Our record for 2018 will be...

[Pennsyhusker]

I have to disagree with the notion there is a "Riley rot." I believe most of these players have been starving for the kind of leadership, commitment, and passion that Frost & Co. bring. Most of the players will eat it up. They want to win. They want to excel. There will be no hangover because at 4-8 with multiple blowout losses, they know change was needed. Plus, Riley did not poison the well on the way out. He left like an adult, unlike Pelini.

I think the situation will be more reminiscent of Stoops following Blake at OU. OU's players knew they were underperforming and took to Stoops' coaching immediately. Here's hoping. GBR

Love your optimism and I hope you are right. And we don't disagree on Riley. In my post I said there is no real way to know how deep the Riley rot went. So that allows for your optimistic take as one possibility. Davison's comments may argue otherwise about player morale but who knows what he really meant by those comments? They were rather open ended. He could have been talking about two players or twenty, who knows?

I am not predicting a great season, an average season, or a poor season. I am neither an optimist or a pessimist. I listed the variables I did because I truly think there are things we just don't know yet. So I honestly don't have a clue how our season will unfold.

 

[Huskercigar]

Edit: I shouldn’t say, can’t have it both ways. What I should have said is what is different between the way Pelini left the huskers and the way Riley left the huskers?

I'll take a stab at this. When Bo left there was a lot of player support for his methods and what their results were. They weren't winning at the rate they wanted to but they were no less winners. The toxicity that was alleged on most boards as a Bo cancer wasn't as much because of Bo......but that MR staff wasn't able to win them over. In essence it was a fabrication that there was a cancer. It was something the fans made up to try to find acceptance into why our performance was that bad under Riley. Remember.....prior to the season these same people who created the "Bo Cancer" were calling for 10 wins seasons immediately because even a trained Monkey could win 9 at Nebraska.

As for what Sf is being handed. Pretty well documented we have talent but there is very little argument that we are coming off a 3 year period where we have had the worst development in many years, the worst conditioning in many years and the worst confidence among the players. Most of these guys have been playing at .500 level the last 3 years.

Now the good news is I believe we have a better coach in place to make that transition than we did 3 years ago.

 

[timnsun]

I'll take a stab at this. When Bo left there was a lot of player support for his methods and what their results were. They weren't winning at the rate they wanted to but they were no less winners. The toxicity that was alleged on most boards as a Bo cancer wasn't as much because of Bo......but that MR staff wasn't able to win them over. In essence it was a fabrication that there was a cancer. It was something the fans made up to try to find acceptance into why our performance was that bad under Riley. Remember.....prior to the season these same people who created the "Bo Cancer" were calling for 10 wins seasons immediately because even a trained Monkey could win 9 at Nebraska.

As for what Sf is being handed. Pretty well documented we have talent but there is very little argument that we are coming off a 3 year period where we have had the worst development in many years, the worst conditioning in many years and the worst confidence among the players. Most of these guys have been playing at .500 level the last 3 years.

Now the good news is I believe we have a better coach in place to make that transition than we did 3 years ago.

One thing that I think is clear that not many have suggested, is that Riley seemed to want everyone to stay on board, no matter what. It didn’t matter if they got behind Riley or not. He didn’t want to run anyone off. I feel pretty good Scott Frost will make sure the players that don’t buy in Are gone. And that’s a good thing. If anything, this is another thing that Mike Riley did not do well enough.

Having said that, hindsight being 20/20, if Riley did run off certain players things may have been even worse overall.

 

[HuskerO]

The toxicity that was alleged on most boards as a Bo cancer wasn't as much because of Bo......but that MR staff wasn't able to win them over.

It makes it tough to win players over when the previous coach, who the players really liked, is practically telling them to leave and to stay bitter.

Fortunately Riley acted like an adult and didn't throw Nebraska under the bus which will be one less thing Frost will have to deal with. This will be huge for Frost's immediate & continued success at Nebraska.

Also the players despised Eichorst. Shoot Frost could've been hired by Eichorst 3 years ago and Frost would have a tougher time to win players over back then than he has to now.

 

[ThereIsNoPlace]

6-6 w/ a 7th notched in the bowl if against an SEC team. Any one guessing 8 or more reg season wins is drunk on koolaid.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

So Frost is only 2 games better than Riley? Not buying that.

 

[barney44]

I was told by some Iowa football experts that Frost cant match Rileys first two years..

9 wins in 2019 sure as hell aint happening they said..

 

[frankluv]

So far, in 2018, NU has not lost a game. 0-0. Drinking my KoolAid before the spring game.

 

[oldjar07]

It makes it tough to win players over when the previous coach, who the players really liked, is practically telling them to leave and to stay bitter.

Fortunately Riley acted like an adult and didn't throw Nebraska under the bus which will be one less thing Frost will have to deal with. This will be huge for Frost's immediate & continued success at Nebraska.

Also the players despised Eichorst. Shoot Frost could've been hired by Eichorst 3 years ago and Frost would have a tougher time to win players over back then than he has to now.

