Manufactured Controversy?
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knapplc
International Man of Mystery
Count me as fully in the camp of believing in "wanting it more." Absolutely it's an unquantifiable thing. It's a mental state, not a measurable stat. But it is more than clear that, several times in the last few years, other teams have "wanted it more" than Nebraska. 2011 Northwestern. Alamo Bowl vs. Washington. 2010 Texas. 2009 Iowa State. The list goes on.
Yes, I can categorically tell you that other teams "wanted it more" than the Huskers in those losses. I can tell you that other teams "wanted it more" than the Huskers in some games we pulled out of our asses - 2011 Fresno State 2010 South Dakota State off the top of my head.
No, I don't have to have played or coached or been a trainer or an Athletic Director or in any way connected to football to make this observation. It's evident by watching the games.
Yes, I can categorically tell you that other teams "wanted it more" than the Huskers in those losses. I can tell you that other teams "wanted it more" than the Huskers in some games we pulled out of our asses - 2011 Fresno State 2010 South Dakota State off the top of my head.
No, I don't have to have played or coached or been a trainer or an Athletic Director or in any way connected to football to make this observation. It's evident by watching the games.
tschu
Banned
Texas did not want it more than Nebraska did in 2010. We wanted it way more, so much so that we were too uptight to just go out and play.
In general though, I'm not a huge believer in his theory. Sure, attitude makes a difference. But at that level, everyone wants to win. Ability is the main factor, and the recent Husker teams have nowhere close to the talent that the 90s teams did. No matter how much they want it and no matter how much Burkhead and Compton scream and yell at everyone, it's not going to result in a national title this year.
In general though, I'm not a huge believer in his theory. Sure, attitude makes a difference. But at that level, everyone wants to win. Ability is the main factor, and the recent Husker teams have nowhere close to the talent that the 90s teams did. No matter how much they want it and no matter how much Burkhead and Compton scream and yell at everyone, it's not going to result in a national title this year.
Count 'Bility
Banned
This is why the world is in the sh#tstorm it's in. People are so caught up with perception and getting their feelings hurt that everyones supposed to put on a smile mask, be fake as hell, and spew a bunch of bs so you dont hurt jimmy jo's feelings. So when someone in the public light like Bo comes along and is brutally honest and is himself regardless people get all butthurt about it. It's the same reason i dont vote, not until we get a candidate that'll stand at a podium, dust of the sugar, and say "we've got problems folks, a lot of em, and this is what we're gonna do." Damn, people can be such pussies anymore (directed toward people in general, not you personally)I'm not a hater...just a little tired of Bo's "grumpy gus" act, wish he would appear to happy just to have practice starting. I know it doesn't matter, the last thing I want for the Huskers is a salesman instead of a coach.
saunders45 you are right, I watched it again with better camera and audio and he was fine, normal Bo reaction, it's probably just that Sean Callahan looks scared to death when he asks a question
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knapplc
International Man of Mystery
I suppose we could better define "wanting it more," between having a desire to win and having the fortitude to take that desire out on the field and succeed, but however we want to define it, bottom line is, out on the field 2010 Texas outplayed us. Maybe we "wanted it more" in the locker room. They clearly "wanted it more" on the field, which is where it counts.
knapplc
International Man of Mystery
It's a real concern, though. Bo's demeanor is hurting us in recruiting and in the court of public opinion. I spent the weekend in Dallas and had some time to talk to Baylor fans, A&M fans and a couple of Arkansas fans. They were all of the same opinion - they all like Bo well enough, but his public persona is not viewed well. Everyone, not just the A&M couple, mentioned the Bo-vs.-Taylor issue from the 2009 A&M game. Surprisingly, the A&M couple were the ones most forgiving of that, and they genuinely like Husker fans and wish us well, but this remains an area where Bo has work to do in the eyes of a lot of people.This is why the world is in the sh#tstorm it's in. People are so caught up with perception and getting their feelings hurt that everyones supposed to put on a smile mask, be fake as hell, and spew a bunch of bs so you dont hurt jimmy jo's feelings. So when someone in the public light like Bo comes along and is brutally honest and is himself regardless people get all butthurt about it. It's the same reason i dont vote, not until we get a candidate that'll stand at a podium, dust of the sugar, and say "we've got problems folks, a lot of em, and this is what we're gonna do." Damn, people can be such pussies anymore (directed toward people in general, not you personally)I'm not a hater...just a little tired of Bo's "grumpy gus" act, wish he would appear to happy just to have practice starting. I know it doesn't matter, the last thing I want for the Huskers is a salesman instead of a coach.
saunders45 you are right, I watched it again with better camera and audio and he was fine, normal Bo reaction, it's probably just that Sean Callahan looks scared to death when he asks a question
He'll never be Nick Saban with the press, but he can be better (and needs to be).
