Firstly let me say how incredibly proud I am of how NU has handled the KW situation, and my confidence is that it will be beneficial for both parties in the long-run. Keith from the perspective of a come-to-Jesus moment and opportunity to turn an issue around and NU to be respected as a program that addresses issues, but also provides an opportunity for redemption (assuming no more gaffs).
On to my bigger point. I'm eternally optimistic about NU football and every autumn I fall into the same trap of getting overly excited by the local press' superlatives about team cohesion and historical levels of dedication in the weight room. This year is no different, other than there seems to be a small swell of national pundits that are predicting us to have the potential to be back in the national scene. This year my autumn anxiety has taken a different feel in that NU seems on the verge of being nationally relevant again, and with that I'm more confident in being vocal about the Huskers with non-Nebraska natives.
Since leaving Nebraska in 1994 I've moved to another country and 5 different states (mostly SEC and ACC country). From 1994-2001, I could proudly bring NU up during football discussions around the water cooler or other social settings. When discussing college football with colleagues and friends, I could mention NU and it would typically hold the conversation for several minutes and more often than not the discussion was favorable to NU and its track record. Since 2001, my willingness to introduce NU to the discussion has been reduced to 4 close friends (all with NE ties) and my father. Having spent several years in SEC and ACC country I grew very tired of the Bama and SEC arrogance (nothing close to pride....just arrogance) and the best I could muster was...NU used to be a dynasty. That would typically get a smile or two, but rarely a response more than "yea, I remember that".
I say all of this as I really feel Riley has us on a good path and we have the potential be be a relevant to the college football discussion again this year. Or at least that is my hope (with greater optimism this year than the past).
I don't think I'm alone in this, but I'm extremely proud of my Nebraska heritage and good, bad or indifferent, there is really only ONE thing that the state can be proud about on a national level and that is it's football program. Sad perhaps, but I really want NU to get back on the national radar (in a positive manner) so that I can proudly proclaim to be from Nebraska and promote how frickin' awesome our football program is. I now live in TX, which is slightly better than being in SEC-land, but that is only because UT and aTm are in down-cycles as well.
Mike Riley, I really like what I see and read about you. You are doing the right things and the right way. My final request is that you parlay that into getting NU back on the national discussion for college football because my ego cannot stand remaining on the sidelines at the water cooler.
On to my bigger point. I'm eternally optimistic about NU football and every autumn I fall into the same trap of getting overly excited by the local press' superlatives about team cohesion and historical levels of dedication in the weight room. This year is no different, other than there seems to be a small swell of national pundits that are predicting us to have the potential to be back in the national scene. This year my autumn anxiety has taken a different feel in that NU seems on the verge of being nationally relevant again, and with that I'm more confident in being vocal about the Huskers with non-Nebraska natives.
Since leaving Nebraska in 1994 I've moved to another country and 5 different states (mostly SEC and ACC country). From 1994-2001, I could proudly bring NU up during football discussions around the water cooler or other social settings. When discussing college football with colleagues and friends, I could mention NU and it would typically hold the conversation for several minutes and more often than not the discussion was favorable to NU and its track record. Since 2001, my willingness to introduce NU to the discussion has been reduced to 4 close friends (all with NE ties) and my father. Having spent several years in SEC and ACC country I grew very tired of the Bama and SEC arrogance (nothing close to pride....just arrogance) and the best I could muster was...NU used to be a dynasty. That would typically get a smile or two, but rarely a response more than "yea, I remember that".
I say all of this as I really feel Riley has us on a good path and we have the potential be be a relevant to the college football discussion again this year. Or at least that is my hope (with greater optimism this year than the past).
I don't think I'm alone in this, but I'm extremely proud of my Nebraska heritage and good, bad or indifferent, there is really only ONE thing that the state can be proud about on a national level and that is it's football program. Sad perhaps, but I really want NU to get back on the national radar (in a positive manner) so that I can proudly proclaim to be from Nebraska and promote how frickin' awesome our football program is. I now live in TX, which is slightly better than being in SEC-land, but that is only because UT and aTm are in down-cycles as well.
Mike Riley, I really like what I see and read about you. You are doing the right things and the right way. My final request is that you parlay that into getting NU back on the national discussion for college football because my ego cannot stand remaining on the sidelines at the water cooler.
