CBS Sports: Breaking Down the Big Ten Schedules

[NUpolo8]

Also polo did I really just see you try to attribute all four of our yearly losses to teams that we should beat? Because that is definitely what you said and that's disingenuous dude.

2008 had zero losses to teams we should have beaten.

2009 had two losses to teams we should have beaten.

2010 was kind of tricky. Texas no questions asked, Texas A&M in a fair fight, and Washington....well. I just don't even know how to quantify that. Let's make the last two .5's and say two.

2011 had one loss to a team we should have beaten.

2012 had two losses to teams we should have beaten.

2013 had two as well.

We don't get to have it both ways,If Nebraska "beats itself more often than not, then Nebraska loses to teams it should beat.

......what?

If "we beat ourselves", which is the common troupe those four weeks a year when there is a loss, then it's accepted that Nebraska lost to a team it's "above".

We were not above #14 Virginia Tech, #4 Missouri, #7 Texas Tech, #4 Oklahoma, #13 Virginia Tech, #3 Texas, #10 Oklahoma, #7 Wisconsin, #12 Michigan, #10 South Carolina, #12 Ohio State, #6 Georgia, #16 UCLA and #16 Michigan State.

So in none of those instances, Nebraska didn't beat itself? Nebraska didn't have the talent to hang with any of those?
And if that's true, then Nebraska has fallen to a point that has never been acceptable since Devaney, and there needs to be a change.

 

[Landlord]

So in none of those instances, Nebraska didn't beat itself? Nebraska didn't have the talent to hang with any of those?

"beating ourselves == being better than the other team" is your bizarro conclusion, not mine.

Obviously we have beaten ourselves against good teams. Obviously we have the talent to hang with those teams, because we, you know, hung with plenty of them. Can you please stick to what you originally said? Your semantic backtracking is exhausting.

 

[NUpolo8]

So in none of those instances, Nebraska didn't beat itself? Nebraska didn't have the talent to hang with any of those?

"beating ourselves == being better than the other team" is your bizarro conclusion, not mine.

Obviously we have beaten ourselves against good teams. Obviously we have the talent to hang with those teams, because we, you know, hung with plenty of them. Can you please stick to what you originally said? Your semantic backtracking is exhausting.

Great. Then Nebraska underachieves. Thanks.

 

[Landlord]

Duh.

Literally 100% of Nebraska fans will agree with that conclusion.

 

[NUpolo8]

Duh.

Literally 100% of Nebraska fans will agree with that conclusion.

Ok, why?
Because we watch the games. We see what this team is . And nearly half of the losses you described isn't because of an inherent talent gap, which would be bad enough. Its because the other team is better prepared and coached. So, it is a coaching problem.

But hey, when you hire baby coordinators and lose you cool under stress, that is what you get. Contrary to the company line, Nebraska has a lot of advantages that are ignored, because, sadly, Bo is bigger than the program to some.

 

[kchusker_chris]

Ok, why?

Because we watch the games. We see what this team is . And nearly half of the losses you described isn't because of an inherent talent gap, which would be bad enough. Its because the other team is better prepared and coached. So, it is a coaching problem.

But hey, when you hire baby coordinators and lose you cool under stress, that is what you get. Contrary to the company line, Nebraska has a lot of advantages that are ignored, because, sadly, Bo is bigger than the program to some.

I think many will agree with you here. At the end of the day I think it all comes back to whether you think Bo Pelini will get better as an HC, or whether he'll continue down this path. If I had a crystal ball and could 100% guarantee that he'll never get over this hump, I bet even QMany, with his #9wins mantra would pull the plug and take the risk on a change. Don't have that though, so the division is really based on how much stock you put in the last 6 years, or probably more importantly the last 3 since that's 100% Bo, and isn't the "new HC without his recruits". I've seen a lot of things the last 3 years that make me think this is about as good as it's going to get with Bo. Others look more to the future and find positives and improvements throughout the last 3 that point to a improving coach. Guess it's all just perspective. He's a good coach, can he ever be a great one? That's the line that's been drawn as I see it.

 

[TheSker]

And nearly half of the losses you described isn't because of an inherent talent gap, which would be bad enough.

We've absolutely had a talent gap. If that were not true, we wouldn't be seeing the focus ($$$) on recruiting we've seen the past 2-3 seasons.

 

[NUpolo8]

And nearly half of the losses you described isn't because of an inherent talent gap, which would be bad enough.

We've absolutely had a talent gap. If that were not true, we wouldn't be seeing the focus ($$$) on recruiting we've seen the past 2-3 seasons.

Substitute "$$$" with "Bo Pelini finally overcoming his ego and realizing that Ohio St, Miami or whomever weren't going to come whisk him away and he finally started putting more than zero effort into it" and it's a little more accurate.

Any talent gap he had was his own fault.

 

[TheSker]

And nearly half of the losses you described isn't because of an inherent talent gap, which would be bad enough.

We've absolutely had a talent gap. If that were not true, we wouldn't be seeing the focus ($$$) on recruiting we've seen the past 2-3 seasons.

