Boy howdy, the NYTimes really nailed the current state of Nebraska Football:

[Digger6185]

There's still a very strong narrative here that NU is just going to flip on the lights at some point and have a Bob Stoops or Nick Saban or Urban Meyer moment. If I had to guess, under the current staff, its probably not going to work that way (we generally all seem to agree on that because we didn't hire a $10 million coach, but don't seem to let it sink in as we engage in shop talk).

But you'll have to excuse us, we're not used to this building thing.

I'll keep the strong narrative going..... It's is in the majority of Nebraskan's psyche to be optimistic instead of pessimistic ... It's in our farming roots.. Unlike the farming states to the East we take what we can get and keep striving for more... So excuse majority of the fans who expect just as much out of their football team as they do themselves.... Another 2 cents....GBR1

 

[Kleitusbpn]

I'll keep the strong narrative going..... It's is in the majority of Nebraskan's psyche to be optimistic instead of pessimistic ... It's in our farming roots.. Unlike the farming states to the East we take what we can get and keep striving for more... So excuse majority of the fans who expect just as much out of their football team as they do themselves.... Another 2 cents....GBR1

apparently you grew up in a different farming community than i did -- in my experience nebraska farmers complain more than just about any other group of people i've ever been around.

 

[Bugeater]

Coaching and recruiting, as we all know, are the main ingredients to getting back to being in the conversation of NC's and CC's. Right now, Nebraska is struggling to even be in the top 25 at seasons end. Maybe that changes this year. One thing that Nebraska teams have lacked for quite awhile is that "I'm going to kick your ass" attitude that prevailed for over three decades.

Tom Osborne, for all of his stoic and soft spoken manner, displayed in practice and in the locker room that kind of an edge, all be it not nearly as boisterous as say a Jason or Christian Peter, but his players got the message, bring it in practice and on the day of the game, nothing but your best will do.

Nebraska is not at that point, and the talent and coaching are still in flux, striving to get to a champions mentality but not there yet. We all know what this team is right now, an 7-5/8-4 type that still makes too many mistakes, has a decent amount of talent but no BIG difference makers on either side of the ball (like the Peter brothers, Frazier, Wistrom, Miles, etc.) and lacking that "edge" in many games.

So far we've seen two games, both of which in the end, Nebraska wore down lesser competition, as expected. The good of it is the turnover battle so far is way in UNL's favor. Penalties still need to be addressed and coaching is questionable in a few areas, ESPECIALLY concerning special teams. Nebraska is still, in my opinion, two years away from what I perceive as being a bona fide BIG title contender. I hope like hell they prove me wrong this year, we'll see what happens. GBR!

 

[SWIowahawks]

I'll keep the strong narrative going..... It's is in the majority of Nebraskan's psyche to be optimistic instead of pessimistic ... It's in our farming roots.. Unlike the farming states to the East we take what we can get and keep striving for more... So excuse majority of the fans who expect just as much out of their football team as they do themselves.... Another 2 cents....GBR1

Some how Nebraska farmers being more optimistic than Iowa farmers is supposed to be the reason that Husker football is held in such high regard in the locals eyes? That's an interesting point. But I have no idea how you base your opinion of the psyche difference in the two states.

Nebraska has higher regards and expectations for its football team because of the success they have had. Nebraska dominated the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Those fans are still around and kicking. Iowa, on the other hand sucked in the 60's and 70's. Were really good in the 80's and ok in the early 90's, then sucked again in the late 90's. That's why there is a difference in expectations.

 

[Digger6185]

till discount the coaching fact....

Nah I think I'll stick around and have conversations with the Husker fans that are capable of reading and having an open mind. I've stated a couple times that coaching is huge. In fact, I stated it right above your post.

I do enjoy playing devils advocate on the Hawkeye board too. There is really not much difference between the two boards. Other than the Hawkeye board is more busy and has waaaaaay more opposing teams trolls.

you still discount the fact that with the best fit coach at NU the fan base can only expect to be slightly better than average... A MSU level.... As to having an open mind.... Don't paint me into a box cause of my thoughts on this thread....

apparently you grew up in a different farming community than i did -- in my experience nebraska farmers complain more than just about any other group of people i've ever been around.

