I could not agree with this more. As these last 15 years of Husker football have drug on, I am becoming more and more convinced that the fans are just as much of a problem. It is most definitely one of those chicken/egg dilemmas, but on-field performance/passionate fanbase are growing problems.Seeing the fan base come back together. What ever it takes to accomplish that. Makes everyone of us proud of our team, staff, on and off the field.
Basically, I'd like to see the fully realized/maximized potential version of our 2010 team. An aggressive, power spread offense with a suffocating defense.
Besides that, I want to know what it feels like for fans of teams like Oklahoma, Ohio State, Penn State, USC, Bama, etc., to go into a big time top 10 primetime matchup and at least having confidence that it will be an actual competition. Leading up to games like that with a 50/50 chance of it being a total embarassment but not because of lack of talent or ability, but lack of mental fortitude, is no way to enjoy sports.
Identity.
I just can’t understand that. Not even a little.This. And I want that identity to include a dual threat QB. To me this is more important than wins to a certain extent. I just don’t enjoy the current offense, successful or not it’s no fun to watch.
1. Being prepared to play, from the moment the game starts. Riley's team is never ready to play and is seemingly down 14-0 before they know what happened. We've seen that this team actually plays pretty good football sometimes when it is way behind..... but only when it gets to that point.
2. Physical assertion on the line of scrimmage. The major missing factor in every poor Nebraska team of the last 15 years.
3. Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. Blocking, tackling, catching, blocking, tackling, catching, tackling. Taking care of the football. Not false starting. Not getting caught with 10 or 12 men on the field. Not having to waste timeouts due to formation confusion. No drive-extending personal foul penalties.
4. Players and teams that improve and progress over the course of a season and a career. Guys that are actually better as seniors than they are as freshman. Teams that aren't making the same stupid mistakes in game 11 that they are in game 2.
5. Accountability and hunger. If you aren't performing, somebody else is gonna take your place. If you screw up royally, you sit.
If we can have some success with all these things, the wins will come naturally.
+11) Play elite level blackshirt defense (talking Wisconsin/Michigan good)
2) Ability to run the ball very effectively (may never be 90’s good but a quality rushing attack)
3) Dual-threat Quarterback
4) Identity (give us a quality product that screams Nebraska... hopefully physical and with passion)
5) Contend for B1G titles (challenge Wisconsin for West titles to start)