Substitute "$$$" with "Bo Pelini finally overcoming his ego and realizing that Ohio St, Miami or whomever weren't going to come whisk him away and he finally started putting more than zero effort into it" and it's a little more accurate.

Any talent gap he had was his own fault.

I'm fine with whatever reasoning you wish to put behind it......the point being, a talent gap was present.

 

[NUpolo8]

Ok, why?

Because we watch the games. We see what this team is . And nearly half of the losses you described isn't because of an inherent talent gap, which would be bad enough. Its because the other team is better prepared and coached. So, it is a coaching problem.

But hey, when you hire baby coordinators and lose you cool under stress, that is what you get. Contrary to the company line, Nebraska has a lot of advantages that are ignored, because, sadly, Bo is bigger than the program to some.

I think many will agree with you here. At the end of the day I think it all comes back to whether you think Bo Pelini will get better as an HC, or whether he'll continue down this path. If I had a crystal ball and could 100% guarantee that he'll never get over this hump, I bet even QMany, with his #9wins mantra would pull the plug and take the risk on a change. Don't have that though, so the division is really based on how much stock you put in the last 6 years, or probably more importantly the last 3 since that's 100% Bo, and isn't the "new HC without his recruits". I've seen a lot of things the last 3 years that make me think this is about as good as it's going to get with Bo. Others look more to the future and find positives and improvements throughout the last 3 that point to a improving coach. Guess it's all just perspective. He's a good coach, can he ever be a great one? That's the line that's been drawn as I see it.

.
Obviously it's an unknown, and obviously hope springs eternal.

The problem is, we've been burned by this before, and I would thought a lot would have learned. Hell, a personal experience, I've fallen for it twice, once last year, and once in 07, where I saw big years coming. Others didn't, namely lots of writers who didn't have red blinders on. And I remember thinking "this is insane, but it will be great when NU breaks through". Well both years were failures, with 07 being especially spectacular. Couple that into the two times big things were widely expected from NU by most in 2010 and 2011, only to underachieve, mightily in 2011, and there's a pretty telling track record.

To me this is a "learn from history or be condemned to repeat it" scenario.

 

[NUpolo8]

And nearly half of the losses you described isn't because of an inherent talent gap, which would be bad enough.

We've absolutely had a talent gap. If that were not true, we wouldn't be seeing the focus ($$$) on recruiting we've seen the past 2-3 seasons.

Substitute "$$$" with "Bo Pelini finally overcoming his ego and realizing that Ohio St, Miami or whomever weren't going to come whisk him away and he finally started putting more than zero effort into it" and it's a little more accurate.

Any talent gap he had was his own fault.

I'm fine with whatever reasoning you wish to put behind it......the point being, a talent gap was present.

And the point that it was there because of incompetence at the top.

 

[skersfan]

Talent gap is still there, no matter how they look. We have to see it on the field, and that means results. For this program to work, we have to have descent talent, which I think we do, but feel there are programs where our starters would 3rd team at best. We need a coaching staff, that realizes the talent we do have, and uses it to its full ability. We have not had that since possibly Frank was here, and that is borderline.

I give Bo the benefit of the doubt this year. He has been here long enough for us to see major changes in the way we play the game. His kids should know the system, and play within his guidelines. When he has elite talent, he has a pretty good team. I saw hints of things changing late in the year last year. The youth on the field, ie talent over experience gives me hope he has seen the light.

To his defense, recruiting is the hardest thing to learn for a new coach. Having a select area that you may have worked as an assistant is a totally different job than being 100% responsible for it. Many do the same thing Bo did. With a program similar to where he had been in tradition, I am sure he felt it would be easy to get the kids here, not so much a, I could care less attitude Polo. He is an intense person, I can not believe he purposely ignored the recruiting side. But with all he had to learn, all the jobs he truly put on himself with his hires, he had to be overwhelmed.

He has kept this program out of trouble, won the 9 games some feel are so important, and overall kept good kids in the program, improved GPA and graduation rates. Those things are important at Nebraska. Can he make the next level this year. Where we look like a Nebraska team. Being prepared for any and all comers, every weekend. Cut down on the turnovers, please.

I think we will know this year one way or the other. For now I fully support him.

 

[QMany]

To me this is a "learn from history or be condemned to repeat it" scenario.

 

[NUpolo8]

To me this is a "learn from history or be condemned to repeat it" scenario.

I agree. Nebraska probably shouldn't bring him back.

Now if you're finally admitting there are similarities between Bo and BC....

 

[Count 'Bility]

Someone explain to me why last year was supposed to be a big year?

Sure 3-4 years ago we pointed to it. "Ah yes, first year with an easy sched in big 10. Taylor Martinez a senior. Etc Etc Etc.". But when it finally came down to kickoff last August and seeing how green and inexperienced the Defense was gonna be. Then with it being pretty apparent our 4th year QB was having serious health issues, I just dont know how anyone couldve expected last year to by that year.