True that.... I've heard my lions share of farmers complain... Even when corn was over $7 bushel.... My point was more of the farming heritage that made our Great state.... "There is no place like Nebraska.....work ethic... Striving for more... Not accepting average or norm.... These are traits of Nebraskan's... Hence why many non-Huskers just don't get it..... Or those that think we are closed mined... (Thanks SWIAhawk)... Or my favorite... Dreaming through rose glasses.... Bottom line it's a matter of time..... 2 more pennies!

 

[Digger6185]

No it steams back when Nebraska was called many things ( bug eaters and also the dirty bird Hawkeyes) before settling on Cornhuskers.... Our fan base through the years late 1800's to present have seen the ebb and flows ... Have stuck with our team always demanding excellence on the grid iron... Hence the the trophy case full of excellence... Granted it's been + 15 years... It still is more then any program one state to the east of Omaha... Side note... Overall, farming is way easier in Iowa than Nebraska.... Yields.... Land prices ....weather, bugs , et al... More pennies... GBR1

 

[Kleitusbpn]

True that.... I've heard my lions share of farmers complain... Even when corn was over $7 bushel.... My point was more of the farming heritage that made our Great state.... "There is no place like Nebraska.....work ethic... Striving for more... Not accepting average or norm.... These are traits of Nebraskan's... Hence why many non-Huskers just don't get it..... Or those that think we are closed mined... (Thanks SWIAhawk)... Or my favorite... Dreaming through rose glasses.... Bottom line it's a matter of time..... 2 more pennies!

Yeah there's good and bad to that. been there and done that on both. it's just nebraska. if you can handle that downside the people are good people. if you can't (and i'll be honest, i've spent most of my adult life not there for reasons connected to this) then it can be extremely destructive to a person for no reason whatsoever.

the $7 corn one is a perfect example.

"our input costs suck"
"our land taxes went way up"
"it's 110 degrees out and hasn't rained all summer" (that summer was hot as heck)

etc

in many ways it was it was even more glaring when something like that happens. it's pretty harsh to be honest when even something like that doesn't stop the complaining. i've been a lot of places and endless negativity like that is not helpful -- i don't care how good intentioned it is.

eh... don't mind me. it's still and will always be my home... just some hard things that will always cause pain.

 

[swissticuffs]

It's a good article IMO. This is the kind of program that requires an elite coach if it is going to be a powerhouse. Once you taste excellence 8-4 tastes like dog shit.

What is so funny is that the last 16 years of mediocrity still have us with a top 25 winning percentage for the time frame and far and away the most wins over the last 50 years. Haters gonna hate..... On the end winners win and losers lose. Lately the program is a loser.

I just wish we would be willing to bend/break more rules. CFB has not seen a clean program win it all since the 60s....maybe sans BYU.

 

[NUSouth]

The reporter's comment " The evolution of college football has eroded the team’s structural advantages and exposed its intrinsic shortcomings" I beg to differ.... The reporter glazed over our problem... Since Dr. tom's retirement we can place Husker football demise on the fact we have lacked really good coaching! OU is also land trap plains university, but once they got excellent coaching back the success has followed..... Win baby win and it will put some east coast New Yorker's computer idle..... GBR1

A team goes up and down with the quality of its qb. Nebraska started declining when we lost Carl Crawford to baseball. After that look at the committed QBs we have lost. Gabbert, freeman, and I still believe starling would have been professional qb material. Keep those 4 Guys and the program would look entirely different today.

 

[dckchusker]

The reporter's comment " The evolution of college football has eroded the team’s structural advantages and exposed its intrinsic shortcomings" I beg to differ.... The reporter glazed over our problem... Since Dr. tom's retirement we can place Husker football demise on the fact we have lacked really good coaching! OU is also land trap plains university, but once they got excellent coaching back the success has followed..... Win baby win and it will put some east coast New Yorker's computer idle..... GBR1

Oklahoma is more populous than Nebraska, and more importantly, is right next door to Texas. It's an easy place to recruit to and always has been. Even in their worst years, you could tell they had decent talent on the roster.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Iowa still trending up? Asking for a friend.