Answer man turns questioneer
As an alum and avid fan of Nebraska football, I am beside myself regarding the current state of affairs in Huskerland. At what point does AD Steve Pederson realize what he has done to the Cornhuskers, fire Callahan and submit a letter of resignation? He has turned a once perennial power into a mid-major. --Mike, New Jersey
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Record-wise, the Huskers (5-3) are pretty much where most nonpartisan observers expected them to be in Callahan's second season. I picked them to go 7-4 before the year, and that's still an attainable goal (though Kansas will be a lot tougher than usual this weekend). However, just as stats don't always tell the whole story about Heisman candidates, teams' records can be deceiving. If you're a Nebraska fan, you have every reason to be embarrassed right now. Since when do the mighty Huskers rush for 16 yards ... in two games? Since when does the offensive line -- long a staple of Nebraska's success -- allow nine sacks in a game? Since when do the proud Blackshirts allow an opposing quarterback (Missouri's Brad Smith) to run for 246 yards? And since when does the head coach of one of college football's traditionally classiest programs (Lawrence Phillips notwithstanding) give a ref the throat-slashing gesture and blow off the opposing coach (Bob Stoops) during the postgame handshake (there's video of both floating around the Internet if you need confirmation).
That said, winning cures everything. Like it or not, both Callahan and Pederson will be back next season. A 10-win season will put a lot of the discontent to rest in a hurry. Another year like this one, though, and one or both parties are as good as gone. You saw it last offseason with Florida and Notre Dame: Three years, not four, is the new window of patience.
Is it too early to say UCLA coach Karl Dorrell is coach of the year? --Mark
As an alum and avid fan of Nebraska football, I am beside myself regarding the current state of affairs in Huskerland. At what point does AD Steve Pederson realize what he has done to the Cornhuskers, fire Callahan and submit a letter of resignation? He has turned a once perennial power into a mid-major. --Mike, New Jersey
_____________________________________________________________________
Record-wise, the Huskers (5-3) are pretty much where most nonpartisan observers expected them to be in Callahan's second season. I picked them to go 7-4 before the year, and that's still an attainable goal (though Kansas will be a lot tougher than usual this weekend). However, just as stats don't always tell the whole story about Heisman candidates, teams' records can be deceiving. If you're a Nebraska fan, you have every reason to be embarrassed right now. Since when do the mighty Huskers rush for 16 yards ... in two games? Since when does the offensive line -- long a staple of Nebraska's success -- allow nine sacks in a game? Since when do the proud Blackshirts allow an opposing quarterback (Missouri's Brad Smith) to run for 246 yards? And since when does the head coach of one of college football's traditionally classiest programs (Lawrence Phillips notwithstanding) give a ref the throat-slashing gesture and blow off the opposing coach (Bob Stoops) during the postgame handshake (there's video of both floating around the Internet if you need confirmation).
That said, winning cures everything. Like it or not, both Callahan and Pederson will be back next season. A 10-win season will put a lot of the discontent to rest in a hurry. Another year like this one, though, and one or both parties are as good as gone. You saw it last offseason with Florida and Notre Dame: Three years, not four, is the new window of patience.
Is it too early to say UCLA coach Karl Dorrell is coach of the year? --Mark
