Lee Barfknecht - interesting column

[Foppa]

About 6 weeks ago, we were talking about the strength of schedule in 2007, and that being a major difference between why this season won't play out similar. EZ-E brought up the fact that Callahan had lost the team, and that contributed heavily to the losses as well, which I agree with completely. He said he didn't expect that to happen this year which is why Pelini will be fine. I'm wondering how EZ-E, and everyone else feels about that at this point. I don't think he's lost the team, yet...but I'm starting to see some chinks in the armor. What do you all think, is it going to play out similar to 07', which could be even worse considering the schedule?

I have been curious about Bo's leadership credibility with this team for a while. Publicly they all, to a man, express support for Bo. But if you love that guy as much as they let on, how do you go out there, as a team, and crap the bed like that against Minnesota? Or for the first half of SDSU? Or the second half of UCLA? Or just about all of Wyoming?

There seems to be a disconnect between what the team says about Bo and how they fight for him. If they love this guy as much as they claim, they had damned well better fight like hell every game from here on out, or their beloved coach is going to be gone.

If they don't love him, tanking to get rid of him isn't a great way to show it. It erodes fan support, which this team seems to count on pretty heavily.

Maybe they say things in support so they don't have to go to the doghouse and sit on the bench the rest of the season

That said...I'm fully waiting for news on Quincy to be out for the season due to ligaments pulled in his left arm hairs.

 

[admo]

I think he is gone. I just don't think there is enough of the overall support after 6 seasons. Even less if Michigan goes off for 54 points or so in the Big House on ABC. Not a happy camper to say this, but it's what I think. I should just delete.

 

[skersfan]

Losing to Minnesota was big. I think a real blow to the staff and team. Northwestern will come in with their hair of fire, is my guess. Jet Sweeps a blazin as will every other team on the schedule. Changes have to be made to the defense. Let the kids play, we lose playing hard to the ball, so be it. But this patty cake defense is not working, whether it is too much thinking or not any fun, It has to stop. This is football, these kids should be so excited to play.

It may go back to recruiting, the top programs did not take these kids for a reason. What was that reason. Play, character, work ethic, dedication, loyalty, and ability. All these are taken into account.

I truly hope we can turn it around. This program really can not stand another coaching change. I do not think I have ever been as down about Nebraska football. Losing is becoming so normal, losing to teams we should not lose to, teams curb stomping us and then a few days later everything is okay. Things are not okay. Very depressing. I have quit following this board as much. Do not read most of the threads, as it all seems to be the same things over and over. I would imagine the players read it and feel the same way. Again just depressing.

 

[walksalone]

The rhetoric being thrown around on this board and others is ignorant and laughable, not pointing any fingers at people individually. All of y'all, myself included, would make absolutely atrocious athletic directors, and clearly have no real clue how this works in real life. It's so much more complicated in various shades of grey then we all seem to want to make it out to be.

So what are we supposed to do, sit here mumchance? At what point do fans lose the ability to critique their team?

I really don't understand who/what you're chastising here. Of course none of us know how to hire or fire a D1A head football coach. What of it?

Hey, you're only an admin of a board full of no nothing football fans, pipe down buster...

 

[ladyhawke]

Rest assured the calls (to see who is or might be available) have been or are being made. The suits who hired Eichorst did it without TO's input for a reason. The last three hires have all turned out poorly and they want to hit a homerun or at least a stand up triple with the next hire. If Bo wins out he will be staying but two losses might be the tipping point depending how competitive we are. Three losses would probably get him escorted out the door after the last game with an interim for the bowl game. I hate that Bo's career is turning out this way and the players are paying the price.'

Source? Just curious. Thanks

I don't have a source either, but let's get real....any decent AD would be far along in the process under the circumstances.

The boosters, some I am sure, are still pissed about the Pelini F bombs.