I'm sure a lot of players liked Bo. I don't think there were any but a couple players that actually listened if he said they should consider leaving. A good coach will win his players over and it will happen pretty quickly. A mediocre coach is going to struggle with this and establishing credibility with the players. The vast majority of players will be won over by this staff by the time fall camp starts because they can see Frost is a winner and they're going to get better under the direction of his staff.

 

[HuskerO]

The vast majority of players will be won over by this staff

Absolutely and for 2 reasons;

1) Frost is a great coach and the most important,

2) the players don't have any animosity towards Nebraska, the AD or Frost because Riley acted like a decent human being.

 

[barney44]

Absolutely and for 2 reasons;

1) Frost is a great coach and the most important,

2) the players don't have any animosity towards Nebraska, the AD or Frost because Riley acted like a decent human being.

#2 is undertated imo...

 

[SC_'sker]

Absolutely and for 2 reasons;

1) Frost is a great coach and the most important,

2) the players don't have any animosity towards Nebraska, the AD or Frost because Riley acted like a decent human being.

It's stunning that the Bo-bots are still in denial about the things he did and the negative effect he had on the program.

 

[bshirt73]

I have to disagree with the notion there is a "Riley rot." I believe most of these players have been starving for the kind of leadership, commitment, and passion that Frost & Co. bring. Most of the players will eat it up. They want to win. They want to excel. There will be no hangover because at 4-8 with multiple blowout losses, they know change was needed. Plus, Riley did not poison the well on the way out. He left like an adult, unlike Pelini.

I think the situation will be more reminiscent of Stoops following Blake at OU. OU's players knew they were underperforming and took to Stoops' coaching immediately. Here's hoping. GBR

I know "results" mean nothing to folks like you. But for me eight losses, including massive blowouts, is precisely a poisoned well. If being an outrageously horrible HC means you're an "adult" then give me an adolescent. I absolutely hate seeing NU getting humiliated over & over again. Who could possibly do worse than two losing seasons in three years at NU? Even Clownahan couldn't hack that. Let's not forget that even a trained monkey can win 9 games at NU.

But of course, as always, let's excuse MR & rip Bo (even though for seven years he never came remotely close to losing eight games or having losing seasons). But if it makes you feel better......great!

 

[bshirt73]

So Frost is only 2 games better than Riley? Not buying that.

A vastly more brutal schedule makes difference compadre'.

 

[c2o]

Riley rot?

 

[HuskerO]

A vastly more brutal schedule makes difference compadre'.

Vastly?

The west and Ohio St will be exactly the same as the previous 2 years. Meaning everyone in the West is beatable.

2017 Penn St will most likely be better than either 2018 Michigan or Michigan St.

Basically you're adding 1 tougher game in 2018 than 2017.

 

[barney44]

Vastly?

The west and Ohio St will be exactly the same as the previous 2 years. Meaning everyone in the West is beatable.

2017 Penn St will most likely be better than either 2018 Michigan or Michigan St.

Basically you're adding 1 tougher game in 2018 than 2017.

I think many view our away schedule as part of the difficulty. @Michigan, @Wisconsin, @Ohio State and @Iowa. Michigan State we get at home though.

 

[HuskerO]

I think many view our away schedule as part of the difficulty. @Michigan, @Wisconsin, @Ohio State and @Iowa. Michigan State we get at home though.

Yeah being away sucks, but we've beaten Michigan at the big house before. Almost beat Wisconsin at Camp Randall with a "terrible" coach. Ohio St will be no different than years past. And Iowa is definitely not a difficult place to play at.

 

[TribecaHusker]

Yeah being away sucks, but we've beaten Michigan at the big house before. Almost beat Wisconsin at Camp Randall with a "terrible" coach. Ohio St will be no different than years past. And Iowa is definitely not a difficult place to play at.

With two decades of underperformance, we now define as “difficult” what used to be normal schedules. We traditionally drilled teams like Iowa or Minnesota and even Wisconsin. Now they’ve become components of a “diificult” schedule. Give me a break. We’ll have a difficult schedule when we start playing Alabama, Clemson and Georgia again. If we believe in what Frost is doing — and I do — this defeatist attitude needs to go the way of everything else he’s endeavoring to replace. Stop with the woe-is-me Nebraska pessimism!

 

[barney44]

Yeah being away sucks, but we've beaten Michigan at the big house before. Almost beat Wisconsin at Camp Randall with a "terrible" coach. Ohio St will be no different than years past. And Iowa is definitely not a difficult place to play at.

IMO Ohio State is the only team I would consider as a difficult task to beat. The others are beatable although I dont exactly expect us to beat them in a transition year.

 

[HuskerO]

With two decades of underperformance, we now define as “difficult” what used to be normal schedules. We traditionally drilled teams like Iowa or Minnesota and even Wisconsin. Now they’ve become components of a “diificult” schedule. Give me a break. We’ll have a difficult schedule when we start playing Alabama, Clemson and Georgia again. If we believe in what Frost is doing — and I do — this defeatist attitude needs to go the way of everything else he’s endeavoring to replace. Stop with the woe-is-me Nebraska pessimism!

