As a guy who has seen alot of the tigers over the years...let me tell you that they are goin to be good next year ...but they are goin to find it tuff to replace Rucker, Franklin, Spieker and Luellen.....if Temple is denied a 5th year then they will be down some serious weapons......the Defense will miss Pig and Williams and this is a defense that was pushed around by teams at times last year....but it is still a very good unit......
I for one expect Nebraska to win 3 outta four with KU, MU, CU, and VT all coming to Lincoln.......The Huskers have as much or more talent then any of these four schools....the Huskers just need to get togehter on the field..............Ganz showed that the offense is clearly loaded and Lucky appears to be returning.....Pelini can coach...and I don't expect the kids to quit or play as soft as they did last year....bottom line....the Huskers have out recruited CU VT MU and KU over the last 3 years...and a decent push this year will put them in the mix this year....that means that there is talent....and talent wins
Many seem to make the annual assumption that NU is the only program that IMPROVES from year to year. I can assure you, the entire conference tries to improve each season, with mixed results to be sure. Using NU as an example, the past four years proves that improvement can be spotty at best. But the skers aren't going to be the only improving team for 2008.
I think MU is returning 16 starters from the #4 team in the country. Pinkel has them in high gear and they are recruiting pretty well.
I'm thinking KU is a pretty young team as well. Mangino has them believing. He took his time and his lumps to BUILD a program, not patch it together. It has taken them six years to get here, I don't see the #7 team in the country falling off a cliff.
Hawkins looks to be the right guy for CU, they're looking better and seemed to be ready to turn the corner. He already has a signature win.
Va Tech? Again, established on both sides of the ball. Well coached for the most part. I have never been a Beemer fan, but he has a good rep as a HC and therefore has my respect. I'd expect a prepared and well coached seasoned team to show up in Lincoln.
Bo has what it takes to really improve the D, not too hard since they finished 112th. But the reality of it is improving a 112th ranked D a
whole lot may only get them to 70-80th, until he gets a couple of classes with his guys.
As a HC, in charge of both offense and defense, BO is a wild card.
The offense if left untouched should be productive with Ganz at the helm, but I doubt TO would tolerate the same pass happy offense that Cally/Watson fielded last season. He wants to run first. Trying to get a power running game where it hasn't existed in years, will take some changes and the dreaded learning curve. The O probably won't be starting over (who knows) but depending on the scheme(s) chosen, there may be some revamping necessary. Don't expect to see as many yards next year. But do expect more time of possession, a trademark of a TO team.
The rest of the B12 has it's offense and defense set and in place (for years in some cases) and kicking a$$ in some cases as well. I think that is a significant advantage over a first year HC and staff that's rebuilding a 5-7 team.
Bo and his new staff is starting years behind KU, MU and even CU. It could turn on a dime, hell, anything can happen, but I'm NOT counting on it. High expectations and subsequent disappointment are something that I avoid.
But opinions vary.
GO BO!!