I think it will depend on how many more wins we get this season. If by some miracle they win out and play for the B1G Championship (not likely but we can wish-right?) then he won't be fired. However, he may leave on his own accord. I think he's tired of all of this. Why continue to live under the microscope when he can go back to the NFL and coach without all the pressure he's under now. I just hate having to go through a coaching change-again.

 

[zoogs]

I don't think Bo has an issue with leadership credibility. His team legitimately loves him, but it takes more than love to win games. The fact that Bo's players love him is probably his biggest saving grace right now (though it seems to come unfortunately at the expense of the fans). What we're seeing, IMO, the simplest and most likely explanation is just a lot of football failures. Still, for all that, we're 5-2. They turn this around, and as long as Bo doesn't lose his locker room it's conceivable, you might say 12-2 isn't out of the question yet.

I don't see any chinks in the armor at all, and this team has been in worse spots before and come out of it. No reason to think differently.

 

[Nobody]

I don't think Bo has an issue with leadership credibility. His team legitimately loves him, but it takes more than love to win games. The fact that Bo's players love him is probably his biggest saving grace right now (though it seems to come unfortunately at the expense of the fans). What we're seeing, IMO, the simplest and most likely explanation is just a lot of football failures. Still, for all that, we're 5-2. They turn this around, and as long as Bo doesn't lose his locker room it's conceivable, you might say 12-2 isn't out of the question yet.

I don't see any chinks in the armor at all, and this team has been in worse spots before and come out of it. No reason to think differently.

yeah right.... I know way better than that. This is year 5 and we have the least amount of talent, specifically up front, since he's been here. I've seen Bo do less with more... I have no reason to believe otherwise. We got completely dominated up front by Minnesota.... without a coach.

 

[irafreak]

This whole thing just reminds me of the Chiefs. New coach comes in (Pelini, Romeo Crennel) and players are fired up to play for him. Over time, nice guy coach loses the discipline of team as they aren't being challenged or held accountable (players continuing to start and admitting after games they lacked focus). I think the players do love Bo....but maybe they need a general that will kick their asses during practice. Just a thought.

 

[Hunter94]

This whole thing just reminds me of the Chiefs. New coach comes in (Pelini, Romeo Crennel) and players are fired up to play for him. Over time, nice guy coach loses the discipline of team as they aren't being challenged or held accountable (players continuing to start and admitting after games they lacked focus). I think the players do love Bo....but maybe they need a general that will kick their asses during practice. Just a thought.

I am beginning to think practice is a candy a$$ walk through, complete with Iphones and Ipads in tow.

 

[huskered17]

Losing to Minnesota was big. I think a real blow to the staff and team. Northwestern will come in with their hair of fire, is my guess. Jet Sweeps a blazin as will every other team on the schedule. Changes have to be made to the defense. Let the kids play, we lose playing hard to the ball, so be it. But this patty cake defense is not working, whether it is too much thinking or not any fun, It has to stop. This is football, these kids should be so excited to play.

It may go back to recruiting, the top programs did not take these kids for a reason. What was that reason. Play, character, work ethic, dedication, loyalty, and ability. All these are taken into account.

I truly hope we can turn it around. This program really can not stand another coaching change. I do not think I have ever been as down about Nebraska football. Losing is becoming so normal, losing to teams we should not lose to, teams curb stomping us and then a few days later everything is okay. Things are not okay. Very depressing. I have quit following this board as much. Do not read most of the threads, as it all seems to be the same things over and over. I would imagine the players read it and feel the same way. Again just depressing.

"The top programs do not take these kids for a reason" Just jumped out at me. Your right, we are not a top program any more. Most of us think we are, but the sad truth is, we are not. After the Minn game it showed me that, our D coaches can't or don't know how to make adjustments, when a team finds something that will work, against our D. Run the table from here on, will take more than what the coaches have shown so far. Beating Mich and P.ST in their house, after not being able to win in Minn, is a reach. Hope we can, but I see two more loses at least. Hope I'm wrong, but the Scarlet glasses have come off. GBR!!!