.

opinions vary...

GO BO!!

BEAT MIZZOU!!

 
newearthhusker said:
...am I the only one that is sick of the defeatist mentality that is floating around the Nation this year?

WE ARE NEBRASKA...

When did losing become alright? NEVER!!..NEVER (ALL)right!!

When did losing become expected? Last year..

When did it become acceptable to predict a loss by your favorite team?

I thought it always was..I mean just by thinking something will happen.. won't make it so unless we are the one's actually playing...

I even considered betting against us to help cushion the blow of a loss durring the "Sooner Majic" years...Ended up just betting Sexual favors with my Girlfriend so it would be a "Win-Win" thing..And I was Still young enough to be turned on when the wind changed directions and wouldn't let a depressing loss keep me from the all important pursuit of tail.

When did people go from caring about the scoreboard and start caring if we just play hard?

When did it become alright to lose a game we SHOULD have won just as long as there was “fire” in the guys? See Pedey and his refusal to let "us" slip into mediocracy..

For the record if I hear anymore of this crap I’m going to puke:

Have one:

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1. I don’t care if we finish 6-6 as long as we show improvement over last year.

2. I don’t care if we lose as long as we play hard.

3. We can’t beat Mizzou, Tech, or OU this year so I just hope we keep it close.

4. It is ok that we lost to Va Tech because they fought all the way to the end.

5. It is alright that our fundamentals still stink and that we still have mental breakdowns because Bo tells us like it is and that is so refreshing.

6. We need more talent.

7. These linemen were brought in to pass block.

Maybe I’m naïve and all but like I said WE ARE NEBRASKA losing should not be acceptable. I know it happens but come on why be alright with it?

If you ask me a lot of this is freaking J.V. or High School crap.
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Funny you should mention Highschool..I would get so depressed after a loss that I actually played in and had some direct affect on the outcome..But I was such a deranged Husker fan(atic) that I would trade a loss by my own HS team for a Nebraska win any day of the week..

Why is it so important that NEBRASKA wins? What difference will it make 200 years from now? ("What if The Russians Love their Children Too"-Sting) Will people respect (US) or like us any more? Vicariously, just because on a certain day..the youngsters we decided to root for ...score more points than the kids someone else rooted for?

 

Answer me this...Do you like people that went to or are now suddenly diehard USC fans just because their team has been dominating like "we" did durring my formative years? Sort of a "Nebraska of the new millenium" so far?..I 1st started following CFB in 1970 and didn't see us lose until after I was 12

 

I guess it took me moving away..Or maybe finally having my nads drop..

 

But it definitely took me getting a life..

A Wife and Kids tend to sway your priorities a little..

You lose a Parent or a Sibling and you see there actually are things that hurt worse than losing...And you start to realize after watching DONU lose for probably the 64th time in your lifetime, that the Sun still shows up the next day...or in the Midwest...eventually..And you start to realize it's really just a GAME...A game PLAYED by kids you will probably never meet..And you realize one more MNC isn't worth trading your right hind leg for...When you're praying to whoever you pray to and you're in a bartering mood.

 

 

I personally feel we should concern ourselves more with what we have some control over..Like How we handle Wins and Losses..

 

It's way more than the end results..("More than Winning"-T.O.)..The real fun is the process of getting there.

 

In the



that looks a little like AR..
Turn off your mind, relax

and float down stream

It is not dying

It is not dying

Lay down all thought

Surrender to the void

Is it shining

Is it shining

That you may see

The meaning of within

It is being

It is being

That love is all

And love is everyone

Is it knowing

Is it knowing

That ignorance and hate

May mourn the dead

Is it believing

Is it believing

But listen to the

color of your dreams

Is it not living

Is it not living

Or play the game

existence to the end

Of the beginning

Of the beginning

Of the beginning

Of the beginning

Of the beginning

Of the beginning

EDIT:

Sorry if I repeated alot of what was said in prev. posts..I replied before reading the whole thread while the rants were still sorta fresh in my mind.

Good thought provoking thread, Newearth muslim named dude.

A final thought..some of us probably place a higher priority on winning than others..I sometimes wish I was more of a "Winner"...I taught my best friend how to play raquetball Freshman Year at UNL..I think I only beat him twice after that innitial game..I usually didn't even keep track of the score..just enjoyed the exercise and the diving for impossible shots..Totally ruined his week last time I beat him..I just remember hoping we'd play again before I left.

