We definitely needed that nice win over Indiana in hoops but nothing will help more than winning the bowl game tomorrow. Yesterday, during the Foster Farms bowl, I remembered leaving Levi Stadium a year ago on a huge high. That was as complete a game against a good, name opponent that we had played in what seemed like several years and even though we had lost way too many games, we were not grossly outclassed in any of them. Many of us felt a lot of optimism for 2016. Fast forward a year and it's hard to see a bright future. While we turned many of those close losses to wins, the past month has been a total downer with blow out losses and what seems like mostly disappointing recruiting news. I expect another blow out loss tomorrow. Hopefully our team has another idea because the athletic program is in a dark place.
Dark clouds
- Thread starter hddude55
- Start date
Lol.
Last year: 6-7, the future is bright!
This year: 9-3, we are in a dark place.
Can't make this stuff up!
I acknowledged that we flipped some of those close 2016 losses to wins but looking forward last year we all knew that we should have won more than six games. Between hail Marys and other fluky stuff that was unlikely to happen again, the future coming off the UCLA game looked bright. How bright will the future for 2017 look if we follow up November with another blowout tomorrow? A win tomorrow is really needed but do you see that happening?
I think you are just depressed and down on the program right now because the recruiting news isn't so good at the moment. Admit it... if we had a top 15 or even top 20 recruiting class brewing you would be far more optimistic for the future
If we had beat Wisconsin in OT, does that change your view on the season from dark to partly cloudy?
This is off the top of my head... no research right now so could be wrong...
Penalties were down this year
Turnover margin was positive for the first time in years
Defense went from 100s to 30s or 40s
QB play will be suited to a Riley run offense in 2017, and should make offense better
OLine will have increased depth and talent next year (assuming best man plays)
If Armstrong is healthy against OSU and Iowa, those blowouts are mitigated. We still lose to OSU, and Iowa is much closer if not a victory.
So I disagree that a loss tomorrow leads to darkness.
I guess I see the football program basically in the same place that it's been for quite awhile. We are a slightly better than average program that spends a crap load of money expecting to be better. A win or loss against UT doesn't really change anything.
You could've believed the hype that Riley was the next Pete Carroll, or that Riley doesn't get blown out, or that moving from OrSU to NU was gonna allow Riley to transform into a top recruiter. If you believed all that hype, you would've had a long way to fall to reality. Well, I didn't believe any of that hype.
Riley is a veteran head coach. He is capable of winning big games. But he has his shortcomings as well. The problem is time. If every year is an iteration, there's only so many tweaks or overhauls that can be done to change what he did at OrSU to what will WORK at NU.
As for QB play, I worry about our ability to run the ball without the threat of the QB as a runner. Seems to me that we didn't fair well with the QB under center handing the ball off. Maybe we'll see some NFL wrinkles like the use of a tackle as second TE? More fullback as a lead blocker?
My personal hierarchy of achievements in CFB is in order
National championship
Playoffs
Conf title/top 10 finish/New Years 6 bowl
Division championship
Top 15
Top 20 - I questioned whether to add this
Below those are varying degrees of irrelevance. This year we were closer to being relevant than last year but irrelevant nonetheless - maybe we sneak into the top 20 with a win
I hated Bo and am glad he is gone. We did however play for a conference title in 3 of his 7 years. We are zero for 2 thus far under RIley. I like Riley and hope the team continues to improve but if I had to guess i suspect the only area of clear improvement is going to be in the areas of sideline demeanor and press conference conduct rather than on field results.
National championship
Playoffs
Conf title/top 10 finish/New Years 6 bowl
Division championship
Top 15
Top 20 - I questioned whether to add this
Below those are varying degrees of irrelevance. This year we were closer to being relevant than last year but irrelevant nonetheless - maybe we sneak into the top 20 with a win
I hated Bo and am glad he is gone. We did however play for a conference title in 3 of his 7 years. We are zero for 2 thus far under RIley. I like Riley and hope the team continues to improve but if I had to guess i suspect the only area of clear improvement is going to be in the areas of sideline demeanor and press conference conduct rather than on field results.
I think merely the threat of completing passes consistently will open up running lanes. If the opponent focuses on stopping the run, the passing lanes will be open, assuming the QB can hit them. Either way, I do see improved play on offense if this happens.
To some there are no gray areas between Tommie Frazier and Peyton Manning, it's one or the other.
Not really. I think Riley seems like a great guy but I suspect this year will be his high water mark, especially since he was way too old when we hired him.
First year hardly counts when you have to fix the mental aspect of the team that Bo left and new scheme offensively and defensively... Next 3 years we will see if Eichorst made the right decision.
Yes-I'm to the point where I can only laugh at this stuff. The athletic program is in a dark place? That is just so ridiculous all you can do is laugh. Sometimes I think some people must have some real deep personal problems that they are taking out on the athletic program. It's the only thing that makes sense. I shudder to think what some of these people would be doing if we had another losing season. They'd be on serious suicide watch. In 13 years on this board, I have never seen more overwrought, overly dramatic nonsense about how horrible things are. Some people need to get a grip.
Dark clouds? Knuckle down and put on the terrycloth headband, turn up Wham!, and add more plates on the rack bro! I'm ready for Cold War II Electric Boogaloo! The Skers will be fine, women will still be hot, and the Sun will still rain down energy through the "dark clouds." Will to Power my fellow fan!
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It's one thing to be bummed about things that have actually happened, but it's psychotic to get bummed by things that have not happened.
Not what I said. Don't be dramatic. But your attitude and the attitude of some vocal posters is ridiculous and getting old. Like a bunch of toddlers throwing a fit and demanding that the football team and recruiting be elite right this second with no regard for the realities of the situation. Practice some patience, realize the hurdles the staff has to overcome and give them a chance.
I highly doubt that he hates you. Just the whiny attitude that is so prevalent on this board at times
We are in year 2 of a coaching change and according to the CV, in need of a roster upgrade. We will have a more seasoned Oline and the DBacks should be solid. Word from both coaches and players is that Lee has the goods and he is a better fit for the system Riley runs.
I was not for the canning of Pelini, but his behavior upon departing was revealing. I was wrong, Bo was not fit to be the head coach at NU.
We have a new coach who should be given a chance to recruit and either win or lose with his own players. He has shown that he will make coaching changes when circumstances warrant it.
Things could be better but they are far from awful.
I was not for the canning of Pelini, but his behavior upon departing was revealing. I was wrong, Bo was not fit to be the head coach at NU.
We have a new coach who should be given a chance to recruit and either win or lose with his own players. He has shown that he will make coaching changes when circumstances warrant it.
Things could be better but they are far from awful.
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