Link: http://www.si.com/college-football/...ll-branding-oregon-ducks-tennessee-volunteers
Map showing all the Power 5 schools and lists what their current identity is and what it should be. For Nebraska:
The Brand
It's probably going to change under Mike Riley, but under Bo Pelini it was nine or 10 wins and four losses a year and few surprises -- pleasant or otherwise.
What It Should Be
I've written this before and I stand by it. Nebraska needs to go back to a pure option offense. A school in such an isolated location will have the toughest time recruiting elite quarterbacks and NFL-prototype linemen, so why not run an offense that eliminates the need for such players? There are plenty of great athletes at those positions who don't quite fit the profile of the better Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC teams in their home states. They'd love to play before sellout crowds in Lincoln. Florida and Florida State wanted Tommie Frazier to play defense, so he went to Nebraska to play quarterback. In the current environment, the next Tommie Frazier will play at Georgia Tech. Nebraska could become a brutally tough out by embracing its roots, but the administration doesn't seem interested in that. It will be interesting to see how Riley handles his stewardship of the brand. His decision to not play mind games with the Blackshirts seems like a good start.
Map showing all the Power 5 schools and lists what their current identity is and what it should be. For Nebraska:
The Brand
It's probably going to change under Mike Riley, but under Bo Pelini it was nine or 10 wins and four losses a year and few surprises -- pleasant or otherwise.
What It Should Be
I've written this before and I stand by it. Nebraska needs to go back to a pure option offense. A school in such an isolated location will have the toughest time recruiting elite quarterbacks and NFL-prototype linemen, so why not run an offense that eliminates the need for such players? There are plenty of great athletes at those positions who don't quite fit the profile of the better Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC teams in their home states. They'd love to play before sellout crowds in Lincoln. Florida and Florida State wanted Tommie Frazier to play defense, so he went to Nebraska to play quarterback. In the current environment, the next Tommie Frazier will play at Georgia Tech. Nebraska could become a brutally tough out by embracing its roots, but the administration doesn't seem interested in that. It will be interesting to see how Riley handles his stewardship of the brand. His decision to not play mind games with the Blackshirts seems like a good start.