 
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The only thing I can add to this is that last year, eerily similar to the same time of year, I went on an 8 day Elk Hunt here in Colorado the Friday before the A@M Game. That was after the previous weekend that the 97 team was honored and you all know what happened versus OK State. Seeing the scores on Espn at halftime, what was is 31-0 Okie lite, I felt gutted. Went on my trip, came home to see what transpired with Texas and A@M. Yes I watched the remaining of the season and once I found out that Pelini was the new coach in December, I literally immersed myself in work and didn't hit a Husker Board again until May of this year. I did hit huskerpedia to see who we signed, but that was it. Also didn't watch any of the bowl season except for the BCS bowls. Very, very unlike me as much as I love the Huskers and CFB.

See that's the thing is for some fans with my POV, I still have the gutted feeling hangover from last year while watching NU this year. I don't know how you couldn't being we've just witnessed the WORST Nu season played in many lifetimes (No, I didn't count Cally's First year here). It's unprecedented for many. BUT I feel much better watching NU play this year as opposed to last year because so far I've seen a team that played hard the entire game-something we took for granted. I see Pelini and company coaching/teaching players-something we took for granted. Moreover I see the Head Coach feels the same way I do about losing games for the Huskers, he hates it. He knows in CFB they all matter. The previous NU head coach never seemed to care that much about the Ls and that just carried on over to the players.

Finally and this is reality(POV) for some, I understand when knowledgeable blue hair husker fans say Pelini has inherited a bigger mess of a program then the Bobfather. You can take that POV or leave it, I don't know.

 
I don't see 'overwhelming numbers' of Husker fans ACCEPTING losing; in fact, I don't see ANY. People are just pretty discouraged about not having a championship level team to root for.

UPHEAVAL has been the main problem--no stability since OZ left. 2nd would be the major change from a running O to passing. Then there's the parity thing which is REAL!

Even so, BR has only had 3 yrs outta the last 40 that could be called bad: '02, '04, and '07. We just don't know how to deal w losing is all...

:restore

 
Like I said many times I now we are rebuiding, I get that. I understand it will take more years to "Get Back" to where we used to be. I get that. Also I thought I explained my "WE ARE NEBRASKA" thing but I guess that got missed. It isn't a since of entitlement, it is an attitude that losing is acceptable. Please tell me what is wrong with that?

I know these are a bunch of kids and I don't think what some dude types on a random message board adds any more pressure on them then they already have. Or coaches for that matter. If it does then maybe they shouldn't be involved in a State Job(talking about the coaches)

Just a few examples of the hand in hand "as long as we fought to the end" crap that I don't like.

http://www.huskerboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28933

http://www.huskerboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28929

http://www.huskerboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28881

About half way down on this one. And it was so good that we needed 2 of the same threads.

http://www.huskerboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28882

Good thought provoking thread, Newearth muslim named dude.
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Not muslim it is the name of an Record Album (or CD for the younger crowd)

 
skersfan said:
New,

Do not ever think I accept a loss. I am a Jar Head. Many years in the Corps. I know what winning means.

My plea has always been patience this year. Do not expect the greatest season in Husker history. Play the games and see what happens.

You are stating that we lost to an average VaTech team. That may very well be, but the games have not been played yet. Last year they lost to LSU the first game. They went on to be ranked the number 3 team in the country prior to losing to Kansas.,

Who is to say it won't be the same this year? They were ranked at the beginning of the season, and quite high for all the freshmen they play. This is a young team, but very talented. Give credit where it is due. That in itself gives credit to our team.

And your statement about being behind Bo 100% is not accurate. If you do not support his assistants you do not support Bo 100%. He made those choices, so you are in actuality questioning his judgement. It is too soon to do that in my mind. This group has never been able to run the ball against a talented defense, there are reasons, and it may be some coaching but it is a talent issue to.
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Semper Fi, Mac...2nd Force Recon Co.

Do I like Nebraska to lose? No.

Do I expect them to win every game? No, that is unrealistic. I want them to win every game, but how often does that happen?

