Riley doesn't sugar coat the loss

[inWV]

Some post-game talk of silver linings, but upon review of the tape, a conclusion of lost opportunity. In the first half, Oregon just seemed faster and more athletic than NU and I think they are to an extent. But they are not a complete team, they lost momentum in the second half and there was an opportunity to sneak out of Eugene with a shakily earned victory. But the offense couldn't close the deal.
Let's say that the offense did make a few plays and turned that last drive into a TD and then either converted 2 or won it OT. Are we down in the mouth about the win (it's Oregon after all)? Is the reality of poor play imparted to the players?

http://journalstar.com/sports/huske...cle_8692a219-3b47-59af-90ee-daeaa0eb6cbe.html

 

[Toms Wife]

Some post-game talk of silver linings, but upon review of the tape, a conclusion of lost opportunity. In the first half, Oregon just seemed faster and more athletic than NU and I think they are to an extent. But they are not a complete team, they lost momentum in the second half and there was an opportunity to sneak out of Eugene with a shakily earned victory. But the offense couldn't close the deal.
Let's say that the offense did make a few plays and turned that last drive into a TD and then either converted 2 or won it OT. Are we down in the mouth about the win (it's Oregon after all)? Is the reality of poor play imparted to the players?

http://journalstar.com/sports/huske...cle_8692a219-3b47-59af-90ee-daeaa0eb6cbe.html

Losses stink no matter what. But there was a lot of bad football that day to go with the loss. Squeaking out of a win would have been nice but it would have felt like Bo sneaking out a win over a team like Northwestern.

 

[tarheelhusker]

Toms Wife, in the world of what ifs, under Pelini another nationally televised humiliation would have been a certainty.
Madman bullying the refs, pissing himself, the team quitting.

 

[inWV]

Losses stink no matter what. But there was a lot of bad football that day to go with the loss. Squeaking out of a win would have been nice but it would have felt like Bo sneaking out a win over a team like Northwestern.

I think overcoming a 28 pt deficit in Eugene might be comparable in immediate response to the Westy caught Hail Mary. And seen in hindsight more as a Oregon second half collapse.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

I appreciated Riley's comments about a missed opportunity, but the sad fact is that this has been the story of our program now for a very, very long time. And it is getting old. There are so many examples of Nebraska "missing opportunities" that it no longer seems out of the ordinary. For example, in 2009 our defense pushes Texas all over the field, and we take the lead late, only to have our excellent kicker knock it out of bounds for the first time that season. I remember as well Bill Callahan saying the day after our loss to OU in the title game that he "was just sick over that game" since there were many opportunities for us to win it. Ditto our loss to OU in 2010 - - a game we should have won. Then there was Wisconsin the past two years in a row. Ugh.

I support Riley and utterly reject the idea he should be fired. But damn it, talk is cheap and if we are going to turn the corner as a program we have to start winning these games.

 

[jlb321]

I appreciated Riley's comments about a missed opportunity, but the sad fact is that this has been the story of our program now for a very, very long time. And it is getting old. There are so many examples of Nebraska "missing opportunities" that it no longer seems out of the ordinary. For example, in 2009 our defense pushes Texas all over the field, and we take the lead late, only to have our excellent kicker knock it out of bounds for the first time that season. I remember as well Bill Callahan saying the day after our loss to OU in the title game that he "was just sick over that game" since there were many opportunities for us to win it. Ditto our loss to OU in 2010 - - a game we should have won. Then there was Wisconsin the past two years in a row. Ugh.

I support Riley and utterly reject the idea he should be fired. But damn it, talk is cheap and if we are going to turn the corner as a program we have to start winning these games.

I wish we could progress to the point where these missed opportunities start occurring once again in conference championship games like some of the examples above rather than in season games and most recently against an unranked team

 

[timnsun]

I wish we could progress to the point where these missed opportunities start occurring once again in conference championship games like some of the examples above rather than in season games and most recently against an unranked team

We all wish this.

