NamelessHusker
Banned
[SIZE=14pt]Nebraska could be 10-0 and still questionable?[/SIZE]
By ######
Nebraska's football team has had its up and down moments this season, but one thing remains constant and intact, criticism of who they've played and when will we see what this team is worth?
Nebraska's Bill Callahan during his press conference Tuesday said "We still have a long ways to go and we need to maintain that consistency on the field". Johnny Rodgers seems to agree with him
"We're 4-0, but it's very questionable. We haven't played anybody yet. Wake Forest had a chance to beat us at the end and drove the length of the field. They had a bad snap on a field-goal try, on third down, and had a chance to kick again. They missed.
Through the first 3 games, Nebraska beat teams that did not have 1 win coming into Lincoln. Maine, an above average DIV-AA team managed to give the offense more then it bargained for. Nebraska expecting Maine to lay down as Western Illinois did last year apparently forgot to send the memo out to them. The struggling offense caused a chain reaction among fans wondering whether this was just first game jitters and several new freshman playing, or was this a sign of things to come.
Wake Forest came knocking next. A team that had taken several ACC teams to the wire last year, including ACC champ Virginia Tech failed to deliver any kind of offensive production against Nebraska and Nebraska failed to score. It was on the heals of the vaunted Blackshirts that the game outcome rested. As the defense played with passion, one player emerged as the leader of the defense. The most troubling fact of the game was the offense was getting worse by the second game then improving. Coach Callahan praised his defense, but took the blame for the offense
"We need to get better. We need to sustain drives and score points" Bill Callahan said. "We haven't done that so far and we need to improve. We are a few blocks away from finishing drives".
The third game of the season against Pittsburgh was the worst offensive production in Nebraska history in a while. A team that had been known throughout college football as a "in your face" type of attitude could not put together a complete drive. Yet again, the defense stepped up, and one thing was becoming obvious. The leader who emerged in the second game was becoming more vocal and teammates began to play with his same attitude. Not only did he fire up the defense, he also entertained journalist in post game interviews.
Nebraska in it's 4th game finally began to show signs of life, and a team that had not won in Lincoln since 1977 left with that record still intact.
"We did not come here to play good or look competitive" Dan McCarney said with anger. "We did not come here hoping to put on a good game. We came here for one purpose and one purpose only and that was to win. The loss is unacceptable and if anyone expects me to pat them on the back and say it's ok, you played hard, i wont. We should have won this game but we didn't.
Now fans are wondering, Is Nebraska really back on track or were the first 4 wins a fluke? So far, the general consensus among fans is "We haven't played anybody yet".
Texas Tech is coming into town, and the majority of fans are expecting a win against Texas Tech after the way Kansas managed to keep the game close. If Nebraska wins against a team that won it's first 4 games against the likes of Indiana St (DIV-AA), Sam Houston St (DIV-AA), Florida International (DIV-A newcomer) and a team (Kansas) that has been a bottom feeder in the Big12 North, will Nebraska actually have played anyone? Will it be Big12 south bottom feeder Baylor or a below average Missouri team which was blown-out at home by Texas? What about a struggling Oklahoma team which could come into Lincoln with it's 4th loss on the season. Kansas and Kansas St are also struggling and Kansas st fans are already looking ahead to next year.
Could Colorado be our true test of the season? That remains to be seen
[SIZE=8pt]*some quotes were used from presses conference releases and Johnny Rodgers quotes was obtained from SunHerald.com[/SIZE]
By ######
Nebraska's football team has had its up and down moments this season, but one thing remains constant and intact, criticism of who they've played and when will we see what this team is worth?
Nebraska's Bill Callahan during his press conference Tuesday said "We still have a long ways to go and we need to maintain that consistency on the field". Johnny Rodgers seems to agree with him
"We're 4-0, but it's very questionable. We haven't played anybody yet. Wake Forest had a chance to beat us at the end and drove the length of the field. They had a bad snap on a field-goal try, on third down, and had a chance to kick again. They missed.
Through the first 3 games, Nebraska beat teams that did not have 1 win coming into Lincoln. Maine, an above average DIV-AA team managed to give the offense more then it bargained for. Nebraska expecting Maine to lay down as Western Illinois did last year apparently forgot to send the memo out to them. The struggling offense caused a chain reaction among fans wondering whether this was just first game jitters and several new freshman playing, or was this a sign of things to come.
Wake Forest came knocking next. A team that had taken several ACC teams to the wire last year, including ACC champ Virginia Tech failed to deliver any kind of offensive production against Nebraska and Nebraska failed to score. It was on the heals of the vaunted Blackshirts that the game outcome rested. As the defense played with passion, one player emerged as the leader of the defense. The most troubling fact of the game was the offense was getting worse by the second game then improving. Coach Callahan praised his defense, but took the blame for the offense
"We need to get better. We need to sustain drives and score points" Bill Callahan said. "We haven't done that so far and we need to improve. We are a few blocks away from finishing drives".
The third game of the season against Pittsburgh was the worst offensive production in Nebraska history in a while. A team that had been known throughout college football as a "in your face" type of attitude could not put together a complete drive. Yet again, the defense stepped up, and one thing was becoming obvious. The leader who emerged in the second game was becoming more vocal and teammates began to play with his same attitude. Not only did he fire up the defense, he also entertained journalist in post game interviews.
Nebraska in it's 4th game finally began to show signs of life, and a team that had not won in Lincoln since 1977 left with that record still intact.
"We did not come here to play good or look competitive" Dan McCarney said with anger. "We did not come here hoping to put on a good game. We came here for one purpose and one purpose only and that was to win. The loss is unacceptable and if anyone expects me to pat them on the back and say it's ok, you played hard, i wont. We should have won this game but we didn't.
Now fans are wondering, Is Nebraska really back on track or were the first 4 wins a fluke? So far, the general consensus among fans is "We haven't played anybody yet".
Texas Tech is coming into town, and the majority of fans are expecting a win against Texas Tech after the way Kansas managed to keep the game close. If Nebraska wins against a team that won it's first 4 games against the likes of Indiana St (DIV-AA), Sam Houston St (DIV-AA), Florida International (DIV-A newcomer) and a team (Kansas) that has been a bottom feeder in the Big12 North, will Nebraska actually have played anyone? Will it be Big12 south bottom feeder Baylor or a below average Missouri team which was blown-out at home by Texas? What about a struggling Oklahoma team which could come into Lincoln with it's 4th loss on the season. Kansas and Kansas St are also struggling and Kansas st fans are already looking ahead to next year.
Could Colorado be our true test of the season? That remains to be seen
[SIZE=8pt]*some quotes were used from presses conference releases and Johnny Rodgers quotes was obtained from SunHerald.com[/SIZE]
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