Miserable way to be a fan
Anyone else excited?
- Thread starter Pennsyhusker
- Start date
I agree. I wasn't comparing Riley to Snyder... It's unfair to compare the two, considering Snyder seems to be in a class almost all by himself when it comes to the biggest turnaround in the history of college football.
I think I understand how you feel.. when you get all pumped for the season, and then something like Melvin Gordon happens, or the way some games were lost last year, it's just one thing after another, and one realizes the huge amount of hype that happens every year.
As a fan, you want something to cheer about, you don't want to have what normally is a positive experience, turn into a negative one week after week, dreading the season to be over so the Husker Hangover can finally end.
I think what you are saying is, it's a little easier having realistic expectations upfront, and thus not putting ones' self through all that turmoil unnecessarily.
What you said makes sense. What he said doesn't. Claiming things like the team will go "8-4 at best" and won't win the division are not sober or objective assessments about the upcoming season. They are simply pessimistic reactions to others' optimism.
He can't take his predictions as facts and as evidence of what is realistic. They are, just like the opinion of the optimists, mere prognostications.
I swear, half of the pointless arguments on this board are started by some pessimist telling some optimist he is not entitled to his prediction, and then the optimist trying to explain to the pessimist, unsuccessfully, that things will be different this year.
I think the biggest area of noticeable improvement will be on special teams and defensive depth. This will have a positive effect on everything ranging from field position to game planning to potential scoring, and the propensity for allowing or converting big plays (for and against.)
This season will mark the first time Nebraska has had a true 3 deep of scholarship linebackers or DB's since 2000. It will also be the first time this
SAM LB -
1. Mike Rose - Ivey - Returning Starter
2. Mohammad Barry
3. Luke Gifford- Started 1 game
4. Greg Simmons
MIKE LB
1. Josh Banderas - Returning Starter
2. Chris Weber- Started 1 game
3. Tyrin Ferguson
4. Pernell Jefferson
WILL LB
1. Dedrick Young - Returning Starter
2. Marcus Newby- Returning Starter
3. Quayshon Alexander
The DB's will look like this:
Boundary CB:
1. Chris Jones- Returning Starter
2. Lamar Jackson
3. Boaz Joseph
Strong Side CB
1. Josh Kalu - Returning Starter
2. Eric Lee
3.Tony Butler
FS:
1. Aaron Williams - Returning Starter
2. Avery Anderson - will Also Play some Nickelback
3. Marquel Dismuke
SS:
1. Nate Gerry - Returning Starter
2. Antonio Reed
3. Jo Jo Domann
This hasn't happened to Nebraska is years. Not only is your whole back 7 full of starting experience, but the depth players are all on scholarship. And the overall depth and athleticsm of the program improves dramatically because of how these guys can fit onto your coverage and return units on special teams.
They may end up redshirting guys like Butler or Domann, but if not, those guys are physically ready to contribute on ST.
A year ago, Nebraska had to use starters all over special teams. VS. Purdue, Banderas, Newby, and Young played every defensive snap and were on nearly every special teams unit. That should never happen in the Big Ten. It doesn't even happen at Doane.
Now you have the following guys to play special teams:
Eric Lee, JR - top 250 4 Star
Avery Anderson- 4 Star
Lamar Jackson - 4-Star
Quayshon Alexander - ESPN 300
Antonio Reed- Already played last season as a true frosh
Marquel
Tyrin Ferguson - already played last season as true frosh
Mohammad Barry- faster LB on the team
Greg Simmons- 6'3 240 right now
Luke Gifford- up to 6'3 235 now and back from injury. Started vs. BYU last year at 219.
Pernell Jefferson - 6'3 230 right now. might redshirt
Marcus Newby- man started 10 games last season and could play Special teams.
Think about how the addition of these players will effect the game. YOu play backups on Special teams. These guys now officially give Nebraska more depth and athleticsm on ST than Northwestern, or Minnesota, or Indiana, or Purdue, or Maryland... Even Wisconsin and Iowa.
DPE will be returning. Young skill talents such as Tre Bryant or Derrion Grimm or JD Spielman will get a chance in the return game. Older starters will get more rest. The team will be able to absorb injuries better, especially on defense.
But most importantly, Nebraska isn't counting on these young players to come in and start. They get a chance to get their feet wet on special teams. They get the chance to earn PT instead of playing by default.
There is reason to be effusive about 2016 and this is reason #1 IMO.