Right. I don't agree with the claim that this schedule is vastly more difficult than last years. It really isn't.

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

With two decades of underperformance, we now define as “difficult” what used to be normal schedules. We traditionally drilled teams like Iowa or Minnesota and even Wisconsin. Now they’ve become components of a “diificult” schedule. Give me a break. We’ll have a difficult schedule when we start playing Alabama, Clemson and Georgia again. If we believe in what Frost is doing — and I do — this defeatist attitude needs to go the way of everything else he’s endeavoring to replace. Stop with the woe-is-me Nebraska pessimism!

When did Nebraska drill Wisconsin?

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

6-6 w/ a 7th notched in the bowl if against an SEC team. Any one guessing 8 or more reg season wins is drunk on koolaid.

Be careful with the Kool-Aid comment . It's a cheap shot.

 

[barney44]

When did Nebraska drill Wisconsin?

I think “teams like” is the key word..

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

Right. I don't agree with the claim that this schedule is that much more difficult than last years. It really isn't.

The problem I see with the 2018 schedule, is this 3 out of a 4 game stretch on the road:

@Mich
Purdue
@Wisc
@NW

Regardless of how "winnable" these games may seem, that is a rough task for any team. If they can come out of that stretch 2-2, I would be thrilled.

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

I think “teams like” is the key word..

Like, Pre Barry Alvarez, Bert Enema and Paul Chryst Wisconsin? I could buy that .

 

[TribecaHusker]

I think “teams like” is the key word..

But they did drill Wisconsin in the Devaney era.

 

[TribecaHusker]

The problem I see with the 2018 schedule, is this 3 out of a 4 game stretch on the road:

@Mich
Purdue
@Wisc
@NW

Regardless of how "winnable" these games may seem, that is a rough task for any team. If they can come out of that stretch 2-2, I would be thrilled.

I’ll agree that Mich and Wisconsin will be tough. However, neither Purdue nor NW are traditional powers, we just regressed to their level, particularly during the Riley era. The first signs of a significant turnaround (some of which I already see), will be when these games become relatively easy wins.

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

While those teams you mentioned are not traditional powers, they have become much better and have been very tough on us.

I hope I live to see those types of wins again. But, I believe that the days of those types of easy wins will largely be a thing of the past. Teams like Purdue, NW, are on a definite upswing .We could probably make a case for Indiana and Maryland, too. Outside of Rutgers and Illinois, I don't think any other games are "gimmies" right now in this league . Also, when we look at OSU, PSU, Mich St, Mich and Wisconsin; I think the top of this league is arguably the best right now in CFB. Yes, I know the SEC had 2 teams get to the playoff this year.

I have a great deal of faith in SF and his staff, but I want to see how this spring and fall camp unfolds. Namely, attrition, transition, depth and execution. I have no doubt we will see improvement, but in a transition year, with just how ugly this thing was in the inside, may be tougher than we hoped (in year 1).

I also think the league hasn't done us any favors with scheduling since coming aboard and it has felt like an uphill climb to me . I'm hoping it's all downhill going-forward .

 

[TribecaHusker]

While those teams you mentioned are not traditional powers, they have become much better and have been very tough on us.

I hope I live to see those types of wins again. But, I believe that the days of those types of easy wins will largely be a thing of the past. Teams like Purdue, NW, are on a definite upswing .We could probably make a case for Indiana and Maryland, too. Outside of Rutgers and Illinois, I don't think any other games are "gimmies" right now in this league . Also, when we look at OSU, PSU, Mich St, Mich and Wisconsin; I think the top of this league is arguably the best right now in CFB. Yes, I know the SEC had 2 teams get to the playoff this year.

I have a great deal of faith in SF and his staff, but I want to see how this spring and fall camp unfolds. Namely, attrition, transition, depth and execution. I have no doubt we will see improvement, but in a transition year, with just how ugly this thing was in the inside, may be tougher than we hoped (in year 1).

I also think the league hasn't done us any favors with scheduling since coming aboard and it has felt like an uphill climb to me . I'm hoping it's all downhill going-forward .

I’m OK with most of your post, though I’m more optimistic about our upside potential. Not getting shoved around any more will make a big difference. And I believe the impact of any “Riley rot” is minimal. A few players will probably depart the team this Spring, but Frost will keep the players he wants to keep. The part of your post that I believe is a stretch, is asserting that Indiana and Maryland are on the cusp of being competitive with the big boys. Frost’s UCF team crushed Maryland last year, and, having lived in the area, Maryland fans don’t care a whit about college football (I’m not familiar with Indiana, other than football traditionally taking a back seat to basketball there). Finally, I expect Frost to aim high with his goals — even In a transition year — and team will quickly take on the feisty, competitive nature of its coach.

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

I don't mean to convey IU and MD competing with the big boys, but they are no longer teams you can expect to roll over or beat with your "C" game, especially on the road.

I hope I'm wrong about just how rotten this thing is. I see improvement this year and major strides in year 2 and beyond, especially as the new culture takes hold and the buy-in improves and while talent is significantly upgraded. I think player development will reach new heights in the near future under SF.