 

[jlb321]

We all wish this.

Maybe we can break through this year and win the division, the conference or play in a major bowl game - all are still very possible. You have to go all the way back to the 1950s and Bill Jennings to find an instance where Nebraksa didn't accomplish one of these metrics in the first three years after a coaching change.

 

[cubsker]

we just aren't good enough right now for that to be realistic. Maybe the secondary grows up, maybe the LB do a better job of coverage once they feel more comfortable in the 3-4, maybe Tanner Lee plays like the NFL prospect he's supposed to be, but right now we just have way too many flaws to think about being anything more than an 8 or 9 win team again.

 

[TFrazier]

I wish we wouldn't have to make wishes about winning big games in football.

 

[Toms Wife]

we just aren't good enough right now for that to be realistic. Maybe the secondary grows up, maybe the LB do a better job of coverage once they feel more comfortable in the 3-4, maybe Tanner Lee plays like the NFL prospect he's supposed to be, but right now we just have way too many flaws to think about being anything more than an 8 or 9 win team again.

Man, in the division we play in that just might be enough. Wisconsin certainly is not a giant slayer. Iowa? Northwestern? Minnesota? I don't think you can automatically say they are any better than us and we should have much better talent.

 

[jlb321]

we just aren't good enough right now for that to be realistic. Maybe the secondary grows up, maybe the LB do a better job of coverage once they feel more comfortable in the 3-4, maybe Tanner Lee plays like the NFL prospect he's supposed to be, but right now we just have way too many flaws to think about being anything more than an 8 or 9 win team again.

you are right

I was just pointing out what is possible and not what I think is likely for this season and what other Nebraska hires dating back to the 50s have achieved in the first 3 years

of course the circumstances around each hire vary

 

[StrongArm517]

My blood is so red and just feel I'll never stop hoping. It could happen but if it doesn't happen will deal with it. I'll never love another team as much as Nebraska. Just never will.

 

[cubsker]

My blood is so red and just feel I'll never stop hoping. It could happen but if it doesn't happen will deal with it. I'll never love another team as much as Nebraska. Just never will.

I'm a cubs fan, pretty sure I'm not going anywhere either. it is pretty frustrating seeing your team/program mismanaged for so long though.

 

[Hedley Lemar]

I appreciated Riley's comments about a missed opportunity, but the sad fact is that this has been the story of our program now for a very, very long time. And it is getting old. There are so many examples of Nebraska "missing opportunities" that it no longer seems out of the ordinary. For example, in 2009 our defense pushes Texas all over the field, and we take the lead late, only to have our excellent kicker knock it out of bounds for the first time that season. I remember as well Bill Callahan saying the day after our loss to OU in the title game that he "was just sick over that game" since there were many opportunities for us to win it. Ditto our loss to OU in 2010 - - a game we should have won. Then there was Wisconsin the past two years in a row. Ugh.

I support Riley and utterly reject the idea he should be fired. But damn it, talk is cheap and if we are going to turn the corner as a program we have to start winning these games.

I agree. For too long we haven't missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

 

[Wasker77]

I appreciated Riley's comments about a missed opportunity, but the sad fact is that this has been the story of our program now for a very, very long time. And it is getting old. There are so many examples of Nebraska "missing opportunities" that it no longer seems out of the ordinary. For example, in 2009 our defense pushes Texas all over the field, and we take the lead late, only to have our excellent kicker knock it out of bounds for the first time that season. I remember as well Bill Callahan saying the day after our loss to OU in the title game that he "was just sick over that game" since there were many opportunities for us to win it. Ditto our loss to OU in 2010 - - a game we should have won. Then there was Wisconsin the past two years in a row. Ugh.

I support Riley and utterly reject the idea he should be fired. But damn it, talk is cheap and if we are going to turn the corner as a program we have to start winning these games.[/QUOTE

How many more times this year do we hear this speech? Do we just gladly accept a similar speech next September 9 after losing the day before to the Buffs?