This season will mark the first time Nebraska has had a true 3 deep of scholarship linebackers or DB's since 2000. It will also be the first time this
SAM LB -
1. Mike Rose - Ivey - Returning Starter
2. Mohammad Barry
3. Luke Gifford- Started 1 game
4. Greg Simmons
MIKE LB
1. Josh Banderas - Returning Starter
2. Chris Weber- Started 1 game
3. Tyrin Ferguson
4. Pernell Jefferson
WILL LB
1. Dedrick Young - Returning Starter
2. Marcus Newby- Returning Starter
3. Quayshon Alexander
The DB's will look like this:
Boundary CB:
1. Chris Jones- Returning Starter
2. Lamar Jackson
3. Boaz Joseph
Strong Side CB
1. Josh Kalu - Returning Starter
2. Eric Lee
3.Tony Butler
FS:
1. Aaron Williams - Returning Starter
2. Avery Anderson - will Also Play some Nickelback
3. Marquel Dismuke
SS:
1. Nate Gerry - Returning Starter
2. Antonio Reed
3. Jo Jo Domann
This hasn't happened to Nebraska is years. Not only is your whole back 7 full of starting experience, but the depth players are all on scholarship. And the overall depth and athleticsm of the program improves dramatically because of how these guys can fit onto your coverage and return units on special teams.
They may end up redshirting guys like Butler or Domann, but if not, those guys are physically ready to contribute on ST.
A year ago, Nebraska had to use starters all over special teams. VS. Purdue, Banderas, Newby, and Young played every defensive snap and were on nearly every special teams unit. That should never happen in the Big Ten. It doesn't even happen at Doane.
Now you have the following guys to play special teams:
Eric Lee, JR - top 250 4 Star
Avery Anderson- 4 Star
Lamar Jackson - 4-Star
Quayshon Alexander - ESPN 300
Antonio Reed- Already played last season as a true frosh
Marquel
Tyrin Ferguson - already played last season as true frosh
Mohammad Barry- faster LB on the team
Greg Simmons- 6'3 240 right now
Luke Gifford- up to 6'3 235 now and back from injury. Started vs. BYU last year at 219.
Pernell Jefferson - 6'3 230 right now. might redshirt
Marcus Newby- man started 10 games last season and could play Special teams.
Think about how the addition of these players will effect the game. YOu play backups on Special teams. These guys now officially give Nebraska more depth and athleticsm on ST than Northwestern, or Minnesota, or Indiana, or Purdue, or Maryland... Even Wisconsin and Iowa.
DPE will be returning. Young skill talents such as Tre Bryant or Derrion Grimm or JD Spielman will get a chance in the return game. Older starters will get more rest. The team will be able to absorb injuries better, especially on defense.
But most importantly, Nebraska isn't counting on these young players to come in and start. They get a chance to get their feet wet on special teams. They get the chance to earn PT instead of playing by default.
There is reason to be effusive about 2016 and this is reason #1 IMO.
7 win season is your bar? Wow. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but that would put us with 3 losses from teams with way less talent. Oregon & tOSU are the only 2 programs on the schedule with better or equal talent than the huskers.
My bar is 9 games. I'd except losses (but not happy with losses) from Oregon, tOSU, & 1 hiccup. 3 hiccups would be a major, major problem. But I have faith that wont happen.
It's time we start beating the teams WE SHOULD beat again. Bo was always good for 1 or 2 hiccups a year and it sucked. Huskers had a ton of hiccups last year. It's time to end that BS
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8 and 4 seems like a reasonable guess for our regular season record. Heck, if someone said anywhere between 6 and 10 wins I'd be hard pressed to make an argument out of it. That is the logic and reasoning side of me. Vegas says 8.5 wins over/under, splitting the money between 8 win bettors and 9 win bettors. I can see us being favored in all but 3 games.
But, that's not the point, there's an emotional side as well. Should 8 wins be considered good. For every polyanna out there seeing only the good with this coaching staff, there are life-long Husker fans thinking in what <expletive deleted> year is 8 wins considered good.
I am excited for the season to start, just like I am every year. I hope we punish the under bettors this year.
But, that's not the point, there's an emotional side as well. Should 8 wins be considered good. For every polyanna out there seeing only the good with this coaching staff, there are life-long Husker fans thinking in what <expletive deleted> year is 8 wins considered good.
I am excited for the season to start, just like I am every year. I hope we punish the under bettors this year.
I know you may find this hard to believe but I agree with you - against all logic and reasoning I am going to go with a 10-11 win year. Somehow I just think we are due, heck even Iowa with their crappy recruiting - conservative coach and defacto 3 NE walkons starting on their defense ( we all know walkons cant play) they were within one play of the final four last year - If that crappy program can do it then we can get lucky one year too.I agree with most of this, but this year will be different.
