Blackshirt
Team HuskerBoard
I havent had much time to discuss the current state with you guys, so forgive me if much of this has already been discussed - but I felt compelled to at least share my thoughts, if nothing more than for personal keyboard therapy purposes.
Im pretty frustrated myself, but overall Im not too concerned. Does this make me a bad or apathetic fan? Nah, I care just as much as everyone else - after all I am the freak that runs 5+ husker websites.
I guess Im just trying to keep this all in perspective. Not saying those that are more upset are not, Im just kinda trying to look at this from a college athletes point of view. With an instituational change as dramatic as flip-flopping hollywood with new york city within a 2 yr period, sputtering resemblances to a steaming pile & culture shock to the point of complete disorientation are highly likely.
Just try to remember these things guys:
-We still have a VERY young team
-We are still VERY inexperienced and under-manned on the O-line, the carburetor of the Big Red Machine
-The experienced players on this team have seen nothing but change and doubt and turmoil the majority of their careers -- not to excuse some of the guys on last years team who appeared to "give up", but you have to admit that being beat down over & over and being told "we need more talent" - and talks about "the FUTURE players" has to wear on you.
Now Im not excusing the coaches for losing the players last year, and if this is happening again this year, then yes, this staff just may not have "it". But Im not quite ready to dial-in the rest of the season or write off the coaches, and I hope the players arent either.
Im also not sticking up for the WCO - that debate aside - it is what it is, and we have to make the best out of it. With that said, we have to remember that a pass-oriented offense just doesnt offer the same type of continuity & consistency we were accustomed to with a smashmouth game. The Air game just has a more imbalanced risk-reward factor than running - it always has and always will - but thats just the nature of today's culture, whether we like it or not.
And not to get too philosophical, but its deeper than just "tradition". Its partly the result of long emerging trends in an instant gratification society, including the transition from Pure Sport to Big-Business, where money is as much in control of the Game as lobbyists are in control of our Government. This is not to say that empty seats at TO Field wouldn't influence the Powers That Be -- Im just saying I dont think it will happen, nor do I think its right to lose that amount of faith quite this soon. But Im also not criticizing those that are ready to do so, as its very much your right to do what you please with your money.
As I mentioned in another thread, remember that this is the same team that has shown great heart this year in many situations - and IMO its not fair to throw them in the gutter after 1 or 2 bad outings. Its also not fair to chastise the coaches - YET. But I must say that as many others have suggested, this weekends game is a VERY pivotal one. B/c if our squad has another lackluster and uninspired performance at HOME against an INFERIOR Kstate team that is ripe for the whooping, then I would agree there are some serious issues that go much deeper than a transitional phase can explain.
A Kstate game at home with a divided Husker Nation has a strong hint of poetic symbolism in it - being the same game that virtually sealed Coach Solich's fate. Should Coach Cal & co have a similar performance, Lincoln may very well officially become a Drinking Town with a Football Problem all over again.
Heres to hoping that doesnt happen.
:wasted
Im pretty frustrated myself, but overall Im not too concerned. Does this make me a bad or apathetic fan? Nah, I care just as much as everyone else - after all I am the freak that runs 5+ husker websites.
I guess Im just trying to keep this all in perspective. Not saying those that are more upset are not, Im just kinda trying to look at this from a college athletes point of view. With an instituational change as dramatic as flip-flopping hollywood with new york city within a 2 yr period, sputtering resemblances to a steaming pile & culture shock to the point of complete disorientation are highly likely.
Just try to remember these things guys:
-We still have a VERY young team
-We are still VERY inexperienced and under-manned on the O-line, the carburetor of the Big Red Machine
-The experienced players on this team have seen nothing but change and doubt and turmoil the majority of their careers -- not to excuse some of the guys on last years team who appeared to "give up", but you have to admit that being beat down over & over and being told "we need more talent" - and talks about "the FUTURE players" has to wear on you.
Now Im not excusing the coaches for losing the players last year, and if this is happening again this year, then yes, this staff just may not have "it". But Im not quite ready to dial-in the rest of the season or write off the coaches, and I hope the players arent either.
Im also not sticking up for the WCO - that debate aside - it is what it is, and we have to make the best out of it. With that said, we have to remember that a pass-oriented offense just doesnt offer the same type of continuity & consistency we were accustomed to with a smashmouth game. The Air game just has a more imbalanced risk-reward factor than running - it always has and always will - but thats just the nature of today's culture, whether we like it or not.
And not to get too philosophical, but its deeper than just "tradition". Its partly the result of long emerging trends in an instant gratification society, including the transition from Pure Sport to Big-Business, where money is as much in control of the Game as lobbyists are in control of our Government. This is not to say that empty seats at TO Field wouldn't influence the Powers That Be -- Im just saying I dont think it will happen, nor do I think its right to lose that amount of faith quite this soon. But Im also not criticizing those that are ready to do so, as its very much your right to do what you please with your money.
As I mentioned in another thread, remember that this is the same team that has shown great heart this year in many situations - and IMO its not fair to throw them in the gutter after 1 or 2 bad outings. Its also not fair to chastise the coaches - YET. But I must say that as many others have suggested, this weekends game is a VERY pivotal one. B/c if our squad has another lackluster and uninspired performance at HOME against an INFERIOR Kstate team that is ripe for the whooping, then I would agree there are some serious issues that go much deeper than a transitional phase can explain.
A Kstate game at home with a divided Husker Nation has a strong hint of poetic symbolism in it - being the same game that virtually sealed Coach Solich's fate. Should Coach Cal & co have a similar performance, Lincoln may very well officially become a Drinking Town with a Football Problem all over again.
Heres to hoping that doesnt happen.
:wasted
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