To expect Nebraska to win every game, without room for anything else, sets one up for failure and disappointment. This attitude is exactly what led to Solich's firing after a 9-3 regular season and brought on the Callahan disaster. It is also unrealistic and childish, born of fans spoiled by years of success. To question a fan's loyalty simply because of realism and acceptance of the current state of the team is the height of arrogance.

There seems to be a lot of that on this board. There are a core group of contributors who seem to dominate discussions, and who don't want to hear the opinions of others. These people insult those who don't agree with them, but are so thin-skinned that they can't accept criticism.

I have two degrees from Nebraska, and have been to over 100 games since 1961. I have traveled all over the country to follow the team. But I guess that I am a lousy fan in some people's eyes since I don 't blindly expect Nebraska to win every game against every opponent.

 
K, nobody LIKES losing, but once one has done his/her best and still loses, it is the mature thing to do to accept that reality and move on. Doesn't mean you plan to lose the next one. And that IS life. You learn, grow, and try to win the next one.

Right now, NE is a good team w a great brand name, but that doesn't guarantee anything; they gotta just keep pluggin' away at it.

p.s., champs of the near future are gonna have 3-4 losses, will have to overcome more... :boxosoap

 
zE bOp said:
K, nobody LIKES losing, but once one has done his/her best and still loses, it is the mature thing to do to accept that reality and move on. Doesn't mean you plan to lose the next one. And that IS life. You learn, grow, and try to win the next one.

Right now, NE is a good team w a great brand name, but that doesn't guarantee anything; they gotta just keep pluggin' away at it.

p.s., champs of the near future are gonna have 3-4 losses, will have to overcome more... :boxosoap
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:yeah

 
BIGREDIOWAN said:
I can see both of newearthhusker and skersfan points. I agree with both of them, while I'm not happy with losing, I can deal with it easier if I see a difference in the team. I don't want us to lose at all, but reality is, it happened, and it will most likely happen again. Is that okay? No, but I'm more than willing to give Bo all the time he needs because I feel he is the right type of coach that we need here at NU and he will eventually get it done. I was never sold on Callahan from the start and he never seemed like a good fit for NU. No one is afraid of us anymore because the past is just that the past. We have an outstanding tradition of winning and having top teams year after year. Steps in the wrong direction took us away from that and it's going to take time to back up there.
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:clap

Sorry, BRI

First, I thought you forgot the :sarcasm

For some reason, Whenever I try to recall the last of the Callahan supporters, Your name usually comes to mind almost immediately..I just had to make sure I wasn't getting Mad Cow disease like Shatner on "Boston Legal".

BIGREDIOWAN said:
Oh and I agree with you...........I support Cally 100% and I love it when "fans" say that he doesn't know what he's doing and blah blah blah..........I love a coach that is willing to just go for it sometimes. It shows me he has faith in his play calling and his players and I love that. I think he is a hell of a coach and we are lucky to have him here. It could be a lot worse and people tend to forget that........
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BIGREDIOWAN said:
We are right on the edge of becoming a very good football team and I think next year we will go over that edge depending on what happens with the defense. I think Cally is the man to lead us to the promised land and given time to get the recruits he wants in here we will get another NC..........
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BIGREDIOWAN said:
I'm happy with Callahan and I think anyone who isn't just needs to look at what has happened over the past 3 years and look at where we are at right now to realize that!!!
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And what a difference 53 weeks make! :rant

BIGREDIOWAN said:
See I said last week that if USC wanted to score 60 on us they would have. The defense definately let that game get out of reach however all we could do was pass anyways. There are a few people on the board I need to apologize too and they know who they are that have mentioned firing Coz in the past and I jumped all over them. I'm a big enough man to admit when I was wrong and I sincerely apologize for jumping you for expressing your concerns which obviously were painfully true. I feel like I'm being backed into a corner now and I have no choice, but say that Coz has to go. I was just trying to support the team and let me tell you I still support the team as a whole because I love the Huskers, but something has to change. It's not Cally it's Coz. :hmmph
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In reality, I usually just assumed you were supporting the title (Chief of staff?) and not nessecarily the person ...for the good of the program.

I also found some posts from myself in support of Callahan (mostly After Sam Keller transfered from ASWho) even though Cally really pissed me off right off the bat by reducing the walkon program (Solich/Gillespie were recruiting my nephew to walk on)..

 
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