Well said, and my thoughts exactly. I would also add the addition of Parella to the coaching staff. I know he hasn't proven himself yet, but my money is on him really improving our line play.
Sno, I never had you pegged as a doom and gloomer in the negative sense. I know you have tried to look at everything critically, and have also recognized the good things that these coaches have done as well. Even though we don't agree on a lot of things, I do respect you and your position tremendously. You aren't just spouting stuff without listening to the other side as well, which I have appreciated.
Here's to 10 or more wins this year!
A year ago, Nebraska had to use starters all over special teams. VS. Purdue, Banderas, Newby, and Young played every defensive snap and were on nearly every special teams unit. That should never happen in the Big Ten. It doesn't even happen at Doane.
You may want to talk to Urban Meyer about that then because he is famous for putting his best starting Off/defensive players on special teams
Tom Herman plays his starters on special teams as well. But Houston only went 13-1 under Tom Herman in his first year, so it means nothing.
Yeah right.. he plays offensive and defensive starters on individual units. He also has depth to give the front line starters rest during the game without much drop off. And you're incorrect if you think he plays only 3 linebackers through a game. I doubt he's ever had to do that since leaving Utah.
And Tom Herman also had more depth than Nebraska to play a full American Conference Schedule. His team was full of experienced talent when he arrived. They had a better team than Nebraska.
Houston has NO choice but to play starters on special teams. They don't have the quality depth needed to do otherwise......yet. Hermann will likely get the depth there shortly IF he sticks around. He had great talent in his starters but I don't think he had the kind of athletes he needed to play a bunch of backups on special teams.
10-2 or I'm going home. run, run, run/pass. if we try to pass 30 times a game we will be in trouble again. play to our qb's strength like it's November(in September). call play's like we have a back-up qb ready to go.
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I agree with most of this, but this year will be different.
Most of us have the gall to hope so
.If I remember correctly "a monkey could win nine games at Nebraska" so I'm gonna say nine games
I guess I'm of the mind that I'm going to give the coaches and players a little slack, because it's their first year running new offensive and defensive systems. It takes a good half a season plus to become familiar with new systems.
Sure, there are questions I have on a few choices the coaches made, but I don't think any of us know how difficult it really is to make the transition on both offensive and defense. It slows players down, because they are thinking too much until they become comfortable with the systems.
D line is a huge concern. Gotta have a good d line to be successful, ours could be but there's very little proven talent and it's largely devoid of depth unless every player on the roster makes huge strides and stays healthy. We need to get very lucky in terms of d line health to win anything of consequence, but we certainly should be much improved in terms of wins and losses. But I'm excited because I'm always excited this time of year, college football is the best and there are so many cases of low to unranked teams having championship type seasons. So sure, I'll look past all concerns and assume this is our year. The season takes forever to get here then seems like it flies by, I try to enjoy it for what it is, what harm is there in being optimistic?
Well a jackass did so I expect Riley to win at least 9 this year now that most of the demons have been exorcised.
Exactly! If that idiot with a staff of middle school coaches could it...Riley better do it
Damn Cornicator, there are some names I'd forgotten about on your list. That just may give Chris Matthews another tingle up his leg.
Add to that the potential people in this class??
Add to that the potential people in this class??
Too early. Probably the week of Game 1 is when my excitement will get going.
I was reminded of this song though.
I was reminded of this song though.
Like every year I am anxious for success and this year is no different. But, make no mistake about it ...
This is a rebuild year, in the sense that we will win 8 and have a top 20 recruiting class and continue getting better from here.
Which is one reason I like many of your posts so much; you are at least willing to " imagine the possibilities ". How droll a life to live any other way ( nearly rhymes with ). IMO ; we have so many great parts and real development coming along. How could we outplay UCLA man on man in so many areas with their recruit lists ? I realize they had a few injuries; but we had gaps in recruiting; injuries and were grabbing kids off planes and throwing them in on defense. HCMR was beating some highly rated or in season highly rated teams; which hadn't been being done - While dealing with the spoiled, high and brain washed parts of the previous.
the decisions in those games had nothing to do with systems. They were situational play calls.
Anyway, it was not my intention to debate that. I just hate the "oh we were close to winning a few more games" well we were close to losing a few games, too. We are who we are.
Very true, BUT I think Hoosker Du meant that their first year running new offensive and defensive system kept us from putting games out of reach. It's very unlikely that after 3+ years in this new system, once our players get a chance to really learn it, that we have close game situations like the Illinois', Wisconsin's and BYU's of 2015.
Against whom? #6 Michigan St?
The getting burned in the secondary very much had to do with system changes.