Saunders
Heisman Trophy Winner
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knapplc
International Man of Mystery
Did I say every single win and loss in history comes down to one team wanting it more?
No. No I did not.
kchusker_chris
All-American
This is really good...but I bet Bo disagrees with you
I'm of the opinion that this statement pretty well sums up one of Bo's shortcomings. I personally liked the even keel of Osborne (and many other coaches today). It's not something that will ever change with Bo though...it's who he is. The problem is, focus and execution suffer from his emotion and passion.
Saunders
Heisman Trophy Winner
No, but according to Jason Peter (which is where this started) that's why we aren't as good today.
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Saunders
Heisman Trophy Winner
Which games last year did we lose because of Bo's "emotion and passion?"This is really good...but I bet Bo disagrees with you
I'm of the opinion that this statement pretty well sums up one of Bo's shortcomings. I personally liked the even keel of Osborne (and many other coaches today). It's not something that will ever change with Bo though...it's who he is. The problem is, focus and execution suffer from his emotion and passion.
Count 'Bility
Banned
I agree with you. Cant say that I dont. And I shoulda disclaimed my statement to note that I wasnt saying it wasnt hurting us in ways. But I guess I see that as reiterating my point of what society-in generalization-has become, where this coach is being himself, is brutally honest, but yet it is a problem. In a heck of a lot grander scheme of things, it has me so worried about where the world is heading.It's a real concern, though. Bo's demeanor is hurting us in recruiting and in the court of public opinion. I spent the weekend in Dallas and had some time to talk to Baylor fans, A&M fans and a couple of Arkansas fans. They were all of the same opinion - they all like Bo well enough, but his public persona is not viewed well. Everyone, not just the A&M couple, mentioned the Bo-vs.-Taylor issue from the 2009 A&M game. Surprisingly, the A&M couple were the ones most forgiving of that, and they genuinely like Husker fans and wish us well, but this remains an area where Bo has work to do in the eyes of a lot of people.This is why the world is in the sh#tstorm it's in. People are so caught up with perception and getting their feelings hurt that everyones supposed to put on a smile mask, be fake as hell, and spew a bunch of bs so you dont hurt jimmy jo's feelings. So when someone in the public light like Bo comes along and is brutally honest and is himself regardless people get all butthurt about it. It's the same reason i dont vote, not until we get a candidate that'll stand at a podium, dust of the sugar, and say "we've got problems folks, a lot of em, and this is what we're gonna do." Damn, people can be such pussies anymore (directed toward people in general, not you personally)I'm not a hater...just a little tired of Bo's "grumpy gus" act, wish he would appear to happy just to have practice starting. I know it doesn't matter, the last thing I want for the Huskers is a salesman instead of a coach.
saunders45 you are right, I watched it again with better camera and audio and he was fine, normal Bo reaction, it's probably just that Sean Callahan looks scared to death when he asks a question
He'll never be Nick Saban with the press, but he can be better (and needs to be).
knapplc
International Man of Mystery
Fair enough, but even JP isn't wrong. The fact is that the Huskers have underachieved in several games, and that underachievement can earn a label. We can call it "wanted it more/less," we can call it "lack of passion," we can call it whatever. It's a semantic argument in the end, because the fact is we have lost games to inferior opponents, we have played close games (but won) against more inferior opponents, and we have gotten blown out by teams that were equal to or maybe slightly better than us.
No matter what verbiage we want to use to define that, it's a fair definition.
knapplc
International Man of Mystery
Without obviating my earlier point, I can easily agree with you that society is full of pansies. We're not remotely as tough as a nation as we were 50 years ago.
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