Husker_x
New member
Here we are again, loss # 4, and despite the general gaity and relief I sense this so-called 'admirable' defeat has placed in my fellow Huskers, I, unfortunately, as always, will be the bearer of ill tidings. Nothing about this loss has comforted me in the least. As Kirk Herbstriet continually says on NCAA 2008, "There's more to defense than emotion. You can't continually expect to play out of position..."
First off, I do not believe in moral victories, whatever the hell those are. I'd rather have a Pyhrric victory than a moral one. First of all the term usually applies to situations where a severe underdog comes within inches of victory, only to have that victory snatched from them at the last second. We have a word for that. It's called a demoralizing defeat, and if you need any further evidence, take a look at all the tears on the sideline. We achieved nothing but a blown lead and another loss, likely one that sets yet another record under the Bill Callahan Slaughter's Nebraska tour '07.
I suppose I should be grateful that the defense came out and played like Cornhuskers for three quarters. But unfortunately when I go to McDonald's I don't pay for 3/4 of a good hamburger; I don't pay for 3/4 of my fries; and I don't pay for 3/4 of soooda. I pay for it all. And I'm sorry for sounding like an a-hole, but I fear for the day when a 3/4ths played loss is something to smile about. "Well, we didn't give up 400 yards!" Oh goodie. I can't contest that our defense did come out and play stellar for 3 quarters. They flew to the ball, smacked the quarterback, broke up passes, and generally suffocated Texas. This allowed our offense to jump to a 14 point lead, one which for as far as I could tell would go unchanged if the game continued as it did.
Except it didn't.
Just like clockwork the Cosgrove Defense came trumping onto the field, and 3 touchdowns and 230-some yards later we were down by as much as we were up. Big play after big play, a running back who must have averaged 60 yards per carry in the fourth quarter. The true mark of a Callahan team: they completely choked.
My pity goes out to Sam Keller. He had a pretty good game. Even though he's never lived up to the hype, I think he's a good guy who loves football. That said, in retrospect I think I might have traded Joe Ganz's mobility for Sam's big game experience. There are just too many times where the pocket rolls around the QB, leaving several green acres of open space, that I just looked to the heavens and asked God if he would grant Keller the legs of Eric Crouch for just fifteen seconds. Alas, what usually occurs is a fumble or a sack as the DE reaches out his free arm.
If anything this game is the most negative in terms of team spirit of them all. First they expect to lose, then they come close to winning, then they blow it, then they ride home. I can't imagine the locker room after that one. The wholse season was and is shot, as not it'll take a greater miracle than before to pull out another win. I'm glad that a lot of young guys are getting on the field. Next year's coach will not only have young talent, but experienced young talent to work with. Despite a generally good gameplan on both sides of the ball, the weaknesses of these coaches were exposed with yet another simple play that baffles 30-year coaches. This is exactly what brought all this mess about. The Texas game, if anything, proves our point all over again.
Now there's nothing to do but wait.
X
First off, I do not believe in moral victories, whatever the hell those are. I'd rather have a Pyhrric victory than a moral one. First of all the term usually applies to situations where a severe underdog comes within inches of victory, only to have that victory snatched from them at the last second. We have a word for that. It's called a demoralizing defeat, and if you need any further evidence, take a look at all the tears on the sideline. We achieved nothing but a blown lead and another loss, likely one that sets yet another record under the Bill Callahan Slaughter's Nebraska tour '07.
I suppose I should be grateful that the defense came out and played like Cornhuskers for three quarters. But unfortunately when I go to McDonald's I don't pay for 3/4 of a good hamburger; I don't pay for 3/4 of my fries; and I don't pay for 3/4 of soooda. I pay for it all. And I'm sorry for sounding like an a-hole, but I fear for the day when a 3/4ths played loss is something to smile about. "Well, we didn't give up 400 yards!" Oh goodie. I can't contest that our defense did come out and play stellar for 3 quarters. They flew to the ball, smacked the quarterback, broke up passes, and generally suffocated Texas. This allowed our offense to jump to a 14 point lead, one which for as far as I could tell would go unchanged if the game continued as it did.
Except it didn't.
Just like clockwork the Cosgrove Defense came trumping onto the field, and 3 touchdowns and 230-some yards later we were down by as much as we were up. Big play after big play, a running back who must have averaged 60 yards per carry in the fourth quarter. The true mark of a Callahan team: they completely choked.
My pity goes out to Sam Keller. He had a pretty good game. Even though he's never lived up to the hype, I think he's a good guy who loves football. That said, in retrospect I think I might have traded Joe Ganz's mobility for Sam's big game experience. There are just too many times where the pocket rolls around the QB, leaving several green acres of open space, that I just looked to the heavens and asked God if he would grant Keller the legs of Eric Crouch for just fifteen seconds. Alas, what usually occurs is a fumble or a sack as the DE reaches out his free arm.
If anything this game is the most negative in terms of team spirit of them all. First they expect to lose, then they come close to winning, then they blow it, then they ride home. I can't imagine the locker room after that one. The wholse season was and is shot, as not it'll take a greater miracle than before to pull out another win. I'm glad that a lot of young guys are getting on the field. Next year's coach will not only have young talent, but experienced young talent to work with. Despite a generally good gameplan on both sides of the ball, the weaknesses of these coaches were exposed with yet another simple play that baffles 30-year coaches. This is exactly what brought all this mess about. The Texas game, if anything, proves our point all over again.
Now there's nothing to do but wait.
X
