About the team of quitters bit. Last season you were 100% correct. Nobody was giving their all and once the game started to go downhill nobody had the balls to man up and finish strong.
BUT.
We have to remember that a quitter's mentality isn't necessarily just a product of personal character failings (though I'm sure that contributes to it). When you've got a scheme you don't believe in, one so complicated that it doesn't allow you the freedom to play without hesitation, a defensive coordinator that doesn't know which way the wind is blowing, no ability to adjust because the practiced scheme is all you had prepared the week prior, and you've been thrashed for the third or fourth time in a row––seriously––what else is there to do? Our issues were systemic. Tom Osborne himself said that. He believes we have reasonably good talent and should be competitive, but something, he never said what, was holding us back.
Fast forward. Bo Pelini, a proven motivator, a proven D-coordinator, fresh of a national championship defense, steps into a program where the key components which were missing were A.) motivation, B.) scheme, and C.) weight issues, to some degree.
First thing he does? Hire a new staff of fire-breathing young coaches and a strength and conditioning coach who sheds team weight like Nutrisystems. From Bo's right hand flows the Tampa 2 defense, which according to him is a defensive scheme which allows players to play without hesitation.
Bottom line, I think Nebraska has the potential to surprise the hell out of people. If our running attack is as powerful as it should be this season, our defense will have the opportunity to learn the nuances of this system and be protected from stronger teams for longer periods of in-game time. Thus I predict that Nebraska may indeed manage a top 25 ranking. Best case scenario of a 9-3 season with a respectable bowl game.
I don't think the wheels will fall off the cart this year. We'll be a competitive team again.