We lost 4 games on the last play of the game, which means they could have gone either way. We should have won half of those, and ended with a 7-5 regular season record.
We obviously arent going to get anywhere if we refuse to see the others point. Lets agree that we should have a much better year this season.
I drink the kool-aid every year after reading all the preseason hype "fluff" pieces....only to be disappointed. I tell myself I'm not falling for it next year but....
But while I'm very excited about the potential if this team and staff, there are still a few unknowns., I'm trying to temper my expectations to avoid the heartbreak if they should stumble again.
But with all the hype, it's hard NOT to get pumped.
But while I'm very excited about the potential if this team and staff, there are still a few unknowns., I'm trying to temper my expectations to avoid the heartbreak if they should stumble again.
But with all the hype, it's hard NOT to get pumped.
It is much better to get excited an then get disappointed rather than live life always disappointed.
I'm excited about this year. I'm excited about Nebraska football, and I'm an Iowa fan.
I think last year was a fluke for you guys - some of those games were bizarre - and people were looking too far ahead to the Huskers playing championship football during a year with a new coach and system coming in. I expect Nebraska to be really good this year and easily in contention for the B1G West title - there's too much talent and experience and no transition. I don't see any slipping back. And I think those that say the Huskers days of greatness are over are full of s**t.
Iowa was unexpectedly good last year, and not given much credit for it. Some of those games could have gone the other way, too, but it's not just all luck. Things went our way, unlike Nebraska, where they didn't. Iowa could be better this year, but I can't help but think we'll slip back a bit, especially given Ferentz's pattern from year to year.
In any case, both teams are good and could have banner years in 2016. Nebraska and Iowa are a good match and fun to watch, and there is a rivalry developing. So, I'm excited.
I think last year was a fluke for you guys - some of those games were bizarre - and people were looking too far ahead to the Huskers playing championship football during a year with a new coach and system coming in. I expect Nebraska to be really good this year and easily in contention for the B1G West title - there's too much talent and experience and no transition. I don't see any slipping back. And I think those that say the Huskers days of greatness are over are full of s**t.
Iowa was unexpectedly good last year, and not given much credit for it. Some of those games could have gone the other way, too, but it's not just all luck. Things went our way, unlike Nebraska, where they didn't. Iowa could be better this year, but I can't help but think we'll slip back a bit, especially given Ferentz's pattern from year to year.
In any case, both teams are good and could have banner years in 2016. Nebraska and Iowa are a good match and fun to watch, and there is a rivalry developing. So, I'm excited.
I'm a fan of Husker football. I'm always excited, win or lose. Memorial Stadium is holy ground. Its a chance for a little state with a Big Chip on its shoulders to do something that the rest of the nation cares about and win. The rest of the time, we mean nothing to no one.
I think a significant portion of Husker fandom are simply fans of winning, and not necessarily of what the team means to the State.
I think a significant portion of Husker fandom are simply fans of winning, and not necessarily of what the team means to the State.
This is an interesting point and one that I share. I wonder if there isn't a little bit of a generational divide among Husker fans with regard to what this team means to the State. I am 58 and the Devaney-Osborne dynasty meant a great, great deal to me and my friends/family. The pride of the whole State was invested in the excellence of those teams. Now? It has been almost 20 years since Osborne retired and NU football has been run-of-the-mill good for all those years. Nothing special now. We are Iowa West in terms of national perception. So I wonder if younger fans still feel that intense pride in the team we old farts do.
That was a nice post. I think you're right; not to disparage Iowa, but it seems like the program had an uncommonly good year last year, capped off by a brutal thrashing by Stanford that proved Iowa wasn't quite as good as their record indicated, which suggests that yeah, unlike us, you guys had things completely go your way in the regular season. I remember the last time Iowa was really good was in like...2009? 2010? That was when you guys were ranked like 9th in the country at one point. Then there are middling years, then good again. That does totally seem to be Ferentz's pattern; field a decent team combined with a weak schedule and every few years have a very good run, then poof, it peters out. I don't think that is going to change until he retires, to be honest.
I think we should have a much better year and totally have the Big Ten West division title come down to Iowa and Nebraska. I think this year we take it. Not like that matters, as whichever of us wins it is going to go get stomped by the Big Ten East winner (tOSU most likely). But still, its good for us to right the ship and see some real progress.
Nebraska hasn't had a very good season in a long time. We're due, and given our resources, recruiting, and tradition, it should be more of a return to form. Here's to seeing Iowa remain competitive over the next few years!
We're not talking about rocket science with what they're doing in the secondary. Honestly, with that system, if you can't teach it in year one, I'm not sure you're a good enough coach to make it good in year two. We'll see.
